Ah! Score releasing a lower Step 2

[FrancisvsGoljan]

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Good news - I'm applying for Internal Medicine
Bad news - my Step 2 is 3 points lower than Step 1 (which wasn't that great to begin with)

now...

Release the score? Or play the game? ahhhhh


thnx in advance.

 

[tfom08]

3 points probably isn't going to make much difference. If your step 1 score is borderline passing (not sure what you meant by not that great), I would probably go ahead and release your step 2 just so programs know that you at least passed CK.

 

[gutonc]

Good news - I'm applying for Internal Medicine
Bad news - my Step 2 is 3 points lower than Step 1 (which wasn't that great to begin with)

now...

Release the score? Or play the game? ahhhhh

thnx in advance.

A 3 point difference (assuming it doesn't cross the pass/fail line) is statistically irrelevant. Just release it and move on.

 

[PirateHotel]

Hey,

I think you're fine as well. The important thing (esp if you're an IMG) is to let them know you passed.


On a related note,

ERAS has uploaded my USMLE Score 5 times since midnight.. wondering if this is happening to anyone else?

 

[codeb1ue]

just out of curiosity... what is the point of releasing it if you're not necessarily proud of your score. It's obviously not gonna HELP her app in any way. Is there any downside to just holding onto it until they actually ask for it? It's not like shes holding onto a failed score.

 

[tfom08]

just out of curiosity... what is the point of releasing it if you're not necessarily proud of your score. It's obviously not gonna HELP her app in any way. Is there any downside to just holding onto it until they actually ask for it? It's not like shes holding onto a failed score.

Well I don't think there is a huge advantage of releasing CK unless you do well, but I think if you have a poor step 1 (say <200) then proving that you at least passed CK is probably a bonus. Because say someone has 195 on Step 1 and then a 193 on CK. Sure, they did worse on CK. But how about someone with a 195 on Step 1 who doesn't have a CK score for programs to see? Programs might rather have the person with 2 low passing scores than the person with the low passing Step 1 and no CK because that person is at risk to not pass CK.

 

[winner123]

A 3 point difference (assuming it doesn't cross the pass/fail line) is statistically irrelevant. Just release it and move on.

I think a 3 point difference is relevant when say somebody has a 197(81) intead of 200(82) or a 207(84) instead of 210(85).There I think a three point difference can mean a lot.What do u think?
Thanks!

 

[gutonc]

I think a 3 point difference is relevant when say somebody has a 197(81) intead of 200(82) or a 207(84) instead of 210(85).There I think a three point difference can mean a lot.What do u think?
Thanks!

I think you're splitting hairs and need to worry about other things. If your score is that low in the first place, you need 20+ more points on Step 2 for whatever you get to make any significant difference.

 

[winner123]

I think you're splitting hairs and need to worry about other things. If your score is that low in the first place, you need 20+ more points on Step 2 for whatever you get to make any significant difference.

I was talking regarding program criteria,because most(if not all) of the programs either have a cut-off of 200(82) or 210(85).so, there it surely is significant.
Thanks again !

 

[howelljolly]

I was talking regarding program criteria,because most(if not all) of the programs either have a cut-off of 200(82) or 210(85).so, there it surely is significant.
Thanks again !

Yup, thats where it can make a difference. When the computer sees your score, and a person does not - cutoffs.

On a related note... what about the opposite scenario? What if your CK score is significantly higher than your Step1. Can/will your CK score be used in place of the Step1 score when applications are screened by a cutoff score?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Yup, thats where it can make a difference. When the computer sees your score, and a person does not - cutoffs.

On a related note... what about the opposite scenario? What if your CK score is significantly higher than your Step1. Can/will your CK score be used in place of the Step1 score when applications are screened by a cutoff score?

It all depends on what we mean by "screened". If I set an ERAS filter for a Step 1 score of >220 and you scored a 219, then you will not show up (in that filter, remember that your app is still available to me). It won't matter at all what you get on Step 2. Then again, I could set a filter that looks for Step 1 between 200 and 220 and a Step 2 score of > (put whatever you'd like here) and then your app would be listed. basically, teh software does exactly what I tell it to do.

