Step II staying motivated

[tancat]

Hi peeps!

New member here – I’m hoping to get advice from you guys because I feel like I can’t really talk to my med school friends about this:

I’m taking CK in less than a month and I’m having trouble staying motivated to study. Every day I tell myself I’m gonna do a 44Q uworld set when I get home, but most nights I only end up doing 10. At this rate I’m only going to end up going through qbank once, if I even finish at all.

I think part of it is that I did really well on step 1. So like in the back of my mind, I know CK doesn’t matter that much - as long as I do average on it, I’ll be fine. But the thing is, I’m the type of person who puts my best foot forward for everything. So I know if I just do average on it, I’ll be really disappointed in myself later. The problem is getting myself to realize that NOW lol!

Anyway, a lot of my friends struggled with Step 1 so they wouldn’t really get where I’m coming from here. Anybody out there kill Step 1 (for whatever specialty you’re going into?) How did you stay motivated for step 2? Please share your strategies!!

 

[Stellar Clouds]

Given that you did very well on step 1, I have to imagine that you studied well and did well on your shelf exams. Just focus on getting through as much of uworld as you can. I was in the same boat as you. I half-assed studied for a couple weeks, making it through about 2/3 of uworld. I ended up with a very good CK score.

I hope my anecdote will take some of the pressure off of you. If you have been dragging trying to do questions, take a few days off and do something fun instead. You have lots of time.

 

[tjquinn]

I would think those individuals who did particularly well on step 1 would feel perhaps even more pressure than someone who didn't do so well on step 1. If you got 250+ on step 1, you would expect a step 2 score of at least 260+ (since people typically do better on step 2). However, I would think it is much more difficult to make the jump from 250+ to 260+ than it is to go from 200 to 210. You are right, step 2 doesn't matter too much.... Unless you do worse than you did on step 1.

My step 1 score is great, and I am scheduled to take step 2 on 6/14. All I can think about is what if my score drops lower than my step 1 score, and I sully my application. This is what keeps me motivated to do well on step 2!

 

[CDI]

I would think those individuals who did particularly well on step 1 would feel perhaps even more pressure than someone who didn't do so well on step 1. If you got 250+ on step 1, you would expect a step 2 score of at least 260+ (since people typically do better on step 2). However, I would think it is much more difficult to make the jump from 250+ to 260+ than it is to go from 200 to 210. You are right, step 2 doesn't matter too much.... Unless you do worse than you did on step 1.

My step 1 score is great, and I am scheduled to take step 2 on 6/14. All I can think about is what if my score drops lower than my step 1 score, and I sully my application. This is what keeps me motivated to do well on step 2!

Doubt it'll matter that much if your Step 1 score is that high. Just an example, I had a friend score in the 260s, then drop to the 240s on Step 2, took it late in the ERAS cycle. Didn't affect him one bit with his match.

 

[Ronin786]

Yeah, doing better on Step 2 than Step 1 is overblown. Its more important to not do worse, but even that can be hard if you've got a really high score on Step 1. If you've got 250s on Step 1 then aim for 250s on Step 2 and you should be fine.

As for the OPs inquiry, realize that this is one of the last exams who's score is going to count a great deal. It'll take 2 weeks of heavy studying, so try to battle down and knock this out.

 

[tjquinn]

Yeah, if you take step 2 late in the ERAS cycle it won't matter at all. If you are taking it in June of your 4th year, and the score will most definitely be available prior to interview season, I think it would result in less interview invitations.