Help!!

[confused77]

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i got my step I result and was shocked.. got a 189/77.. that is when i had thought my exam went fine..now im down in the dumps 🙁 when i have to start preparing for step 2 CK... i am an FMG and about to finish med school.
any advice as to what should i do?? what books and what questions? what are my chances anyway with my present situation??
PLEASE HELP.. 🙁

 

[mohhaider]

What are your chances ? I think there is always a hope .
Try to make up your STEP 1 score with a good CK score ,US clinical experience and LORs .At least you didnot fail in Step 1 .
As FMG Kaplan lecture notes are fine ,but the most important thing is to practice lot of questions through UW or Kaplan Q bank .
Sure if you're a US citizen or GC holder your chances will be better .
GL

 

[confused77]

how about the kaplan lectures?? and also is there some specific amount of time i should devote to the prep??...step1 i studied solidly for about 2 months..apparently it wasnt enough..

 

[mohhaider]

Yes as FMG 2 months for STEP 1 is not enough ,I think you did not take some test simulations like NBME forms and/or did not practise Q banks .Any way for STEP 2 CK the time you need depends on your knowledge and again before taking the test try some NBME forms and you yourself can judge if you are ready for the REAL test .
As I told you Kaplan lecture notes may be excellent for you .

 

[tfom08]

You are definitely in trouble. There is no way around that. Having said that, I know people who have improved 50+ points from Step I to Step 2 ck (US allo, not FMG) so it is possible. My advice is to hit the Kaplan notes and UWorld and don't take Step II CK until you are scoring on practice exams where your goal score is. And I should think that goal score needs to be 230+ minimum, hopefully 240+.

 

[confused77]

from what i have heard, during the match ur step 1 score is what is looked at for the screening of applications.. in that case can a good step 2 score ever compensate??

 

[tfom08]

from what i have heard, during the match ur step 1 score is what is looked at for the screening of applications.. in that case can a good step 2 score ever compensate??

Yes. I have seen posts on here from PDs who state that they are able to filter applications in a way that Step 1 OR Step 2 > score X will result in the application passing the filter. I know there are programs that require both steps to be above a certain cut off (I have seen 82 and 85, these are for well respected IM programs) but I don't think that is the rule. I have a friend who is applying to EM and scored 200 on Step 1 but has several very strong interviews based on other things and a Step 2 ck improvement of 40+ points. So I am assuming she was not filtered out at too many places despite having a Step 1 score that would probably be filtered at many programs.

 

[Saladin MD]

It's not the end of the world. Step 2 is easier to study for than step 1 in my opinion, so you can definitely improve your score. Do not give up. I know several IMGs who had really low step 1 scores and still matched...many at decent programs.

 

[confused77]

thank u so much for these encouraging words.. i really need them now that im feeling a little lost as to what went wrong in the exam.. what is the ideal prep time i should give for step 2 CK and also for CS ??