Applying to residency with a CS failure

[jumbo1979]

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I am worried about my future with the upcoming match. A while back I found out I failed USMLE step 2 CS on ICE and I’ve been having a hard time motivating myself to continue. I am currently booked for a Kaplan course to remedy the situation and will be retaking it in time for my result to come in October/November.



As far as the other components of my application, I got 257 on Step 1 and 264 on Step 2. I also am in need of a visa when I apply. I did my schooling in the Caribbean so all my clinicals were done in the US.



My question to you guys is, what is the standard procedure when it comes to applying in September with a failed CS, can I not submit the failure and then submit it when I get a pass hopefully in oct/nov?



Also from your experience, given my overall application, do I still stand a good chance in Family and IM? Will I still get interviews before my CS score comes in?



Thanks for reading and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Phloston]

I am worried about my future with the upcoming match. A while back I found out I failed USMLE step 2 CS on ICE and I’ve been having a hard time motivating myself to continue. I am currently booked for a Kaplan course to remedy the situation and will be retaking it in time for my result to come in October/November.



As far as the other components of my application, I got 257 on Step 1 and 264 on Step 2. I also am in need of a visa when I apply. I did my schooling in the Caribbean so all my clinicals were done in the US.



My question to you guys is, what is the standard procedure when it comes to applying in September with a failed CS, can I not submit the failure and then submit it when I get a pass hopefully in oct/nov?



Also from your experience, given my overall application, do I still stand a good chance in Family and IM? Will I still get interviews before my CS score comes in?



Thanks for reading and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I'm just going to get this out of the way and say that I am shocked (and actually annoyed at the system) to hear that you've done so well on the Steps and have had this setback with 2CS. I'm sitting on a 262/260 and am awaiting my CS result and have been worrying about my ICE as I can recall a lot of stuff that didn't go particularly well. Do you mind sharing what you think happened with ICE (e.g., not handwashing/closing, etc.). But anyway, to keep this focused on you/your questions:

1) A 257/264 is really good. I cannot imagine you not getting interviews somewhere, despite the CS setback. Just apply to a lot of places. Your scores, regardless of the CS result, are exceedingly competitive for FM/IM, and no one can deny that. I actually don't think the IMG/Caribbean status will hurt you here as your scores make up for that (some will disagree with me but I truly do think you scores overcome it). If you were sitting on a 207/214, then I would certainly say the setback on 2CS would be a serious barrier. In your case, your numerical results save you big time.

2) Yes, there will be places that don't offer you an interview based objectively off of this CS result, but other programs will not have that objective screening measure. I believe the indicator as to what role the CS result will have on you matching at any particular program will be whether you're invited for an interview there. In other words, if the CS fail is going to keep you out of a particular program, it won't have an impact in any post-interview round-table discussion; the fail will only have an impact with respect to determining whether you get an interview there to begin with.

3) Be flexible with where you are willing to go. Remember that you'll be a great doctor no matter which program you're at.

4) My advice if you're set on "top" programs (cuz your scores are high) is to apply to preliminary IM as well, where you can hope the CS outcome won't matter if you reapply as a prelim-IM PGY-1 into a categorical IM.

I hope that helps.

 

[notbobtrustme]

the visa is a bigger deal than the cs fail

 

[swoops49]

I feel that you have nothing to worry about. I know we all make our judgement call based on what we have read. But unless these people are program directors it's all speculation. So I would suggest going to the nrmp match data page and downloading ecfmg PDF. http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uplo...tional-Medical-Graduates-Revised.PDF-File.pdf
Its From 2013 but I don't think that will significantly change. So the data for matched candidates shows that mean step 2cs for all fields is more than 1.0. So I think you can match into any field. But yes I am sure some programs will accept applications only from candidates who passed on their 1st attempt. You may have to settle for a mid tier program if that. But again that's my view. You obviously are bright enough to make your own judgment call after looking at the data.

As for releasing your fail. I think it's one transcript for step 2 so you will have to release both. This point I am not sure about since I have not applied yet but from my readings I think that's how it goes. But either way you can just submit your application as soon as you get your pass. From what I read some programs only accept ecfmg certified candidates which you won't get till after your cs pass so you'll have to wait for that anyway.

I watched kaplans residency match video with the program directors and they did say they don't mind receiving an email when there has been change to your application. So you could apply and email the programs once there is a change. Though that might be risky since might annoy the PD. again judgement call by you.

 

[coreytayloris]

@Phloston did you pass you CS?

 

[Phloston]

@Phloston did you pass you CS?

Yeah. I'll post about it some time later.