Release step 2 scores

[pat]

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I am trying to figure out it I should release my step 2 scores or not before the match.
I got a 239 on step 1 and 232 on step 2. I know that is still a good score, but since it is lower than step 1, will it only hurt me?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[ear-ache]

I think the 7 point difference is statistically insignificant. However;
1. I don’t know how much Step 2 matters in your particular case/field, and
2. programs are starting their "rank parties/meetings", so if you’re going to do it, get on it.

 

[locitamd]

First off, it’s a very respectable score. But just to play devil’s advocate, what’s the rationale for releasing it?

 

[Free Radicle]

Aren't the step 2 scores automatically released to the schools. When I looked at my ERAS app, it showed that my step 2 score was downloaded by the schools already even b/f I found out what my score was

 

[locitamd]

only if in your initial ERAS app, you checked the "automatic release" box. Otherwise it necessitates going back in to ERAS and releasing the score.

 

[geekgirl]

curious - does it look BAD if you don't release them?
i didn't.

 

[locitamd]

curious - does it look BAD if you don't release them?

hope not, 'cause I'm not releasing them either. It can be like a little post-match surprise for my program

 

[sophiejane]

I'm sorry, but there is a SEVEN (7, siete, sept) point spread between your two very respectable USMLE scores. Do you really think it's going to make a difference in how you are ranked? Did it even affect your 2-point score at all? If so it was likely by no more than a point or two.

If it was 20 points lower, no, but come on. If that is all it takes to get you bumped down a rank list then it was probably inevitable anyway, released scores or not.

 

[BKN]

curious - does it look BAD if you don't release them?
i didn't.

Of course it does. The assumption is that if you don't release, you tanked. We can see on the ERAS site when you took the test. If it says pass and you didn't release the results we're going to assume that you did significantly worse.

OP. release your results. They are the same as part 1 and very respectable.

BKN

 

[rugtrousers]

hope not, 'cause I'm not releasing them either. It can be like a little post-match surprise for my program

Some places won't rank you without a Step 2 score (they want to make sure you passed before accepting you). And what BKN said is kinda scary:

"...The assumption is that if you don't release, you tanked. We can see on the ERAS site when you took the test. If it says pass and you didn't release the results we're going to assume that you did significantly worse..."

 

[OneStrongBro]

What is the earliest month one can take Step 2 and it won't matter in the ERAS application if you decided to use the release score option i.e. the rank list will have already been made and Step 2 score would not be considered?

For example, if I used the release my Step 2 score option in ERAS and took Step 2 in March, it obviously won't affect the match since the Match is released in March. What if you one takes Step 2 in February just before the Match will it be available during the ranking process? How about January?

 

[pat]

Thanks BKN. It sounds like I should release them. I didn't know that programs would know when I took it.

 

[AngryTesticle]

I wouldn't feel bad about releasing your step 2 score.

Regarding BKN's advice, I agree. You indicate on the ERAS when you "plan" to take Step 2 CK. An attentive PD will wonder what happened if you took it relatively early and being deceitful could come back to haunt you.

I remember, last year, I indicated on ERAS that I was planning on taking Step 2 CK in November. But I didn't want to study for it and wanted the option to do poorly on the test. So I paid $50 to extend my scheduling period and pushed it all the way back to the end of January...that way scores wouldn't be back until ROL's were finalized. In retrospect, this could've screwed me since I didn't notify programs that I had changed the date of my exam.

 

[robotsonic]

I have a related question. I had step 2 automatically release, and my score was released last week. On ERAS I have checked which programs downloaded the score, and most of them have downloaded it. If a place has downloaded it from ERAS does it mean that they have actually looked at it? I did pretty well on it so I want programs to know about it.

If they downloaded it after my interview (which would be pretty much all of them), should I call and remind them to put it in my chart, so that it is definitely there before the final ranking? Or is that unnecessary? I don't want to seem pushy about it but I really want the PDs to see the score.

Thanks.

 

[tega]

I have a related question. I had step 2 automatically release, and my score was released last week. On ERAS I have checked which programs downloaded the score, and most of them have downloaded it. If a place has downloaded it from ERAS does it mean that they have actually looked at it? I did pretty well on it so I want programs to know about it.

If they downloaded it after my interview (which would be pretty much all of them), should I call and remind them to put it in my chart, so that it is definitely there before the final ranking? Or is that unnecessary? I don't want to seem pushy about it but I really want the PDs to see the score.

Thanks.

YEAH IM IN a similar situation...dont know what to do. Most of the plaes have not even downloaded from eras.

 

[BKN]

I have a related question. I had step 2 automatically release, and my score was released last week. On ERAS I have checked which programs downloaded the score, and most of them have downloaded it. If a place has downloaded it from ERAS does it mean that they have actually looked at it? I did pretty well on it so I want programs to know about it.

If they downloaded it after my interview (which would be pretty much all of them), should I call and remind them to put it in my chart, so that it is definitely there before the final ranking? Or is that unnecessary? I don't want to seem pushy about it but I really want the PDs to see the score.

Thanks.

No, just because they downloaded it, doesn't mean they saw it. When I download, the dialog box shows me which kinds of documents it's processing and the number, but not whose files the documents are going to. I have to open the individuals stuff to see what is there.

I do that, but I suspect not everybody is that careful. We're talking about hundreds of hours of effort and hundreds of documents, and by this point in the season everybody is tired.

