Step 2 performance and redeeming Step 1

[Apply Pressure]

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To what degree can a great step 2 performance redeem a poor step 1 performance? How much of a jump would one have to have (i.e. 10, 20, 30 pts?) in order to effectively diminish the importance of their step 1 score in residency selection? Thanks. My apologies in advance if this is a rather vague question.

 

[Blade28]

(1) What field are you considering?
(2) Is your Step 1 score 200 or 220? BIG difference (practically one standard deviation)!

 

[anonperson]

(1) What field are you considering?
(2) Is your Step 1 score 200 or 220? BIG difference (practically one standard deviation)!

I know I'm not the OP but I'm in a similar situation.

 

[Apply Pressure]

US allo
Step 1 -1 SD
current considerations: rads (now more difficult for me, but this is what I did my M1-M2 summer research in and is submitted for publication.. also great relationship with my PI), IM/subspecialty (ideally would want to match a good name hospital/university in good location), other fields which are of in-between competitiveness

 

[Blade28]

Apply broadly to a good range of IM programs and you'll likely be OK. The big-name academic programs will be competitive, of course. Fellowships will depend on Step 2 CK and 3 (in addition to letters).

Rads will be a very tough match considering your Step 1 score is below the mean; some programs will likely screen you out because of this. You really gotta rock Step 2 - i.e. score WELL above the mean.

 

[Apply Pressure]

Apply broadly to a good range of IM programs and you'll likely be OK. The big-name academic programs will be competitive, of course. Fellowships will depend on Step 2 CK and 3 (in addition to letters).

Rads will be a very tough match considering your Step 1 score is below the mean; some programs will likely screen you out because of this. You really gotta rock Step 2 - i.e. score WELL above the mean.

Thanks for the quick and insightful response. It looks like Step 2 could do a lot for my situation.

When you say "big-name" programs for IM, how high up are you considering? For example, can you give me a short list of examples of the best institutions I could potentially match into? (in your own opinion of course) If that would fan some flames on SDN feel free to PM me.

 

[Blade28]

Unfortunately no one would be able to tell you which programs you'd likely match into. It's not that easy to predict what anyone's "chances" are.

Best thing you can do is do well on your MS-III rotations, rock Step 2 CK and get great letters of recommendation (same plan for everyone).

Best of luck.