Question about releaseing step 2 ck

[RadsStudent123]

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I know that if you take step 2 AFTER you've already applied to programs, then you can re-release your USMLE transcript (with your new step 2 score) to programs you've applied to.

My question is: if you have already taken step 1 and step 2 BEFORE applying, then when you apply is it possible to not reveal your step 2 score to programs? And if you can, will programs get any sort of notification that you are hiding your step 2 scores from them?

I am currently taking a year off between 3rd and 4th year and am contemplating taking step 2 now while my schedule is relatively more lax. i just wanted to know if there was a safety net in case i don't do as well as I would like on step 2.

Thanks

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

I know that if you take step 2 AFTER you've already applied to programs, then you can re-release your USMLE transcript (with your new step 2 score) to programs you've applied to.

My question is: if you have already taken step 1 and step 2 BEFORE applying, then when you apply is it possible to not reveal your step 2 score to programs? And if you can, will programs get any sort of notification that you are hiding your step 2 scores from them?

I am currently taking a year off between 3rd and 4th year and am contemplating taking step 2 now while my schedule is relatively more lax. i just wanted to know if there was a safety net in case i don't do as well as I would like on step 2.

Thanks

No, there's no way to do that. The only way you can "hide" your step 2 is if you release your transcript between step 1 and when you get your step 2 results... you wouldn't be able to do that if you took step 2 now since you'll get your score back before ERAS opens for your class. Honestly though I don't think a passing step 2 will hurt you unless you have a really high step 1 score (like, OUTSTANDING high, not just above average). If you did 260 on step 1 and 190 on step 2... maybe they'd wonder about it. Otherwise I think passing is a good sign; they know they're not going to wonder about whether or not you'll be ready to start residency.

 

[herpes]

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[toothless rufus]

No, there's no way to do that. The only way you can "hide" your step 2 is if you release your transcript between step 1 and when you get your step 2 results... you wouldn't be able to do that if you took step 2 now since you'll get your score back before ERAS opens for your class. Honestly though I don't think a passing step 2 will hurt you unless you have a really high step 1 score (like, OUTSTANDING high, not just above average). If you did 260 on step 1 and 190 on step 2... maybe they'd wonder about it. Otherwise I think passing is a good sign; they know they're not going to wonder about whether or not you'll be ready to start residency.

What!? There's really no way to not release step 2 scores if the results are in before you apply?! Interesting. I thought you could pick and choose. Does that mean that even if I were not to list on eras my step 2 status,( for example if I have taken it and have received the score), but I don't list it at all or list it as "will take" or something it will show up on my transcript to programs anyway?

 

[notdeadyet]

What!? There's really no way to not release step 2 scores if the results are in before you apply?! Interesting. I thought you could pick and choose.

You can decide whether or not to send a USMLE transcript at all. If you say no, the school gets nothing and you're done with applying. If you say yes, the school gets the USMLE transcript, which contains all Steps taken by the time of application.

You can also decide whether to automatically or manually send further USMLE transcripts as its updated with new test results.

Does that mean that even if I were not to list on eras my step 2 status,( for example if I have taken it and have received the score), but I don't list it at all or list it as "will take" or something it will show up on my transcript to programs anyway?

Yes, USMLE sends your complete USMLE transcript at time of application. The only things not on it will be tests not taken and pending results.

 

[toothless rufus]

You can decide whether or not to send a USMLE transcript at all. If you say no, the school gets nothing and you're done with applying. If you say yes, the school gets the USMLE transcript, which contains all Steps taken by the time of application.

You can also decide whether to automatically or manually send further USMLE transcripts as its updated with new test results.

Yes, USMLE sends your complete USMLE transcript at time of application. The only things not on it will be tests not taken and pending results.

Ok. I will be taking it after I apply, but before I get my results. Very confusing. What did you mean by "the school gets nothing, and you're done with applying?" Like sit back and wait for interviews, or sit back and wait for nothing? (I'm guessing its the latter)

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

Ok. I will be taking it after I apply, but before I get my results. Very confusing. What did you mean by "the school gets nothing, and you're done with applying?" Like sit back and wait for interviews, or sit back and wait for nothing? (I'm guessing its the latter)

I've no idea what you mean by this?? Do explain. thanks

 

[notdeadyet]

Ok. I will be taking it after I apply, but before I get my results. Very confusing.

Have you started your ERAS application? There is a section for USMLE transcripts that asks you two questions that correspond to the two I mentioned above.

It's not confusing. If you're waiting on Step 2 results, you can still apply and just choose "Yes" to the first question. This way schools get your Step 1 and can offer you invites. For step 2, you can either send it automatically (by checking "Yes" to the second question) or manually (by selecting "No" to the second question).

Most people are applying before having Step 2 results. Everyone checks "yes" to the first question.

What did you mean by "the school gets nothing, and you're done with applying?" Like sit back and wait for interviews, or sit back and wait for nothing? (I'm guessing its the latter)

I mean if you refuse to send in any information about your Step 1, you aren't going to get many residency programs eager to meet you.

 

[toothless rufus]

I've no idea what you mean by this?? Do explain. thanks

Haha, yeah. I meant I will be taking step 2 before applying to ERAS, hence also before my Step 2 would be graded and therefore before I (or the programs) would be able to receive my results.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

Have you applied? If not, when are you taking Step 2? Just curious, I'm probably going to take Step 2 but I've submitted my app

 

[toothless rufus]

Have you applied? If not, when are you taking Step 2? Just curious, I'm probably going to take Step 2 but I've submitted my app

Currently lazily working on application, step 2 scheduled for sept 30th.

 

[chela47]

You can also decide whether to automatically or manually send further USMLE transcripts as its updated with new test results.

Will you have to pay again to re-release your USMLE transcript after your Step 2 scores come in? 🙁

 

[gutonc]

Will you have to pay again to re-release your USMLE transcript after your Step 2 scores come in? 🙁

No.

 

[DrVanNostran]

Have you started your ERAS application? There is a section for USMLE transcripts that asks you two questions that correspond to the two I mentioned above.

It's not confusing. If you're waiting on Step 2 results, you can still apply and just choose "Yes" to the first question. This way schools get your Step 1 and can offer you invites. For step 2, you can either send it automatically (by checking "Yes" to the second question) or manually (by selecting "No" to the second question).

Most people are applying before having Step 2 results. Everyone checks "yes" to the first question.

I mean if you refuse to send in any information about your Step 1, you aren't going to get many residency programs eager to meet you.

Do programs know that we did not want to release our step 2's? If so, I would imagine some programs would looks negatively upon this.

 

[kdburton]

Do programs know that we did not want to release our step 2's? If so, I would imagine some programs would looks negatively upon this.

Programs cannot see how you answered the questions about whether or not you want to release future USMLE transcripts. However there are another set of questions on the ERAS application where you say Passed/Will take/Awaiting results (all with month/year inputs) for each of the Steps, and assuming you answer those questions truthfully they will know if you have taken the exam and not released your scores. I'm under the impression that for time's sake many program directors aren't going to go through the trouble to determine that, but its also possible that they have some sort of algorithm in their ERAS interface that allows them to filter people who said they have taken Step 2 by a certain date and yet they have no scores to show for.