Does UCSF need your Step 2 CK?

[Knucklehead]

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How serious are they about having your Step 2 CK before they rank you?

 

[Gfunk6]

Very serious. Last year, when the policy was first implemented, PDs had leeway to defer th requirement for applicants. This year it has been fully implemented and there are no exceptions. With that said, if you have an exceptional circumstance it won't hurt to let our PD know.

 

[locaperonoloca]

What if you've taken it in early February and don't have your score back by the final rank date? Thanks!

 

[Gfunk6]

Technically a passing score is required prior to the rank list deadline. If this is not going to happen, I'd contact our PD.

 

[rad doc wannabe]

any other programs that requires this?

 

[_T_]

Yea I was curious about this as well.. I was gonna wait to take CK till pretty late hoping that a decent Step 1 would supplant this

 

[fotografía]

I'm also debating the step 2 ck issue. Got a 248 on step 1. Seems solid to me - I don't think my board scores are going to make or break my application in this range.

West coast would create a lot of relationship strain. I haven't made up my mind about where I will apply yet but from what I've been told only west coast programs favor (maybe) seeing step 2ck scores before ranking applicants.

So, I'm leaning towards taking it late... Any more thoughts on this?

 

[DukeNukem]

I was extremely interested in UCSF because their research is very strong in the area where I've done a lot of research. I did all my aways on the west coast and my application was fairly clear that I want to be on the west coast. My supplemental application for UCSF included a first-author, high-impact journal publication, and highlighted specific investigators at UCSF I knew, whose research was similar to mine, and with whom I'd love to work. I probably should have awayed specifically at UCSF, but alas, I was trying to save some money so I went to another, cheaper locale, west coast program.

I took step 2 CK very early in part because my step 1 was about the national average for rad onc and in part because I knew UCSF would be a top rank for me. I knocked step 2 CK out of the park.

Alas, UCSF didn't invite me to interview. There are no other programs that require the score to rank. So I kind of wasted my time. So after all that, I wouldn't recommend taking step 2CK for UCSF. If you do end up getting an interview, then think about cramming it into your November, December, and xmas break time to get the score back for rank list time. This is what a buddy of mine did (mostly for UCSF) and he scored very well.