Brutally low step 1, terrified to take step 2

[oddvacado]

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[bustbones26]

Starting off the bat: I got a 192 on step 1, which is horrific and I realize it.
Had a lot of family issues, compounding with the fact that I am an awful test taker, would do awesome in rotations all up until the shelf exam. I got so many borderline scores that despite really amazing comments, I have all sat passes, except in two neurology rotations and a research elective where I have honors. Oh, and one internal medicine block (our school requires three 2-month IM blocks, I've done two, first was honors, second was sat pass).

I have a good amount of research but no publications. The best things about my app are going to be my personal letter (which is sad, because even if I think it's awesome, pretty sure no one will read it), LOR's ("best student I've ever worked with" twice, think that'll end up in those), and an excellent dean's letter based on the clerkship evals I've received.

So with all of that, I am terrified to take step 2 and have pushed it back to mid-September. I want to do neurology, and know that I am good at it, but even though I think I can show a compelling reason for the huge drop in my grades and express it in my personal letter, ultimately I doubt that matters if they think I can't pass the intern year exam or neurology boards.

I just want some feedback, thoughts on if there's a chance still or if I should go start loading the bullets up now. Other facts: low-tier-no-name-middle-of-nowhere med school, 3.45 med school gpa, US grad.

Look around, this type of question has been asked before. Of course you are terrified to take step2, and you will also be terrified to take step 3. When do you have to take step 2? I can share with you how I ended up doing better on later test after an initial bomb, but my method cost some money; however, worth it to avoid failure.

Overall, as I have said on many prior posts, neurology is not ortho, ENT, or dermatology. You have a shot!! You have had your struggles, but keep above water, don't lose it now.

 

[tranzformer]

Starting off the bat: I got a 192 on step 1, which is horrific and I realize it.
Had a lot of family issues, compounding with the fact that I am an awful test taker, would do awesome in rotations all up until the shelf exam. I got so many borderline scores that despite really amazing comments, I have all sat passes, except in two neurology rotations and a research elective where I have honors. Oh, and one internal medicine block (our school requires three 2-month IM blocks, I've done two, first was honors, second was sat pass).

I have a good amount of research but no publications. The best things about my app are going to be my personal letter (which is sad, because even if I think it's awesome, pretty sure no one will read it), LOR's ("best student I've ever worked with" twice, think that'll end up in those), and an excellent dean's letter based on the clerkship evals I've received.

So with all of that, I am terrified to take step 2 and have pushed it back to mid-September. I want to do neurology, and know that I am good at it, but even though I think I can show a compelling reason for the huge drop in my grades and express it in my personal letter, ultimately I doubt that matters if they think I can't pass the intern year exam or neurology boards.

I just want some feedback, thoughts on if there's a chance still or if I should go start loading the bullets up now. Other facts: low-tier-no-name-middle-of-nowhere med school, 3.45 med school gpa, US grad.

Satisfactory grades for clerkships are fine. Depends on your schools system. Only top 10% at mine got honors. Your LOR will matter more than how you did in OB or FM.