Is 235 in step 2 CK enough for IM?

[Horanis]

Hi,
I got 235 in step 2 CK which is below the mean in my score report (which is 238).
I thought I'd get 240+, but that's what I ended up with.
Step 1 is scheduled on August, like everybody else, I'm planning to ace it.
So far, I did 3 months US observerships + 10 months non-US externships. (all hospitals).

I'm a US-IMG, I'm applying for IM next match, hopefully.
YOG: 2011, Year of diploma issued: 2012

With that score, can I be matched in IM in a good place (e.g. university-affiliated programs)?

Thanks

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[shiftingmirage]

You can look at this for your chances
http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uplo...tional-Medical-Graduates-Revised.PDF-File.pdf

For CK scores 231-240, 158 US IMGs matched, 41 did not.

 

[rokshana]

your graduation date is going to play a role, so would try to get a much higher Step I score to help with the lower CK score…and make sure you pass CS…fail that and you will have big issues.

but you should apply to a good number of community programs as well…the goal is to get enough interviews to make sure you have a good shot at matching...

 

[ram006]

Hi,
I got 235 in step 2 CK which is below the mean in my score report (which is 238).
I thought I'd get 240+, but that's what I ended up with.
Step 1 is scheduled on August, like everybody else, I'm planning to ace it.
So far, I did 3 months US observerships + 10 months non-US externships. (all hospitals).

I'm a US-IMG, I'm applying for IM next match, hopefully.
YOG: 2011, Year of diploma issued: 2012

With that score, can I be matched in IM in a good place (e.g. university-affiliated programs)?

Thanks

Mean score of 238? Wow.

 

[Raryn]

Mean score of 238? Wow.

It was 237 when I took the test in 2012. I'm surprised it's only 238 now.

 

[jdh71]

I can't even rn

 

[ram006]

It was 237 when I took the test in 2012. I'm surprised it's only 238 now.

That's nuts, I took it 2011 and it was 226 or something. Had to double check my score report.

 

[Horanis]

That's nuts, I took it 2011 and it was 226 or something. Had to double check my score report.

Maybe you're talking about step 1 score.

 

[disorder]

how do you graduate USIMG without step 1 or 2 scores?

 

[gutonc]

how do you graduate USIMG without step 1 or 2 scores?

Non-Carib school. If you go to a true foreign school, they don't care about the Steps.

 

[lymphohystiocytosis]

Non-Carib school. If you go to a true foreign school, they don't care about the Steps.

Oh man, imagine how much more sane my life would be.

 

[gutonc]

Oh man, imagine how much more sane my life would be.

...and how much lower your chance of matching would be. When I say "non-Carib school" I mean someplace that focuses on training physicians to stay and be doctors in that country. While some will come to the US to complete their training, and some of those will stay, that's not their purpose. So they don't care about the Steps.

If you plan to practice in the US, you need to care about the Steps...a lot.

 

[lymphohystiocytosis]

...and how much lower your chance of matching would be. When I say "non-Carib school" I mean someplace that focuses on training physicians to stay and be doctors in that country. While some will come to the US to complete their training, and some of those will stay, that's not their purpose. So they don't care about the Steps.

If you plan to practice in the US, you need to care about the Steps...a lot.

Of course. And I realize that the US has so many schools, with so many candidates, that the residency system would fall apart without some kind of objective metric to use to compare students. The Steps probably due as good a job at that as we could reasonably expect (barring Step 2 CS, which is nothing but a blatant money grab). But I'm about a year out of Step 1 studying, and the level of neuroticism we see in preparation for that exam makes me wish for a system without Steps, even if it is a fantasy.

 

[ram006]

Maybe you're talking about step 1 score.

Negative

 

[235009]

You need to apply to a very long (150+) and realistic list of programs that is mostly community programs. Feel free to apply to university programs on undesirable locations but don't hold your breath.

 

[DermViser]

You need to apply to a very long (150+) and realistic list of programs that is mostly community programs. Feel free to apply to university programs on undesirable locations but don't hold your breath.

That's harsh.