Step 2 CK Automatic Score Release based on test date or date of score release?

[hoagiedogy]

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I think the title pretty much sums up my question...

Is the automatic Step 2CK score release based on the date you took the exam.... or the date you receive your score report (relative to the Sept 1st ERAS release date)?


A second... and related question...

Now, in 2011, does the old mantra of Good Step 1 score = Wait to take Step 2 still hold true?

It seems like I'm hearing more and more that schools would like to see a Step 2 score before offering interviews.

Also, take a look at this:
http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty2010v3.pdf

I'd be curious to hear what other people have to say regarding the bar graphs that show step 1 and 2 and whether or not programs want to see a score before offering an interview.

Thanks y'all.

 

[ACSurgeon]

I think the title pretty much sums up my question...

Is the automatic Step 2CK score release based on the date you took the exam.... or the date you receive your score report (relative to the Sept 1st ERAS release date)?


A second... and related question...

Now, in 2011, does the old mantra of Good Step 1 score = Wait to take Step 2 still hold true?

It seems like I'm hearing more and more that schools would like to see a Step 2 score before offering interviews.

Also, take a look at this:
http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty2010v3.pdf

I'd be curious to hear what other people have to say regarding the bar graphs that show step 1 and 2 and whether or not programs want to see a score before offering an interview.

Thanks y'all.

When you submit ERAS, any exams with scores will be released. If you took step2 before submitting ERAS but didn't have your score, then that score will NOT be released (unless you chose the automatic release option). However, ERAS asks you to list your exam dates for step1 AND step2. I can't remember if leaving it blank is an option, but it seems shady to leave it blank when you've already taken it (and outright wrong to list a future date if you've already taken it).

My recommendation: take step 2 CK between September 1st and the end of October. This should be early enough for you to get more interviews (if your step 1 score needs a little help), and also early enough for programs who require it to rank you (some will claim this, few abide by their claims) but it's late enough that you are not forced to submit your score in case you're not happy with it.

Regarding the 2011 recommendation about taking step 2 or not: this is specialty dependent AND program dependent. Many will have published guidelines on their website, but what is or isn't enforced can be highly variable. If you have a solid step1 score, some/many programs that "require CK" to rank applicants might overlook this "requirement." If you barely passed step 1, they are more likely to enforce this policy (and even programs that don't require step 2 might be inclined to rank you higher if you have a passing step 2, just because you're no longer a risk).