I'm an MS3 and trying to decide when to take Step 2. My main concern is how Step 2 is used by residency programs. Generally, do they use it as a screener for residency interview invitations? Or is Step 1 and 3rd year clerkship grades used more for that?
I've heard that if you've done "well" on Step 1 you should push Step 2 off as long as possible. I don't know what I will be applying for yet (ER? Rads? Internal? --all over the map, i know) but my step 1 score was a 249. I am concnerned if I do worse on Step 2 that is going to look bad.
My school sets a deadline for Nov. 1st 2013 as the last possible date and they strongly recommend taking it by Sept. 1st 2013.
Alternatively, taking it soon after the end of MS3 has its advantages too. Material would be fresher and I would have gotten it out of the way. And doing better on step 2 would look good.
Any suggestions? Does this all ride on what I want to apply to come next year?
Thanks
I've heard that if you've done "well" on Step 1 you should push Step 2 off as long as possible. I don't know what I will be applying for yet (ER? Rads? Internal? --all over the map, i know) but my step 1 score was a 249. I am concnerned if I do worse on Step 2 that is going to look bad.
My school sets a deadline for Nov. 1st 2013 as the last possible date and they strongly recommend taking it by Sept. 1st 2013.
Alternatively, taking it soon after the end of MS3 has its advantages too. Material would be fresher and I would have gotten it out of the way. And doing better on step 2 would look good.
Any suggestions? Does this all ride on what I want to apply to come next year?
Thanks