Step 2 for Dermatology

[rabbitsfeet777]

Hello,

I am a rising 4th year and I am struggling trying to schedule when I should take Step 2. I did well on step 1 and although I plan on doing well on step 2, I would rather not risk it.

For those of you who matched this year, when did u take step 2 and did it seem the programs were interested in it?

I was hoping to take step 2 in probably the 2nd or 3rd week of February 2011 after I finished my interviews and had time to study.

Thanks for your feedback!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[doc84]

UCSF requires it. Two programs asked if I had taken it already. I assume it only makes you more competitive if you take it.

 

[sensitive skin]

They won't tell you outright that you need it, but they DO look, and make a huge note of it. On a few of my interviews, I noticed my scores hand-written, circled, and highlighted at the top of my file...good or bad depending on how your score is!

 

[DocEBrown]

Cleveland Clinic requires it too. I have also seen on my cover sheets both my Step 1 and Step 2 scores highlighted. If you scored well on Step 1 you can easily score better on Step 2 with 2 weeks of studying

 

[Dral]

It's not all that likely that you'll perform much worse on step II. It's more likely that you'll score right around step I or better.

With this in mind, consider that PDs would probably rather you be transparent. If your step II scores aren't there it means you either did poorly and don't want to report them or you are not confident in your abilities (for the most part).

Either way, not good. Especially if the PD decides to think the former.

 

[MrEd10]

DONT take it. I dont care what anyone says. 99.999999% chance you will score the same, but, there is a chance you wont and you will hurt yourself. Why would you do that after all the hard work you have done so far.

I did well on step 1, did well on third year. NO ONE asked about step 2.

They looked at my USMLE score and said, wow, you are like everyone else, you did very well on your step 1 and we moved on.

If you want to go to UCSF or Cleveland, take it, otherwise, focus on your application and good luck!

 

[rabbitsfeet777]

When did you take Step 2 Mr Ed?

 

[MrEd10]

Took it the Tuesday after black Monday. I matched, took it the next day!

 

[dermaboy]

I agree with MrEd. If you did well on step 1 (>240), I would put off taking step 2 until as late as possible. I didn't take step 2 until late December, and I was never asked about it at any of my interviews. While there are a handful of programs that require both step 1 and step 2 to be considered for an interview, the vast majority of them will be content with a solid step 1 score. I had a good number of interviews and matched at my #1 choice.

 

[broadbasedbud]

Cleveland Clinic and UCSF. Anyone know of other specific programs requiring step 2?

 

[rabbitsfeet777]

Our chairman said not worry about step 2. only few programs care to see it before ranking.