I, on the otherhand, am looking at applications in their entirety. I use filters for a first pass -- trying to find those I'm likely to be very interested in, not interested in at all, and those in between. But it's just a starting spot.

 

[FrancisvsGoljan]

It all depends on what we mean by "screened". If I set an ERAS filter for a Step 1 score of >220 and you scored a 219, then you will not show up (in that filter, remember that your app is still available to me). It won't matter at all what you get on Step 2. Then again, I could set a filter that looks for Step 1 between 200 and 220 and a Step 2 score of > (put whatever you'd like here) and then your app would be listed. basically, teh software does exactly what I tell it to do.

I, on the otherhand, am looking at applications in their entirety. I use filters for a first pass -- trying to find those I'm likely to be very interested in, not interested in at all, and those in between. But it's just a starting spot.

Thanks PD,

So I went from a 199 to a 194. Not too happy about it at all. I just hope that more PDs look at my application in their entirety. I released the score just to make sure they have it. Now... a waiting game.

 

[Punkinhead]

I also am disappointed by my lower Step 2 score, coming out today, but too late b/c already score released like an optimistic fool... Step 1:246, dropped about 15 points for Step 2, new 44? version. Oh well, we just have to move on and do the best at interviews. Philosophically, and we are always philosophical when the going is tough, you can spin it that you can overcome adversity and stay cool, just like we need to in residency.

 

[dmitrinyr]

I also am disappointed by my lower Step 2 score, coming out today, but too late b/c already score released like an optimistic fool... Step 1:246, dropped about 15 points for Step 2, new 44? version. Oh well, we just have to move on and do the best at interviews. Philosophically, and we are always philosophical when the going is tough, you can spin it that you can overcome adversity and stay cool, just like we need to in residency.

Dude, honestly this is NOT a big deal and if I was in your shoes I wouldn't worry unless you're applying for ortho, derm, ENT, ophto, urology, plastics which sometimes want nothing less than 240. I'm assuming that you're going from a 99 to a 96 or something like that on your 2 digit number. I'd take that any day of the week as would most people applying for residency. Now if you had a 220 and then dropped to a 205, that would suck and you might take significant hit in interviews depending on what you are applying for. To sum up... don't worry. I know it sucks when you score less than you think you can but many times it's not uncommon for people to have a drop off from a 99 score.

 

[Punkinhead]

thanks dmitrinyr,

Feel kind of douchey now looking back at my sulky post, but you're right, feeling much better now and lucky to have that drop not matter that much. Sometimes SDN makes me myopic in my vision, plus doing psych so step scores not really all that important. ready to go tackle the world again!

 

[dragonfly99]

I think the person with the high 190's was right to release the score...now the programs know he/she passed.

The person that went from 240's to 230 that really doesn't matter...both are high scores. It's unlikely to hurt you unless you were applying for something uber competitive. Psych program directors will be foaming at the mouth when they see your app.

 

[EMBOWAFA]

Bump...

I've got a somewhat similar situation and need your second opinions.

I'm an AMG applying for general surgery with a Step 1 score of 218 (2-digit 90). My step 2 CK came out 2 wks ago and I sadly scored 3 points lower at 215 (2-digit 88). I'm applying to a mixture of university and community programs, but I prefer a spot in university settings. I realize that my step 1 score was much higher than the minimum passing score, so I am not sure if it is worth releasing my CK to show them that I passed as discussed by this thread. At the same time, I am not sure how much weight general surgery residency PDs put on step 2 CK score or if the PDs need Step 2 CK scores to grant an interview.

So should I release my score now? Or should I hold it until a month or two later for match list ranking purposes? Any advices will be appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[howelljolly]

Bump...

I've got a somewhat similar situation and need your second opinions.

