Should I take step 2?

[Waysensei]

---

Members don't see this ad.

My step 1 score is 245. Should I even take step 2 before I submit ERAS? I have heard that residencies do not require us to submit step 2. If this is true, I would prefer not to submit it with ERAS as I'm not sure I can do better than 245 on step 2.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

There is a major paradigm shift in regards to step 2. Some places require it to be considered for interview, some require a pass to be accepted to residency, some require it to be done some time before you start residency.

It used to be "Step 2 literally doesn't matter." Now, its starting to pick up some clout.

Given your good Step 1 score, you probably dont have to take it, especially if you are concerned you wont have the ability to study that hard for it. This is especially true if you are going into a surgical specialty, as they don't give a hoot about step 2.

If you are looking for a COMPETITIVE medicine program, I'd say you need to set yourself apart by getting a good Step 2 as well (showing that Step 1 was no fluke).

The sad thing is that it depends, but as a blanket statement for the general population with a good Step 1, Step 2 isn't necessary

 

[PistolPete]

Depends on the specialty, but in generaly I'd say no. Too much to lose.

But, really, if you did that well on Step 1 you will do as well or better on Step 2. Some just take it early to get it over with. Your call.

 

[DrVanNostran]

I have similar numbers and I am scheduled for September. I am thinking of pushing it to November.

 

[McGillGrad]

I would push it off until you have a few weeks to study and then only authorize the score to be released if it is good.

 

[Dakayus]

Can you do only authorize a step 1 release and not a step 2? (I mean for DO's) I thought you only had the "send all scores to *BLANK*" button.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

By pushing it off you can select the

"send my USMLE scores now, but wait for me to authorize future USMLE Scores"

OR

"Send my USMLS score now, and send all USMLE scores as the become available"

The first option would let you release the Step 1 score, take the Step 2 AFTER releasing, and then simply not releasing again until you see the score. People who are confident in their test-taking opt for the second option. But the cost may be great. If you do well, no big deal. If you do poorly, then you have no control over its release, and a low score will end up in the hands of residencies before you see it.

The drawback to the first option is that you have to go in and click a button. Since most med students are OCDish enough to check their ERAS 97 times during interview season, its not very hard to spend one of those times to click the button that says "release all of my USMLE scores now" after you see your step 2 score.

 

[topscorer]

By pushing it off you can select the

"send my USMLE scores now, but wait for me to authorize future USMLE Scores"

OR

"Send my USMLS score now, and send all USMLE scores as the become available"

The first option would let you release the Step 1 score, take the Step 2 AFTER releasing, and then simply not releasing again until you see the score. People who are confident in their test-taking opt for the second option. But the cost may be great. If you do well, no big deal. If you do poorly, then you have no control over its release, and a low score will end up in the hands of residencies before you see it.

The drawback to the first option is that you have to go in and click a button. Since most med students are OCDish enough to check their ERAS 97 times during interview season, its not very hard to spend one of those times to click the button that says "release all of my USMLE scores now" after you see your step 2 score.

What if your step 1 score is a 228, and your probably applying to IM.

my sched date right now is july 1st or 5th.

I already took the month of june off, giving up a GI elective and possible LOR

I just scheduled ck for july and cancelled my elective kinda recently, and then went onto realize not only does this mean i have to start studying TODAY, but this means if dont get a good score, not only did i hurt my application that way, but also cus i lost a letter. so i freaked out and started studying. im still in my rotations now and will continue til end of may.

I'm now starting to worry that this was bad idea. second guessing myself. I thought I could get a 240 with 6 weeks of studying while on rotation and 4 weeks off, but 2 weeks of the rotation are done and I'm nowhere near what I had scheduled. I'm also narrowed down to UW and step up to step 2. and thats it.

I have 2 weeks off in august, but was was going to use that time for CS. and then use remainder of time for application sept 1. That way, its finish ck now. done. finish cs. ok done. finish application.

I am now thinking of filling back up the elective if possible, and just studying during rotations until time off in august and taking ck then. but that means delaying cs until after application meaning as an IMG, they wont have my CS score when reading my app. In addition, this plan means instead of getting ck done in july and working on app until sept, I will now be doing CK and my application at the same time, which I dont want to do, for the next 3 months.

its so confusing to decide, cus people tell me i wont get interviewed without step 2 score, while others say with solid step 1 score, i should be focusing on LORs. esp for IM, i dunno

 

[ashmarj]

According to both my internal medicine clerkship director and the residency director at my school, taking Step 2 early is becoming more and more important no matter if you are considering 'top tier' or middle of the road programs. The internal medicine program at my school considers Step 2>Step 1.

Of note, I got a 251 on Step 1 and was told to take Step 2 early and that I could potentially be hurting my chances for interview offers by delaying it. Personally, I'd rather not have Step 2 hanging over my head and have basic clerkship info be as fresh as possible. But hey, what do I know?

 

[DrVanNostran]

According to both my internal medicine clerkship director and the residency director at my school, taking Step 2 early is becoming more and more important no matter if you are considering 'top tier' or middle of the road programs. The internal medicine program at my school considers Step 2>Step 1.

Of note, I got a 251 on Step 1 and was told to take Step 2 early and that I could potentially be hurting my chances for interview offers by delaying it. Personally, I'd rather not have Step 2 hanging over my head and have basic clerkship info be as fresh as possible. But hey, what do I know?

It really depends on who you talk you. I've talked to the PD at my school and inquired from friends at different residency programs on whether or not Step 2 is important for IM. Most of them said no. A solid step 2 can definitely differentiate you from another 250, but the well known risk of dropping is there also. I plan on pushing to November, I feel like it's not worth it at this point.

 

[topscorer]

It really depends on who you talk you. I've talked to the PD at my school and inquired from friends at different residency programs on whether or not Step 2 is important for IM. Most of them said no. A solid step 2 can definitely differentiate you from another 250, but the well known risk of dropping is there also. I plan on pushing to November, I feel like it's not worth it at this point.

so were you one of the 250's on step 1 so your not worried about step 2

i guess my case is wierd cus im on sdn with a 228 on step 1

so deciding to take step 2 is not that easy of a decision. I would have to score very decently higher to make it worth losing entire month of elective rotation and LOR oppurtunity. And I feel this is possible cosnidering my practice step 1 scores and etc, I even left some questions blank on step 1. so dumb. but whose to say i wont repeat mistakes on step 2 studyign process. esp with even more limited time because of rotations

its such a gamble. and if i score the same on step 2. its still a waste