The pushy part is a real concern, but if your scores are good and you want to shine, it's probably worth doing.

 

[penguins]

Going on prelim interviews which is thru ERAS, I noticed a couple of things.
Not all interviewer knew my step 2 scores - which I mentioned because they were 13pts (2 digit score) higher than step 1. A couple knew but most flipped around and found it written in by hand somewhere...small. They would circle it or write it on the cover of my app, under my picture. They would always say something like "glad you brought it up, impressive - hadn't known this", etc
I know you are talking about after your interviews are over, but I wouldn't count on it being noticed. Almost none of the neuro interviewers had them. I think it depends largely on the secretary/coordinator.
Just my experience.

 

[corpsmanUP]

Of course it does. The assumption is that if you don't release, you tanked. We can see on the ERAS site when you took the test. If it says pass and you didn't release the results we're going to assume that you did significantly worse.

OP. release your results. They are the same as part 1 and very respectable.

BKN

I just want to clarify one point BKN. If a DO never states in the initial application that they are intending to take USMLE Step II for instance, then you have no way of knowing that they may have ever considered taking or actually took Step II of USMLE. You obviously know that MD applicants will have to take USMLE II and so each of them will enter an anticipated date of taking it. But NBME does not release to you Step II if a DO does not choose to release it, and especially if they never mentioned it in the section of exams they were "anticipating taking" On the other thread referencing this thread, I think people are believing that you at programs can somehow know that someone took an exam. Like I said, I am not in the business of promoting "how to be deceitful", but I think there are some misconceptions flying around about how people's data is available without their knowledge.

For instance, in my app (and you have seen it), I specified in my initial ERAS questionaire that I would be taking Step II of USMLE in August (filled out the app in July). I also went ahead and released it because I didn't want to have a delay. But if I had never admitted in the questionaire of being scheduled to even sit for that exam, I believe I could have taken it, bombed it, and never mentioned it to you at my interview. I do not believe though that my ERAS info has any such info about me taking Step II except for what I entered into it initially. Many DO's never take anything but step I as you know, and many take step II and never tell anyone including their own school. Please tell me if I am misunderstanding this or not.

 

[pdintheusa]

We have a filter set up on ERAS for "New USMLE scores" and my Residency Coordinator has been checking this twice a week and printing paper copies of the applicants' new Step 2 scores for me.

No PD likes surprises, especially a failing USMLE step 2, as all allopathic medical schools require it for graduation.

I agree that for DO applicants, as it isn't required, the same rules don't necessarily apply, but again, no one likes surprises [on either end] !

 

[BKN]

I just want to clarify one point BKN. If a DO never states in the initial application that they are intending to take USMLE Step II for instance, then you have no way of knowing that they may have ever considered taking or actually took Step II of USMLE. You obviously know that MD applicants will have to take USMLE II and so each of them will enter an anticipated date of taking it. But NBME does not release to you Step II if a DO does not choose to release it, and especially if they never mentioned it in the section of exams they were "anticipating taking" On the other thread referencing this thread, I think people are believing that you at programs can somehow know that someone took an exam. Like I said, I am not in the business of promoting "how to be deceitful", but I think there are some misconceptions flying around about how people's data is available without their knowledge.

For instance, in my app (and you have seen it), I specified in my initial ERAS questionaire that I would be taking Step II of USMLE in August (filled out the app in July). I also went ahead and released it because I didn't want to have a delay. But if I had never admitted in the questionaire of being scheduled to even sit for that exam, I believe I could have taken it, bombed it, and never mentioned it to you at my interview. I do not believe though that my ERAS info has any such info about me taking Step II except for what I entered into it initially. Many DO's never take anything but step I as you know, and many take step II and never tell anyone including their own school. Please tell me if I am misunderstanding this or not.

I'm sitting here working on my brand new computer, which DIS installed yesterday. I haven't loaded the ERAS software, so I can't check exactly how it appears. You may be right. I'll reply after I get it loaded.

BTW the machine smokes. 😀

BTW2 I notice that you and others in the process strongly recommend taking mle2 to DO applicants because it makes the allopathic PDs happy. Actually, I don't care as long as I can see both comlex scores. I've been running a regression curve over the last 3 years based on the candidates who give me both. The 2 digit scores are so close as to be indistinguishable. Maybe I'll write a letter to the editor of Academic EM and give your successors in the process a break. Another thing on my list to do. 🙁

 

[corpsmanUP]

You are speaking in a language that is way above my head. Regression curve??? That sounds like something used to graph the progress of my hairline!!

I'm sitting here working on my brand new computer, which DIS installed yesterday. I haven't loaded the ERAS software, so I can't check exactly how it appears. You may be right. I'll reply after I get it loaded.

BTW the machine smokes. 😀




BTW2 I notice that you and others in the process strongly recommend taking mle2 to DO applicants because it makes the allopathic PDs happy. Actually, I don't care as long as I can see both comlex scores. I've been running a regression curve over the last 3 years based on the candidates who give me both. The 2 digit scores are so close as to be indistinguishable. Maybe I'll write a letter to the editor of Academic EM and give your successors in the process a break. Another thing on my list to do. 🙁

 

[new_avatar]

as all allopathic medical schools require it for graduation.

I believe Duke does not, just a first attempt.