Step 2 CS will not be required rumor?

[Dr.Whoever]

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I've been hearing a rumor that the Step 2 CS will no longer be required starting with the class of 2009. I've been told by recent graduates and have also read this in several places but have not seen a discussion on SDN about this yet. The USMLE still states that you must take the CS to be eligible to take Step 3, so that makes it seem likely we still must take it. Has anyone been hearing this wonderful (if true) rumor at your school?

 

[Mye Eye]

I dont think it's true...I've heard this rumor almost 1x a year since I was a 2nd year med student...and yet, we're still fortunate enough to pay $1000 to go through the motions and answer their "challenge questions" 🙂

 

[Arsenic]

ive heard the rumor of step 2 cs being dropped for years and still had to take the exam few months ago. the truth is that each test center is packed with about 25 students a day, thats 25 students a day x $1,000 per student x 5 test centers total = $125,000/day. There is no way the USMLE is gonna stop a cash cow that brings them in that much cash a day, all 5 days a week just about every week of the year.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Also consider the incredible amount of money they wasted developing this thing.

At a minimum, they need to break even to keep their jobs.

 

[NuMD97]

ive heard the rumor of step 2 cs being dropped for years and still had to take the exam few months ago. the truth is that each test center is packed with about 25 students a day, thats 25 students a day x $1,000 per student x 5 test centers total = $125,000/day. There is no way the USMLE is gonna stop a cash cow that brings them in that much cash a day, all 5 days a week just about every week of the year.

Keep in mind, too, that IMGs pay $1,200 a pop. 🙂

 

[fakin' the funk]

Keep in mind, too, that IMGs pay $1,200 a pop. 🙂

As well they should...hell, it should be free for American students since it's IMG's that necessitated the test in the first place.

 

[NuMD97]

As well they should...hell, it should be free for American students since it's IMG's that necessitated the test in the first place.

What I don't get is how an AMG can fail this (no disrespect intended to anyone who did fail), if the core curriculum of American medical schools and even residency programs include OSCE practice already anyway. One would think it's the same kind of "walk through".

 

[Mye Eye]

What I don't get is how an AMG can fail this (no disrespect intended to anyone who did fail), if the core curriculum of American medical schools and even residency programs include OSCE practice already anyway. One would think it's the same kind of "walk through".

yeah sometimes an AMG just makes some missteps and that happens, but the fail rate for AMGs is VERRRRRRRRY low...so for the most part failure is much less common than passage...anybody can have an off day however

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Talking with a guy who goes to the NBME meetings, Step 2 CS is here to stay unfortunately. They've even come out saying that a CS portion will "definitely" be a portion of whatever they revise Step 1 and Step II into in the future.