I got a 205 on Step 1. I'm an MS3 who's applying for IM. So far my 3rd year grades have mostly been HP, no Honors yet (haven't done Medicine yet). I'm realistic; I'm not expecting to match at MGH. I'm thinking more along the lines of UCI and Kaiser LA. With my below average stats and my match goals, do you recommend taking step 2 before Sept 1? And if so, should I take Neurology before it (I was hoping to save it for later so I can use the time to do medicine-related rotations in hopes of securing LORs)? Thanks for the help.
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please advise re: taking step 2 early
Started by anon0308
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I highly recommend taking step II early (august or september). This will let the programs see your passing Step II score (hopefully well improved) at the time of interviews. I would take a vacation month in August just to study, as this will help you improve your score. In addition, you are most prepared for the exam immediately after 3rd year. You most certainly do NOT need to take Neuro before Step II. Good luck.
-J
-J
In interviews, I was told that it isn't common for people to raise their step 2 scores much over step 1. However, this was in response to seeing a 35 point increase in my score so maybe they were just blowing smoke up my ass. Have you been taking the USMLE subject exams at your school, and if so how have you been doing on them. If you have been scoring well (and I don't have a real answer for what "well" is), then I would say go for it. If you have been struggling, maybe it's not such a great idea. You don't necessarily have to take a month off (don't know if your schedule would work with doing that), but doing an easier rotation (time wise) would be helpful. I took step 2 after having been away from school for a year and having done only specialty rotations. I read through first aid for step two and did a bunch of questions for about a week o get my score, but I had been doing well on the subject exams when I took them the year prior. Having all the core rotations fresher in your head should help.
Thank you all for your advice. Would you recommend taking it really early so that I have my score sent with ERAS on Sept 1, or have the score once I start interviewing? I figured the former since I thought schools would use the score to decide whether or not to grant me an interview. Thanks.
Get it done early, and get it done right. I finished year three with medicine and took three weeks to study for Step 3 using First Aid, Boards & Wards, and usmleworld for questions. My score went up by 15 points (from very good to even better) and several of the programs I interviewed at commented on it. Good luck!
hey, I was lazy and cocky when I studied for Step 1 and was blessed with a 204. Once the anger and panic resolved, I made a plan. I took my Step II in June, so that it would show up on my application. I studied for 4 weeks very rigorously and got a 232.
I am done with interviews now, and it definitely made a HUGE difference. I even had one interviewer comment "Oh, I see you did much better on Step 2 than Step 1, very good".
I am done with interviews now, and it definitely made a HUGE difference. I even had one interviewer comment "Oh, I see you did much better on Step 2 than Step 1, very good".
