step 2 advice

[quant]

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ok this is probably a topic which has been beaten to death in other forums.....but id like a path specific view on this....

If you score low on step 2 compared to step 1, are you doing yourself a disfavour with regards to your application process?

 

[quant]

ok this is probably a topic which has been beaten to death in other forums.....but id like a path specific view on this....

If you score low on step 2 compared to step 1, are you doing yourself a disfavour with regards to your application process?

also what's a decent step 2 score as far as path goes?.....

 

[yaah]

Well, scoring as high as you can is always better, but in general the important score on step II is passing. I don't think a good score really helps your application a ton, because in general people who do well on step II also did well on step I.

I had one PD tell me when I emailed him my step II score "I happen to think step II score reflects more on who will be a good resident, as opposed to step I." But that was the only one I heard anything like this. Some said, "Oh, that's a good score, congratulations" but I doubt it had really much benefit.

I guess what I would suggest is to do as well as you can! 😉

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Well, scoring as high as you can is always better, but in general the important score on step II is passing. I don't think a good score really helps your application a ton, because in general people who do well on step II also did well on step I.

Yes, if you did well on step 1, then passing step 2 is OK. but if you did well on step 1, you're probably very smart and will do well on step 2 also.

I had one PD tell me when I emailed him my step II score "I happen to think step II score reflects more on who will be a good resident, as opposed to step I." But that was the only one I heard anything like this. Some said, "Oh, that's a good score, congratulations" but I doubt it had really much benefit.

I guess what I would suggest is to do as well as you can! 😉

This PD is a bad person who is trying to add one more thing that can make our lives hell.

 

[quant]

Yes, if you did well on step 1, then passing step 2 is OK. but if you did well on step 1, you're probably very smart and will do well on step 2 also.

This PD is a bad person who is trying to add one more thing that can make our lives hell.

Hey guys thanks for advice.....just scared ****less about step 2 that s all....looking for my "security blanket" (apologies to all "Peanuts" fans)

 

[yaah]

Hey guys thanks for advice.....just scared ****less about step 2 that s all....looking for my "security blanket" (apologies to all "Peanuts" fans)

I know. These tests are a pain in the ass. Unfortunately though, they are the way that different educational backgrounds and experiences can be somewhat standardized.

 

[quant]

I know. These tests are a pain in the ass. Unfortunately though, they are the way that different educational backgrounds and experiences can be somewhat standardized.

I agree...in fact i think the USMLE test is probably very sensible in comparing a student's individual strength and capability...still, its an exam....and am scared ****less....

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I agree...in fact i think the USMLE test is probably very sensible in comparing a student's individual strength and capability...still, its an exam....and am scared ****less....

i propose the following:

step 2 cs should be optional for those going into pathology

step 2 ck should be optional for those who did well on step 1.

step 3 should be pass/fail and should be waived for pathology residents.

 

[yaah]

i propose the following:

step 2 cs should be optional for those going into pathology

step 2 ck should be optional for those who did well on step 1.

step 3 should be pass/fail and should be waived for pathology residents.

I would change the first statement to "Step II cs should be optional for those whose med schools have the same damn thing as part of their curriculum." But other than that, I agree.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I would change the first statement to "Step II cs should be optional for those whose med schools have the same damn thing as part of their curriculum." But other than that, I agree.

yes, but clearly the fact that med schools do have comprehensive clinical assessment exams didn't stop these NBME f*cknuts from taking $1000 from each and every medical student.

hence, we need to move onto the next step and try to waive this step 2 cs for pathology resident-to-be's.

 

[Freestyle]

Just got my four "PASS"es nod today on 2 CS in the mail (took 6 weeks)... we are all just a bunch of suckers for paying $1G for that thing.

 

[quant]

i propose the following:

step 2 cs should be optional for those going into pathology

step 2 ck should be optional for those who did well on step 1.

step 3 should be pass/fail and should be waived for pathology residents.

AMENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN...............


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAMENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN..................

 

[BamaAlum]

So, as a DO applicant who scored well on USMLE Step 1 should I bother to take USMLE Step 2. I mean, I have to take the stupid COMLEX II, but should I bother taking the USMLE? I figure that it can only hurt me. Any advice?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

So, as a DO applicant who scored well on USMLE Step 1 should I bother to take USMLE Step 2. I mean, I have to take the stupid COMLEX II, but should I bother taking the USMLE? I figure that it can only hurt me. Any advice?

if you did well on step 1, i think that should be sufficient. i'm not sure how the DO COMLEX matter plays into the situation but it seems like a lot of programs put emphasis on step 1 since all the applicants have taken it by application time. step 2 is more variable in that some people take it early and have their scores in before match day and others don't. so not taking step 2 early in your situation will not likely hurt you IMHO. my advice would be to take it as late as possible so that your step 2 has no chance in hell in affecting your chances on match day.

