I want to get step 2 over with....

[IMMC]

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Hello all....
My first posting here.

I'm an M3 and have a decent step 1 score of 233. However, I want to know what you thought of the 3 scenarios below and which one you'd choose. I'm interested in either rad, IM, or pathology.....I may need to try out electives in 2 different specialties during the beginning of 4th year before submitting residency app since I'm not sure what I want to get into.

1) Take step 2 CS/CK 4 weeks after 3rd year. Study full time during those 4 weeks. Pro: Fresh with step 2 material. Con: eats up 2 weeks of my 4th year time that can be used to take electives of specialty I may want to get into.

2) Take step 2 CS/CK in October after taking 4 weeks off/after submitting residency app. Pro: I have maximum number of weeks to do various electives of specialties I may like to get into before residency app is due on Sep 1. Con: I am not as fresh with materials as I can be if I took it in July which is right after 3rd year.

3) Can we even take it in Feb of 4th year?

Lastly, how much time do most people give themselves between CK and CS?

 

[kdburton]

Hello all....
My first posting here.

I'm an M3 and have a decent step 1 score of 233. However, I want to know what you thought of the 3 scenarios below and which one you'd choose. I'm interested in either rad, IM, or pathology.....I may need to try out electives in 2 different specialties during the beginning of 4th year before submitting residency app since I'm not sure what I want to get into.

1) Take step 2 CS/CK 4 weeks after 3rd year. Study full time during those 4 weeks. Pro: Fresh with step 2 material. Con: eats up 2 weeks of my 4th year time that can be used to take electives of specialty I may want to get into.

2) Take step 2 CS/CK in October after taking 4 weeks off/after submitting residency app. Pro: I have maximum number of weeks to do various electives of specialties I may like to get into before residency app is due on Sep 1. Con: I am not as fresh with materials as I can be if I took it in July which is right after 3rd year.

3) Can we even take it in Feb of 4th year?

Lastly, how much time do most people give themselves between CK and CS?

I would go with option 2. You're not going to forget THAT much material from 3rd year after you do a couple electives in whatever specialty you want to go into. Especially if you need to get these electives under your belt for having some sub-i grades on your transcript and some LORs. I basically took this route (I'm taking my exam in mid-Sept however) and while I'm in the process of studying for CK right now I don't feel like I forgot so much that its making the process less efficient than if I had done it right after 3rd year finished.

EDIT: depending on the specialty make sure that they don't require Step 2 scores before they interview you. Apparently this is becoming more popular although I don't think it is anywhere near the majority that require it. All I know is that a handful of the programs I am applying to require Step 2 scores before INVITING for interviews which means that I want my scores out relatively early. I will still have fit in 2 rotations and 3 weeks of dedicated study prior to taking the exam.

 

[SxRx]

yeah, that makes sense. when do you plan to take CS?

 

[kdburton]

yeah, that makes sense. when do you plan to take CS?

I took CS on Monday (the beginning of my month off to study for CK).

 

[bigtymer]

just curious for anyone studying step II right now...im reading FA sections and then doing a random timed block of Uworld...each time i do a block of Uworld i flag like 15 qs and feel like im barely going to get a 50 but am getting an average around the high 70s with just over 50% left....anyone else experiencing this? doing good in uworld is definitely not boosting my confidence as there is so much random BS in there that im just pure guessing on

 

[Rocky Racoon]

just curious for anyone studying step II right now...im reading FA sections and then doing a random timed block of Uworld...each time i do a block of Uworld i flag like 15 qs and feel like im barely going to get a 50 but am getting an average around the high 70s with just over 50% left....anyone else experiencing this? doing good in uworld is definitely not boosting my confidence as there is so much random BS in there that im just pure guessing on

If your getting in the high 70s then you are doing great. I averaged 77% on USMLEworld and ended up with a 271 on the test.
I am not sure if people really need to take off a ton of time for step 2 to study. I went to the library on weekends and did about 60% of USMLEworld and read FA. After 4 months of spending about 10 hours a weekend studying I felt ready and took it 6 weeks into my 4th year.

 

[sendwich]

I would go with option 2. You're not going to forget THAT much material from 3rd year after you do a couple electives in whatever specialty you want to go into. Especially if you need to get these electives under your belt for having some sub-i grades on your transcript and some LORs. I basically took this route (I'm taking my exam in mid-Sept however) and while I'm in the process of studying for CK right now I don't feel like I forgot so much that its making the process less efficient than if I had done it right after 3rd year finished.

EDIT: depending on the specialty make sure that they don't require Step 2 scores before they interview you. Apparently this is becoming more popular although I don't think it is anywhere near the majority that require it. All I know is that a handful of the programs I am applying to require Step 2 scores before INVITING for interviews which means that I want my scores out relatively early. I will still have fit in 2 rotations and 3 weeks of dedicated study prior to taking the exam.

what specialties/programs?