1st 2 years of medical school grades: How important?

[Mr. Slave]

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So, I've made pretty much all high pass (B), and a couple of honors, and one pass. Still, I'll end up in the lower half of my class, due to getting a Pass in Gross Anatomy last year (medical problems plagued my first year).

So, looking forward to third year and step 1, I wonder..How important are the first 2 year grades? Oh, I want to go into a competitive specialty. Not derm or plastics or rad onc, but rads or optho or ER.

Thanks

 

[Hercules]

So, I've made pretty much all high pass (B), and a couple of honors, and one pass. Still, I'll end up in the lower half of my class, due to getting a Pass in Gross Anatomy last year (medical problems plagued my first year).

So, looking forward to third year and step 1, I wonder..How important are the first 2 year grades? Oh, I want to go into a competitive specialty. Not derm or plastics or rad onc, but rads or optho or ER.

Thanks

Nail Step 1 to prove you know the key information in the basic science years and then do well in your clinicals. Step 1 and 3rd year grades significantly outweigh the first 2 years.

 

[brendang]

interestingly enough, on one particular mid-west ophtho program interview, they were FAR more interested in my sub-stellar grades in both first and second year of COLLEGE!!! The question was posed as such, "how could you overacheive in medical school, yet barely get through chemistry college courses?"... Coming from a caribbean school, I guess I knew it would come out sometime, but for Ch$#tsakes, come on!!! I wouldn't stress it unless you really have some glaring deficits...

 

[doc05]

as far as "competitive" residencies, rads>ophtho>>ER. don't worry too much about your preclinical grades for ER. For rads and ophtho, you'll be much better off if you make AOA (esp. if you're not at a top-10 school), so do your best. good luck.

 

[cubby]

My philosophy: A good Step I score can make up for a lack of honors, but all the honors in the world cannot make up for a lousy Step I score. I did well on Step I, honored about 1/3 of my courses during my first two years, and did not get AOA--but have gotten some fantastic interviews at the most competitive IM programs coming out of a mid-tier medical school. Of course there are so many more factors--third year clerkship scores and letters being the most important in my view--but I would recommend putting a lot of stock in Step I and building from there.

 

[timtye78]

I agree wholeheartedly with putting your emphasis on Step 1 and 2, and get incredible Letters of Rec to increase your competitiveness. I have never even heard people asking interviewing resident candidates about their molecular biology or anatomy grades, or embryology for that matter. No emphasis has ever been placed on Year One and Two med school grades assuming you passed that I am aware of.

Rock your boards, get good letters, and if you still want to do more, be leader on your campus in activities and volunteer work this looks good. Honor societies are good, too. Research is another nice feather in your cap, which is something I did not do.
P.S. First Aid for Step 1 is excellent
Later!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

To echo the above posts, Step 1 is HUGE. Grading schemes vary from school to school. Even election into AOA depends on different things at different schools (however, grades seem to be important for AOA election at almost or every school). Anyways, Step 1 is the big equalizer. It is a "standardized" way to compare medical students across the country. Many competitive residency programs will therefore have Step 1 score cutoffs when deciding to grant interviews to a select group of candidates. I have not heard of stories yet (knock on wood) about 1st/2nd year grades being used for cutoff purposes.

 

[gwyn779]

I agree wholeheartedly with putting your emphasis on Step 1 and 2, and get incredible Letters of Rec to increase your competitiveness. I have never even heard people asking interviewing resident candidates about their molecular biology or anatomy grades, or embryology for that matter. No emphasis has ever been placed on Year One and Two med school grades assuming you passed that I am aware of.

I had some pretty mediocre grades for years 1 & 2, but did pretty well on boards. I specifically took Step 2 fairly early so my scores would be out in plenty of time for residencies to see them. I was asked in one interview about the difference between the two, but nothing more specific than that. Go with the rest of the advice from everyone here.

 

[Worldtraveler]

If you're going into one of the top residencies, grades may be a factor, but generally as long as you passed everything and did OK on step 1&2 you will get into a residency of your choice. Location and level of program may be more competitive.

 

[speyeder]

as far as "competitive" residencies, rads>ophtho>>ER. don't worry too much about your preclinical grades for ER. For rads and ophtho, you'll be much better off if you make AOA (esp. if you're not at a top-10 school), so do your best. good luck.

Not sure about rads being more competitive than ophtho. There are about 1000 rads spots/yr compared to about 400 for ophtho. That's 2.5x more rads spots. I also think there's a higher match rate for rads than ophtho.

 

[radonc]

Not sure about rads being more competitive than ophtho. There are about 1000 rads spots/yr compared to about 400 for ophtho. That's 2.5x more rads spots. I also think there's a higher match rate for rads than ophtho.

rads and optho arent even the most competitive fields...try derm and radonc.

 

[tennik]

Any other comments on rad vs. ophtho. Everyone seems to have an opinion. My take is ophtho>>rad.

 

[timtye78]

Any other comments on rad vs. ophtho. Everyone seems to have an opinion. My take is ophtho>>rad.

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