Should I even Attempt Ortho

[KevD44]

I scored 209 on step 1 and was wondering if I took step II would it help any? My grades are good, and my clinicals are good too. But I feel that the Step 1 score will hamper me. I have made some connections in ortho but will all the fringe still boil down to the board score?

[chikdok]

There have been people that have matched with scores >10 points less than you (irishdoc is one guy on this site). These people most likely made up for the deficit with the rest of their app, i.e. LOR, grades, early step 2 that kicks a$$, quality research, and last but certainly not least - connections. A low step I isn't a death sentence, but it makes matching all that more difficult, into an already ultra competitive specialty. I think it hurts the most with getting interviews (and this is where the letters & connections come in to save you, if you have good ones...and I hear that a good step 2 can help too). So, if you LOVE ortho and would be miserable everyday you are at work for the rest of your life if you weren't doing ortho (like me), the you should absolutely go for it. I'm in the same boat, and have talked to about a gazillion people for advice - the above is the general consensus, I think.