Scheduling Q's: interviews, Step 2, etc

[gimmedog]

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When do programs tend to interview?
Is there a definite month to keep clear?

As for Step 2, if I need it to be considered with my application, is it most important to get it in with ERAS?
Would it hurt a lot to have it in hand for interviews or send it in time for the rank lists?


Thanks ahead of time!


😀

 

[DrQuinn]

Originally posted by gimmedog
When do programs tend to interview?
Is there a definite month to keep clear?

As for Step 2, if I need it to be considered with my application, is it most important to get it in with ERAS?
Would it hurt a lot to have it in hand for interviews or send it in time for the rank lists?


Thanks ahead of time!


😀

Programs INTERVIEW around november through Jan/Feb... I did 4 of my interviews (only did ten, turned down about that amount too), in November, the rest in early December and early January (had boards middle of January) however there is a lot of debate about when to interivew, my opinion is it doesn't matter but what the hey (the place I matched at I interviewed last in the middle of January).

I did a real easy FP month with an attending I got along with pretty well in January so I could take off one week for interviews as well as a week for boards (my boards are two days long).

Can't help you too much on the Step 2 and ERAS, maybe some other posters can... as a DO student, you can only take COMLEX 2 in August or January (I took it in Jan). That's a whole other topic.

Q

 

[fauci]

i think alot of programs use boards to determine interview canidates. So, if you want step 2 to be a major part of your application, and you are going to study hard and do well, I would take it in time for ERAS. I took it in late June, and that seemed like a good time to take it. All of my interviewers had the score in hand, and several commented about it.

 

[Scrubbs]

As Quinn said, interviews are Nov-Feb. I actually did rotations throughout that time, though they were all laid back ones (Neuro, Ophtho, Rads) and had no problem taking time off. I did the majority of my interviews Nov and Dec, though I had a few in January.

On the Step 2 subject, I agree that a lot of programs use it to decide on interviews. However, you do not need to have it in at the time you submit ERAS. As long as you take it by the end of Sept, it will be in early enough for programs to use it. I took it the end of Sept, got my scores mid-Oct, and interviews rolled in a few days after I posted the scores. I did ERAS the first week it was open.

Good Luck!!! 😎

 

[Arch Guillotti]

I took it the end of Sept, got my scores mid-Oct,

How is this possible? Step 1 took at leats 6 weeks to get back.

 

[Scrubbs]

Originally posted by Arch Guillotti
How is this possible? Step 1 took at leats 6 weeks to get back.

I think I took it the 20-somethingth of Sept, and got it back in just over 3 weeks (I know, a miracle or something). Really didn't take very long. In any case, my school recommends Sept. 30th as the cutoff to get it in if you want it counted. If you wanted to err on the side of early, I think mid-Sept would be good... most interviews started coming in the first week of Nov.

Also, I think the Dean's Letters go out Nov. 1st, and a lot of programs don't look at applications until they're "complete" - i.e. 3 LOR's, Dean's Letter, all the other ERAS stuff. So, as long as you get it in by then, you're golden!

 

[fauci]

my step 2 scores took about 7 weeks to come back

 

[anonymousEM]

in my experience, very few programs interviewed in Nov or Feb. And the rest all seemed to only interview on thursdays or something so that I ended up interviewing at least once a week for all of Dec and Jan with the exception of the 2 holiday weeks. Definately try to clear either Dec or Jan and keep the other month with someone sympathetic to the whole interviewing process. Avoid the rotations that at my school they call the attending's office to make sure you're there (can people really have nothing more important to do?)!

 

[Nof55]

Gimmedog,
The previous threads are right on. I did get some advice on the January vs. Dec for taking a month off. January is getting to the end of the interview season so some interviewers are getting a little sick of the whole process, however in December people stop interviewing for about 11/2 to 2 weeks around Christmas which will greatly reduce your time to interview. Another bit of advice, have your CV and personal statement ready when you go on your EM away rotations, some will give you courtesy interviews at the end of the month and this gave save you some bucks on the interview trail. Good luck!
Nof55