Step I ok so here's a Q's....

[ocean11]

Lets just hypothetically say you REALLY screw up on Step 1? ie: you got a 190 or 186.... ok yeah its passing so not the END of the world BUT..... you want a decent residency....... IS IT POSSIBLE to try to ace Step II to make up for Step I?

thanks for the advice guys... and good luck to those who are still waiting to take the exam......

 

[franklinthedog]

A Pathology Residency director, at UNC, specifically said to me yesterday that they look much more heavily at Step II. Just fyi...not that I want to do pathology, but he did say this.

 

[SippiGirl08]

i honestly have no idea, but think about this: some people don't even take step 2 until AFTER MATCH, so how can residency programs really use this to compare applicants?

 

[chintu]

I think the general concensus would be that if you didn't do so hot on step I then take step II before your application is reviewed and try to do better to make up for a poor score.

 

[Idiopathic]

A Pathology Residency director, at UNC, specifically said to me yesterday that they look much more heavily at Step II. Just fyi...not that I want to do pathology, but he did say this.

Yes, for the few of you who take it. So, if you bomb Step 1 and ace Step 2, it may or may not be better than acing Step 1 and not taking Step 2.

 

[bigfrank]

i honestly have no idea, but think about this: some people don't even take step 2 until AFTER MATCH, so how can residency programs really use this to compare applicants?

Programs use Step I to compare applicants. If an applicant has taken Step II, s/he is "bumped up" if they improve upon their score (or maintain a strong score).

If an applcant has not take Step II, it is usually a neutral (won't help or hurt).