step 2 cs fail match 2014 help!

[Mindblown26]

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Hey Guys, I found out that I failed my cs and am very shocked and disappointed. I guess I didn't prepare for it as much as I should have. Im trying to pick myself and move on from this since I still want to apply for match 2014.
I am applying to FM only. I have decent LOR's and a good rapport with one of the FM programs I rotated in. The program coordinator infused some confidence by saying that she can vouch for me as long as my scores come back before ranking time. But that is only One program that will take a chance on me with an interview without my scores. If I scramble now, I can take a kaplan course and retake cs by Sept 7 to have the score come back oct-nov period. I'll have to take my ck in september too and have the score come out in oct-nov as well. If I take my cs after Sept7, my score will only come out after december 4.
My question to you guys is, should I still scramble to apply this year?? My step 2 cs and ck scores will be reported late. However, if I wait to apply for 2015, won't that look bad as well since I sat out a year after my graduation?
Few of the programs I looked into takes applications till dec31, 2013. Many of the programs I have looked into have interview periods going into January-Feb 2014. I am wondering if I can have my application complete with all my scores by December, assuming I get above 220 on ck and passing cs… Will program look at my application even though it is not complete by Sept 15.
willing to apply to over 100+ programs and will go anywhere.
Caribbean Medical Student- 4th year, US citizen. graduation date may2014.
Step 1-222 1st attempt
Step 2ck- will take soon
Step 2 cs- 1st attempt fail, 2 attempt score reporting in Dec!

Desperately in need of some advice. sorry for the long post. I'd greatly appreciate any input in this.

 

[Bagheera]

Which portion of cs did u fail?

 

[Mindblown26]

Patient note. I was rushed for time during the exam but I did not think I messed up enough to fail it.

 

[Esprit00]

Patient note. I was rushed for time during the exam but I did not think I messed up enough to fail it.

Whatever you decide with CS, don't settle for a CK score below average. 220 is well below the 237 average of Step 2 CK.

 

[Warrior801]

I think because you only failed the patient note part, i'm not sure if it is entirely necessary for you to take a kaplan course. There's still over a week from now until Sept 7 and I am confident that as long as you take time out every day to time yourself for the entire patient interaction and literally mime every single thing, you should be fine! i found that simulating the real exam as far as timing was concerned helped me a great deal. Just find a friend who is willing to help you and go thru all the cases in the First Aid book and use the practice note they posted online. Sorry you didn't pass CS but I am sure you'll do great sept 7! Good luck!

 

[Bagheera]

So u failed pt note but passed data gathering portion in ICE? Were some ur notes not completed during ur exam?

 

[Mindblown26]

Hey guys, thank you for replying..
I failed the ICE portion. I felt like I was rushed during the patient note part. My strategy was to have the HPI down first then the differentials and findings to support it. I typed up the physical exam portion at the end. I didn't type in the vitals for all the cases. I probably left out some physical exam findings in some of the cases due to time constraints. I don't know how hard they grade these things. I thought the differentials, findings and Dx tests would be more important and i made sure i had them down. I was pretty confident that I didn't commit enough mistakes to fail the exam.
About applying for match, It seems like the feedback I am getting from people from forums is to go ahead and apply this year with scores coming in late. i was hoping to hear that too.

 

[coxsackie]

physical exams are also part of the ICE grade. How were your physical exams?

 

[Esprit00]

So u failed pt note but passed data gathering portion in ICE? Were some ur notes not completed during ur exam?

You can't know whether you failed the data gathering or the patient note based on the score report. It all falls under ICE.

To the OP: As for ICE, either do UWorld Step 2 CS or Kaplan Step 2 CS Core Cases book. There's no way to tell if it was just your running out of time or the content of the note that did it. Each of the diagnoses also has to be supported by pertinent positives and negatIves which you would document in the HPI and PE sections as well. Both resources I mentioned use the new patient note format so you can try to imitate their way of doing it. Point is: you'll have to nail down your history taking skills, physical exam skills and note taking skills. Hit all three components and you should be okay the next time around. Try using the patient software to write up your note under strictly timed conditions and see how closely it matches the sample note in UWorld or Core cases. If you're getting the major components down, you're doing okay. Also practice typing faster if it's your speed.

 

[DoctorDermis]

You can't know whether you failed the data gathering or the patient note based on the score report. It all falls under ICE.

To the OP: As for ICE, either do UWorld Step 2 CS or Kaplan Step 2 CS Core Cases book. There's no way to tell if it was just your running out of time or the content of the note that did it. Each of the diagnoses also has to be supported by pertinent positives and negatIves which you would document in the HPI and PE sections as well. Both resources I mentioned use the new patient note format so you can try to imitate their way of doing it. Point is: you'll have to nail down your history taking skills, physical exam skills and note taking skills. Hit all three components and you should be okay the next time around. Try using the patient software to write up your note under strictly timed conditions and see how closely it matches the sample note in UWorld or Core cases. If you're getting the major components down, you're doing okay. Also practice typing faster if it's your speed.

This is really good advice.

Time management comes down to quickly getting a brief DDX / Organ Systems based on CC and how the patient appears - being very strategic about your History Taking and Physical (do it quickly, confidently, and focused). Don't forget to answer questions / provide counseling / etc - quick * efficient, but not rushed.

Practice, Practice, Practice.