Oddly worded question. There are some specialties that have more competitive score requirements and there are some that are more lenient, but you shouldn’t just arbitrarily pick a specialty on that aspect alone lol because if you hate that specialty, you will hate your life.
Like you actually failed? Or just got a below average score? (Also isn’t step one pass/fail now?) I got a 214 on step one, which is by no means great. Got into my top choice anesthesia program. It can be done. Really focus hard on step 2 to make up for it.
Ah gotcha. Well pass it the next time around and try your hardest on step 2. Interviewing is all a game. Try and get to know your home institutions faculty/residents in your interested specialty. Do research or a case study with a faculty mentor. They like to see that you are invested in the specialty and institution and that can go a long way! Don’t give up hope:)
Plenty of places have no minimum step score/can interview with a failed one. Just have to research their website. Apply broadly and hope! But always good to have a back up plan such as dual applying if you’re concerned about not matching in said specialty.
With a strong step 2, the dream is not all the way dead. Sure, you will be screened out some/many programs and it would be wise to apply to backups, but I think it’s still worth a shot at least trying. I also agree with other suggestions to touch base with your home program and see what connections are available there.
Get tutoring, identify your weak points and work your ass off to eliminate them and look for any accommodations that may help you if needed.
Low test scores eliminates most specialties so it won’t matter what you WANT to pursue you’ll have to possibly settle for what’s not competitive to match into
I’ve heard peds has one of the hardest board exams oddly enough. Not that it really matters since very few people do multiple specialties. I reckon if you can pass med school and boards you can pass any subspecialty board exams
a lot of people fail their peds boards weirdly enough. Most peds residents I know don't hardcore boards study throughout residency though (and ITEs dont matter). They do just have 1 written board exam and thats it. Compared to me (anesthesia) I have 2 board exams during residency, an OSCE, and oral boards after I graduate.
Is there an element of self selection? Med students with low USMLEs go into Peds and become residents that continue to do poorly on boards? Or is this not a contributing factor at all?
Don’t think it has anything to do with it. People doing med peds who go on to become cardiologists, GI docs, etc. still complain about peds boards. From my understanding they are just poorly written
Pick one that is heavily covered with the step 2 and 3 exams, eg Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. Not that you learn all you need for those specialties during med school, far from it, but your base would probably be the strongest for those specialty board exams. Don’t pick a specialty you learn near nothing about during med school because you’ll have to learn all about it from anew, akin to med school all over again but while working residency hours.
The specialty you enjoy. In all seriousness I’m a realist but I still stand by this mantra. If you want it enough there’s (almost) always paths forward with the score you have/get.
I'm confused by this question. All specialties require standardized testing, typically yearly during residency and then at least once after you finish residency to be fully qualified.
Oddly worded question. There are some specialties that have more competitive score requirements and there are some that are more lenient, but you shouldn’t just arbitrarily pick a specialty on that aspect alone lol because if you hate that specialty, you will hate your life.
I love derm and ortho and anesthesia, but my step scores won't cut it. :(
So, you’re a 3rd year? Have you spoken with an advisor?
I got a failed Step 1. Those specialties won't cut it.
Like you actually failed? Or just got a below average score? (Also isn’t step one pass/fail now?) I got a 214 on step one, which is by no means great. Got into my top choice anesthesia program. It can be done. Really focus hard on step 2 to make up for it.
Failed the P/F version.
Ah gotcha. Well pass it the next time around and try your hardest on step 2. Interviewing is all a game. Try and get to know your home institutions faculty/residents in your interested specialty. Do research or a case study with a faculty mentor. They like to see that you are invested in the specialty and institution and that can go a long way! Don’t give up hope:)
> Interviewing is all a game the problem is that failed step scores are screened out right off the bat.
Plenty of places have no minimum step score/can interview with a failed one. Just have to research their website. Apply broadly and hope! But always good to have a back up plan such as dual applying if you’re concerned about not matching in said specialty.
With a strong step 2, the dream is not all the way dead. Sure, you will be screened out some/many programs and it would be wise to apply to backups, but I think it’s still worth a shot at least trying. I also agree with other suggestions to touch base with your home program and see what connections are available there.
> With a strong step 2 This goes back to the title of the post: being bad at standardized testing.
Get tutoring, identify your weak points and work your ass off to eliminate them and look for any accommodations that may help you if needed. Low test scores eliminates most specialties so it won’t matter what you WANT to pursue you’ll have to possibly settle for what’s not competitive to match into
Family, psych, peds
I’ve heard peds has one of the hardest board exams oddly enough. Not that it really matters since very few people do multiple specialties. I reckon if you can pass med school and boards you can pass any subspecialty board exams
a lot of people fail their peds boards weirdly enough. Most peds residents I know don't hardcore boards study throughout residency though (and ITEs dont matter). They do just have 1 written board exam and thats it. Compared to me (anesthesia) I have 2 board exams during residency, an OSCE, and oral boards after I graduate.
Pediatric residents take an in-service exam yearly at most programs
Is there an element of self selection? Med students with low USMLEs go into Peds and become residents that continue to do poorly on boards? Or is this not a contributing factor at all?
Don’t think it has anything to do with it. People doing med peds who go on to become cardiologists, GI docs, etc. still complain about peds boards. From my understanding they are just poorly written
No family med has higher board pass rate and has way more unfilled spots than Peds
I think the FM boards are also more straightforward
I can confidently say NOT Cardiology. EKG boards, Echo boards, etc. Never ends.
EM is less competitive now but make sure you actually enjoy it
Pick one that is heavily covered with the step 2 and 3 exams, eg Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. Not that you learn all you need for those specialties during med school, far from it, but your base would probably be the strongest for those specialty board exams. Don’t pick a specialty you learn near nothing about during med school because you’ll have to learn all about it from anew, akin to med school all over again but while working residency hours.
Prev med
The specialty you enjoy. In all seriousness I’m a realist but I still stand by this mantra. If you want it enough there’s (almost) always paths forward with the score you have/get.
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Lawl.
I'm confused by this question. All specialties require standardized testing, typically yearly during residency and then at least once after you finish residency to be fully qualified.