End of 3rd Year Schedule - when do ophtho elective?

[rocketbooster]

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While I think many coast schools finish 3rd year in May, my school doesn't finish 3rd year until the end of June. You're supposed to apply to ophtho at the end of August, correct?

When do you most ppl fit in an ophtho rotation? Does it need to be done before you send out your apps?

My school wants us to take Step 2 in July or August, but if I do that, that basically uses my only time for an ophtho elective before applying. I don't want to do an ophtho elective in July and then use August for Step 2 because I need extra time to actually apply haha. Just based on my recent Step 1 studying, I don't see it being feasible filling out apps during my 4-week Step 2 study time. So it comes down to what is more important before sending in my app: completing an ophtho elective or Step 2?

I got a 239 on Step 1 and based on what ppl have been telling me here, it might be best to delay my Step 2 anyway because I would have to do really well for it to help me. I'm not planning on slacking off for it, but I won't have an idea on how well I'll do until much later in the year.

If you take Step 2 right after you send out apps, is it automatically sent to residencies? After you get your score, do you have the option to send it or withold it, or is it just automatically sent?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[guttata]

No offense, but you first need to decide on your specialty and worry about the application process later. You obviously want to rule in/rule out early match specialties by the middle/end of your third year. What if you rotate through ophthalmology, and hate it?

That said, your step 1 score is fine and you do not need to take Step 2. Even if you score well, it is difficult to compare applicants (because only a minority take it). Generally speaking, if you have a very low Step 1, you may be screened out - regardless of your step 2 score.

You NEED to have some ophthalmology rotation/experience on your application before you apply. Think about it, how can you convince programs that ophthalmology is for you unless you have some exposure to the field? You will also need letters of recommendations - how are you going to obtain those without rotating through the service?

A lot of your logistics questions will be answered by SF Match (sftmatch.org)