Step 2

[Niko]

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I need some help. I'm currently finishing up my third year, and I wanted some advice on when to take USMLE Step 2. I did extremely well on Step 1...I actually think I got pretty lucky and was blown away with my scores. I feel that my Step 2 scores could only hurt me. Is it true that some competitive residency programs won't rank you until they have your Step 2 scores in? Are the Step 2's really that important to them. If someone could help me out I'd really appreciate it. Thanks

 

[iamubiquitous]

Originally posted by Niko
I need some help. I'm currently finishing up my third year, and I wanted some advice on when to take USMLE Step 2. I did extremely well on Step 1...I actually think I got pretty lucky and was blown away with my scores. I feel that my Step 2 scores could only hurt me. Is it true that some competitive residency programs won't rank you until they have your Step 2 scores in? Are the Step 2's really that important to them. If someone could help me out I'd really appreciate it. Thanks

In December I spoke to the PD at U of Neb about this.

He explained that

1. to do worse on step 2 than on step 1 is a kiss of death

2. some progs wont interview you w/o step 2 -- though this mostly applies if you are IMG

3. Many wont rank w/o it -- you gotta ba ready to start work

4. Even if step 1 is in the range 180-200 if you do much better on step 2 you are in good shape.

so in conclusion it sounds like item 1 should be your biggest concern.

hope this helps

best of luck

 

[Mav]

Not true, ubiq.

MOST competitive applicants do NOT take Step 2 simply because they did so well on Step 1.. and as you said, only look worse with a lower Step 2. You do NOT need Step 2 to interview and be ranked at MGH, Brigham, Hopkins, etc.

The info on Step 2 "required to get ranked" holds true for IMGs perhaps (dunno), but not American grads.

You will do fine, Niko.

 

[iamubiquitous]

I dont know who you are or what you do
but
the PD at nebraska has been one for over 20 years
(a record according to him)
but beside that -- I didnt say it
he did

what I can say is that I and friends of mine (3 IMGs 1US)
all got a flood of invites 72 - 96 business hours after our step 2 scores were released to programs. And Step 1 was over 220 for all of us.

One guy got the flood in late NOV-EARLY DEC!!!(seems really late to me) as if his app had been in a maybe pile -- just waiting for the score.

so my experience meshes well with what the PD told me

i didnt apply to any of the three progs you mentioned
nor did i mention them in my post

finally, I simply posted the jist of a 25 min post interview conversation -- it is an accurate jist albeit incomplete.

again
hope this helps
and
best of luck

 

[Mav]

I'm really no one.

I'm just a medical student who interviewed all over - programs small, big, weak, strong, disrespected, well respected - and was never told that I needed Step 2 to be ranked.

Niko asked if very competitive programs required Step 2 - which is what BWH, MGH, and JHU are, and they do not. I really do not know anyone who took Step 2 before interviewing with a competitive Step 1 in hand.

That said.. I am studying for Step 2 (week away) as I write.. and I HATE IT!!!!! I don't remember any freaking gynecology!!! UGH.

Here's to all of us matching....

 

[KUB]

Ugggh is right. Step 2 in just under 2 weeks, and Peds and OB are killing me. I love medicine. Hopefully, there's lots of it on the test!
Good luck Mav.

 

[Mav]

I hear you, bro..

Good luck Thursday. And beyond..

 

[Hotsauce21]

I did really well on step 1, and havent taken step 2 yet. i was asked by maybe 1 or 2 people out of 10 school interviews (probably 20 interviews total) about when i was planning on taking step 2. i really wouldnt take step 2 if i was you. it could only hurt you. getting your sub-i grades in before the match might be helpful though, a few people at the top flight schools asked me about that.

p.s. good luck to everybody. only a few days left........

 

[iamubiquitous]

Originally posted by jjackis
I did really well on step 1, and havent taken step 2 yet. i was asked by maybe 1 or 2 people out of 10 school interviews (probably 20 interviews total) about when i was planning on taking step 2. i really wouldnt take step 2 if i was you. it could only hurt you. getting your sub-i grades in before the match might be helpful though, a few people at the top flight schools asked me about that.

p.s. good luck to everybody. only a few days left........

Lets simplify this

USMG---->do not take Step2

IMG/FMG--->do take Step 2

 

[jlb102]

I can add 2cents....at P&S we are required to take Step 2 by Oct 31 of last year as fourth years. Thus, all of us had taken the test before any interviewing, that said, I never sent out the step 2 scores even though they were only 1 point less than my step 1, I just didn't care, and got the impression that given the weight of the rest of my app, they were not meaningful.
So, if you go to a good US school and are an otherwise competitive applicant with good step 1 scores, fuhgeddaboutit.

But, to answer your question, I would recommend taking them early fourth year so that you can be done with it...it should only require about 2 weeks of intensive or four weeks of lazy studying to pass and do well if you have previously done well on standardized tests. In my experience, one thing to note is that they are not trying to trick you, if it seems like one choice is obvious, pick it and move on.

JB

 

[cranky]

An admissions comittee person once told me that no matter how good you do on step 2, it will not be good enough. That said, for IM, I do not think it is important to have step 2 scores sent if you are not looking for a spot at a top 10 program.

As for studying, I studied well for 4 weeks and I did not think that helped. I thought the test was difficult. I am waiting for my score.

 

[Hop Toad]

Are you saying that you do need Step 2 scores if you do want to be accepted by a top 10 program. Where might I find a list of these top 10, btw?

 

[jlb102]

I had very good step one scores, never submitted Step 2 scores and still got into a top 5 IM program.
Sending Step 2 scores is very dependent on your Step 1 scores, clinical grades, letters of reccomendation, and other activities, if you think you are a borderline candidate and then did much better on Step 2, send it in, if not, no big deal.
JB

 

[voltron]

hey jlb, would you mind posting what your step1 was?

 

[WakeMedHeel]

We are required to take Step 2 before 4th year...guess I won't send it out if I do poorly.

 

[dharmabum7]

does one have to release step 2 or can you hold it until you see your grade? how does that work exactly? is there a score hold option? when does one indicate they want scores held, after registration?