USMLE Official 2018 Step 2 CK Experiences and Scores Thread

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As 2018 approaches and people are starting to rev up for their CK studying I figured I would start the 2018 Step 2 CK Experiences and Scores Thread.

As always please follow all of the forum / NBME / USMLE etc.. rules and regulations when posting.


My dedicated starts tomorrow, have about 6 weeks to study over the holidays. Hoping for a 250 +, scored a 26x on step 1.

Good luck to everyone taking the exam in 2018!
 
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MigAl said:
You’re going to be just fine! I know people with way worse scores then yours who matched!
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YogiBooboo said:
Long time lurker. Just got my step 2 CK score. 237.

Honestly disappointed -- exam felt similar to uworld. UWSA's were 245's.

Step 1 was mid 240's.

Is my CK going to be a red flag for IM? And should I even consider rechecking?

US IMG (permanent resident)
2017 grad.

Just need some perspective
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And believe it or not, your scores aren’t everything what PD look. I work with a very well known group of EM physicians who are faculty members of an EM residency program (one of them is PD himself), and they always told me that what they look for is someone WHO IS GOING TO FIT THE REST OF THE TEAM. Someone who shows up on time, is loyal, gets along. No one is expecting a PGY1 to run a code on the first day or to crack the chest open on someone. So relax, get your personal statement straight and leave the rest to GOD! Your scores are just fine!
 
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why are only some people who took the test on the 17th getting their scores and others aren't. These should.be automatically scored right? So what gives?
 
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AZ7 said:
So i just got done with it today. Wow, what a marathon. Who's idea was it to test students for 9 hours straight? :/
It was like a longer and harder UW. Risk factors, Risk factors, Risk factors. And the occasional straight forward question.

Step 1 : 250+

UW - 86%
UWSA1 (4 weeks out) - 260
UWSA2 (1 week out) - 270

Real Deal - ?
At this point id be happy as long as beat my Step 1 Score. Hoping I'm closer to the UWSAs like everyone else.
Click to expand...

Update -
Real Deal - 266!

All Set for IM !
 
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Hey everyone, just wanted to add in! First time posting..
Step 1: 235
NBME 6 (5 weeks out): 235
NBME 7: 256
UWSA 1: 256
Free 120: 92%
NBME 8 (2 weeks out): 258
Step 2 CK: 256

Studied for about 5.5 weeks total. Did first round of U World throughout third year to study for shelf exams. Did second round of U world, along with all the wrongs again, and read through MTB once during the designated study time.
 
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Anyone know any correlation to uwsa2? Just took it and got a 244. 4 days out from my exam. Ran into some timing issues. Hoping to get above 240 on the real thing. My last practice test was over 2 months ago (uwsa1.. 222) so I can’t really use the “trust your uwsa scores”.. also found myself struggling and got lucky on quite a few questions.
 
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Hi, Did anyone take their step 2ck on Aug 28,2018? If you did, are you going to submit your application on sep 15th or will you wait till step 2ck scores are out to submit? Please let me know the reasoning behind your approach? Thank you!!!
 
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itmeusmle said:
Congrats on the stellar grade. What happened on 8?
Click to expand...

Beats me. I recall going through some of my incorrects on that one and thinking "I would've gotten it right if the question/answers weren't worded so strangely"

In any case, I think the shock of getting a 198 on a NBME pushed me to go full-bore when studying during that last week.
 
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NBME 6: 205 (baseline, 6 weeks out)
NBME 7: 220 (3 weeks out)
UWSA 1: 244 (2 weeks out)
UWSA 2: 251 (1 week out)

Step 1: 241
Step 2: 241

Kind of bummed it was lower than my UWSA scores and with no improvement from step 1, but I'll take it.
Good luck everyone!
 
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Benzlk said:
Hi, Did anyone take their step 2ck on Aug 28,2018? If you did, are you going to submit your application on sep 15th or will you wait till step 2ck scores are out to submit? Please let me know the reasoning behind your approach? Thank you!!!
Click to expand...

Hey, same situation here.Debating whether to
Apply on Sep 15 or 19.

Don't have a great step 1 score, so kinda worried if just applying with step 1 on Sep 15 will get filtered out and even updating later, don't know if the programs will take a second look, part of me tells even it's 4 days late better to apply with all scores at once instead of sending emails to all programs later in 4 days that a new score has come up. I am not sure either what is the good thing to do.

What are you thinking? Let me know, would love to hear opinions and discuss. Thanks
 
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Benzlk said:
Hi, Did anyone take their step 2ck on Aug 28,2018? If you did, are you going to submit your application on sep 15th or will you wait till step 2ck scores are out to submit? Please let me know the reasoning behind your approach? Thank you!!!
Click to expand...
You should submit September 15. Speaking with several PDs, there’s almost an additional elimination process just for people who submit September 15 and those who don’t. So many people submit on Sept 15 that I’ve heard PDs sometimes never go back to “grab more” applications.

