I passed step 1 with 210 and step 2 with 229. I took step 2 CS which I am 100% sure I failed because I did unrepairable mistakes. I get my scores in 1.5 months which is right before application season starts meaning they will see my CS failure, but anyways for the sake of argument, If I were to fail Should I even apply for residency this year with a failed CS attempt and try to take it later during the year? OR should I just wait til next year?
Should I apply this year?
- Thread starter Cadet133
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Apply. I failed CS the first go around with worse board scores than you (don't hand write on that thing, bad idea) and matched my #2. I told all the interviewers prior to my 2nd test pass that I had already retaken it, knew what I did wrong, and fixed it. That was usually sufficient.
Now that said, I'm a US MD and applied mostly in the same state as my med school. However, even if you are an IMG, its generally considered a bad idea to take a year off without a very good reason - and failed CS isn't a very good reason.
APPLY! look at stats for NRMP (charting outcomes) - probabilty of US MD senior matching is almost 100% (99.7%) with your step 1 score. If you take a gap you no longer considered US senior but rather an "independent applicant" - probability drops off sharply if you look at the stats
Regarding the other responder (VA Hopeful Dr) he is an attending from who knows how long ago? So just because he got lower stats and matched may not tell the whole story (could have compesnated with good M3 grades, AOA status, research, lots of rotations the particular site??)
But that being said, you don't even know your step 2 CS results yet, you should be applying in the mean time. Learn from me the biggest mistake was taking a gap year
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Hello,
You should definitely wait until you get your step 2CS results back and in the meantime have your application ready to apply. Obtain your LOR's, draft your personal statement, dean's letter and look at which program you want to apply to. The Step 2CS is tricky in the fact that many students forget to do a lot of things such as wash their hands, introduce themselves, etc. You may be pleasantly surprised. You do not know that you failed until you receive your official score. So I would get ready to apply in the meantime and wait for your score report. I hope this helps. ~M.D. Author/Editor BoardVitals
