Step 2

[kas23]

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Hi guys,

I have a simple question about Step 2. I have been looking at some web sites for peds residencies and they say that they require Step 2 to apply. What exactly does this mean? Do we need to have our Step 2 scores back by the time we apply in September? Or do we need to have our Step 2 scores back before the match? Can anyone tell me when is a good time to take the Step 2? Surprisingly, a lot of these programs offer no contact information to find this out directly. Thanks a lot.

kas23
😀

 

[BPKurtz]

Hi guys,

I have a simple question about Step 2. I have been looking at some web sites for peds residencies and they say that they require Step 2 to apply. What exactly does this mean? Do we need to have our Step 2 scores back by the time we apply in September? Or do we need to have our Step 2 scores back before the match? Can anyone tell me when is a good time to take the Step 2? Surprisingly, a lot of these programs offer no contact information to find this out directly. Thanks a lot.

kas23
😀

When I was applying last year, I think I ran into a few programs (not that many) which explicitly stated that they required your step 2 score before they would put you on their match list. I don't remember running into any that needed it to grant you an interview. Anyway, if I were you I'd just take it sooner rather than later. Some people will tell you that just in case you don't pass you should wait until late into the interview/match season but I don't believe in that and by and large I'd think program directors would want to know what you're hiding by not taking it. I took mine in July to get them over with -- and because I knew I'd only forget more OB, Medicine, etc if I waited.

For specific programs, they really should have someone to contact on their website. If not, check FREIDA. If you can, emailing the program coordinator (non-M.D. administrator person) would be good because they won't mind being bothered with a logistical question and if they don't know they can kick the Q up to the program director, who is less likely to feel like you're wasting his/her time than if you emailed him/her directly. Of course, you can save yourself the trouble of all that emailing by, again, taking it early.

bpkurtz

 

[kas23]

Thanks for the reply. I have tried to contact people at those programs. One program had this one very rude girl answer the phone. She told me that a "requirement means it is required, but you can apply anyways." What a sweetheart. Makes me really want to go there.

Could I take my Step 2 early, not release it, and just release it to specific programs? Or do I have to release my score to all programs at once? Does anyone know if they will bring up Step 2 during the interview and then I will have to spills the beans that I already took it? Thanks.

kas23

 

[BPKurtz]

Thanks for the reply. I have tried to contact people at those programs. One program had this one very rude girl answer the phone. She told me that a "requirement means it is required, but you can apply anyways." What a sweetheart. Makes me really want to go there.

Could I take my Step 2 early, not release it, and just release it to specific programs? Or do I have to release my score to all programs at once? Does anyone know if they will bring up Step 2 during the interview and then I will have to spills the beans that I already took it? Thanks.

kas23

Wow, I can't believe they were catty to you on the phone. Bummer. But remember that they are just the administrative people and not the docs you'll be working with.

I don't know about releasing your score to individual programs. But witholding your score until you see it and then releasing it to all programs en masse once you saw that you passed would probably work. A better question might be, assuming you pass, will a low score really matter to programs, such that it would be better for them to not see your score at all? I don't really know the answer to this but my hunch would be no, they might ask you about it in an interview to see what you say, but it's unlikely to be a deal breaker. That's just my speculation though so I would ask some people at your institution for advice.

Judging from my friends who hadn't taken step two prior to interviews, they did occasionally get asked about it. In your position, if you got backed into a corner in this way, you could always just say, "Yes, I took it already, but I haven't gotten around to releasing my score yet, it was a XXX." That way you won't be lying when they ask you, which would be pretty dishonest, but you won't have to volunteer the information unless you feel like it or they ask you.

bpkurtz
bpkurtz

 

[Chimera]

I was just wondering what schools REQUIRE a step II score before assembling their match list? Perhaps we could start a list.

Thanks.

 

[BPKurtz]

I was just wondering what schools REQUIRE a step II score before assembling their match list? Perhaps we could start a list.

Thanks.

The only one I know of for sure is Cornell. A quote from the Cornell Pedatric Residency website: "We also require that you have USMLE steps 1 and 2 Scores in by February 15th of the year for which you are applying to match."

I thought during my application process last year that I ran into one or two more program websites that said they required a step 2 score earlier rather than later, but I don't remember which they were and I may be remembering incorrectly. I had this notion that Boston Children's required it early but now their website gives no mention of that, meaning either 1) they used to but now they don't, 2) they used to and still do but erased mention of it from their website, or 3) I hallucinated the whole thing (certainly possible). When in doubt, I still think contacting individual program coordinators is a good strategy to ask each program individually, in spite of kas23's bad experience. If you are shy you could always call them on the telephone to ask and they won't know who you are.

bpkurtz

 

[Chimera]

Thanks for the useful info