My stats for the upcoming application cycle

[FoodisGood163]

Hey everyone! Not getting much luck with feedback from the FAQ radiology stats thread so thought I'd try making an individual thread here. I'm just genuinely curious as to where I can apply this coming cycle, so thought I'd post my stats here to get feedback on my options. Thanks for the help! Also, anyone have any feedback on if late September is too late to take Step 2 CK for rads?

Current Status: Rising MS-4
School: Average US MD
Step 1: 255
Step 2: not yet
Pre-clinical: H/P/F 8 Honors, 8 Pass
Clinical: H/P/F All honors, except Surgery (1st rotation - pass)
Class rank: Top 10%
AOA: Yes (junior AOA if it really matters...)
Research:
- 1 COVID paper published in Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 3rd author; I really wanted to help during the early months for COVID, even though this wasn't rads related. Was really interesting!
- 1 abstract presentation
- 3 case reports in radiology
- 1 pending paper for radiology, trying to get it published in a journal somewhere

1 great IM chair letter, 1 great rads letter, 1 great letter from our campus dean
EC's: worked with a hospital during covid to help develop best-practice guidelines for them with their team, a lot of school outreach (high school, undergrad), started a radiology program to increase interest (geared towards high schoolers and college), volunteerism here and there
Miscellaneous: taught suture clinics

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[Ho0v-man]

You’re basically a top applicant. Taking Step 2 and having a score back before apps go out will only make your life better. If you took it right now, you could literally not study for a year. Might be your last chance to do that…ever.

 

[FoodisGood163]

You’re basically a top applicant. Taking Step 2 and having a score back before apps go out will only make your life better. If you took it right now, you could literally not study for a year. Might be your last chance to do that…ever.

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it! So I've heard that it could help to delay step 2 if you have a good step 1 score since a decrease in score could hurt. Despite that, you would still go ahead and take an early step 2?

 

[Ho0v-man]

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it! So I've heard that it could help to delay step 2 if you have a good step 1 score since a decrease in score could hurt. Despite that, you would still go ahead and take an early step 2?

The occasional program won’t send an invite without step 2. It’s also used to a variable degree in your ranking before the match. Beat to get it out of the way while it’s still fresh. I’d only delay it if it was obvious I was going to do worse.

I had a mid 250s score and hit 260 on step 2. It was technically a lower percentile, but I got nothing but praise about it when it was brought up. So don’t get in your head about that. I think you could get a mid 250s score, which would be a decent fall percentile wise and no one would bat an eye. They just don’t want 10 points lower imo.

Also, I personally feel the longer you get out from third year, the harder it is to study for this beast. Then you end up in a cycle of pushing it out because your scores aren’t what you want, less time to study due to interviews, and it just gets worse. Seen it happen to other people.

 

[Thesimplelifeofamyloid]

The occasional program won’t send an invite without step 2. It’s also used to a variable degree in your ranking before the match. Beat to get it out of the way while it’s still fresh. I’d only delay it if it was obvious I was going to do worse.

I had a mid 250s score and hit 260 on step 2. It was technically a lower percentile, but I got nothing but praise about it when it was brought up. So don’t get in your head about that. I think you could get a mid 250s score, which would be a decent fall percentile wise and no one would bat an eye. They just don’t want 10 points lower imo.

Also, I personally feel the longer you get out from third year, the harder it is to study for this beast. Then you end up in a cycle of pushing it out because your scores aren’t what you want, less time to study due to interviews, and it just gets worse. Seen it happen to other people.

Did you end up doing IR? or DR?

 

[Ho0v-man]

Did you end up doing IR? or DR?

DR

 

[Noemata]

Most DR and IR programs should interview you without a Step 2, so there's only a risk you take by taking it early, especially since that test has become much harder recently and some high Step 1 people see a drop.

Taking Step 2 after ERAS submission gives you the option to release your score immediately if you want to or defer release until ROL time.

 

[AzBasRad]

You’re basically a top applicant. Taking Step 2 and having a score back before apps go out will only make your life better. If you took it right now, you could literally not study for a year. Might be your last chance to do that…ever.

Agreed with this. I had essentially the same score for Step and Step 2 CK (~255) and one of the APDs at a "top" program even congratulated me for maintaining a high score (despite the percentile drop). As long as you can score >250, I presume you will be safe and "check all the Step boxes". Obviously don't rush to take Step 2 if you feel unprepared, but I am sure you will do fine. Definitely take the test before starting interviews.

