Step 2 importance for EM?

[Bigeminy]

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I'm applying for EM and I'm trying to figure out when to take Step 2 CK.

I have a rotation in July (non-EM) and I was thinking I would study for Step 2 during that and get it out of the way but i'm not sure I should rush to take it. The other option is to take it in October (with a full month off to study). My school wants us to take Step 2 as early as possible because they keep telling us that it is being used more and more to screen out applicants for interviews. If i take it in October, i'm told, i'd potentially be missing out on interviews.

I got a 249 on step 1 and i'm not sure I should be rushing to take step 2 with the chance of doing worse than taking it in October (which may be too late).

Does anyone know what the general consensus is regarding Step 2 and EM residencies?

Thanks!

 

[e30ftw]

I applied 2 years ago. Things may have changed since then but I doubt significantly. EM was competitive my year (no spots in scamble).

I had almost the same step 1 as you and wanted til late september to take step 2. I didn't think it made any difference on getting invites; i got ~25/30 invites and by the time of interview (when it really matters since programs make ROL after interviews) my score was back anyway. I remember seeing a couple things circled on interviewer's "applicant info" sheet:almost always it was: step 1 + 2 scores and EM rotation grades.

that said, I don't really think it matters. take it when you want too.. taking it early and doing well is probably the best option, lol.

 

[han14tra]

Step 2 is more important than step 1 for EM. Step 2 is about knowing how to clinically evaluate and treat virtually anything that comes through the door. It's a lot of EM type questions.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Step 2 is more important than step 1 for EM. Step 2 is about knowing how to clinically evaluate and treat virtually anything that comes through the door. It's a lot of EM type questions.

Heard exactly this from my home institution PD at an ACEP event. EM PD's value Step 2 relatively more.

 

[fahimaz7]

I had similar scores on step 1 and I got a lot of positive feedback on the trail for having taken step 2 and doing better on it. It's not that hard of a test to improve upon, even for the guys with high scores. I don't regret having taken it last year when I did (August).

 

[b-real]

Step 2 is more important than step 1 for EM. Step 2 is about knowing how to clinically evaluate and treat virtually anything that comes through the door. It's a lot of EM type questions.

While this is true in most instances, with a 249 Step 1, I would probably hold off on taking Step 2 early. The OP will get almost any interview he/she wants with that Step 1 (assuming the rest of the app is good). A subpar Step 2 may make some programs think twice. Secondly, a med student's ability to "clinically evaluate and treat virtually anything that comes through the door" is not being evaluated by Step 2. An EM residency trains you to do that, not 3 years of medical school and studying for a licensing exam.

 

[deleted547339]

I had similar scores on step 1 and I got a lot of positive feedback on the trail for having taken step 2 and doing better on it. It's not that hard of a test to improve upon, even for the guys with high scores. I don't regret having taken it last year when I did (August).

+1

While this is true in most instances, with a 249 Step 1, I would probably hold off on taking Step 2 early. The OP will get almost any interview he/she wants with that Step 1 (assuming the rest of the app is good). A subpar Step 2 may make some programs think twice. Secondly, a med student's ability to "clinically evaluate and treat virtually anything that comes through the door" is not being evaluated by Step 2. An EM residency trains you to do that, not 3 years of medical school and studying for a licensing exam.

I dunno. I think EM generally draws the type of people that would appreciate students not "playing the game." I had a strong step 1 score, but didn't want anyone to think it was a fluke or that I was afraid of another test. I killed step 2 and a lot of people commented on it.

 

[goodoldalky]

With a 249 step 1, step 2 is pretty much irrelevant. Nice job.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I'm applying for EM and I'm trying to figure out when to take Step 2 CK.

I have a rotation in July (non-EM) and I was thinking I would study for Step 2 during that and get it out of the way but i'm not sure I should rush to take it. The other option is to take it in October (with a full month off to study). My school wants us to take Step 2 as early as possible because they keep telling us that it is being used more and more to screen out applicants for interviews. If i take it in October, i'm told, i'd potentially be missing out on interviews.

I got a 249 on step 1 and i'm not sure I should be rushing to take step 2 with the chance of doing worse than taking it in October (which may be too late).

Does anyone know what the general consensus is regarding Step 2 and EM residencies?

Thanks!

Folks here will tell you to take it as early as possible. Multiple PDs have told me, and other audiences, that if you score 240 or above on Step 1 just get Step 2 done before the ROL is due.

 

[Iride]

Folks here will tell you to take it as early as possible. Multiple PDs have told me, and other audiences, that if you score 240 or above on Step 1 just get Step 2 done before the ROL is due.

Im not a PD, but of all the responses above, I would say this is probably the most accurate in my opinion.

I had a score in the mid 230s and took it early and don't regret it at all..... but if I had your score I would have PROBABLY waited.... The only reason I say probably is because it was really nice to have it out of the way and not have to worry about it.

Ultimately, do whatever you want, I think the only way you will hurt yourself is to do significantly worse.

