I recently got my results of Step 2 CK and I did not pass. Needless to say I have been freaking out. I'm currently going through the Match and I'm not sure exactly what the requirements are for starting residency. Do I have to have a passing score on Step 2 before starting a residency?
Failed Step 2 CK - freaking out
- Thread starter starwolf
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We have to pass Step 2 (both parts) to graduate.
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I have seen residency spots that do not require the CK to have been passed for an interview...but they are meaning one hasn't taken it yet and must have it taken,and passed, before starting July 1st. Having a failed attempt is another story. I have a couple of friends who interviewed without Step 2 scores but they had the CK scheduled and scored above 250 on the step 1. I think it's pretty rare that someone scores that high on Step 1 then fails step 2ck. The match is coming to an end so when you say you are going through it, I assume you have gotten interviews thus far? If so, did they mention your step 2ck? If you were an impressive candidate...some programs will probably dump you after seeing you failed ck. Other programs might not but they will most likely be lower caliber programs...if you applied to any of that sort. There are some programs I've seen that say, 'Must have Step 2CK before starting: No'. However, not having taken the exam is not as detrimental as having failed it, especially if your Step 1 is a good score. I would worry about places you have interviewed at not ranking you due to the failed attempt. But I think this depends on your other application stats.
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There are two issues. The first is school-specific: what do you need to graduate in May? It varies-- my school requires that we pass CK, but that we only *take* CS, for example.
The second-- which is likely weighing on your mind right now-- is what you need to match for residency. Consider your application and the interviews you've had already. Did you check the box to send your CK scores on to your programs automatically?
If it were me, I'd think long and hard about why I failed (poor knowledge base? inadequate preparation? blew off the test?). I'd extend my subscription to USMLE world and do at least 100 questions per night. I'd sign up to take the test again almost immediately, so that you'll have a Pass by the time programs are compiling their rank lists in February. If your programs are going to see your scores, I would try and do some damage control: perhaps consider contacting the ones that you're interested in and offer some sort of reassurance that the failure isn't indicative of your true capabilities.
Of course, you haven't told us much about yourself. Perhaps you failed courses in medical school, have multiple attempts on Step 1, failed shelf exams, repeated rotations, are taking more than 4 years to graduate, or have some other red flags.
The second-- which is likely weighing on your mind right now-- is what you need to match for residency. Consider your application and the interviews you've had already. Did you check the box to send your CK scores on to your programs automatically?
If it were me, I'd think long and hard about why I failed (poor knowledge base? inadequate preparation? blew off the test?). I'd extend my subscription to USMLE world and do at least 100 questions per night. I'd sign up to take the test again almost immediately, so that you'll have a Pass by the time programs are compiling their rank lists in February. If your programs are going to see your scores, I would try and do some damage control: perhaps consider contacting the ones that you're interested in and offer some sort of reassurance that the failure isn't indicative of your true capabilities.
Of course, you haven't told us much about yourself. Perhaps you failed courses in medical school, have multiple attempts on Step 1, failed shelf exams, repeated rotations, are taking more than 4 years to graduate, or have some other red flags.
A little about myself: No failures in med school, no extra time off taken, passed Step 1 first attempt but not a high score. So this is really my only real problem ever in med school. I have been interviewing for the past couple of months. Oh, my school does not require that we pass Step 2 CK for graduation, just that we take it.
Are the requirements for starting residency program specific? I haven't really seen anything about this while searching.
Thanks.
Are the requirements for starting residency program specific? I haven't really seen anything about this while searching.
Thanks.
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I would defer to aPD (or any PD actually) on this but I'm pretty sure the various RRCs require successful completion/passing of Steps 1 and 2 to start residency. I may be wrong and the ACGME website is nearly useless in terms of easy access to information but I did find that Prev Med at least requires passing of both steps.
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Fascinating about Prev Med. Learn something new every day.
Most fields do not have a rule about this. However, you can still get in trouble several ways:
1. some states require a training / provisional license, which might require passage of Step 2
2. Some institutions will require passage of Step 2 for credentialing.
Both of these issues give you plenty of time to retake Step 2. As mentioned above, if programs find out you failed Step 2 this is almost certain to lower your ranking, or drop you off the list altogether. If you automatically released your scores, all programs will now know. If not, you may be asked about it. If so, do not try to cover this up. Should you state "I haven't received my scores yet" and then your failure is discovered, that's fraud and you can be fired immediately.
Thanks for the advice.
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knowing what i know now i'd take an extra year in med school, suck it up, and reapply next year. here's my story:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6510279&postcount=133
as you can see it worked out for me but i would not wish my experience on ANYONE.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6510279&postcount=133
as you can see it worked out for me but i would not wish my experience on ANYONE.
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So why dont you retake it next month, pass, and programs will be none the wiser.