For some reference, here's how your step score may be used by the residency selection committee:

Radiology Faculty--Answering Questions/"AMA"

Hello, I am a Radiology PD who was asked by an SDN administrator who is friend of one of my former fellows to participate in this thread. My understanding is that there may be at least one other PD (by the handle of "Radiology_Advisor") who will participate for now. Here is the request I...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[7331poas]

Most DR and IR programs should interview you without a Step 2, so there's only a risk you take by taking it early, especially since that test has become much harder recently and some high Step 1 people see a drop.

Taking Step 2 after ERAS submission gives you the option to release your score immediately if you want to or defer release until ROL time.

I feel that advice might have worked 3 years ago, but may not be as true now that Step 1 is going P/F next cycle. I feel like some programs will want Step 2 before interviewing so they can work their interview selection prior to next cycle.

Would appreciate other input however.

 

[Noemata]

I understand your point, and many people without an early Step 2 this past cycle did just fine. I've heard Radiology has always been focused on Step 1 more than 2, but if that will change this cycle, nobody knows.

One needs to make this decision on a personal level and mitigate their risk. A 255 Step 1, No Step 2 is way better than a 255 Step 1, 235 Step 2, around interview time.

 

[7331poas]

I understand your point, and many people without an early Step 2 this past cycle did just fine. I've heard Radiology has always been focused on Step 1 more than 2, but if that will change this cycle, nobody knows.

One needs to make this decision on a personal level and mitigate their risk. A 255 Step 1, No Step 2 is way better than a 255 Step 1, 235 Step 2, around interview time.

Yeah its tough no doubt. I am struggling with that now. I have a 250~ step 1 and currently studying for step 2. Would like to defer it, but worried about excluding any programs that will silently expect a "full application". Im also a couples applicant so I need all the options I can get.

 

[r9too]

Yeah its tough no doubt. I am struggling with that now. I have a 250~ step 1 and currently studying for step 2. Would like to defer it, but worried about excluding any programs that will silently expect a "full application". Im also a couples applicant so I need all the options I can get.

You'll feel a lot better getting step 2 out of the way early and enjoying the rest of 4th year. Chances are you will do fine based on your step 1 if you put in a reasonable effort.

 

[Neopolymath]

Get step 2 out of the way. You don't score 250+ and then drop a 235 unless you did something wrong or didn't try in 3rd year. Honest reflection will show you if you need to delay. No one should be surprised if they manage to drop that much. You either did the work 3rd year or you didn't. It's not a tough decision at all.

 

[Noemata]

Yeah its tough no doubt. I am struggling with that now. I have a 250~ step 1 and currently studying for step 2. Would like to defer it, but worried about excluding any programs that will silently expect a "full application". Im also a couples applicant so I need all the options I can get.

Of course. There is no right answer to this. Good luck, and let us know if you have any more questions. Congratulations on choosing Radiology as your specialty.

 

[Broseiden]

I studied my ass off for Step 2 and still dropped from 250s Step 1 to 235 Step 2. I did very well in my clinical year and shelves and honestly had no indication that I would get such a score (my practice assessments were much higher). I truly don’t think this is the norm but it does happen, so just be sure you are ready if you want to take it before application season. It’s always possible to just have a bad test day. I’m worried I may have screwed myself by not deferring, but again I think I am the unfortunate rare case of a large drop.

 

[Thesimplelifeofamyloid]

I studied my ass off for Step 2 and still dropped from 250s Step 1 to 235 Step 2. I did very well in my clinical year and shelves and honestly had no indication that I would get such a score (my practice assessments were much higher). I truly don’t think this is the norm but it does happen, so just be sure you are ready if you want to take it before application season. It’s always possible to just have a bad test day. I’m worried I may have screwed myself by not deferring, but again I think I am the unfortunate rare case of a large drop.

What were your practice scores? Did you think you did worse while walking out. Did this happen this year or last year?

 

[Dave1980]

Hey everyone! Not getting much luck with feedback from the FAQ radiology stats thread so thought I'd try making an individual thread here. I'm just genuinely curious as to where I can apply this coming cycle, so thought I'd post my stats here to get feedback on my options. Thanks for the help! Also, anyone have any feedback on if late September is too late to take Step 2 CK for rads?

Current Status: Rising MS-4
School: Average US MD
Step 1: 255
Step 2: not yet
Pre-clinical: H/P/F 8 Honors, 8 Pass
Clinical: H/P/F All honors, except Surgery (1st rotation - pass)
Class rank: Top 10%
AOA: Yes (junior AOA if it really matters...)
Research:
- 1 COVID paper published in Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 3rd author; I really wanted to help during the early months for COVID, even though this wasn't rads related. Was really interesting!
- 1 abstract presentation
- 3 case reports in radiology
- 1 pending paper for radiology, trying to get it published in a journal somewhere

1 great IM chair letter, 1 great rads letter, 1 great letter from our campus dean
EC's: worked with a hospital during covid to help develop best-practice guidelines for them with their team, a lot of school outreach (high school, undergrad), started a radiology program to increase interest (geared towards high schoolers and college), volunteerism here and there
Miscellaneous: taught suture clinics

youre obviously a great applicant man. did you just come here for a pat on the back?

