Step 2CK make or break?

[MacularStar]

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I just finished speaking with the Dean of Education at my med school and he was appalled that I haven't taken Step 2CK yet . According to him I would be a much better candidate (get more interviews) if I had this number to show. I was dismayed 😳 because I remember asking multiple ophthalmology attendings about taking CK before applying and the general consensus was NO! My Step 1 scores were 249/99 and the idea was that if I did well on CK then it would only marginally enhance my app and if I did poorly it would be disastrous. Me being relatively conservative...decided to hold out. What do you all think... should I rush to take CK by the end of the month or chill out?
I would be interested to hear if anyone has not taken CK and received interviews from top 10 programs... also please comment if you honored medicine or not (he said it is more important to have CK if you did not honor medicine). Thank you!!😍

 

[alleyesonme]

I do not think that with your Step 1 scores that programs will care if you took Step 2CK. I think it matters much more in other specialties, so his overall impression is that all specialties must value CK scores. It does not make sense to try and study this month during interviews to take it soon. Plus, scores take almost 3 weeks to get back, so you are looking at mid to late December before programs will get your scores.

I know many people who have matched at great programs (even top 10 ones) who did not report Step 2CK scores. That being said, it never hurts to show programs a stellar Step 2CK scores during interviews or after to add more to your overall application.

I recently received my Step 2 CK scores, and just sent them to programs. However, I have gotten all my interviews without these scores and I have Step 1 scores around yours. In regards to honoring medicine (I did), I have never heard that programs want to see CK if you did less than honors in medicine.

Transitional and preliminary programs may want to know your Step 2CK scores more than ophthalmology programs, so you might keep that in mind. Some even require them before they submit their rank lists.

Overall, I would not stress about it too much! Hope that helps, PM if any other questions.

 

[OphthoApp]

You do not have to take Step 2 CK if you have a good step 1 score. Ophtho is different than other residencies. Some do require Step 2 ophtho does not.

 

[MAYOphtho]

Do NOT worry about that advice from the Dean. I had a lower step 1 score than you (242) and still got interviews at Duke, Michigan, Iowa, WashU, Mayo, Oklahoma, Doheny, among others without even taking Step 2 until after the interview season...

moral of the story...I matched at my dream program...and they didnt get my Step 2 score until I signed my contract after the match

Prelims/TY programs are a different story however

good luck!

 

[MacularStar]

Thanks everyone for the reassurance! I will probably just take it in early Dec as I was planning.

 

[Pastrami King]

same step 1 score as you. took step 2 ck sometime in the spring of my senior year. absolutely no rush.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Your dean probably doesn't even know what SF Match is or that its match date is January 15th, a time when the majority of medical students have not received their Step II scores.