How Do I Match? A Survey Study on the Impact of Step 1 Becoming Pass/Fail

Step 1 has historically been a major criterion to evaluate students for residency match. With Step 1 now being pass/fail (P/F), students are uncertain how to distinguish their applications. We aim to understand student's opinions surrounding the scoring change as this is the first class of students applying to residency in the P/F era.

An electronic survey was sent to 3rd and 4th year American medical students.

Of the 255 students surveyed, 61.6% prefer Step 1 in the P/F format. Students applying for highly competitive specialties (HCS) preferred numerical scoring (55.6%). On a 5-point Likert scale, students entering HCS believed more strongly that they would have a better chance at matching if Step 1 was graded numerically (3.47 vs 2.71) and creates an unfair advantage for those who can afford to pursue a research year (3.46 vs 2.95). Students entering HCS felt finances played a significant role in whether they took a research year and felt added pressure to engage in research. Respondents believe that students from prestigious medical schools, well-connected students, and MD students will benefit most.

While students mostly prefer P/F scoring, there were differences of opinion between those going into HCS and LCS. Students indicated that those who have financial means are at a distinct advantage as they can afford to utilize a research year to distinguish their applications. Future efforts should be made to address student concerns and unintended consequences of the scoring change to create an equitable system.