192/78 Step 1 score: Advice

[ohiostateU]

I need advice. I just got my results back and i got a 192/78. I am a IMG with a gpa of 2.5. What do i need to get in 3rd year and step 2 to be a contender for any residency program? And what kind of residencies can i choose from now?

I have heard of IMGS not getting into residencies with low step scores. .....The good news is i never have to take step 1 again. The bad news is my score is so low.

Thanks,
earl

[stateofequilibrium]

well, GPA won't matter much, though in this case it probably won't help. Do well during your rotations, get great LORs, and do the best you can on Step II. Have you also done any research?

[ohiostateU]

I have not done any research. Seeing i had enough trouble as it is making it though school i dont think it would be wise for me to do it during 4th year. how would one go about scheduling research during his 4th year?
Thanks,
Ethan

[whoapec]

what were your NBME scores?

[ohiostateU]

I didnt do the nbme's during my prep.

[FOID]

kick butt on your step 2. that's all i can say

[MDXRS22]

Yup, you need to do well on step 2.

[AUCMD2006]

you guys are freakin this poor guy out. you passed 1st time, most non competitive programs are more than happy with that (IM, FP, Peds, Psych, many OBgyn) of course the "better" the hospital (harvard, yale etc) the better score you need even in primary care but you will have plenty of options

the more competitive the specialty the higher you need..you can pretty much forget platics, neurosurg, derm, opthto, surgery, path, EM.

don't stress, pass step 2 first time and you are set for non competitive spots.

the img's who have a hard time matching are the "true" foreign grads with visa issues. many of the better programs will not sponsor a visa so the number of programs open to them is much much smaller than for the general pool with no visa issues

[stateofequilibrium]

Psych might be something to consider, I hear salaries are going up.

[Arie]

Hey Ethan,

my piece of advice for u is like one of the other posters said, u've got good enough scores so far to get you into IM...do ur best on step II.
One thing you may consider is getting to knwo some of your residents/teachers well in rotations and trying to prematch.
i know one guy who got a 205 on step one and prematched anesthesiology...whats the big deal if u can memorize random facts, what matters more is how you apply your knowledge and how you use your character to treat your patient best as possible....whatever, its all numbers (although i was freaking out about it like 2 weeks ago), do ur best!
Cheers, Arie
ps do QUESTIONS for Step II, u can raise that score!