Focusing on Step 2 for Neuro?

[jessimai1]

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I am a third year and am quite interested in persuing a career in Neurology. The prob is I had Hodgkin's Dz during part of first and second year, and while I am in great health now, my grades and Step 1 score took a serious beating during chemo and radiation (below the means). How much emphasis is put on Step 2 scores in the neuro match? Should I work super hard to max out that score, or spend more time doing a rotation at a school I am interested in? Any advice?

 

[GopherBrain]

I am a third year and am quite interested in persuing a career in Neurology. The prob is I had Hodgkin's Dz during part of first and second year, and while I am in great health now, my grades and Step 1 score took a serious beating during chemo and radiation (below the means). How much emphasis is put on Step 2 scores in the neuro match? Should I work super hard to max out that score, or spend more time doing a rotation at a school I am interested in? Any advice?

What are your future plans? That is the most important factor. Do you want to go to a "good" program, or does your ego demand a shot at the top? Have you thought about academic vs. private practice?

In any case, do well on the wards. Try to rack up the honors grades in your required rotations. This will save you.

You could try to kill Step 2, it is a reasonable idea... However, simply scoring the mean will likely be sufficient for a lot of neurology programs. Again, do you wish for "State U" or "Snooty U"?

Away rotations are a double edged sword. If you have your heart set on a program, an away rotation will probably get you at least a courtesy interview. If you are open to a lot of options, there are probably other, more valuable, ways to spend your elective time.