Step 1>>>Step2 ?

[RoxyOrDilli]

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Good morning,
I was curious to hear what you all thought about Step1 vs Step2 Scores?
I made about 7 points below the national average for Gen Surg on step 1 and 7 points above the average on step 2. Does step 2 help much or is STEP 1 all that program directors are really looking at? It seems like most people do better on STEP 2 so is it just not given as much weight?

 

[psychhopefull2016]

Step 1 is absolutely given more weight, especially since absolutely everyone will have this score in for applications. However, the PD at more home institution which is top tier (for psych, not gen surg) says that they really like to see improvement from step 1 to 2 because it shows you can adapt your strategies when they don't work. And you increased relative to the average so it should help a bit. Also 7 pts below average isn't too bad!

 

[RoxyOrDilli]

Yeah Im just hoping I don't get screened out based on STEP 1, Seems like most people have step 2 in by the time applications go out now and I would think clinical knowledge would be more valuable than biochem haha

 

[failedatlife]

Per a mentor of mine, most GS programs still screen at 220 on Step 1 if they even screen.

 

[RoxyOrDilli]

Per a mentor of mine, most GS programs still screen at 220 on Step 1 if they even screen.

Our PD said they screen at 235 but its for Step1/2 whatever is highest

 

[psychhopefull2016]

Our PD said they screen at 235 but its for Step1/2 whatever is highest

235 for their specific program or for all? Because thats the average so that seems like a high screening cutoff unless you are a top tier program

 

[RoxyOrDilli]

235 for their specific program or for all? Because thats the average so that seems like a high screening cutoff unless you are a top tier program

Not a top tier program which is what made me a little nervous, they were saying they had enough applicants with over a STEP 2 230 that they might raise it to 235 this year :/

 

[shouldigomd]

It isn't all they look at... thats silly, but most places still use step 1 as the most important screen. I have been told that some use step 2>step1. Step 2 will help you but bottom line is that they are both important.

 

[failedatlife]

Sorry, that's all I know about it. He basically told me this offhand as I was scrubbed in with him on a case and I was collecting metrics for a new paper. He used to be on the committee at our program I think though (top 40 school) so at least some schools may adhere to this. Also, see if you can get a hold of the dude in that thread below, he may be helpful with a school list.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/matching-into-gs-with-sub-par-step-1.1157948/