Is USMLE CS Required to be Ranked?

[phillymed123]

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Do residency programs require a passing USMLE CS before they rank you? I'm curious because my CS wont be scored in time before February 20. I take the exam on Jan 9.

I didn't think this would be an issue but a medical student told me most programs won't rank you without a passing CS score.

Thanks for the help.

 

[DrAwsome]

Do residency programs require a passing USMLE CS before they rank you? I'm curious because my CS wont be scored in time before February 20. I take the exam on Jan 9.

I didn't think this would be an issue but a medical student told me most programs won't rank you without a passing CS score.

Thanks for the help.

Depends. If you are an AMG, most programs don't care, since they assume you can speak English and take a history. If you are an IMG, that's a different story. CK is a different story as well.

 

[member77077]

It's program specific. When I searched program websites, some wanted the scores to rank you and some said that they needed the scores before you start in June.

 

[akhim]

whats different about ck? whats the latest i can take CK if i want to be ranked by the program?

 

[DrSnips]

whats different about ck? whats the latest i can take CK if i want to be ranked by the program?

For IMGs, taking CK early enough that it will be submitted with your initial application is imperative. You need to show programs right off the bat you can do well on step 1 AND step 2.

If you are an AMG, then when you take it depends on how your application is doing overall. People with poor step 1s will want to take it earlier (july / august) and ace it to show that their lower step 1 was a fluke. Those with higher step 1s can wait to take it until later in the year, though taking it before the end of December is wise.

 

[b-real]

whats different about ck? whats the latest i can take CK if i want to be ranked by the program?

Well, if you just want your score to be in by the rank deadline, you have to take it by 12/31. That doesn't guarantee, however, that the residency program will look at the score before they finalize their rank list.

 

[phillymed123]

well i guess this answers my question.

website quotes:

"You must have taken and passed USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS prior to the match."

So I would assume that means you need to have a passing score on the CS by Feb. 20 to be ranked.

 

[Raryn]

well i guess this answers my question.

website quotes:

"You must have taken and passed USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS prior to the match."

So I would assume that means you need to have a passing score on the CS by Feb. 20 to be ranked.

This is only true for IMGs. A few, select, residency programs might also require seeing step 2 prior to the match for AMGs, but not the vast majority.