Should I reschedule step 2?

[jace's mom]

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Based on last year's pathology application thread, the interview invites started coming in mid-Sept. I'm scheduled to take Step 2 on Aug 13, which I'm very comfortable with - feel like I'll be ready, not too stressed, etc. However, USMLE has this weird test change/score delay thing beginning on Aug 3 which makes the target date for release of scores Sept 28. I could reschedule my exam for Aug 2 (and thus avoid the score delay), but then I'll feel rushed. I need a good step 2 grade.

I've talked to my school, and they're getting back to me later today with their advice, but I thought I'd ask on here as well.

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So:

1. Reschedule, and possibly take a hit in my score? I feel like my score will be better than step 1, because I've changed the way I'm studying and am already noticing an improvement in scores. Still, I won't know for sure how well I'm doing until it's too late to change.

OR

2. Keep the original date and hope I'll get interview love anyway? I'm a decent candidate overall, I just wish my Step 1 score were higher.

OR

3. Quit now, and go get a job. There's a new grocery store opening up down the street...

Thanks!

 

[Entgegen]

I'd say stick with the current schedule. If you reschedule, like you said, you'd feel rushed and you might not perform like you otherwise would. If you keep the current date, the score will still come out in September...no big deal. If you're feeling especially neurotic, you could always email your top programs once the score comes out just to let them know.

 

[lurksalot]

Keep the date.

The USMLE is only one indicator. Other important factors are your medical school, your transcript, research experience, your Dean's letter and (last but certainly NOT least) LORs.

If your USMLE is the only weak part of your application, don't sweat too much about it. Yes, some programs have a cut-off, but most will forgive a somewhat lower score for an otherwise stellar application.

Honestly, unless you absolutely kill (or fail) Step 2, I don't think your score will matter much.

 

[KCShaw]

Depends, but I'm not a particular fan of late changes to major exam schedules, personally. One is generally better off with a better score rather than an earlier score. And, really, as the USMLE goes, Step 1 usually carries a little more weight -- a big jump on Step 2 can help significantly, but marginal "improvement" alone is somewhat expected. If you only barely passed Step 1 and have talked about that with your med school advisors or someone else sorta in-the-know, you might want to think a little harder about re-scheduling simply because it could be your chance to get a few more interviews rather than being dropped on the first look. But if you did OK and just wish you did better, well, that's a different story. Everything is a calculated risk vs reward. End of September is probably not what I would consider "too late", regardless.

 

[TMZ2007]

Unless your Step 1 is really bad (say, under 200) and you are hoping that your Step 2 will be much better (at least 20+ points improvement), I'd take it when you feel prepared. You shouldn't need a Step 2 score on the books in order to get interviews.

 

[jace's mom]

Thanks for the replies! Based on the advice I've received both here and elsewhere, I've decided to keep my original date.