step II in time for match day?

[amyl]

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Just wondering if most programs required your step II scores to be in before match day? I am trying to figure out my time schedule and am wondering if the end of January is too late to take step II? thanks for the input as always!😍

 

[badgas]

For some programs it is a big deal. Oklahoma, MCV and UK come to mind. In my opinion, not having it in before interviews may have lost me a couple of interviews. In order of 4th year importance... Aways/connections > Having your application in and complete Sept. 1 > letters > step 2. If you have a decent Step 1 then make sure all the other ducks are in row before studying for Step 2. If your Step 1 is marginal, then take step 2 early and nail it

 

[excalibur]

Just wondering if most programs required your step II scores to be in before match day? I am trying to figure out my time schedule and am wondering if the end of January is too late to take step II? thanks for the input as always!😍

I think it's residency and specialty dependent, b/c I know a lot of ortho guys in my class who were taking step II CK in March.

As far as anesthesiology, I would check with the residency. I think many need it as a requirement before starting residency. Some programs may need passing Step II CK as a prereq for them putting you on their match list, which is finalized like Feb 21 or something. It's the same date as the final day you have to submit your ranked list. Again, check with the residency if possible. I know you probably have like close to 30, and it isn't feasible, but I don't know what else to say. I wondered this myself when I was in going through it.

Also, Step II CK takes about 4 weeks to come back. It's pretty much 4 weeks on the nose. Step II CS takes about 8 weeks to come back. I don't think residency programs give two flips about CS, just as long as you pass sometime before you start. Just be aware that you have to schedule CS like 3-4 months in advance, and then you don't get your score until 2 months after you take it. It's like 6 months from the time you sign up until the time you get your score, and you probably study 1-2 days. I was anal and studied 5 days. You gotta make sure you pass that thing, b/c then you're looking at another six months before you find out if you passed a second time. OH, these six months are considering you don't wait to get a date that "becomes available" online. Meaning someone cancels and you take their date, which is like a week from the current day. First Aid Step II CS was great for the test. Anyway...

 

[Gern Blansten]

Just wondering if most programs required your step II scores to be in before match day? I am trying to figure out my time schedule and am wondering if the end of January is too late to take step II? thanks for the input as always!😍

I assume you mean "before match lists are finalized" as opposed to "match day." Programs that require this would have to require it before match lists are turned in. Once the lists are turned in, the deed is done and they can't require it then. They either ranked you or didn't.

 

[Gern Blansten]

Step I- you need to study 2 months
Step II- you need to study 2 weeks
Step III- you need a #2 pencil
🙂

 

[Trisomy13]

Step I- you need to study 2 months
Step II- you need to study 2 weeks
Step III- you need a #2 pencil
🙂

i would have bombed step 3 if i took this outdated advice. 😉

 

[basha]

I think it's residency and specialty dependent, b/c I know a lot of ortho guys in my class who were taking step II CK in March.

As far as anesthesiology, I would check with the residency. I think many need it as a requirement before starting residency. Some programs may need passing Step II CK as a prereq for them putting you on their match list, which is finalized like Feb 21 or something. It's the same date as the final day you have to submit your ranked list. Again, check with the residency if possible. I know you probably have like close to 30, and it isn't feasible, but I don't know what else to say. I wondered this myself when I was in going through it.

Also, Step II CK takes about 4 weeks to come back. It's pretty much 4 weeks on the nose. Step II CS takes about 8 weeks to come back. I don't think residency programs give two flips about CS, just as long as you pass sometime before you start. Just be aware that you have to schedule CS like 3-4 months in advance, and then you don't get your score until 2 months after you take it. It's like 6 months from the time you sign up until the time you get your score, and you probably study 1-2 days. I was anal and studied 5 days. You gotta make sure you pass that thing, b/c then you're looking at another six months before you find out if you passed a second time. OH, these six months are considering you don't wait to get a date that "becomes available" online. Meaning someone cancels and you take their date, which is like a week from the current day. First Aid Step II CS was great for the test. Anyway...

So Im planning on taking step 2 around january 1, that should be just in time for the programs match list. But what about interviews, would studying during december intefere with interviews?

 

[jennyboo]

So Im planning on taking step 2 around january 1, that should be just in time for the programs match list. But what about interviews, would studying during december intefere with interviews?

The problem is the other way around. Interviews interfere with studying. I scheduled my Step II for January 30 and did about 18 interviews in January, which means I got no studying done whatsoever. I ended up having to reschedule Step II for March and did my two weeks of studying then. That worked fine for me.

But, bottom line -- if you are interviewing, you will get much less studying done than you think, especially if you put all of your interviews in one month like I did.

 

[jennyboo]

As I found out, sometimes the residency program tells you they "definitely need" your Step 2 score before they rank you..... then they rank you without Step 2 anyway. 😉