Should I take Step 2 early?

[otacon88]

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I'm an MS3 and wondering if I should take Step 2 early in my 4th year. I got a 228 (98) on Step 1. I'm looking at ER and Anesthesia.

 

[ACSurgeon]

I'm an MS3 and wondering if I should take Step 2 early in my 4th year. I got a 228 (98) on Step 1. I'm looking at ER and Anesthesia.

Your step score is solid for EM or anesthesia. A higher step 2 can help. A lower score can hurt.

My advice: take step 2 in September. Your score will comeout in late sept or early october which is early enough to get more interview invites (assuming you do well and decide to share your score). The flip side of the coin: if you do badly, no one has to know about it. Your 228 should take you far enough.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Your step score is solid for EM or anesthesia. A higher step 2 can help. A lower score can hurt.

My advice: take step 2 in September. Your score will comeout in late sept or early october which is early enough to get more interview invites (assuming you do well and decide to share your score). The flip side of the coin: if you do badly, no one has to know about it. Your 228 should take you far enough.

Disagree. "solid" insinuates he is well above the mean when actually a 228 is actually around the mean for EM and Anesthesia. The OP has a decent score for those specialties but he will still have to apply broadly. I can't comment about EM but for Anesthesia step 2 never really came up and most interviewees I spoke with delayed their step 2. It may have some benefit for you given your average Step 1 score.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Someone correct me if things have changed, but the key is (was) to time your Step II so that the results come out early enough to influence interview invites, but after your AMCAS submission, because you can't withhold a score that has been released before you submit your application.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Someone correct me if things have changed, but the key is (was) to time your Step II so that the results come out early enough to influence interview invites, but after your AMCAS submission, because you can't withhold a score that has been released before you submit your application.

That's what I meant by my post. Take it early, but not too early.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Disagree. "solid" insinuates he is well above the mean when actually a 228 is actually around the mean for EM and Anesthesia. The OP has a decent score for those specialties but he will still have to apply broadly. I can't comment about EM but for Anesthesia step 2 never really came up and most interviewees I spoke with delayed their step 2. It may have some benefit for you given your average Step 1 score.

I think we're splitting hairs here. I said solid as in decent or fine or good enough. Not as in stellar. The OP is solid in that they don't NEED to justify or make up for their step score.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

I think we're splitting hairs here. I said solid as in decent or fine or good enough. Not as in stellar. The OP is solid in that they don't NEED to justify or make up for their step score.

Fair enough, you say tomato, I say only a-holes say tom-ah-to. 👍

 

[WildMed16]

I'm an MS3 and wondering if I should take Step 2 early in my 4th year. I got a 228 (98) on Step 1. I'm looking at ER and Anesthesia.

Dude, I'm sorry but I'm calling you out here. I saw this exact same post from you in the EM section and now I'm seeing it here. I think these types of "Am I good enough? " threads kill this place. They are lame and just about everyone knows where the averages are in the country. If you're an IMG or have some kind of mishap on your application, then maybe its worth bringing up with genuine concern. Otherwise, act like an adult and do your homework. Check the Charting Outcomes file, speak with your Dean, or do a Google search. Stop with the repetitive cliche threads. Yes, you're good enough!

 

[da8s0859q]

Dude, I'm sorry but I'm calling you out here. I saw this exact same post from you in the EM section and now I'm seeing it here. I think these types of "Am I good enough? " threads kill this place. They are lame and just about everyone knows where the averages are in the country. If you're an IMG or have some kind of mishap on your application, then maybe its worth bringing up with genuine concern. Otherwise, act like an adult and do your homework. Check the Charting Outcomes file, speak with your Dean, or do a Google search. Stop with the repetitive cliche threads. Yes, you're good enough!

Chill. He asked if he should take Step 2 earlier or later -- not if he's good enough.

If he'd asked if he's good enough, I would help you kick down his door and punch him in the balls.

 

[Minerva123]

Not unless you truly feel compelled. Anesthesia/EM are not the most competitive residencies whereas if you were interested in ortho/plastics/derm/etc. you would most definitely need to take it earlier. I am a 4th year applying for gensurg and had a similar step I score (230), took step II early, crushed (260) it and the score was not even mentioned once on my 16 interviews (neither was step I). The lack of mentioning doesn't mean the score didn't help, but it seemed to not make as big a difference as I thought it would. My gut tells me it may help slightly in the match, but it did nothing for interview invitations.

Bottom line: if you feel you you can improve your score 20+ points go for it. It cannot hurt. Don't give yourself lots of grief over this because your Step I is fine.