CS results before match

[GoodDocBadDoc]

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I am an american soon to be grad running out of time for the CS exam results before match. Does anyone know how not taking the exam and not having results affects how programs rank u ? Thanks

 

[Thyroid Storm]

I'm too curious what people's experience has been.

In my experience thusfar, many program directors don't even know about it. If you take it before the Match and pass, great. If you don't take it, also great. If you take it and fail (like I did, which really sux), chances are that people will not even mention it if the rest of your application is decent. How will failing affect my match? I won't know that until March, unfortunately, but my dean says "it's not as big of a deal as you think."

Take care.
-TS

 

[littledubs]

Correct me if I am wrong but if you are applying for the Match this year and took the exam after September you are the only one who controls who sees your exam results. I believe this applies to CK and CS. Assuming you selected 'No' to the second question in ERAS regarding releasing your Step scores, they are only seen by programs if you send them to the programs. Isnt this the case?

 

[chintu]

Yes , that's correct. If you selected "no" to automatic release then you are the one who controls whether or not the programs get the results. If I had taken the exam and failed I would certainly not release the result at this point. I myself will not be taking this test until after the match so its not like the results are required for one to match. Yes, its required before residency but not before match.

 

[brent311]

but if you have a decent to good step one then what are the chances they will ask you questions like: have you took it yet?When are you taking it? we require/like to have your scores b/f ranking, ect.

I was thinking about taking PE part in like May and written part in Dec. so that way I dont have to worry about hardcore studying for step II written but they will see that I havnt totally slacked off and I already did my PE part.

Good Idea??

 

[dolcegab]

Unrelated question, anyone knows what happens if you fail CS but won't get back the results of the retake in time for the start of residency (essentially, not having passed CS by intern start date)? Thanks.

 

[future pharm]

I was under the impression that you were required to have passed step 2 ck/cs before you were allowed to participate in the match.

 

[165808]

I was under the impression that you were required to have passed step 2 ck/cs before you were allowed to participate in the match.

Nope, not in general. Every program has different requirements, though. No program I've looked into has required passage of CK or CS to be ranked, but passage of CK is usually recommended and a decent score can result in a bit higher rank on their list....

Definitely not CS, though. Just by the start of residency, for most.

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

Nope, not in general. Every program has different requirements, though. No program I've looked into has required passage of CK or CS to be ranked, but passage of CK is usually recommended and a decent score can result in a bit higher rank on their list....

Definitely not CS, though. Just by the start of residency, for most.

What if I passed CK but got a slightly lower score than my above average Step 1 score? Should I release it before the match or wait? Or are programs no longer downloading scores, so maybe it won't make any difference?

 

[nevercold]

What if I passed CK but got a slightly lower score than my above average Step 1 score? Should I release it before the match or wait? Or are programs no longer downloading scores, so maybe it won't make any difference?

Probably depends on the actual score. I was above average on Step 1, scored 6 points lower but still enough above average on Step 2 that I felt comfortable about schools seeing my score. Statistically, there's not much difference between scores separated by so few points (would be within the expected variance on various testing dates). That being said, if you were just a couple points above average on Step 1 and your Step 2 was right at average, maybe programs would notice that? More likely they'd say "Oh look, he basically did the same as on Step 1." But hey, if you're worried and haven't released the scores, maybe you don't need to!