step 2 score reporting

[dochuffman]

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Trying to decide wether to take USMLE step 2. If you mark not to release scores will programs know that you took it? If not couldn't you take it early and just wait and see what score you got or do they ask you at the interview or something?

 

[dochuffman]

anybody really know what goes on?

 

[Scooby Moo]

Trying to decide wether to take USMLE step 2. If you mark not to release scores will programs know that you took it? If not couldn't you take it early and just wait and see what score you got or do they ask you at the interview or something?

We were just told at our MS4 orientation that there is probably no real advantage to marking this question one way or the other. One thing to remember though...residency programs receive Step 2 scores electronically as soon as they are released, meaning that it's possible for them to see your scores days before you do. I'm just paraphrasing an anecdote from my school, but in one case a student interviewing somewhere was asked, "So, is there any reason why you failed the Step 2?" Needless to say, they had no idea they had failed until that moment. Failing is rare at this stage of the game, but getting a score that we're not enthusiastic about is probably more common.

Since we can't retake the exam as long as we pass, I will probably just release the score at the get-go so it's one less thing to worry about.

You might want to double check this part...
I think that if you choose to not release the score, the programs do not realize whether you have sat for the exam or not. They find this out only when your NBME transcript is sent to ERAS. Sorry I can't be positive about this part...most of my class didn't pay the closest attention to orientation proceedings, myself included. 🙄