Edit: FWIW, I take my exam Sept 10 and I’m submitting on the 15th

Edit 2: programs cannot see your application until October 1 anyways
 
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chromuffin said:
You should submit September 15. Speaking with several PDs, there’s almost an additional elimination process just for people who submit September 15 and those who don’t. So many people submit on Sept 15 that I’ve heard PDs sometimes never go back to “grab more” applications.

Edit: FWIW, I take my exam Sept 10 and I’m submitting on the 15th
Click to expand...

Kindly give your opinion, my step 1 score is <200 but pass on 1st attempt, CS pass on first attempt. Took CK last week of August, expecting my score on Sep 19. Should I submit my application on 15 or 19. I am apprehensive that since I have a very bad score, if I submit on 15 and with just step 1 score which is very low, my application will not be viewed and don't know if they will even take a second look even if i update CK score 4 days later. I feel like it's better to submit total application on 19, hoping to improve on CK which might make overall application look a bit decent when they take a first look than with just step 1.

Kind of confused, please suggest the best way forward, thanks!
 
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usmle90 said:
Kindly give your opinion, my step 1 score is <200 but pass on 1st attempt, CS pass on first attempt. Took CK last week of August, expecting my score on Sep 19. Should I submit my application on 15 or 19. I am apprehensive that since I have a very bad score, if I submit on 15 and with just step 1 score which is very low, my application will not be viewed and not don't know if they will even take a second look even I update CK score 4 days later. I feel like it's better to submit total application on 19, hoping to improve on CK which might make overall application look a bit decent when they take aafirat than with just step 1.

Kind of confused, please suggest the best way forward, thanks!
Click to expand...

Programs cannot see your application until the 1st of October. Submit on the 15th and update when you get scores back.
 
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Adamantinoma said:
Submit on the 15th and re-release your USMLE transcript when your score comes out. If a program cares that much about CK then they’ll set their filter up to where they won’t see your application until the score is back anyway.
Click to expand...
Kindly give your opinion, my step 1 score is <200 but pass on 1st attempt, CS pass on first attempt. Took CK last week of August, expecting my score on Sep 19. Should I submit my application on 15 or 19. I am apprehensive that since I have a very bad score, if I submit on 15 and with just step 1 score which is very low, my application will not be viewed and don't know if they will even take a second look even if i update CK score 4 days later. I feel like it's better to submit total application on 19, hoping to improve on CK which might make overall application look a bit decent when they take a first look than with just step 1.

Kind of confused, please suggest the best way forward, thanks!
 
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usmle90 said:
Kindly give your opinion, my step 1 score is <200 but pass on 1st attempt, CS pass on first attempt. Took CK last week of August, expecting my score on Sep 19. Should I submit my application on 15 or 19. I am apprehensive that since I have a very bad score, if I submit on 15 and with just step 1 score which is very low, my application will not be viewed and not don't know if they will even take a second look even I update CK score 4 days later. I feel like it's better to submit total application on 19, hoping to improve on CK which might make overall application look a bit decent when they take aafirat than with just step 1.

Kind of confused, please suggest the best way forward, thanks!
Click to expand...

I'd wait. It's 1 week and I highly doubt many programs are filling up all their interview slots in the first week. Plus, why go through the headache of emailing all programs that you passed CK. Release all the scores at once and sit back and relax. Make your application as complete and organized as possible.
 
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chromuffin said:
Programs cannot see your application until the 1st of October. Submit on the 15th and update when you get scores back.
Click to expand...
I think they can start seeing them on the 15th (we were told people have recieved invites the same day) but would still submit that day, like you said.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using SDN mobile
 
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itmeusmle said:
I'd wait. It's 1 week and I highly doubt many programs are filling up all their interview slots in the first week. Plus, why go through the headache of emailing all programs that you passed CK. Release all the scores at once and sit back and relax. Make your application as complete and organized as possible.
Click to expand...
Depending on the specialty, CK is not as important to interview, but to rank. But since it's a few days I would still recommend submitting 15th. I'm sure not everyone will have CK scores in by the 15th , anyways, and the MSPE isn't uploaded till October 1st anyways for most, so tech it isn't complete. That's just my opinion. Our school says to still send it. Eras will send out the scores to all schools when it comes out...on the day it releases, OP can go on eras and confirm it was sent, and if not can resend it at no extra cost.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using SDN mobile
 
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chromuffin said:
Anyone know any correlation to uwsa2? Just took it and got a 244. 4 days out from my exam. Ran into some timing issues. Hoping to get above 240 on the real thing. My last practice test was over 2 months ago (uwsa1.. 222) so I can’t really use the “trust your uwsa scores”.. also found myself struggling and got lucky on quite a few questions.
Click to expand...
I scored 5+ points higher on Step 2 than I did on UWSA2.
 
