Step II, is it more important for a DO to take it early?

[Cowboy DO]

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ok so I'm planning on taking the dumb thing in 10 days. Heres my dilemma: I did reasonable on Step 1 (234). So should I even take it next week?

Pro's: I could bring up my score.
-It helps my application
-Even if I do poorly It wont be reported, so unless it gets brought up in an interview...

Con's: I could bomb it.
-It could get brought up in an interview
-Worse yet it gets automatically reported because I took it before Sept. 1st. (I'm not really sure about the rules on that)

Now technically I dont even have to take USMLE Step 2, I can easily cancel it. I'm just trying to improve on my step I. So I'm not sure what to do. It might happen, I could score >235, but I might not. Any other DO's have any input as to the importance of USMLE step II score?

I guess it boils down to this: Does the chance of a better step II score helping me, outweigh the chance of a worse step II score hurting me? (...wait does that even make sense???)

Thanks,
CB

 

[(nicedream)]

ok so I'm planning on taking the dumb thing in 10 days. I just took the NBME assessment test (form 1) and got the equivalent of a 220. Heres my dilemma: I did reasonable on Step 1 (234). So should I even take it next week?

Pro's: I could bring up my score.
-It helps my application
-Even if I do poorly It wont be reported, so unless it gets brought up in an interview...

Con's: I could bomb it.
-It could get brought up in an interview
-Worse yet it gets automatically reported because I took it before Sept. 1st. (I'm not really sure about the rules on that)

Now technically I dont even have to take USMLE Step 2, I can easily cancel it. I'm just trying to improve on my step I. So I'm not sure what to do. It might happen, I could score >235, but I might not. Any other DO's have any input as to the importance of USMLE step II score?

I guess it boils down to this: Does the chance of a better step II score helping me, outweigh the chance of a worse step II score hurting me? (...wait does that even make sense???)

Thanks,
CB

I'm just a lowly third-year, but it seems to me that with a 220 and 10 days to go, if the Step II NBMEs are as predictive as the Step Is, your chance of getting a lot higher than a 234 is not great. If your Step II is not quite a bit better than the Step I, I don't see the point personally, but let's see what the experts say.

 

[anconeus]

ok so I'm planning on taking the dumb thing in 10 days. I just took the NBME assessment test (form 1) and got the equivalent of a 220. Heres my dilemma: I did reasonable on Step 1 (234). So should I even take it next week?

Pro's: I could bring up my score.
-It helps my application
-Even if I do poorly It wont be reported, so unless it gets brought up in an interview...

Con's: I could bomb it.
-It could get brought up in an interview
-Worse yet it gets automatically reported because I took it before Sept. 1st. (I'm not really sure about the rules on that)

Now technically I dont even have to take USMLE Step 2, I can easily cancel it. I'm just trying to improve on my step I. So I'm not sure what to do. It might happen, I could score >235, but I might not. Any other DO's have any input as to the importance of USMLE step II score?

I guess it boils down to this: Does the chance of a better step II score helping me, outweigh the chance of a worse step II score hurting me? (...wait does that even make sense???)

Thanks,
CB

I would postpone the exam a little if your schedule allows it... the score on this exam is all about how much time you put into it as long as the motivation is there throughout studying

Good luck either way

 

[Vince]

ok so I'm planning on taking the dumb thing in 10 days. I just took the NBME assessment test (form 1) and got the equivalent of a 220. Heres my dilemma: I did reasonable on Step 1 (234). So should I even take it next week?

Pro's: I could bring up my score.
-It helps my application
-Even if I do poorly It wont be reported, so unless it gets brought up in an interview...

Con's: I could bomb it.
-It could get brought up in an interview
-Worse yet it gets automatically reported because I took it before Sept. 1st. (I'm not really sure about the rules on that)

Now technically I dont even have to take USMLE Step 2, I can easily cancel it. I'm just trying to improve on my step I. So I'm not sure what to do. It might happen, I could score >235, but I might not. Any other DO's have any input as to the importance of USMLE step II score?

I guess it boils down to this: Does the chance of a better step II score helping me, outweigh the chance of a worse step II score hurting me? (...wait does that even make sense???)

Thanks,
CB

I think 234 is a pretty good score and should get you some invites. If you do better on Step II then great, and most DO's do in my opinion. If you get a 220, then I don't really think that's too bad either, its still probably average or slightly above for Step II. Most MD applicants won't even have their Step II in time for applications, because they'll take it later.

Unless things have changed, you can submit your ERAS application Sept. 1, so if you have your personal statement, letters of Rec, and everything relatively in order, submit your application on Sept 1. I highly recommend doing so as a DO too, because you want your application in as early as possible. When you are submitting your application you will check the box to submit your USMLE and COMLEX transcripts. If you apply early, when you check the box, your USMLE Step II score won't even be back yet. You'll likely have to resubmit your USMLE transcript once your Step II comes back later in Sept. If you don't do as well as you wanted, don't resubmit it....pretty easy solution.

Considering the above, I'd go ahead and take it if you are already signed up. I took mine on Sept 1, 2004, and then I believe I re-submitted my USMLE transcript when I saw that I improved compared to Step I.

Vince, DO

 

[jd4540]

whats happens if Cowboy DO doesnt do as well as he would have liked (and therefore doesnt release his score) but during the course of an interview he's asked whether or not he's taken step II yet?

 

[Cowboy DO]

I think if anyones taken it and is asked you need to be straight foward.

I'm probably making this into a bigger deal than needs to be. I havent been studying that long, and I still have some time left. I'm just stressed as all get out.

 

[VentdependenT]

just surfen around the board checken out DO's goen into other specialties other than anes.

Cowboy I wouldn't even bother with that Step 2 BEFORE APPLICATION with a step 1 >230 man. Thats a solid score and you've proved you can hang with the big boys. You may wish to contact the programs that intrest you most and ask the secretary her/his thoughts. I did that and as I recall there wasn't one (at least in anesthesiology) which needed a step II score with my halfway decent USMLE I score (227).

No need to stress yourself out further. If you want to take all three USMLE steps do so, but no need to pack in step II this early.

 

[getinthehole]

I would take it early if I were you. With the DO tag, maybe some pd's may think you have a little more to prove. Another solid Step 2 score would certainly help solidify a strong case that you should be considered the same as MD applicants. If you were MD, I would recommend not taking step 2... but, DO is a bit of a disadvantage.