damnit to hell i hate the boards

[Arctic Char]

---

Members don't see this ad.

alright, so i have been on a neuropath elective for the past 3 weeks. i have absolutely loved every minute of it, and have learned a lot at the scope and from reading. However, i have step 2 scheduled in two weeks and have NOT been able to devote a significant amount of energy towards it. i am considering pushing it back to the end of august . . . presuming i can get scores in mid-september.

but here's the thing . . . i have an advanced surgical path elective throughout august, and i want to devote all of my energies to that and get a good letter. i.e. i don't want to study for step 2.

would it significantly hurt my chances of getting interviews if i don't have step 2 reported by september? (I'm a US citizen-IMG) i'd like to push this test back to september and take it while i have free time. what if i called PD's and notified them of my scheduled test date? would that be enough?

 

[KeratinPearls]

You def need a good letter when applying to Pathology.

You need to get your Step 2 score reported by the time you apply, preferably Sept. 1st. If that is not possible, then ASAP.

you are in a tough situation. Whether programs invite you or not is pretty much dependent on each program.

To stand a chance at the stronger programs you need both in by September 1st when the application period starts. It sounds like that won't happen, so you really have to assess yourself to see where you are step 2-wise. You really need to pass the exam.

If you have a solid step 1 score and solid letters of recommendation, then I think you will def be able to get a good number of interviews if you apply widely.

I don't know where you stand with Step 2. How much do you plan to study? Remember it takes 1 month to get scores back, so if you start studying September 1st, take 3 weeks off to study, you won't get scores back until end of October. You also have to take that into account.

Basically, you need to get a good letter and get your passing Step 2 score in prompto.

 

[Arctic Char]

thanks for the reply. its funny, the things i read on here and the words i hear spoken within the dept i'm in are so vastly different. i'm at a "top 10" program right now as a visiting student, and everyone here says "ahh no worries, you'll be fine. step 2? nah, no one cares about step 2. how is your step 1?"

my step 1 is solid.

where does this discrepancy come from?? i gather it has to do with the fact that most of them are inherently competitive applicants with good pedigrees and boards. so they have little to worry about. i like to think i am too, but the fact is - my medical school is not so well-known.

anyway, i think if i took step 2 tomorrow i could pass it, but i want to do well. i want to at least match my step 1 score. if i hammered hard and studied my balls off for the next 3 weeks i could be in ok shape to take it and perform adequately. i just worry about sacrificing my opportunity to shine during my elective, you know?

so, you're saying that without step 2 reported, i will not be looked at, period?

 

[yaah]

Well, there are some programs that will want you to have step II. I doubt all of them will. The fact that you are an IMG (at least, a "sort of" IMG) may change things. In truth, many people don't care about step II if the rest of your application is solid. Others use it in cases where your application is otherwise solid but they want something else to push you over the top. Most places just want to make sure you have it passed by the time residency starts.

 

[deleted57552]

Do most programs require step 2 now? Wow, things really must have changed since I applied. I'm accustomed to applicants in the past saying how if one has a good step 1 score, don't be in any rush to take step 2. Maybe this is not true anymore? I'd be curious to hear...

 

[yaah]

I think some programs have been burned by residents showing up for start of residency with a recent step II failure. And I believe they can't really start work (officially) in many places without having passed it. I may be totally off base there though. Correct me if I'm wrong. There are some state licensing boards which do require step II to be passed before they will issue your resident license.

 

[KeratinPearls]

thanks for the reply. its funny, the things i read on here and the words i hear spoken within the dept i'm in are so vastly different. i'm at a "top 10" program right now as a visiting student, and everyone here says "ahh no worries, you'll be fine. step 2? nah, no one cares about step 2. how is your step 1?"

my step 1 is solid.

where does this discrepancy come from?? i gather it has to do with the fact that most of them are inherently competitive applicants with good pedigrees and boards. so they have little to worry about. i like to think i am too, but the fact is - my medical school is not so well-known.

anyway, i think if i took step 2 tomorrow i could pass it, but i want to do well. i want to at least match my step 1 score. if i hammered hard and studied my balls off for the next 3 weeks i could be in ok shape to take it and perform adequately. i just worry about sacrificing my opportunity to shine during my elective, you know?

so, you're saying that without step 2 reported, i will not be looked at, period?

You will be invited with a "solid step 1 score." How many invites? Who knows. I think if you just pass step 2, apply widely, you should match. Step 2, I would say has very little relevance to the practice of pathology.

I would think the best programs will want to have a pass score on Step 2 before inviting you, but that assumption is program dependent.

 

[Arctic Char]

You will be invited with a "solid step 1 score." How many invites? Who knows. I think if you just pass step 2, apply widely, you should match. Step 2, I would say has very little relevance to the practice of pathology.

I would think the best programs will want to have a pass score on Step 2 before inviting you, but that assumption is program dependent.

right. i had a discussion with the PD here this morning about this very topic. his attitude was quite dismissive, stating that most applicants don't have step 2 scores when they apply, and so most PD's don't bother looking at it. granted, some departments operate differently than others, he added.

i shared with him my concerns that i stated in the OP, and he said that having step 2 scores "is not crucial, and not something to worry about."

"if you have your scores by november then i think you'd be just fine, and have nothing to worry about" he said.

there you have it Bob. i think i am going to continue studying for it as much as i can, but inevitably will keep pushing back, week by week 😉 as soon as i start reading something in First Aid or other review books, i cross-reference one thing with Rosai and then poof! two hours are gone. i love reading about path, but i hate memorizing information for the boards.

anyway, i'm not sure what this information is worth. but thats what i have. thanks again to you guys for helping me figure this out

 

[ustmd2006]

Just wanted to put in my two cents as a U.S. IMG like the OP.

It's true that many of the programs don't specifically require a Step 2 score. However, a lot of them do require that you are ECFMG certified at the time of application (check the websites or email the PCs). Hence, you do have to take and pass both Step 2 CK and CS before applying to these programs. Remember, it takes about 3 weeks to get CK results. And CS results are scheduled (took it at the end of July last year, and didn't get the results until October). After getting in all these results, ECFMG will take an additional 2 weeks before you're certified. I know for a fact that the programs that require ECFMG certification do not even review you're application without it (regardless of your scores). I had a couple programs tell me my application was on hold...once I was certified (mid October), they reviewed my application...however at that point, they had pretty much filled their slots for interview and the best they could do was put me on a wait list (in case applicants cancelled later on in the season)...unfortunately for me, that never happened.

So, I hope that helps. And good luck with the boards and the match! If any IMGs have questions that I may be able to answer, don't hesitate to ask (although I can't promise that I can respond as soon as you'd like...kind of in a busy service right now). 🙂

 

[rirriri]

MOST IMGs will not be looked at in Path without a Step 2 CS and CK pass mark in hand.....it may have been different before...but not anymore.