Step 2 Necessary?

[medstud87]

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240 on Step 1...
2nd quartile from mid-level US School
4 non-anesthesia pubs
Honors in Surgery, Peds, High Pass in rest of 3rd year rotations...


Is it necessary to get my Step 2 score in for interviews? I have electives set up all the way through october...

 

[Per4mer8]

Just take it. I got the sense the PDs respect those that take it, rock it and don't play the "my step 1 is good I don't need a step 2" game. Of course the argument against is if you get a lower score..... However, taking it sooner I think gives you a better shot at doing well. You're not as far removed from OB/Gyn, Peds etc. Plus you're gonna be over med school and checked out from the second you step on the plane home from your last interview. Just take it. Be confident.

 

[Dawkter]

Just take it. I got the sense the PDs respect those that take it, rock it and don't play the "my step 1 is good I don't need a step 2" game. Of course the argument against is if you get a lower score..... However, taking it sooner I think gives you a better shot at doing well. You're not as far removed from OB/Gyn, Peds etc. Plus you're gonna be over med school and checked out from the second you step on the plane home from your last interview. Just take it. Be confident.

Agreed. The longer you wait the more painful step 2 becomes. With a 240 on step 1 you should be fine as the exam is easier and scoring is more generous.

 

[Dwindlin]

Just take it. I got the sense the PDs respect those that take it, rock it and don't play the "my step 1 is good I don't need a step 2" game. Of course the argument against is if you get a lower score..... However, taking it sooner I think gives you a better shot at doing well. You're not as far removed from OB/Gyn, Peds etc. Plus you're gonna be over med school and checked out from the second you step on the plane home from your last interview. Just take it. Be confident.

Agreed x2. I don't understand wanting to put off the test. You're never going to be more prepared for it than immediately after 3rd year. Just take it.

 

[afteranesthesia]

I had the same Step 1 and took Step 2 end of July like a bandaid, and definitely didn't regret it. Having that score really helped me know where to apply, and I also think my score on Step 2 definitely helped me clinch some top tier interviews also. Don't lose your fire now. Take it and kill it, and give yourself another feather in your cap for getting the good invites. It's nice to have multiple places on your rank list you'd be happy at, and it feels great when you match at one of those (it really does).

 

[davefromcamp]

Agreed x2. I don't understand wanting to put off the test. You're never going to be more prepared for it than immediately after 3rd year. Just take it.

Me3

If you did well you will do well. Anesthesia is not about good scores per se but how well you perform. We had a 235 guy not make it past second year. But where do you want to go? You may need it to be extra competitive.

 

[Guillemot]

I took step 2 in november and still did well, but I found that studying stuff like obgyn and pediatrics painful. I would have had to spend less time reviewing if I had taken it earlier.


Additionally a number of late interviews I did were unaware that I had taken step 2 even several weeks after my report was out. Some programs may care more than others about step 2. Not sure.

Overall though I think it would have been better for me to have taken it in August ot September. The material was fresher.

 

[Dwindlin]

I took step 2 in november and still did well, but I found that studying stuff like obgyn and pediatrics painful. I would have had to spend less time reviewing if I had taken it earlier.


Additionally a number of late interviews I did were unaware that I had taken step 2 even several weeks after my report was out. Some programs may care more than others about step 2. Not sure.

Overall though I think it would have been better for me to have taken it in August ot September. The material was fresher.

I've heard many people say they wished they took it sooner. Haven't heard anyone yet say the opposite.


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[davefromcamp]

I've heard many people say they wished they took it sooner. Haven't heard anyone yet say the opposite.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

^same

 

[bigdan]

Does the option exist to take the exam but not release the score? I think I remember this as an option, at least when I was applying.

A 240 is a great score, and will open doors for you. You obviously don't want to be explaining why you went down on Step 2, but as all others have said, you also don't want to take it long after your mojo is gone.

Nice Step 1 - good problem to have! Good luck with things!

 

[TeamZissou]

Does the option exist to take the exam but not release the score? I think I remember this as an option, at least when I was applying.

A year or two ago they changed the requirements for DOs, we must now report the USMLE if we have taken it.

Last years match was also the first without "pre-match offers".