Scheduling Step 2 CS if going into medicine

[hattori_hanzo]

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Hello. I'm a fourth-year going into internal medicine, I did well on my Step 1, and I'm wondering about the optimal time to take Step 2 CS.

Are CS and CK studied for together and taken back-to-back, generally?

My school hasn't given us any guidance about scheduling these exams, and I feel like I'm stumbling blindly forward regarding these tests. Not sure when I should be taking them.

Please let me know! Thanks!

 

[drbetty]

Hello. I'm a fourth-year going into internal medicine, I did well on my Step 1, and I'm wondering about the optimal time to take Step 2 CS.

Are CS and CK studied for together and taken back-to-back, generally?

My school hasn't given us any guidance about scheduling these exams, and I feel like I'm stumbling blindly forward regarding these tests. Not sure when I should be taking them.

Please let me know! Thanks!

Some people take CS and CK months apart, some people within days or weeks, get them outta the way. If you decide to take CS and CK back-to-back, I would take CK first as CS doesn't require as much prep.

I also would avoid taking them between interviews. So depending on your schedule, I'd wait for a lull (i.e., holidays) or wait until next year since you did well on Step 1.

 

[FutureInternist]

Hello. I'm a fourth-year going into internal medicine, I did well on my Step 1, and I'm wondering about the optimal time to take Step 2 CS.

Are CS and CK studied for together and taken back-to-back, generally?

My school hasn't given us any guidance about scheduling these exams, and I feel like I'm stumbling blindly forward regarding these tests. Not sure when I should be taking them.

Please let me know! Thanks!

You can take CS after pretty much any good FP/IM rotation. There really is no ideal time to take the CS since all you get is a Pass/Fail so as long as you pass it will have no effect on your chances at residency. What I would suggest is to take the CS ASAP. This is because, unlike the CK, your fate lies in someone's hands. You may get a "patient" that is having a bad day & may be a little too stingy in grading you. Since the number of spots availabe are limited, taking it early ensures that you have the oppurtunity to take it a 2nd time, should the need arise, or else you may find yourself not being able to graduate & having to wait a year. 🙁

As for CK....As long as you have a good step 1 score -->delay, delay, dealy 🙂. There are programs that will either not interview you or not rank you if you do not have a pass in all steps, so check your top 5 choices & decide accordingly.

And tell your school to get w/ the program 😡

 

[amartinezz43]

i heard from now on you have to take step 2 before you apply to residency.....so when is the usual window(what months) that students usually apply to residency??