 

[Broseiden]

What were your practice scores? Did you think you did worse while walking out. Did this happen this year or last year?

My practice scores were right around my Step 1 score, which I would have been very satisfied with. It happened this year, and no I didn’t feel very good coming out of it. I knew I was very off that day and that I did not perform.

 

[Thesimplelifeofamyloid]

My practice scores were right around my Step 1 score, which I would have been very satisfied with. It happened this year, and no I didn’t feel very good coming out of it. I knew I was very off that day and that I did not perform.

How many do you remember getting incorrect after looking them up post-exam? 20? 30? More?

 

[Noemata]

I studied my ass off for Step 2 and still dropped from 250s Step 1 to 235 Step 2. I did very well in my clinical year and shelves and honestly had no indication that I would get such a score (my practice assessments were much higher). I truly don’t think this is the norm but it does happen, so just be sure you are ready if you want to take it before application season. It’s always possible to just have a bad test day. I’m worried I may have screwed myself by not deferring, but again I think I am the unfortunate rare case of a large drop.

You are not a rare case. I have seen posts every now and then with people dropping from their Step 1 score. It is uncommon but not rare anymore, the test has become harder from what I've read.

 

[PhysMatMan]

I also know people with larger drops on step 2. It's likely related to the inherent error in reporting (something like a spread of 30 points for step 2).

 

[Dr. USMLE]

Hey everyone! Not getting much luck with feedback from the FAQ radiology stats thread so thought I'd try making an individual thread here. I'm just genuinely curious as to where I can apply this coming cycle, so thought I'd post my stats here to get feedback on my options. Thanks for the help! Also, anyone have any feedback on if late September is too late to take Step 2 CK for rads?

Current Status: Rising MS-4
School: Average US MD
Step 1: 255
Step 2: not yet
Pre-clinical: H/P/F 8 Honors, 8 Pass
Clinical: H/P/F All honors, except Surgery (1st rotation - pass)
Class rank: Top 10%
AOA: Yes (junior AOA if it really matters...)
Research:
- 1 COVID paper published in Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 3rd author; I really wanted to help during the early months for COVID, even though this wasn't rads related. Was really interesting!
- 1 abstract presentation
- 3 case reports in radiology
- 1 pending paper for radiology, trying to get it published in a journal somewhere

1 great IM chair letter, 1 great rads letter, 1 great letter from our campus dean
EC's: worked with a hospital during covid to help develop best-practice guidelines for them with their team, a lot of school outreach (high school, undergrad), started a radiology program to increase interest (geared towards high schoolers and college), volunteerism here and there
Miscellaneous: taught suture clinics

You’re fine. Late September is fine for step 2.

The best predictor for step 2 is a combination of your average shelf exam performance and your step 1. Even with little prep (2-3 weeks), you should be able to crush step 2. If you can time the test such that the score comes out just after app submission, that would be ideal.

With that step 1 and junior aoa, you are fine to match to a good academic program.

The letter from your campus dean is not standard so unless there’s a special reason to include it, a letter from surgery would be preferable. An additional letter from radiology would also work.

 

[Hippocrates II]

Even with little prep (2-3 weeks), you should be able to crush step 2.

I think this may be outdated advice. The test underwent a big change several months ago and it's very difficult. None of the mainstream study materials have caught up to it. I walked into that test extremely confident in my knowledge and felt totally unprepared for what the test focused on. This is coming from someone with a high (26x) step 1, kept up with anki all year, and had a high 70's-low 80's average on uworld.

 

[Dr. USMLE]

I think this may be outdated advice. The test underwent a big change several months ago and it's very difficult. None of the mainstream study materials have caught up to it. I walked into that test extremely confident in my knowledge and felt totally unprepared for what the test focused on. This is coming from someone with a high (26x) step 1, kept up with anki all year, and had a high 70's-low 80's average on uworld.

You took that comment out of context of the rest of my post. That was not blanket advice for everyone.

I am well aware of the changes. I have actually written questions myself.

As you are probably well aware, your own subjective feelings while taking the test and the objective score you get are often quite different. I personally did not feel good about step 2 or 3.

If you truly scored in the 260s on Step 1 and did very well on your NBME shelf exams during third year, you will almost certainly do very well on step 2 with 2-3 weeks of dedicated prep.