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PAC2DO said:
where did you get this info? Lots of People said UW is more than sufficient and I don't think I've ran into too much histo slides.
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Definitely each test is different.. I had at least 1 histo slide per block which was not chillin lol

Alot of step 1 minutia on mine.. remembering mutations and chromosomal translocations.. It was unnecessary lol .. definitely unexpected
 
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kinda piggy back on previous post, I'm scheduled to take it on 10/3 which is the first wed in oct. can I expect the score by 10/24?

Thanks in advance
 
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shadid said:
Definitely each test is different.. I had at least 1 histo slide per block which was not chillin lol

Alot of step 1 minutia on mine.. remembering mutations and chromosomal translocations.. It was unnecessary lol .. definitely unexpected
Click to expand...

Would you say it was still 70-80% medicine related Qs? I vaguely remember someone mentioning 70-80% medicine plus rest of them mixed with OB/Peds/Surg.
 
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I'm think I'm going to cry. Who cares, I am crying right now. I passed CK!!!!! I did go down from my UWSA 1 and 2 scores but I don't care. I got a decent score for me.

Okay, now I'm about to check my CS score. So I'm preparing for a massive mood shift.

I can't breathe right now. Not kidding. I'm laying down and have my feet propped up against the wall to get my blood flow to go back to normal. It dropped hard and fast. I passed CS as well. SEP had fully right star with no X's, CIS was almost totally to the right with a star and ICE was borderline with more leaning toward the right. Some might be wondering why this is such a shock because almost everyone passes the CS. But I'm a DO student who somehow managed to fail the DO version, the PE.

Oh boy, can't wait to see how program directors take this info.

PS - anyone know to how get rid of the shakes from an adrenaline rush?
 
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trs88 said:
I'm think I'm going to cry. Who cares, I am crying right now. I passed CK!!!!! I did go down from my UWSA 1 and 2 scores but I don't care. I got a decent score for me.

Okay, now I'm about to check my CS score. So I'm preparing for a massive mood shift.

I can't breathe right now. Not kidding. I'm laying down and have my feet propped up against the wall to get my blood flow to go back to normal. It dropped hard and fast. I passed CS as well. SEP had fully right star with no X's, CIS was almost totally to the right with a star and ICE was borderline with more leaning toward the right. Some might be wondering why this is such a shock because almost everyone passes the CS. But I'm a DO student who somehow managed to fail the DO version, the PE.

Oh boy, can't wait to see how program directors take this info.

PS - anyone know to how get rid of the shakes from an adrenaline rush?
Click to expand...
Congrats! Enjoy the rush. The shakes will pass with time.
 
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trs88 said:
I'm think I'm going to cry. Who cares, I am crying right now. I passed CK!!!!! I did go down from my UWSA 1 and 2 scores but I don't care. I got a decent score for me.

Okay, now I'm about to check my CS score. So I'm preparing for a massive mood shift.

I can't breathe right now. Not kidding. I'm laying down and have my feet propped up against the wall to get my blood flow to go back to normal. It dropped hard and fast. I passed CS as well. SEP had fully right star with no X's, CIS was almost totally to the right with a star and ICE was borderline with more leaning toward the right. Some might be wondering why this is such a shock because almost everyone passes the CS. But I'm a DO student who somehow managed to fail the DO version, the PE.

Oh boy, can't wait to see how program directors take this info.

PS - anyone know to how get rid of the shakes from an adrenaline rush?
Click to expand...
Congratulations. Alcohol.
 
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seems like scoring isn’t as generous as it used to be, or something changed? i’m hearing a lot of people not scoring as high as their UWSA scores were.
 
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Question for everyone because I keep finding different information..

A patient comes in with a new breast mass. What age do you do ultrasound? Under 30 or 35? I feel like UW says 30, first aid says 35. An upper level resident said 35. An intern said 30. Is it that it used to be 35 but it’s now 30 and FA for CK ninth edition is out of date?
 
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medhopeful2709 said:
I took it 8/20 and thats what I'm expecting but then again the people who took it 8/16-8/18 should have gotten theirs last week by that rule.
Click to expand...
Yeah not sure if you for sure will. I took it the 17th and didn't get it this past week. I know they say 3 wednesday's after you take the test but not sure if thats a hard rule or not. the weird part is some ppl on here claim they got their score even though they took it the 17th, while others like me didn't. so dont know what the nbme is doing. can't wait to pay these same ppl over $1500 dollars to take a stupid verbal exam. crooks.
 
