Anonymous User - 19 February 2008 05:43 PM

if you think that then petition that the test should be pass/fail.

I don’t know if you are aware of this, but the “new” step exam that combines Step 1 and Step 2 is very likely going to be pass/fail.  NBME did not design the original Step 1 exam to be a residency qualifier - they are solely in the business of administering the licensing process.  That is why the two-digit is not a percentile score - the passing score is set to a two-digit of 75, whereas if it were a percentile score it would be around 5.  I understand that there have been some complaints about the lack of a numerical score on the new Step exam, and NBME’s response has essentially been, “Too bad - we are in charge of the licensing process.  Whatever you do to select residents is your own problem”.

delete this shit thread

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 01:21 PM

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 11:27 AM

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 01:15 AM

Anonymous User - 19 February 2008 05:43 PM

if you think that then petition that the test should be pass/fail. until then you have to learn the material. there are no shortcuts to knowing medicine.

You seem to be completely out of touch with the conversation you are attempting to participate in.  The validity of step one scores has nothing at all to do with some idiot making a blanket statement about what an entire population of test takers “deserves.”

While someone with a 190 is very likely not qualified for neurosurgery, someone who makes blanket statements is not deserving of anything at all.

you are an idiot. there are the exceptions, people who score poorly due to various reasons but are still excellent, however, the boards and grades are not only a reflection of what you know, but what you are capable of. If someone has poor grades and barely passing board scores (which 190 is by the way) that tells me they are less capable for the moment than someone with a 240. Like I said, if you don’t like the system then leave. Only about 170 NS spots, how would you feel if you got bumped for some crappy student because of some Kumbaya feel good mentality. It takes good scores, grades, hard work and a good personality. You can only make allowances for deficiencies in one of these up to a limit.[/quo

And you still dont get it…
No one is defending those who score 190 on step 1.  An objective statement of your worth as a human being was made...this had nothing to do with whether or not a 190 should match.  In fact, in the statement you quoted it clearly states that 190 is rarely qualified.  Unfortunately, as highlighted in your own statement, you are not qualified for neurosurgery either.  In fact, you are not deserving of anything.  That is all.  Pick up a coloring book, that seems to be your level of reading comprehension.

you, on the other hand, sound very mature and intelligent. maybe you were a shit student and feel lucky to be here - don’t know and don’t care but ...this is my last comment on it. I’m not continuing this thread

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 03:12 PM

you, on the other hand, sound very mature and intelligent. maybe you were a shit student and feel lucky to be here - don’t know and don’t care but ...this is my last comment on it. I’m not continuing this thread

many thanks.  enjoy your career as a midwife.

Some of you might find this interesting, our program only looks at the two digit score. I couldn’t believe it at first but sure enough it is true.

no matter how many times they are told that the 2 digit score is not a percentage they still don’t get it. on the other hand, why in the hell did the usmle create a 2 digit score when they already have 3 digits and they don’t want percentiles

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 03:41 PM

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 03:12 PM

you, on the other hand, sound very mature and intelligent. maybe you were a shit student and feel lucky to be here - don’t know and don’t care but ...this is my last comment on it. I’m not continuing this thread

many thanks.  enjoy your career as a midwife.

would hate to be your junior resident

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 04:06 PM

no matter how many times they are told that the 2 digit score is not a percentage they still don’t get it. on the other hand, why in the hell did the usmle create a 2 digit score when they already have 3 digits and they don’t want percentiles

good point. i’m sorry that some of these threads are so vicious, coloring books and midwives - what is your problem. residents are supposed to write what they want here not be insulted. lets take everyone’s point of view into account

whats the deal with this new combo step1/2 exam? Haven’t heard anything about it.  Sounds good to me though.

Anonymous User - 20 February 2008 04:16 PM

whats the deal with this new combo step1/2 exam? Haven’t heard anything about it.  Sounds good to me though.

I got an email from my AAMC medical student representative at my school about this.  Evidently they are considering changing USMLE.  They feel that Step 1 tests on too much basic science and that Step 2 is taken too late to be important for most people’s medical education.  Therefore, they are considering combining Step 1 and Step 2 into one test that would test less on basic science trivia and more on clinically relavent information.  The other thing they were considering was whether they should make the test pass/fail.  They sent us an email about a survey on our opinion on the topic.  The main problems that I could find this (which I also wrote in my response to the survey) is that Step 1 is pretty much the only real objective test across all schools (in the same way the MCAT was the only way to gauge pre-meds across the board since GPA varied depending on your school and major).  The other main problem is when to take this test.  Since it will combine so much clinical information, would a person before second year be prepared for a test like this?  If we took it at the end of third year, would we have the scores in time to consider what residencies we are competitive enough for (if there are scores that is)?  They said in the survey that they are planning on doing this possibly during 2012 or 2011 and that all students who have already taken the USMLE will be grandfathered in (i.e. if you are a MD/PHD student who will take three years to do research after you’ve already taken Step 1, you won’t have to take the combined test).  A lot of this is still being decided.  As far as I can tell from the information they gave us, Step 1 and Step 2 will most likely be combined into one test.  What is still up in the air is whether it will be pass/fail.  I couldn’t find the link to the actual survey that I took, but I was able to find two links on the aamc website about the change.

http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/review.html
http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/CRU/review-2007-08-15.html

With a few exceptions, reading this thread has been about as enlightening as watching a dogfight. This thread should be renamed ‘Bad Newz Kennelz.”

i agree. people should say what they want and not be insulted. but..some people have no class

Anonymous User - 31 October 2007 06:44 PM

Back door? What do you mean? Any website on this that I can check out? Do you know which programs that are IMG-friendly out there that I can try at least?

Buenas Dias!

I hope that I am not too late with this revelation.

The two programs that I know of which are thought to be “IMG-friendly” are at the University of Arkansas and
the University of Illinois.

However, the IMG category can be quite broad in spectrum…

hi Zorro, i love you, i want to have your babies!

I know a guy who matched with a score substantially below the overall national average.  It happens.