The Whatever--Random Medical School Stuff

Jugulator20
Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:04:48 +0000

I tend to look at med school grading differently. I understand how some version of a numerical grade (A, B, C or H/HP/P) can be given in preclinical courses. One student knows more than 90% plus of the material, another knows 80% plus of the material, and so on. I get that there is arguably an objective way to measure performance. And since a final grade is usually totally connected to this exam performance, I’m not particularly bothered by preclinical grades other than P/F. I view shelf exams in the same light.

What drives me simply nuts about med school grading in the clinical years is the subjective component of a final grade. In S’s case shelf exam counted for less than half final grade. But with all the clinical variables (e.g., “different doctors, different rotations, different sites,” and adding different patients presenting with different needs, etc.,) that go into this subjective aspect of any med student’s grade, I struggle with the notion of putting a student’s performance into a number which results in a grade other than P/F. You’re talking about students who are probably doing a procedure for the first time or second time, or may have to be involved for the first time in the discussion of a patient’s heart disease, diabetes, etc. C’mon, how good can each attending be that they can put a number on it? How good can third year students be at this early point in their clinical training? What’s the difference between a third year student who gets an 82 in his evals and one who gets an 87? To say, no it’s not broken down into that level of detail, it’s more like a 5 is H, 4 is HP, etc. Okay but I still reserve the right to go nuts where I hear how the subjective component can be weighted so heavily that it impacts a student’s future. Don’t ask me what alternative I offer as I don’t have an answer. To me students who are doing anything clinical in the third year deserve a P/F. To me it’s kind of like being in right church, wrong pew kind of thing. I can appreciate that residency programs directors want something more objective to sink their teeth into, but isn’t that what Steps 1 and 2 are for?

I wonder if there’s a name for my going nuts with this topic and do you think it’s treatable? Maybe wine or a nap or both?