Step 2 in december

[Playarrz]

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What's the chance of a carib student (Step 1 score = US mean) to match into an anesthesia program? Step 2 will be taken in late december!

thanks

 

[sevoflurane]

Sup Carib-

Do a little better on step 2 and you should be good to go. I'm AUC and am in the same position (step 1=221). The people I've talked with and the little research I've done on the subject has me thinking that mean on Step 1 should be followed by a better than average step 2. Do you have US LOR? Strong US LOR really help, especially GAS, ICU, Pulmonary and Cardio LOR. Regarding step 2, 230+ will get you in the door somewhere- for sure. Blow it up and you'll have a nice set of options to choose from rather than having to pick from the bottom of the pile. Of course, this all depends on the GAS applicant pool of the year you plan to match (apply to a crap load of places to buy yourself some insurance).

Good luck in december! 😎

 

[drlee]

i spoke with the PD for anesthesiology at a top program in NYC and evidently i got the message that step 2 doesn't matter. all he wants is quality people who are easy to work with and are simply normal. step 2 has little or no bearing in the field of anesthesiology. the PD is looking for candidates who passed both steps on the first try and those who actually score above a 250 are overqualified, believe it or not. so don't think you have to score really well on step 2 to have a chance. obviously the better you do, the greater your chances. but if you don't score above a certain percentile, don't be discouraged. strong letters of rec are extremely important as well as clinical grades.

 

[NaeBlis]

Step 2 doesn't matter much in the process because most people take it late in the season. As for the rest, PD's just looking for good people to work with and grades not mattering as much, that is a load of crap. Your clinical grades and step1 scores are the main factors they consider. Before your interview you are largely already ranked based upon those two. If you seem like an a$$ when they interview you you will fall on the list, but there isn't much you can do to advance on the list. That makes sense if you think about it, granted there are some people in your med school classes you don't want to work with, but for the most part they are OK. If you have a low step one, your best bet is to take the step 2 early, so they can consider it while they grant interviews, or to apply to alot of places, so you get as many interviews as possible.

 

[Playarrz]

The problem is I'm a carib student (which makes me an FMG)....FMG's have to have their step 2 taken by Dec 31st of the same year they are applying in. Should I apply this year or wait till the next match year and do some research or something else?
BTW...thanks for all your input guys...appreciate all the help.

-confused student

 

[euhsa]

Playarrz-

Can you take the test sooner? If you take the test after September of this year, your Step 2 scores will probably won't help all that much for the upcoming match.

I myself am not a big fan of losing time. The field of medicine in general is a long road as it is. Therefore, I would suggest for you to apply this year and apply for prelim surgery (those with an anesthesiology residency) spots as well.

If the unfortunate happens (anesthesiology unmatched), you can always try to network with anesthesiology as a surgical prelim.

Anyway, I wish you well with whatever road you decide to travel on.