I'm an AMG applying for general surgery with a Step 1 score of 218 (2-digit 90). My step 2 CK came out 2 wks ago and I sadly scored 3 points lower at 215 (2-digit 88). I'm applying to a mixture of university and community programs, but I prefer a spot in university settings. I realize that my step 1 score was much higher than the minimum passing score, so I am not sure if it is worth releasing my CK to show them that I passed as discussed by this thread. At the same time, I am not sure how much weight general surgery residency PDs put on step 2 CK score or if the PDs need Step 2 CK scores to grant an interview.

So should I release my score now? Or should I hold it until a month or two later for match list ranking purposes? Any advices will be appreciated! Thanks so much!

According the an NRMP publication...
In General Surgery:

83% of programs "care about" your Step1 - of those, 86.4% have a hard cutoff

75% care about your Step2. 13.1% want a passing score, 68.2% have a cutoff.

Now, I cant seem to find the publication which documents the average board scores by specialty. Anyway, I think it only looked at Step1 score. But off the top of my head, 218 sounds a tad low, no? If anyone can find it and let us know....

 

[EMBOWAFA]

According the an NRMP publication...
In General Surgery:

83% of programs "care about" your Step1 - of those, 86.4% have a hard cutoff

75% care about your Step2. 13.1% want a passing score, 68.2% have a cutoff.

Now, I cant seem to find the publication which documents the average board scores by specialty. Anyway, I think it only looked at Step1 score. But off the top of my head, 218 sounds a tad low, no? If anyone can find it and let us know....

Thanks for the quick response!! I think you're referring to the document "Charting Outcomes in the match 2009". The "matched" surgery interns have an average step 1 score of 224 (up from 222 last year), and step 2 score of 231. I know I am below average on both counts, hence the question about the timing of releasing my step 2. I am wondering if releasing my step 2 ck score now will reflect badly on myself and thus prevent me from getting more interviews. Or, the PDs might just look at my step 2 score as essentially the same as my step 1 score and overlook it? Sorry that I might have made the situation sound more complicated than it actually is. Any other advices about if I should release my step 2 score now or not? 😕

 

[TOMOrrowTherapy]

What if your Step 2 score is ~8 points lower than your step 1 score but still in the 240+ range (and you are applying for radiation oncology)

 

[howelljolly]

thats a lot of whatifs

 

[Doctor Bagel]

What if your Step 2 score is ~8 points lower than your step 1 score but still in the 240+ range (and you are applying for radiation oncology)

I suspect that releasing the score will if anything help you, not hurt you, because it will support that your Step 1 wasn't a fluke, that you're still good at standardized tests, that your knowledge base in clinical years has remained strong, and it tells the program they don't have to worry about you being ineligible to start.

I had basically the same score situation as you except it was a 7 point drop (oh no!), but I'm applying in psych, so I went ahead and released it. If I were applying in something more competitive, I'd probably still release the score because it's still a good score. Since most people in your situation opt to take Step 2 really late and not release the scores, there's no good data there.

 

[RadJon]

😕

 

[gutonc]

I'm applying for general surgery residency. also in the same boat with low step 2. step 1 was 217 step 2 was 201. I haven't released step 2 at all. What/When should I release my scores?
Thanks,

If and only if anyone asks for them.

 

[Buzz Me]

I'm applying for general surgery residency. also in the same boat with low step 2. step 1 was 217 step 2 was 201. I haven't released step 2 at all. What/When should I release my scores?

Definitely wouldn't bring up your Step 2 CK score unless asked. It's only going to hurt your app.

 

[gutonc]

Definitely wouldn't bring up your Step 2 CK score unless asked. It's only going to hurt your app.

It could be argued that the 217 isn't doing him any favors either.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

201 on step 2? ouch.

 

[Buzz Me]

It could be argued that the 217 isn't doing him any favors either.

Well, yeah, might not be as competitive for the bigger Gen Surg programs. But too late now!

 

[gutonc]

Well, yeah, might not be as competitive for the bigger Gen Surg programs. But too late now!

True dat. Hopefully the OP got enough interviews and can sit on the Step 2 score long enough for it to be irrelevant.

 

[RadJon]

Thanks