Should I take the risk

[grigory76]

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I need your opinion folks as I am facing a decision that can have a lot of consequences- either good or bad.
A couple of words about myself. I am 29, IMG (Moscow med.school.), completed a physician assistant program in the states and worked for 2 years in outpatient urology and cardiology. Took Step 1 in August, 240/97, scheduled for Step 2 CK on Dec 28th and CS on Jan 4th.
I haven’t applied for residency yet and I am trying to figure out whether I can make it for this year. I feel that I need more time to prepare for Step 2 in order to get a good grade, but in this case I am probably not going to make it to the residency this coming summer. My second option- keep the dates and take the risk of getting a lower grade than I got on Step 1 and try to make it for this year. Saving a year means a lot for me, but I would hate to get a bad grade on CK.
What do you guys think? Should I apply now, keep exam dates and take the risk? I am leaning towards this, as the prospect of loosing a year doesn’t seem very attractive to me.
Thank you.

 

[neilc]

my feelings are that with your clinical experience and your high step 1 scores, you are likely to do well on step 2 (both parts). as of now, you are looking to likely scramble anyhow (if you haven't applied yet). so, if you are planning to do FM or IM, take the tests and scramble. i don't think there is a downside to that at all, you should do well on them. if you want something more competitive, take your time. without apps in by now, lots of doors are already closed.

 

[grigory76]

Thank you, Neil.
I need to get into a decent IM program as I have future plans for GI fellowship.
Do yo think I would get a chance of getting a good IM spot this year if I get, say, 85-90 on CK?
Greg

 

[neilc]

i would think that should be a reasonable goal. i don't know how many "good" spots are open in the scramble, but i would bet there are a few. perhaps you can look at last years unfilled list to see what spots are usually left over.

seeing how step1 is really the best predictor of step 2 scores, and you crushed step 1, i don't think taking step 2 is going to be a tough thing for you. so, you should take it and see what is open. if nothing good is open, you may have to either wait a year, or take a lesser spot and hope to change programs later, but you are still no worse off for having taken step 2 and trying, right? and dec 28 is still a long way off with plenty of time to do exceedingly well for CK. i sucked on step 1, and gave CK a solid 2 weeks of studying, and broke 90. i think your chances of crushing my score are pretty good as wel.