Once you have your boards score the next obvious question is “how does this affect my chances at getting into the residency of my choice?”

Acceptance into a residency program depends not only on your score but also on the remainder of your application: references, essays, research, extracurricular activities, and interview.

If you are interested in getting a general idea as to which score ranges are typically associated with certain specialties, a document entitled Charting Outcomes in the Match is available through the NRMP and AAMC. It contains extensive data regarding each specialty and associated match statistics based on Step 1 scores, previous graduate degrees, AOA membership, and medical school affiliation (e.g. top 40 NIH school or not).

There is one highlight pertaining to USMLE Step 1 scores worth mentioning, located on a chart in the document above (page 16 of the pdf, page 11 in print) There appears to be 2-3 tiers of scores with the most competitive specialties falling under the highest tier. A potential breakdown is:

Tier 1 (Median USMLE Step 1 Scores of 233-243):

• Plastic Surgery
• Dermatology
• Otolaryngology
• Diagnostic Radiology
• Radiation Oncology
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Transitional Year

Tier 2 (Median USMLE Step 1 Scores of 217-222):

• Internal Medicine
• Pathology
• General Surgery
• Emergency Medicine
• IM/Peds
• Anesthesiology
• Neurology
• Pediatrics

Tier 3 (Medan USMLE Step 1 Scores of 208-213):

• Ob/GYN
• Family Medicine
• PM&R
• Psychiatry

The above tiering is based on the Step 1 Scores for US Senior applicants. The data for independent applicants was much more variable and could not be stratified easily.

Also note that by no means is there any “rule” regarding residencies and board scores. Someone with a score well below the stated median can still get into a great program. In general though it is good to consider the top tier specialties to be excellent in nearly every aspect of their application while the rest of the programs can easily overcome a weak board score with strength in other parts of the application.

For more information about this data and/or specific information for your specialty of choice please browse the Charting Outcomes in the Match pdf.