Step II question

[guitarguy23]

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If I am a great applicant otherwise, but don't have much research, can a strong step II score overcome a lack of research? Step I for me was in the high 250s and I have heard that step II can overcome other weaknesses on your app. Is this true? I have also heard that programs don't really care about step II if you did well on Step I. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[ophtho_applicant15]

With that high of a step I, you really have to crush step II to make it stand out. It seemed to me that step II was more used to overcome a low step I than overcome lack of something else (i.e. research, bad LOR, etc.)

 

[cpufreak3]

Based on the match at my school, research isn't really as important as people make it out to be. Strong board scores with a great class rank giving you AOA will allow you to match. In terms of step 2, I've heard that as well but I think if you're pretty confident you can do well on it, it will just show that your step 1 score wasn't a fluke. Sounds like you might have research, just no publications which is completely fine.

 

[guitarguy23]

Based on the match at my school, research isn't really as important as people make it out to be. Strong board scores with a great class rank giving you AOA will allow you to match. In terms of step 2, I've heard that as well but I think if you're pretty confident you can do well on it, it will just show that your step 1 score wasn't a fluke. Sounds like you might have research, just no publications which is completely fine.

This is exactly the case. One presentation at a conference with 3 total research experiences, all non-ophtho. It just seems to be getting so competitive! Plus I hear horror stories of matching 10/11 or no match with great stats on paper. Thanks for the input though it's great to hear things like this.