Failed Step 2 CK - should I continue?

[lmg34]

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Long time reader. First time poster.


I'll get straight to the point.

I am a US MD student. Started M1 in 2009. Failed Step 1 in 2011. Took the following year off (would have been M3 year). Passed Step 1 with 195.

Finished M3 year with pass / marginal (failed some Shelf exams but made up for them).

Now in M4 year. Just failed the Step 2 CK (scored 195). I haven't submitted my ERAS papers because I did not feel confident about passing CK or CS. Surprisingly, I passed CS.

No need to get into distractions as I'm sure everyone has had to endure some.

I've been given permission to skip my next clinical rotation (1 month) and study for CK. I also have winter break, which should give me about 1.5 months total. Hopefully that will be enough to pass.

Here's what I know from the school:

1. I will be permitted to graduate with the rest of the class this year.

2. I will be permitted to go through ERAS again next year.



Anyway, I have a few questions for y'all.

1. Should I continue with ERAS? Or is it a waste of time at this point? I was shooting for Psych or FM. But by the time I get my CK grades, it'll be some time in January. Will I even get an interview?

2. If I apply this year just for the heck of it (I recall that I must apply to one program to be eligible for the scramble), would that be a disadvantage when I attempt to match next year? Please keep in mind that I've already given up on matching at the end of this school year.

3. If I skip the match process completely this year and do it next year, how much of a disadvantage would I be facing? Also, is that better or worse than applying as a re-applicant?

4. What types of occupations should I look for this year to maximize my chances?

5. At this point, given my history, even if I pass Step 2 CK, I understand that I am not an attractive candidate for any residency. Is it even worth it to stay in medicine?

That's all for now. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Any suggestions / comments are welcome. But please limit the "You should have studied harder" comments as you'll just be preaching to the choir.

Thanks

 

[WaylonS]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I think you should talk to your dean ASAP about this. I think your situation is too complex/important to parse out on SDN. Good luck!

 

[Esprit00]

Are you a US student in a US medical school or a US student in a foreign school?

 

[lmg34]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I guess I should have made it more clear.

I'm an American at a US MD medical school.

Thanks

 

[absolutjag9]

i am really sorry that you have had this happen to you. don't give up-not everything is out of reach. can i ask you why you think you failed?

 

[Esprit00]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I guess I should have made it more clear.

I'm an American at a US MD medical school.

Thanks

If you were an IMG, I would have said to consider another career. As a US student though, it's a bit different. Best advice would come from your Dean. Speak to him/her stat. Sorry to hear about your experience. For your next time around at CK, make sure you don't take the exam unless your average is comfortably above 220. Hopefully a road will open up for you in time.

 

[azuka]

Why did you not apply before your scores came in? That way, failing step 2ck means you don't reveal your scores until after the match. Atleast, that is what I think. I did step 2 the other day, Was doing well on the USMLE World but I was really burnts out on that day and now, think am going to fail. I had submitted my ERAS on sept so I plan on holding any bad step 2 score. I am not sure if that is possible. But thats the plan so far.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

Why did you not apply before your scores came in? That way, failing step 2ck means you don't reveal your scores until after the match. Atleast, that is what I think. I did step 2 the other day, Was doing well on the USMLE World but I was really burnts out on that day and now, think am going to fail. I had submitted my ERAS on sept so I plan on holding any bad step 2 score. I am not sure if that is possible. But thats the plan so far.

Careful with this plan. You don't have to release the score and programs will still interview you without it, but many require a Step 2 score before ranking you.

OP, I would talk to your dean, but if I was in your position, I'd ask myself if I would be happy with any residency in any field in any location. If the answer is yes, then I'd probably go ahead with ERAS and keep my fingers crossed for the scramble if I didn't get any interviews. If the answer is no, then I'd hold off. If you pass Step 2 with a decent score, you'll be a lot more competitive next year if you apply as soon as the application opens. It's just so late this year already that many places have given out the majority of their interviews. Just out of curiosity, what specialty were you aiming for?

 

[elektroshok]

Careful with this plan. You don't have to release the score and programs will still interview you without it, but many require a Step 2 score before ranking you.

OP, I would talk to your dean, but if I was in your position, I'd ask myself if I would be happy with any residency in any field in any location. If the answer is yes, then I'd probably go ahead with ERAS and keep my fingers crossed for the scramble if I didn't get any interviews. If the answer is no, then I'd hold off. If you pass Step 2 with a decent score, you'll be a lot more competitive next year if you apply as soon as the application opens. It's just so late this year already that many places have given out the majority of their interviews. Just out of curiosity, what specialty were you aiming for?

I dont kno if that is true? It might be, but i've heard only like some cali schools won't rank before step 2 is in. Can you point me to where you saw/heard this?

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

I dont kno if that is true? It might be, but i've heard only like some cali schools won't rank before step 2 is in. Can you point me to where you saw/heard this?

The experience of past 4th years/now graduates of my school and here on SDN. Also, according to page 10 of the NRMP program director's survey in 2012, only 20% of programs don't use a Step 2 score when granting interviews. So, 80% of those surveyed do. My guess is that even more use it for ranking since that's done in February.

http://b83c73bcf0e7ca356c80-e8560f4...ads/2013/08/programresultsbyspecialty2012.pdf

 

[johnphilbine]

yes u should continue

 

[DermApp13]

Quitting now is even worth than failing your step 2. Pull yourself together and finish the schooling.

 

[thepoopologist]

You should have options as a borderline USMD student. You may not have choices, but you'll have options.

 

[thehomelessguy]

I dont kno if that is true? It might be, but i've heard only like some cali schools won't rank before step 2 is in. Can you point me to where you saw/heard this?

Know this thread is old, but my experience at various Peds programs (so not uber competitive) is that yes, they want to make sure you at least pass before they will rank you. They have been burned by residents unable to start due to not passing step 2 and are a bit paranoid about it. This is true even if your step 1's are 250+. However as long as they get them by the first week of February or so most places seemed happy.