 

[Dwindlin]

This very topic just popped up in the Anesthesia forum as well. Just take the test. You are never more familiar with the Step II material than immediately after 3rd year. As I said in the other thread, many people have told me they wished they had taken it sooner, I have yet to hear the opposite.

 

[winkleweizen]

240s are becoming pretty common in em. I would go ahead and get it out of the way. Chances are you'll do better and it gives programs an extra incentive to interview u

 

[swamprat]

Yeah OP I'm just a fourth year and have a step1 score in the 260s and have alrdy taken step 2, I was told it doesn't matter when you take it as long as its before the ROL however I figured what other ppl said that I wouldn't know the material better than right after third year and that if I bombed the exam later on before the ROL I wouldn't even be able to have an excuse and they just would rank me lower anyway so this way at least if I get an interview I can explain it if asked. Now hopefully that is not the case, still no score back..

 

[DoctorMedic]

For an AMG it's customary to not have Step 2 by Interview application time. For IMG it is usually wanted to make sure you can pass all Steps before they waste time on you. Also regardless AMG or IMG if you didn't do well on Step 1 you should try to have a great Step 2 to get more interviews, vis versa if you have a great Step 1 with either it's less of an issue to have Step 2.

 

[DoctorTinyCat]

This very topic just popped up in the Anesthesia forum as well. Just take the test. You are never more familiar with the Step II material than immediately after 3rd year. As I said in the other thread, many people have told me they wished they had taken it sooner, I have yet to hear the opposite.

Agree that you're better off to take it sooner rather than later. If you did well during 3rd year (and you already did well Step 1), then you're set to kill Step 2 with minimal studying. A solid score is just one more thing that can help you in an increasingly competitive field.

 

[DoctorTinyCat]

Duplicate. Sorry.

 

[BKN]

We would interview you on the basis of a good transcript, a good step 1 and a good SLOR. However we would not rank you if your step 2 wasn't available to us by the ranking party.

If you have step 1<= mediocre, get your step 2 done quickly to get interviews.

I think many programs would feel the same.

 

[mph27]

We would interview you on the basis of a good transcript, a good step 1 and a good SLOR. However we would not rank you if your step 2 wasn't available to us by the ranking party.

If you have step 1<= mediocre, get your step 2 done quickly to get interviews.

I think many programs would feel the same.

From what I hear, I would agree with BKN. I actually had a Department Chair tell me something similar just last week.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

From what I hear, I would agree with BKN. I actually had a Department Chair tell me something similar just last week.

Trust me, you should agree with BKN, and make that you heard from two of them last week.

 

[GreenEydGem]

I'm applying for EM and I'm trying to figure out when to take Step 2 CK.

I have a rotation in July (non-EM) and I was thinking I would study for Step 2 during that and get it out of the way but i'm not sure I should rush to take it. The other option is to take it in October (with a full month off to study). My school wants us to take Step 2 as early as possible because they keep telling us that it is being used more and more to screen out applicants for interviews. If i take it in October, i'm told, i'd potentially be missing out on interviews.

I got a 249 on step 1 and i'm not sure I should be rushing to take step 2 with the chance of doing worse than taking it in October (which may be too late).

Does anyone know what the general consensus is regarding Step 2 and EM residencies?

Thanks!

As a general rule of thumb for any specialty (I've been an administrator in 10), having Step 2 available while being considered for interviews is always a plus. Having it available by ranking time is a must. I will make a difference in how the program views you as a professional. Get it out of the way and upload it to ERAS as soon as you have your results. If you've maxed out your ability to upload documents then send it to the programs you're truly interested in directly. Anything you can do to make your file stronger is good and programs appreciate it. EM is highly competitive and you want to stand out amongst your peers.

Best wishes and good luck!

😀😎😀😎😀😎

 

[manny99]

Step 1 230s step 2 220s. How bad will this hurt me? I'm pretty worried.

 

[JediZero]

Since I'm on a data-mining kick today:

According to the NRMP Program Director's Survey (2012 Edition), Step 1 was a factor in interview selection for 75% of EM PD's (compared to 82% on average across all specialties), while Step 2 was a factor for interview for 53% (compared to 70% average).

In terms of ranking candidates post-interview, importance for each factor was rated on a scale of 1-5. EM PD's rated Step 1 at a 3.7 (compared to 4.1 average) and Step 2 at a 3.8 (compared to a 4.0 average).

The methodology, of course, is arbitrary and probably a little silly, but there are a few things to notice here:

1) EM programs, on average, care less about your board scores than other specialties.
2) Step 2 is pretty irrelevant when it comes to getting an interview (presumably because many students may not have scores at the time invitations are being sent).
3) Step 2 DOES become more important than Step 1 for ranking, but only slightly more so. This is still a significant departure from Step 1's predominance in other specialties.

Interesting... does seem like this lines up with most of the common wisdom in this thread, but not in the strength that the comments would seem to suggest.

Discuss.

 

[deleted109597]

Interesting... does seem like this lines up with most of the common wisdom in this thread, but not in the strength that the comments would seem to suggest.

Surveys suck. It's very hard to distinguish between a bunch of relatively normal/average people, so test scores (which predict board pass rates) do just that.