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PAC2DO said:
Would you say it was still 70-80% medicine related Qs? I vaguely remember someone mentioning 70-80% medicine plus rest of them mixed with OB/Peds/Surg.
Click to expand...
Umm honestly hard to tell.. but I think that is true.. tryna remember.. maybe lik 70% med and 30% other
 
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chromuffin said:
Question for everyone because I keep finding different information..

A patient comes in with a new breast mass. What age do you do ultrasound? Under 30 or 35? I feel like UW says 30, first aid says 35. An upper level resident said 35. An intern said 30. Is it that it used to be 35 but it’s now 30 and FA for CK ninth edition is out of date?
Click to expand...

I would go with 30 just because I tend do go with UWorld on most things.. but usually if there is disagreement between something, they should give you a clear cut e.g. patient is 25 or patient is 45.. So they would avoid the grey zone -- that's what I think
 
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medhopeful2709 said:
I took it 8/20 and thats what I'm expecting but then again the people who took it 8/16-8/18 should have gotten theirs last week by that rule.
Click to expand...
Super stressful. Yeah I went through last years post and it seems the people who took it around that time last year got their score back. Hopefully it's the same case. Would be nice especially since Sep 15th is such a big day for so many people.
 
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PAC2DO said:
Just to clarify, 70% of Medicine is INternal medicine correct? Not the medicine part of Ob/peds/surg... thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Yes correct! sorry I didn't clarify.

70% - internal medicine
30% - OB/Peds/surg -

I think that's a good estimate but it has been almost 3 weeks since I took the exam so my memory might not be the best; I don't want to misguide you.
 
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For those who used OME and UW, did you annotate notes into OME from UW? Or how best to use the 2 resources?? I have my test in 80 days just trying to figure out how to prepare with them both. Write notes down in a notebook from UW and read it daily? Do OME separately and UW questions on same topics in tutor mode to learn from?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
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LABrondo said:
For those who used OME and UW, did you annotate notes into OME from UW? Or how best to use the 2 resources?? I have my test in 80 days just trying to figure out how to prepare with them both. Write notes down in a notebook from UW and read it daily? Do OME separately and UW questions on same topics in tutor mode to learn from?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
I listened to OME topics I wanted to review while working out and driving. All of my uWorld blocks were random. I took notes during my first pass but not during dedicated.
 
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Hey everyone.
Just a concern I had.

I am a non-US IMG, hoping to apply this year. Got a 232 on Step 1.

For various family reasons, I'm yet to attempt my Step 2 CK, I'm almost done with Uworld, and hope to give it either next week (19th September) or the week after that for sure (26th September).

My question is, if I apply this week, on the 15th and then my result comes out either in the 2nd or 3rd week of October (specifically 10th or 17th of October) and I update all the programs at that point, does it put me out of contention or should I be able to get a decent amount of interview calls?

As in would it be futile for me to apply this year, or should I be okay?
 
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Retropatronus said:
Hey everyone.
Just a concern I had.

I am a non-US IMG, hoping to apply this year. Got a 232 on Step 1.

For various family reasons, I'm yet to attempt my Step 2 CK, I'm almost done with Uworld, and hope to give it either next week (19th September) or the week after that for sure (26th September).

My question is, if I apply this week, on the 15th and then my result comes out either in the 2nd or 3rd week of October (specifically 10th or 17th of October) and I update all the programs at that point, does it put me out of contention or should I be able to get a decent amount of interview calls?

As in would it be futile for me to apply this year, or should I be okay?
Click to expand...

Btw, I've cleared CS, only CK is left.
 
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Retropatronus said:
Hey everyone.
Just a concern I had.

I am a non-US IMG, hoping to apply this year. Got a 232 on Step 1.

For various family reasons, I'm yet to attempt my Step 2 CK, I'm almost done with Uworld, and hope to give it either next week (19th September) or the week after that for sure (26th September).

My question is, if I apply this week, on the 15th and then my result comes out either in the 2nd or 3rd week of October (specifically 10th or 17th of October) and I update all the programs at that point, does it put me out of contention or should I be able to get a decent amount of interview calls?

As in would it be futile for me to apply this year, or should I be okay?
Click to expand...

You should be okay. My friend applied last year in November only after he'd gotten his CK score back and had a complete application. Ended up with 6-7 interviews and matched IM (had a lower Step 1 than you). You may get a few interviews you otherwise wouldn't have gotten from some of the less selective programs (programs that consider your IMG app without all your scores) if you apply early without CK. You also may not. But as long as you email programs once you update your CK, you're either going to have a few extra interviews from applying early, or be in the same position as you would've been if you'd just applied late with all your scores and get the same number of interviews. I can't think of a scenario where you'd have less interviews, so IMO you should be okay.

SlowandSteady said:
Permit disappeared, took it on 8/21
Click to expand...
Samesies. Took it on the same day but permit link is still there. Hoping it goes away tomorrow lol.
 
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