Step II July vs. Later

[GreenShirt]

Did a search on SDN regarding when to take Step II and came to the following conclusions:

Take in July if:
1) Your program requires the score for you to interview/audition.
2) Your Step I was shabby and you want to boost your app with a good Step II score.

Take later if:
1) You were a rock star on Step I
2) Your app is good enough as is for the programs to which you're applying.

Finally, don't be too late b/c programs want to know you passed before they rank.

Is that correct? Any other thoughts?

 

[Frugal Traveler]

This is an accurate assessment.

In retrospect, I wish I would have taken both Step 2CK and 2CS earlier. Some programs are now requiring both to rank you (look at each program website when applying), so you need to be careful especially with Step 2CS's time lag to get your score back.

For both of the exams, I wish I had taken them earlier because once you start getting interviews and such, it gets hard to study. The other thing is that the information is fresh from your MS3 clerkships, so that gives you a slight advantage.

One thing to consider is that submitting ERAS is easy, but personal statement and LORs are going to be the limiting factor. For instance, you think your letter writers are going to turn things in by the deadline, and then they forgot to do it or something like that. Or you have an epiphany and your personal statement changes. I would not take it while trying to prepare ERAS or write your personal statement. Get started on the personal statement early.

All in all, check with an adviser because it can vary by specialty.

 

[nomogram3]

I would second Frugal's post. I wish I had taken Step II a bit earlier than I did, I was done with clerkships by the early summer and then did an elective and a sub-I. If I had taken Step II earlier it would have made my late fall less hectic fitting in study time with ERAS and traveling for interviews. Make sure to check program web pages. I had one program that said they wouldn't interview you without Step II scores but who invited me anyway, but there are a lot on my list that require them prior to ranking.

 

[45408]

I took it later for the reasons you mentioned. I took CK and CS on November 11 and 12. In hindsight, I kind of wish I'd taken them earlier, so I could've gotten that off my mind sooner. Also, it seems like a huge waste of a vacation month to study all month, unless you're trying to improve from your Step 1 score.