I need some advice, is the Step 2 score required before interviews or match day for Neurology...I am pretty happy with my step 1 score, and I have scheduled my Step 2 for June just to get it over with...but now i've been reading that there is no good reason to take step 2 early if you did well with step 1...is this the case? Should i reschedule it for later, and if so when? Thanks for all ur help.
Step 2 for Neurology Spot
- Thread starter kcumb10
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Take Step 2 whenever your schedule permits. Neurology is not an ultra-competitive field. I had not taken Step 2 until after interview season, and none of the PG's seemed to mind. That being said, if you are aiming for a "Top 5" neuro residency take it in June.
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thinking back, i would get it over with. i know of just a couple programs who are now taking step 2ck into consideration and will not rank you without it. ideally, if you are concerned about how you'd do, you can take it in oct/nov and only release the scores if you're content with it. not taking step 2 will not hurt your chances of getting the interview though.
There are a couple of the top programs that strongly advise taking it prior to the match (and one even requires it).
If you have a strong application you don't need to take it prior to the interview season, but some programs need to have your scores before they rank you.
If you have the time I would get it out of the way early. As an MD-PhD I had to sneak it in around the winter holidays.
The good news is that it is not hard to equal or better your step I score. It takes much less prep time than step I and a lot of people blow it off which helps inflate your score if you try to do well.
If you have a strong application you don't need to take it prior to the interview season, but some programs need to have your scores before they rank you.
If you have the time I would get it out of the way early. As an MD-PhD I had to sneak it in around the winter holidays.
The good news is that it is not hard to equal or better your step I score. It takes much less prep time than step I and a lot of people blow it off which helps inflate your score if you try to do well.
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Does this advice apply to IMGs too? Thanks!
Not sure, but for IMGs I think having high USMLE scores may be very important.
As an international applicant, unless it's impossible, I would try to have my step II CK score before applying in the fall.
That being said I may be way off base. However for all applicants a good CK score never hurts.
Well I am considering Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins as some of my top choices...so take step 2 in June and risk doing worse on it then step 1 or wait untill oct/nov and have the option of releasing my scores or not???
If the rest of your application is strong, I would wait till oct/nov. Just take the time to do well and then everything takes care of itself.
On eras you will list when you plan on taking Step II CK, so unless you say you are waiting till late winter programs may start to wonder if they don't get your score at some point.
I've heard CC is not too competitive. You should have no problems getting an interview there. Hopkins tends to interview fewer applicants and in the past has had a strong research focus.
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I think this depends on how well you did on Step 1. What did you score?
