Is Step 2 CK necessary for schools before rank?

[RapidSequence]

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Is Step 2 CS and CK needed for schools before rank?

 

[checkov]

Per report from other students on the interview trail, only two schools (UCSF, U. Oklahoma) explicitly *require* students to have their USMLE Step 2 scores released prior to Match Day. However, I recently received a mass email from the program director at UCSF noting that they waived the USMLE Step 2 requirement for incoming categorical / research-track applicants. So, unless you're applying to Oklahoma, Step 2 is not required.

As a disclaimer, there are certainly situations where a solid Step 2 score would substantially help one's application -- case in point, if you (1) are a foreign medical graduate or (2) had a sub-par Step 1 score. However, if these don't apply to you, I'd just relax and not worry about having a pending Step 2 score.

 

[Scorpio23]

Well I am in the same boat...just now taking my Step 2 and a little worried about scores and rank list. Was able to go on >12 interviews with just step 1 and only 3 places asked about step 2. Didn't really say anything about not ranking me without it.

 

[wena17]

Is there a specific website that states this? Just wondering...

 

[DScully]

I was told that you could potentially ask each program and see if they require step 2 CK to rank you since it varies. However, I was also told that it is better to release it so that it won't look suspicious...

 

[checkov]

Is there a specific website that states this? Just wondering...

I don't think that there is a centralized website that states whether a Step 2 CK/CS score is needed prior to Match Day -- at the very least, FRIEDA does not provide this information.

UCSF has a notice on their website that they require Step 2 information -- here's a clip from their resident application page:

You may visit the UCSF Graduate Medical Education web site for appointment information, contracts, policies, and guidelines.


PLEASE NOTE THIS NEW UCSF GME POLICY CHANGE: A passing score on USMLE Step II (CS and CK) is required for all trainees beginning a UCSF GME program June 2010 and later. To meet this requirement, programs must rank only candidates who have passed USMLE Step II (CS and CK). Selection Policy


Thank you for your interest in our program.

Hope this helps 🙂

 

[DScully]

I think UCSF sent out an email saying that they will make exceptions for CS this year due to schedule / re-schedule difficulty.

 

[RapidSequence]

Well I know most schools don't REQUIRE it... But is it customary or assumed that you should have it in? Does it look odd if you don't have Step 2 CK submitted before rank or do many applicants not have it submitted to schools by then??

Is it true that they may rank you without Step 2 CK but they may rank you lower without it?

Or is the answer that it's simply depends on the school and each department is different?

Thanks everyone

 

[DScully]

So this is what I have been told by my school - JUST SUBMIT IT.

Reason being 1) if you don't submit it by the interview, you are going to get asked and you'd have to explain it anyway, and 2) even if they don't ask you, it looks suspicious if you don't have it by the time they rank you.

I have no clue if they will modify your position on their rank list just because you don't have step 2 CK. Another issue is that there is no way you can just submit your step 2 CK score to a specific program. Once you release it through ERAS, it will go automatically to every program that you applied.

Now, it is possible that you can only update a specific program and hide it from all the others if you decide to mail them the score individually. I am not saying it is not doable...the impression I got from my school is that either way, it looks suspicious and therefore they recommend we release the score anyway.

Hope this helps.

 

[5twilight5]

This is the first time I have heard of a program that said they will rank candidates who only took both CS and CK! Are there other programs other than UCSF?! I have taken CK but not CS...any reason to be concerned 😕

Thanks

 

[MCYan]

As far as i know, i don't think either the CK or CS score is required for an applicant to be ranked. I have interviewed at ~10 places and have explicitly asked each PD if i need those scores to be ranked and the answers were all "no".

 

[ironhorse8]

Does anyone know of programs that do require step 2 CK to rank?

 

[AdmiralChz]

Does anyone know of programs that do require step 2 CK to rank?

Most programs I know of require it, the better question would be which ones do not require it.

 

[ironhorse8]

Most programs I know of require it, the better question would be which ones do not require it.

Sorry I should have been more specific, which programs require Step 2CK scores in ERAS, prior to them ranking you on their ROL? I know it is required for matching/matriculating.

 

[CopaceticOne]

Sorry I should have been more specific, which programs require Step 2CK scores in ERAS, prior to them ranking you on their ROL? I know it is required for matching/matriculating.

When I interviewed most of the programs were explicit that they wanted to see Step 2 scores prior to ranking.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Sorry I should have been more specific, which programs require Step 2CK scores in ERAS, prior to them ranking you on their ROL? I know it is required for matching/matriculating.

Answer is the same, most (all?) programs will not rank you without a CK score. From their end - what if you were to fail, that would be a big problem for the program to address and could delay your start. There are a myriad of other reasons too (sustained success on USMLEs says a lot to a program).

 

[Drowzee]

Does anyone know of programs that do require step 2 CK to rank?

I think there were a few last year that wanted a CK score prior to interviews (OHSU was one). I did pretty well on Step 1 and, for a number of different reasons, didn't end up taking CK until after rank lists were due. I was only asked about it during one interview, but was still ranked highly by that program. Ended up matching to my first choice without CK or CS, so it can be done.