Help! Just found out I failed for step 2 CK for 2nd time!

[Meaty]

Hello all, I am a new member and I need your guidance and wisdom.
I'm a 4th year medical student at allopathic school in east coast.
I have been having a terrible year. I just found out that I failed step 2 CK for a 2nd time. First time I missed the passing by 1 point and 2nd time i did worse, missed the passing mark by 8 points. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. Grant it, I suck at standardized exam( step 1 198,and on rotation shelf exams I got mostly upper 60 and low 70's.

I just don't why I can't pass this step 2 ck exam when I can pass step 1. I used First Aid step 2 ck, USMLEWORLD, and crush step 2ck. Timing is not a issue since I usually have 5 minutes to spare. But I will say I have always had an anxiety issue. I feel like sometimes I blank out when i sit there for 8 hrs.

So I have decided to take a Kaplan review course just to get major concepts down, and redo USMLEWORLD.

Any suggestions, Please, since I want to graduate on time with my fellow students. I realized that hurdles makes a person stronger, but I don't think I can stomach another hurdle.🙁

Thanks!

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[ShyRem]

Another thought is, can you match with two failing step 2 scores? There is definitely time to retake your step 2. But if you can't match that's another problem. You will be pushed into repayment without a residency paycheck coming in.

I'd go talk to your dean and your financial aid folks ASAP while you make plans for a review course. Might do you well to take vacation for your review course, study time, and exam, and delay graduation for a year.

 

[peppy]

Sorry to hear that you suffered this setback. I can imagine that must have been devastating.
I think that doing the Kaplan course is a good idea if nothing else to give you some structure to your studying. Did you take the NBME practice tests last time?
I hope that things go better next time for you. My understanding was that this shouldn't affect starting residency as long as you are able to pass it before it's time to graduate.
All the best to you!

 

[Knicks]

......You will be pushed into repayment without a residency paycheck coming in........

How does one deal with a nightmare like that?

 

[peppy]

How does one deal with a nightmare like that?

The FA folks at my school said that if one is unemployed after med school that one is supposed to talk to the lenders about forbearance (interest still accumulates but you don't have to make payments).
It definitely is a good idea to talk to the FA people at one's school about this sort of issue just to be prepared but I hope that this person isn't panicking over such issues before it becomes clear that it will be a problem. There's no need to borrow extra trouble/anxiety when you need to be able to focus on studying for next time.

 

[slowlybutshelly]

I cant make the match until I pass step2 ck. my loans have now been defaulted on salliemae; I used up all my forbearance and salliemae wont bend. I am happy to not have salliemae call me anymore. and i am sure like all this other financial stuff going on in the USA, lenders are just selling out loans. I am starting to think of the educational loan industry much like the car industry, or credit card industry.

I am sure i will find those loans someday somewhere when i get a residency paycheck.

Until then, I must study for step 2ck and pass ( last chance) and fend off these loan people from calling me.

I have thought about taking an epi job or data entry or something. but i am under a time crunch. If i want my liscence I must pass step2 ck this year and step3 as soon as possible after that.

any suggestions on how to deal with lenders?

 

[slowlybutshelly]

I am in that boat and it a nightmare. Salliemae loans defaulting..and i must pass stepck.

 

[hooperg]

I sincerely empathize with the pain and worry that you are going through. My best suggestion is to absolutely not take any job, even part time, that will detract from your study time. If you are barely failing step 2 CK repeatedly, you may have learned some concepts incorrectly the first time *OR* you are omitting something critical.

Advice: 1. Borrow a new copy of First Aid for Step 2 that can be marked in.
2. Utilize USMLE World for Step II in a study, not evaluation, context.
3. Listen to GOLJAN's audio lectures for HEMATOLOGY as they are VERY step 2 relevant and still high yield.
4. Consider a review course if financially attainable. If not, supplement First Aid/World with other books on specific subjects that you are weak in.
5. Determine your weaknesses by purchasing NBME Forms for Step 2 and then studying your weak areas. Do this, review non-weak material hastily, and then retake. Try to space these exams by at least 2 weeks.
6. Attempt to negotiate a minimum payment with Salliemae if they will not negotiate forbearance. If they do not bend, threaten to file for bankruptcy. They will pass you along up the chain of command until you get someone that listens.

