how important is it to take CS before ERAS apps?

[JoseyCali123]

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hi everyone,

i wont have my CS score in before eras apps are due. how much will this hurt my application for psychiatry?

 

[FlowRate]

Unless the game has really changed in a few years, minimally or none. Unless you're an IMG--then it matters.

Step 1: mandatory
Step 2: very helpful if your Step 1 is < 230-240 (program dependent). Probably not important if your Step 1 is >250 and you're coming from a decent school with an otherwise good application. Still need to have it submitted before rank lists are finalized.
Step 2CS: mandatory before rank lists are finalized

 

[Old&InTheWay]

But do take it early enough so that on the off chance you fail, you’ll have time to retake it with scores back before mid-February.

 

[FFH]

A passing score CS may be required for some program for interview based on the NPRM PD survey page 132. However, it's unknown whether it applies to USMD since the data included everybody.
https://mk0nrmpcikgb8jxyd19h.kinsta...NRMP-2018-Program-Director-Survey-for-WWW.pdf

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Unless the game has really changed in a few years, minimally or none. Unless you're an IMG--then it matters.

Step 1: mandatory
Step 2: very helpful if your Step 1 is < 230-240 (program dependent). Probably not important if your Step 1 is >250 and you're coming from a decent school with an otherwise good application. Still need to have it submitted before rank lists are finalized.
Step 2CS: mandatory before rank lists are finalized

"The Game" hasn't changed that much for CS for US grads (except don't expect much sympathy if you schedule it late, screw up, and can't get it done in time to have us that passing score before ranking!). But I've seen too many applicants getting the bad advice to postpone 2CK. This mythology seems especially to prevail where they have a good Step 1 and someone has misinformed them that they might not get interviewed if they appear to "do worse" on Step 2. It's a lot better to be interviewing with passed Steps and remove that seed of doubt from our minds.

 

[FlowRate]

"The Game" hasn't changed that much for CS for US grads (except don't expect much sympathy if you schedule it late, screw up, and can't get it done in time to have us that passing score before ranking!). But I've seen too many applicants getting the bad advice to postpone 2CK. This mythology seems especially to prevail where they have a good Step 1 and someone has misinformed them that they might not get interviewed if they appear to "do worse" on Step 2. It's a lot better to be interviewing with passed Steps and remove that seed of doubt from our minds.

Do you think having CK in changes your invite patterns for people with otherwise strong applications (high step 1, no academic/professionalism red flags)?

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Do you think having CK in changes your invite patterns for people with otherwise strong applications (high step 1, no academic/professionalism red flags)?

They'll get an invite before an identical app that doesn't have it in.

 

[ridethecliche]

I scored a 21x on step 1 and it was really helpful to have 2CK back before I sent out apps since i got a 23x. I had some other things on my app that were likely put to rest by the CK score.

I took cs late and had to email programs when I got the score back recently... Do not recommend... Get it done early.

 

[XannyBarz]

i didn't take Ck*** until late September and I think I got passed over by some programs that I thought I was competitive for

 

[psychattending]

Having CS is less important than having CK done.

 

[JoseyCali123]

I scored a 21x on step 1 and it was really helpful to have 2CK back before I sent out apps since i got a 23x. I had some other things on my app that were likely put to rest by the CK score.

I took cs late and had to email programs when I got the score back recently... Do not recommend... Get it done early.

Did you get interviews once you emailed them about your step 2 CS score? I'm going to get my step 2 CK score back but step 2 CS... I think the latest that I'll get it is mid-October.

 

[ridethecliche]

Did you get interviews once you emailed them about your step 2 CS score? I'm going to get my step 2 CK score back but step 2 CS... I think the latest that I'll get it is mid-October.

I had to notify them that I passed well after interviews were all wrapped up. I got interviews without the score but folks wanted to know when I was taking it so they could be sure the score was in before ranks went in.

 

[FFH]

As previously mentioned, it depends on the programs and on how competitive the other parts of your application. Unless you are a rock star applicant, for a peace of mind, try to have the results of CK in before MSPE release on Oct 1st. At the moment there are 1.5 applicants for every spot, better not to give anyone a reason to filter your application out.

That being said, it's not the end of the world if your schedule just don't work out. n=2, a friend who applied last year and myself both did well interview wise without CK/CS score, thankfully.

 

[ridethecliche]

Just for the record... FFH is a friggin rock star though. So do as she says, not as she does 😉

 

[DrHouse-of--cards]

Because of how Psychiatry has changed (competitiveness) I have asked quite a few PDs (n ~ 15)
- majority say they want CK/CS scores when ERAS opens and this did NOT used to be the case
- these PDs said the vast majority of all the applicants they received has CK/CS scores already uploaded

So it seems things have changed and this is the new normal for psych