Step 1 vs. Step 2

[BrisketAttack]

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Which carries more weight in the residency application? I had always heard it was step 1, by a mile, but just recently I've heard that step 2 is more important. Anyone wanna weigh in?

 

[yaah]

I don't think you will find anyone who truly believes step II is more important. Many people haven't even taken it or have their score in hand by the time interview offers go out (or even by match day).

I have had a couple of PDs tell me that they believe step II scores are more indicative of better performance during residency (maybe this is what you heard). So, many PDs will look at your step II score. But Step I is the main test used for comparison since everyone will have taken it.

I guess the main advice would be to work hard and study for both of them. They come at different times so it isn't really like you have to choose which one to focus on. It's a lot of the same kind of stuff, just presented differently and with different clinical relevance.

 

[lord_jeebus]

I know a PD who wrote in a document about his program's process that he thinks Step II is as good if not better than Step I for predicting the characteristics of residents they seek, but that because many if not most applicants don't take it in time, it's usefulness is limited.

 

[HPsiEPsi]

I don't think you will find anyone who truly believes step II is more important. Many people haven't even taken it or have their score in hand by the time interview offers go out (or even by match day).

I have had a couple of PDs tell me that they believe step II scores are more indicative of better performance during residency (maybe this is what you heard). So, many PDs will look at your step II score. But Step I is the main test used for comparison since everyone will have taken it.

I guess the main advice would be to work hard and study for both of them. They come at different times so it isn't really like you have to choose which one to focus on. It's a lot of the same kind of stuff, just presented differently and with different clinical relevance.

I'm reviving the dead here, but for at least DO students, you can take Step1 and Step2 independent of each other. I'm still interested in hearing other opinions about this issue - Which exam matters more to PD's when applying for residencies?

 

[FutureInternist]

Like they said previously, since a lot of people match even before taking/submitting Step 2 you can guess as to it's importance. There are some programs that don't interview unless everyone has taking both Steps (San Antonio) & others that interview but do not rank until Step 2 is done (Galveston).
While it ultimately depends on the program & field....majority of my class (& my friends' classes) matched w/o a Step 2

Kick ass on Step 1, interview, match & then you just have to pass....although I would still recommend studying your butt off since it helps during residency.

Not sure what you mean by DOs taking Step 1 & 2 independently since that's the way EVERYONE does it.

 

[HPsiEPsi]

Like they said previously, since a lot of people match even before taking/submitting Step 2 you can guess as to it's importance. There are some programs that don't interview unless everyone has taking both Steps (San Antonio) & others that interview but do not rank until Step 2 is done (Galveston).
While it ultimately depends on the program & field....majority of my class (& my friends' classes) matched w/o a Step 2

Kick ass on Step 1, interview, match & then you just have to pass....although I would still recommend studying your butt off since it helps during residency.

Not sure what you mean by DOs taking Step 1 & 2 independently since that's the way EVERYONE does it.

No offense, but your view that, "since a lot of people match even before taking/submitting Step 2 you can guess as to it's importance" is simply the conventional approach. The NBME allows one to register and take the exams independently. There are several circumstances this could bear witness to, only one of which I will mention.

Since many programs look at COMLEX, if you are a DO student having taken COMLEX Step1 and 2, you can apply through ERAS and receive several interviews at allopathic institutions, without having USMLE scores in hand. Later you could improve your chances at those and other places by taking USMLE.

So the question still holds - what bearing does Step 2 have vs. Step 1 on matching decisions, presuming in this situation, you have at least completed COMLEX?

 

[FutureInternist]

No offense, but your view that, "since a lot of people match even before taking/submitting Step 2 you can guess as to it's importance" is simply the conventional approach. The NBME allows one to register and take the exams independently. There are several circumstances this could bear witness to, only one of which I will mention.

Since many programs look at COMLEX, if you are a DO student having taken COMLEX Step1 and 2, you can apply through ERAS and receive several interviews at allopathic institutions, without having USMLE scores in hand. Later you could improve your chances at those and other places by taking USMLE.

So the question still holds - what bearing does Step 2 have vs. Step 1 on matching decisions, presuming in this situation, you have at least completed COMLEX?

Even if you take COMLEX (as I did) schools are satisfied w/ just a Step 1. And if you do match then you only have to worry about taking COMLEX 2 & not USMLE 2 as well.
That's about as simple as I can make it.
Good Luck.