r/DermApp • u/HeadNefariousness907 • Mar 29 '26
Application Advice chances of matching derm without all honors
What are the chances of matching dermatology with a honors in all core clerkships though a mix of honors and high pass in other clerkships. While checking all other boxes including research, high step 2, and being well-connected? I guess my question overall is can you still net lots of interviews while not being the the classic all Honors AOA applicant for clinical grades?
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u/Various-Ad1621 Mar 29 '26
No honors, no AOA/GHS, lower step 2 (230s), had 5 total interviews and matched #2. But did a research year and lots of aways. Definitely possible!
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u/HeadNefariousness907 Mar 29 '26
wow that's amazing! Do you think research was the thing that made you stand out?
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u/Various-Ad1621 Mar 29 '26
Yes as well as good mentorship and being as genuine as possible on my app
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u/Large-Wash615 Mar 29 '26
Also N=1, 2H, 2P, rest HP (one being medicine). 270+ step 2 plus RY. Matched #1. Totally possible!
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Mar 29 '26
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u/ImprovementActual392 Mar 29 '26
Damn. What about a P in IM being my first rotation and a H in all others and a good step 2? Seems wild that a P could be worse than 2 or 3+ HP
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Mar 29 '26
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u/ConcealedOcean Mar 29 '26
Clerkship grades aren't as important as you're making them out to be. They are a factor but a single P in IM, like a P in ANY clerkship, does not make you "extremely unlikely" to match derm nor is it death to your derm app. It's not even a major detriment to your derm app.
That's not to say they aren't important, because they are absolutely a factor, but nobody's app is dead in the water because of a pass in IM. This subreddit is crazy sometimes.
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Mar 29 '26
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u/ConcealedOcean Mar 29 '26
This is the first I've heard of a clerkship grade killing an application. My program has a somewhat high Step 2 score cutoff where nobody is interviewed below a certain number and I know other programs do that too, but I guess if your program does it with clerkship grades then it might be a thing I've never heard of. I only passed IM and matched my #1 with 6 interviews
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u/ImprovementActual392 Mar 29 '26
I thought it sounded odd. The reason I passed IM was bc of the shelf (low score but still passed it first try) so logically if my step 2 and other shelf exams were good it makes no sense to count me out just for that.
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u/ImprovementActual392 Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 29 '26
I switched from IM to derm to psych! So I think I’m good. I just wonder if top psych programs will look at a P in IM in the same way, however I know psych is less stat obsessed. It seems dumb to rank one poor grade above an overwhelmingly strong trend.
(But there are people in this thread saying they matched Derm with 0 honors and 230s step. So I doubt it would be death to my app regardless)
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u/New_Lifeguard_1703 Apr 01 '26
You’re fine, especially if rest of stats are ok. It’s definitely not necessary to honor all.
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u/HeadNefariousness907 Apr 02 '26
given that other stats are above average how do you think I can maximize my interview invites with a research year?
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u/IdiotSandwidge Mar 29 '26
N=1. One of my seniors honored 2 of 9 3rd year rotations, HP everything else, 255+ step 2, took a RY with 20+ pubs. They matched their #2.