step 2 ck before interviews or before rank lists due?

[theonlytycrane]

Hi everyone 🙂 ms3 here (have done searching, but just want to verify with you all)

2020 ERAS submissions open on 9/15, so should 3rd years attempt to have step 2 ck scores in before this date? (meaning taking step 2 ck by August?)

Or is the goal to have step 2 ck (and cs?) scores in prior to rank lists being due?

Other than if someone has a step 1 score lower than desired, will not having a step 2 cs score delay interview invites from programs?

ty <3

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[GoSpursGo]

It all depends on the candidate and the specialty you're applying to. There are presumably lots of things you would LIKE to have before 9/15, such as complete a sub-I, maybe do an away rotation, wrap up some research if that's part of the game for the specialty you're going for, do step 2, etc. Clearly you can't do ALL of that in the first 2.5 months of 4th year, so you have to prioritize things.

If your step 1 score is low, then having step 2 CK in within the first couple of weeks of ERAS opening would be beneficial. Otherwise, you may get more bang for your buck doing something else.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

No. A CK grade that posts before applications are submitted only benefits a low step 1. Otherwise it’s just a completion needed prior to rankings.

 

[Jessica h]

Usmle, ecfmg certified now here is what I did. I sat for the step 2 cs first before any of the other exams. Mainly my sources cs videos and fa . I binged on CSEvideos for 2 months then practiced the cases out with the sps at Jackson park hospital in Chicago, got stars in each section,I did my exam in Chicago. For my step 1 I did after the cs and used uw Kaplan videos pahtoma and goljan audios while walking my dog and hanging out with my kids. The ck I used conrad mtb 3 and the yale book on ck but once I finished step 1 with a 242 it made ck much easier. Now I am ecfmg certified but was wondering if taking cs first will look odd to the residency boards. Good luck on usmle journey

 

[GoSpursGo]

Usmle, ecfmg certified now here is what I did. I sat for the step 2 cs first before any of the other exams. Mainly my sources cs videos and fa . I binged on CSEvideos for 2 months then practiced the cases out with the sps at Jackson park hospital in Chicago, got stars in each section,I did my exam in Chicago. For my step 1 I did after the cs and used uw Kaplan videos pahtoma and goljan audios while walking my dog and hanging out with my kids. The ck I used conrad mtb 3 and the yale book on ck but once I finished step 1 with a 242 it made ck much easier. Now I am ecfmg certified but was wondering if taking cs first will look odd to the residency boards. Good luck on usmle journey

This is a reasonable caveat that our advice above only applies to US MDs and DOs. IMGs absolutely need to have step 2 scores in shortly after ERAS opens.

 

[ciestar]

Get CS out of the way. Don’t be one of those people who finds out they failed in like November/December. It takes three months to get your results.

As for CK? You don’t need it in August, just most people in my class got it out of the way in May because my school has a small dedicated study period for it.

 

[theonlytycrane]

ty all for the replies 🙂 I have an elective that I want to schedule early and a couple sub-i's to complete for letters

If I still plan to submit ERAS on 9/15, is end of September or early October okay to take CK or would that be too late?

 

[mistafab]

It just sucks to have that hanging over your head for so long. Especially in fourth year. It also means you will get your score halfway through interview season or later - God forbid you do poorly.

What specialty are you applying for? Best of luck btw.

ty all for the replies 🙂 I have an elective that I want to schedule early and a couple sub-i's to complete for letters

If I still plan to submit ERAS on 9/15, is end of September or early October okay to take CK or would that be too late?

 

[bananafish94]

Nobody will care about CS as long as you have a Pass in by ROL submission. If your Step 1 is lower than you’d like then CK can help if it’s done by ERAS submission. My Step 1 was about average for matched applicants in my specialty but my CK was dramatically better so I think it definitely helped me get some interviews. And demonstrating improvement is always a good trait to have! All in all it’s not going to make or break you though.

 

[takeurmeds02]

Get CK out the way as soon as reasonably possible. The biggest piece of advice that I could give is to start studying for CK towards the end of 3rd year (if you're not a struggling student). That way, you don't have to take a full month to dedicate towards studying. The farther away from 3rd year you get, the more info starts bleed out of your ears. Plus you just don't want that looming over your head.

I was able to take CK in June, rotate at my home institution, do an away, and have three letters in by Oct 1 (some programs won't send them on or before Sept 15).

In terms of CS, also schedule that as soon as reasonably possible so that you can budget time to take it again if you, unfortunately, need to. If you can arrange your aways soon, it will make it easier to pick a date for CS.

Most programs will want to see a CK score unless you killed Step 1 though it's not a requirement. CS just needs to be in before rank lists.

 

[tantacles]

My advice to everyone that will listen:

The ideal time to take Step 2 CK is sometime from 9/1-10/1. This way, if you get a great score, you can choose to submit it. If you get a crappy score (when compared with your step 1 score), you can choose to wait and see what interviews you got without showing programs your step 2 CK score.

If you take the exam and your score releases before ERAS opens (usually it takes 3 weeks for them to post), you MUST submit your step 2 CK score with the rest of your application. If you take it and it releases after you submit ERAS, you can choose to withhold.

So in an absolutely ideal world, you would have your step 2 CK score and choose whether or not to submit it before your dean's letter went out.

 

[takeurmeds02]

My advice to everyone that will listen:

The ideal time to take Step 2 CK is sometime from 9/1-10/1. This way, if you get a great score, you can choose to submit it. If you get a crappy score (when compared with your step 1 score), you can choose to wait and see what interviews you got without showing programs your step 2 CK score.

If you take the exam and your score releases before ERAS opens (usually it takes 3 weeks for them to post), you MUST submit your step 2 CK score with the rest of your application. If you take it and it releases after you submit ERAS, you can choose to withhold.

So in an absolutely ideal world, you would have your step 2 CK score and choose whether or not to submit it before your dean's letter went out.

That's a good point.