Advice needed please

[sulfonate]

---

Members don't see this ad.

This is a cross-post from the USMLE sub-forum since I haven't gotten any responses

Hey everyone,
I'm currently in a unique position and wanted your input. I was planning on taking CK towards the end of March but unfortunately I have a serious case of senioritis and having trouble to focus as I'm waiting for my match results. I have a ED rotation in the month of April and was thinking about taking my exam on April 30th (the last day of my scheduling permit eligibility date). My ED rotation consists of 12 shifts between March 26th and April 22nd meaning I will have time in between shifts to study as well as a whole week between the 22nd and 29th to study. I'm expecting to have a clearer mind at that point and at that point I only need to pass the exam (don't need to do exceptionally well or anything). I wanted your opinion on this.

Thanks and best of luck on the match!

 

[DBV]

This is a cross-post from the USMLE sub-forum since I haven't gotten any responses

Hey everyone,
I'm currently in a unique position and wanted your input. I was planning on taking CK towards the end of March but unfortunately I have a serious case of senioritis and having trouble to focus as I'm waiting for my match results. I have a ED rotation in the month of April and was thinking about taking my exam on April 30th (the last day of my scheduling permit eligibility date). My ED rotation consists of 12 shifts between March 26th and April 22nd meaning I will have time in between shifts to study as well as a whole week between the 22nd and 29th to study. I'm expecting to have a clearer mind at that point and at that point I only need to pass the exam (don't need to do exceptionally well or anything). I wanted your opinion on this.

Thanks and best of luck on the match!

Don't know what specialty you're applying in but many won't rank applicants without ck scores reported.

Anyways if you match I would just take an nbme and if I passed comfortably I'd just take the thing since a score wouldn't matter (provided you don't want fellowship)

 

[J ROD]

Yeah, not sure of your plan to match without CK. Good luck lol

 

[sulfonate]

There were 2 instances where program coordinators said they needed it to rank me but I spoke to the PD and they told me it wasn't going to be a problem. I've called all of the programs I've ranked (13) and only one of them said they needed it. You think I'll be fine?

 

[DBV]

There were 2 instances where program coordinators said they needed it to rank me but I spoke to the PD and they told me it wasn't going to be a problem. I've called all of the programs I've ranked (13) and only one of them said they needed it. You think I'll be fine?

I mean I would feel better about it now than if they didn't say that. But I just think of the stiff competition nowadays. Why pick someone with unknowns. But dont mean to freak you out. Best of luck.

 

[Smurfette]

1. Your senioritis will only get worse once you match. The last thing you'll want to do is STILL have that hanging over your head until the end of April.
2. If you delay until April 30, and you fail CK, you are screwed as you won't have time to re-take it before graduation/residency. Although I'm not sure if taking it at the end of March would allow much time either.
3. Do you need documentation of your CK score to get a temporary/trainee license in the state you match in? Because if you need it, odds are you'll be doing that paperwork ASAP after the match to make sure the license is ready by the time residency starts. Not every state will ask for this or even issue a training license to an intern, but the only state that matters is the one you'll be working in.

 

[Reveler]

The fact that you're "waiting for match results" doesn't make sense, because you'll know if you matched 3/12. So there's no waiting in the sense that you can't do other things in the meantime. You are asking if you should delay because "I'm expecting to have a clearer mind at that point and at that point I only need to pass the exam". So if you match, you will only need to pass, but if you don't match, you'll need a better score? Unclear on what you mean here. Basically, my advice is for you to take the exam as soon as you can pass it. Again, not sure what specialty you're going for, what kind of test taker you are and if you're planning on fellowship. Also, imagine for a second that you don't match and have to enter the SOAP. People might think twice about an unmatched applicant that hasn't taken CK.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

The question of whether or not this affects being ranked is a moot point because there's nothing that can be done about it now. I think the concern is Smurfette's point about needing it done by graduation. If you are very, very confident about at least passing, you could wait until after match to study (though I agree it would suck to be studying at that point), but otherwise it would behoove you to take it at the end of March, because you should have time to retake if necessary (assuming a 3 week reporting time).