low scores---plz advise

[medgrad22]

hello there i got my step 2 result yesterday and got a meagre 191/78..i was totally shocked coz i expected my score to be some where in nineties...and the bad thing is that even my step 1 scoe is not so good it was 205/83...please advise me as to what chance si have of getting into residency progarm...n what should i do to improve my chances 4 geeting matched....

[Skipper]

are you a US Citizen? if you are, then you probably can manage getting a residency in a less competitive field...i.e. FP, lower end IM program, Peds, and possibly pysch....

work and get some good letters of rec

if you are not a US citizen then it will be super hard

skipper

[tedteddy]

Dont let these people scare you.....I got a 194/79 after failing step 1 the first time...then got a 197/80 for step 2.....I thought I was doomed for sure....but i stuck in there....worked my butt off during rotations at various hospitals (I was smart....I did rotations at places I actually wanted to go)....got 6 really good interviews at pimp hospitals because of my LOR's (and only cause of them)...and now have matched.....so dont let anyone scare you.....it's very do-able....oh and I'm not a US citizen either.....hang in there....work your butt off.....do as many observerships as you can, and try and impress attendings with your clinical knowledge...it will get you places....

[Skipper]

what did you match in? FP? Low end IM? The OP, needs to realize it is a tough road ahead of him, especially if he is not a US citizen


Skipper

[tedteddy]

You're right....it is a tough road, but in the end it is still a raod. If he hangs in there, he WILL get a residency somewhere. Absolute worst case....Family medicine, which, last time I checked still means you're a doctor.

[Skipper]

Originally Posted by tedteddy

You're right....it is a tough road, but in the end it is still a raod. If he hangs in there, he WILL get a residency somewhere. Absolute worst case....Family medicine, which, last time I checked still means you're a doctor.

i know there is nothing wrong with being a Family Practice Doctor...it is a great career and you can make a great living and like you say you are still a doctor...

even US grads go into Family Practice, all i meant is that there are more positions and you have a higher chance of getting a position even though you may have lower scores

but you have to choose everything in accordance to your stats, motivations, and desires....but remember low scores and being an IMG may mean you will not be able to go into derm, rad, or surg to name a few

skipper

[CPR_ME]

"in a less competitive field...i.e. FP, lower end IM program, Peds, and possibly pysch...."

A really ignorant statement to make... never knew there was such a thing as a lower end IM or that FP, PEDS and PSYCH were less competitive fields... You really should watch what you say/write...

[Scott1981]

Originally Posted by CPR_ME

"in a less competitive field...i.e. FP, lower end IM program, Peds, and possibly pysch...."

A really ignorant statement to make... never knew there was such a thing as a lower end IM or that FP, PEDS and PSYCH were less competitive fields... You really should watch what you say/write...

i didnt think it was an ignorant statement. lower end IM programs are usually community programs without a lot of in house fellowships. full university sponsored programs are usually more competitive and they have every IM fellowship in the hospital. it is what it is.

do you really think FP is competitive ? outside of prelim surgery, they consistently have the most unfilled spots.

[Skipper]

Originally Posted by CPR_ME

"in a less competitive field...i.e. FP, lower end IM program, Peds, and possibly pysch...."

A really ignorant statement to make... never knew there was such a thing as a lower end IM or that FP, PEDS and PSYCH were less competitive fields... You really should watch what you say/write...

So you are telling me that FP, Peds, and Pysch are as competitive as Derm, Rad, Surgery, and ENT?

It is less competitive isnt it? It is not an ignorant statement.

There are lowerend IM programs....you truly believe that Harvard IM, Mayo, or Yale are equal to a St. Something in some inner city where the hospital has no fellowships or research


Skipper

[miasma]

well....IM, FP and psych programs for the most part ARE statistically less competitive, that's a fact; numbers don't lie. i agree that one shouldn't go into a specialty just because it is hard to obtain, but that still doesn't take away the fact that some specialties (like surg, derm, ortho) ARE indeed tough to obtain, even with high scores. "lower end IM or FP" means that these programs are most likely not university affilliated, and are probably community programs. again, this isn't saying that these programs are inferior by any means, it just means that if you want to get a fellowship after residency, it might be a bit tougher. just some thoughts.