Until then, stay strong. You've made it this far. ::hugs:: and thumbs up.

 

[ucsfstudents]

Dear OP,

Sorry to hear that you're having such a tough time passing Step 2 CK. If you did well on your clinical rotations, I would make a bet that your test taking anxiety is leading to these low scores, and unless you deal with that issue, no amount of studying will make up for it. Maybe a visit to a school counselor and learning specialist might be of help.

Taking multiple choice questions is a skill, and it might be helpful if a learning specialist, or someone who is familiar with exam taking skills, evaluates your thought process and tries to address any lingering issues.

Best of luck!!!

 

[FutureInternist]

6. Attempt to negotiate a minimum payment with Salliemae if they will not negotiate forbearance. If they do not bend, threaten to file for bankruptcy. They will pass you along up the chain of command until you get someone that listens.

You still have to repay the loans even if you file for bankruptcy

 

[FutureDocDO]

Often times students try to study too much for boards thinking the more books they read the better. I don't think that's the case if you breeze through each book only once. Just pick one good book and know it well. I like First Aid. Memorize that book! Go over it as many times as you can then test what you can remember by doing USMLEWORLD. Make sure you read all the explanations for the questions. Do not rush through UWorld. Go slow and memorize/understand their explanations. You should be able to pass comfortably with those two resources. Good luck!

 

[Knicks]

*Disclaimer: This post isn't necessarily about/for me.*

Quick question:

If someone fails, but then eventually passes, are ALL the scores (BOTH passing and failing) released to ERAS/NRMP? or can you choose which scores are released/withheld?

Thanks.

 

[JAR]

You still have to repay the loans even if you file for bankruptcy

Really? 👎 So why file it?

 

[jakstat]

. There's no need to borrow extra trouble/anxiety when you need to be able to focus on studying for next time.

Agreed.

Shyrem is such as troll. If you have no personal experience or helpful advice then please don't post. And please stop telling people who failed the PE to watch the video as if thats the sole difference between passing and failing.

I am in the same boat as you...and a terrible test taker. Your #1 focus is passing this exam. So push finiancials aside. Really analyze why your doing poorly. Do this by either analyzing your study method or signing up for a prep course where you can get feedback. I know for me, I really have trouble interpreting the meaning of the question even though I know the diagnosis. Also First aid might not be the best source. It really gives you the barebones and leaves it up to you to connect the dots so to speak. So you could theoretically memorize the whole book, but not know the underlying physiology. Or develop test taking skills for that matter.

 

[shsgrad]

Another thought is, can you match with two failing step 2 scores? There is definitely time to retake your step 2. But if you can't match that's another problem. You will be pushed into repayment without a residency paycheck coming in.

Why would you say that ShyRem? Just because you don't "match" doesn't mean you will not get a residency spot. There's a little thing called "the scramble". I am happy that you were successful in the match, but everyone wasn't as fortunate, so please try to be a bit more sensitive. 😳

Anywho, your main focus right now should be the exam. There are programs out there that go without filling their positions and have residents start off cycle. Keep the faith and stay focused. You started this journey, you're going to finish it.

 

[ShyRem]

My comment had nothing at all to do with success in the match, but rather a significant concern for the OP that their specialty of choice or school requires a passing step 2 CK score. Not uncommon. The place I was rotating at when match lists were being made had several meetings regarding their list - because as they stated "as failing test scores are coming in, we have to remove people from our list because we don't take students who fail the step 2." More than a few residencies require passing of step 2 CK prior to match to rank, and I've heard more and more students and PDs alike stating a passing step 2 CK is a requirement for their contract. So even that "little thing called the scramble" wouldn't help the OP in those situations.

In their shoes, I probably would not consider all the issues that may come up - rather like students who fail boards multiple times and are unaware there are states they can not get a license if they take more than 3 attempts per level, or more than 5 attempts overall for all steps combined, etc.

My comment was a warning to keep in mind they might need a backup plan for the next year and to contact their Dean with questions ASAP. It was a very sensitive comment indeed, meant to nudge the OP into consideration of any unanticipated consequences of their situation, and meant in no way to be self-aggrandizing.

To the OP: How are things going? Were you successful in the match? Do you have a plan for the CK exam?