I already matched, but if I fail step 2 CS will I lose my residency position?

[ILikeEyeballs]

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I'm almost at the end of medical school and have matched into my dream transitional year and ophthalmology residency programs. At this point, I should feel like I can finally relax after working my butt off the past 8 years and investing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

However, I took step 2 CS in February and will not get my score report until late April. I've been pretty successful in everything I've done so far in medical school, but am really worried that I may have failed step 2 CS. I didn't prepare like I should have and barely looked at first aid. On top of that, I've always struggled with standardized patients. The artificial nature of the standardized patient encounter always throws me off and I've heard all these horror stories about solid students who somehow fail step 2 CS. Since I won't be getting my score report until late April, there probably wouldn't be enough time to retake it and get a passing score before I start intern year on July 1st.

So my question is this: if I failed step 2 CS and don't have a passing score by the time I'm supposed to start my intern year, will I lose my residency position? This would also mean I would probably have to give up my ophthalmology position too and go through the interview process again.

I know there's only a slim chance I failed. But I've worked so hard to get to this point and the thought that failing this stupid test could ruin everything is keeping me up at night.

 

[FutureInternist]

I think the rule is that you must have graduated in order to start residency. However, the new add-on to that is that you must have passed Step 2 CS in order to graduate.
While there is a slim chance of you failing, I would just start studying for it NOW, so that you can register for an early exam date, as soon as you get your results.

 

[ILikeEyeballs]

Thanks for the advice. I will be sure to prepare just in case. I'm pretty embarrassed that I blew it off the 1st time and put myself in this position. I'm normally extra careful about these kinds of things.

My school doesn't require step 2 cs to graduate. So in that case, I guess I have nothing to worry about if the only requirement to starting residency is graduating medical school, right?

 

[FutureInternist]

Except finding time to study for & then take it during residency.
Check with the program just to be sure.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Thanks for the advice. I will be sure to prepare just in case. I'm pretty embarrassed that I blew it off the 1st time and put myself in this position. I'm normally extra careful about these kinds of things.

My school doesn't require step 2 cs to graduate. So in that case, I guess I have nothing to worry about if the only requirement to starting residency is graduating medical school, right?

Well, I know my future program requires you pass CS by the end of intern year. My med school also doesn't require a passing score to graduate. Ask you transitional program about their rules. You can potentially retake CS in May, before you start, and get that passing score by August.

Remember, it's not necessarily the easiest thing for your future program to fill your spot that quickly (with a candidate as strong as you are, anyways).

P.S. I also took CS in Feb and coninue to wait for my score.

 

[boobelle]

Thanks for the advice. I will be sure to prepare just in case. I'm pretty embarrassed that I blew it off the 1st time and put myself in this position. I'm normally extra careful about these kinds of things.

My school doesn't require step 2 cs to graduate. So in that case, I guess I have nothing to worry about if the only requirement to starting residency is graduating medical school, right?

Well, aside from graduating you also need a license. I'd also check what the licensing requirements are for the state you'll be going to for residency. I know some states don't require CS in order to qualify for a restricted/limited license (the type you need to work as a resident), but I'm not sure if that's true for all states...