 

[Sage]

Just got my four "PASS"es nod today on 2 CS in the mail (took 6 weeks)... we are all just a bunch of suckers for paying $1G for that thing.

I'm now on post-Step 2 CS week number 10, and still NO SCORE! E-mailed them and was told that it is due to "quality assurance reasons."

Official USMLE website says, "During a review of data for the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination, the USMLE quality control team detected a software problem that resulted in an incorrect pass/fail classification for a small number of examinees. The problem affected only examinees with Step 2 CS reports dated January 12 to March 30, 2005."

This SO sucks. 😡

 

[deschutes]

Official USMLE website says, "The problem affected only examinees with Step 2 CS reports dated January 12 to March 30, 2005."

Damn you made me look. My 4-PASS paper report is in one of three large suitcases which as a sane human being I do not intend to repack, since it is less than 48 hours to take-off.

So I cracked open the NBME website to take a look at my account. Score report date: March 30.

Grrrreat.

"Our preliminary analysis indicates that few, if any, examinees who received passing scores dated between January 12 and March 30 will change to a failing score. However, it may take several more weeks to complete a comprehensive review. If the status of any individual must change from pass to fail, we will notify the examinee as soon as we can confirm the change."

Screw it all. It doesn't matter. I'm starting in July.

 

[geddy]

Damn you made me look. My 4-PASS paper report is in one of three large suitcases which as a sane human being I do not intend to repack, since it is less than 48 hours to take-off.

So I cracked open the NBME website to take a look at my account. Score report date: March 30.

Grrrreat.

"Our preliminary analysis indicates that few, if any, examinees who received passing scores dated between January 12 and March 30 will change to a failing score. However, it may take several more weeks to complete a comprehensive review. If the status of any individual must change from pass to fail, we will notify the examinee as soon as we can confirm the change."

Screw it all. It doesn't matter. I'm starting in July.

I woudn't worry. The FAQs about this at the USMLE site are dated April 19-20. They say that the people have been contacted and they are trying to resolve it. In other words, if you haven't heard from them at this point, you still passed. 🙂

Oh, and since I haven't uttered anything like this in a while, the USMLE can go **** itself for making us take that stupid test. Only good thing about that test was that I met Andy there. But was that really worth $1000 - just to meet him 7 months earier than I would have anyway?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Oh, and since I haven't uttered anything like this in a while, the USMLE can go **** itself for making us take that stupid test.

oh...my...god. somebody needs to wash your mouth with soap!

Only good thing about that test was that I met Andy there. But was that really worth $1000 - just to meet him 7 months earier than I would have anyway?

And what a freak coincidence that was...and the thought that we would end up at the same program probably never crossed our minds at that time. I think the $1000 would have been better spent buying something for our respective new places in Boston. I could've easily applied that to the purchase of a plasma screen TV. Damn NBME can shove it! I hope they eat 100 deep dish pizzas and I hope that goes straight to the blubber in their asses!

When you movin' up there?

 

[geddy]

When you movin' up there?

Not until the end of June - June 20. It's way cheaper to live in the Midwest as long as we can.

BTW, I met the director of your MSTP the other week. He is part of our external advisory committee for obtatining funding. I told him that I was going to the same program as you, and he asked how we met. It was on the tip of my tongue to say "the personal ads" I was afraid he might not see the humor in it, though, so I just told him the truth. Nice guy.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Not until the end of June - June 20. It's way cheaper to live in the Midwest as long as we can.

BTW, I met the director of your MSTP the other week. He is part of our external advisory committee for obtatining funding. I told him that I was going to the same program as you, and he asked how we met. It was on the tip of my tongue to say "the personal ads" I was afraid he might not see the humor in it, though, so I just told him the truth. Nice guy.

Yeah, it's around that time that I'll be doing the bulk of setting up the furniture at my place. I'm gonna drive up on my own and start moving smaller stuff a bit earlier just to have that part done.

Ron's a cool guy...the program's been much improved since he became program director (a year or two before I joined the program). Since he became PD, it is now rare to see people taking 12-15 years to finish the MSTP training. Club X is non-existent. Fellows finish their PhD's within 3-5 years. Overall attrition rates have dropped. Fellows are happy.

Personal ads, ey? That the funniest thing you could come up with? Why not say that we met at a steel cage-match convention in Mississippi?