Take USMLE Step 2 as a DO student?

[PercutaneousKnowledge]

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Hi,
For a DO student with an average step I score (230), would you recommend taking the step 2 or just skipping it and just taking the COMLEX Part II? Top quartile and have honored all my rotations. Looking to match into diagnostic rads in the midwest. Thanks!

 

[001100010010011]

Just take it.

 

[PHanDoc]

Hi,
For a DO student with an average step I score (230), would you recommend taking the step 2 or just skipping it and just taking the COMLEX Part II? Top quartile and have honored all my rotations. Looking to match into diagnostic rads in the midwest. Thanks!

I am a DO student and matched this week into Rads. I had a similar step 1 as you. I did take step 2 and advise taking step 2. Make certain that you study efficiently for step 2/level 2 as I had a lot of friends who dropped in score. I moved up 10 points on step 2 and 50 points on level 2. If you want any more info just PM me and i'd be happy to tell you all about my process from your point onward and outline interview season etc. I'll let you know where I matched and all that in a PM. I find out tomorrow, but I participated in the couples match so we pretty much know where we are

 

[deleted564680]

Going up 10 points on step 2 is about the same percentile as step 1. Going down on step 2 is bad because it means you went down a lot in relation to step 1. I think everyone should take step 2 though.

 

[thatsrad]

I am a DO student and matched this week. I definitely advise against taking step 2 as a DO student. Every classmate I know of that took both did worse on step 2 than step 1, including myself. I think this has to do with the relative quality of 3rd year rotations most DO schools have (especially if your school uses COMATs instead of NBMEs).

Most radiology PDs only care about step 1, and if you do worse on step 2 than step 1, it WILL hurt you, particularly if you fail. If you did well on step 1, then adding a good step 2 score will not help you much because Level 2 is what you need to become licensed anyways. And to DO's who did poorly on step 1 (<220), you are at high risk of failing step 2 because it has a 17 point higher passing threshold. Many US MD students don't have a step 2 score in either when interviews start going out, so not having a step 2 will not hurt you in getting interviews at most places. Just make sure you have passing Level 2 CE and PE scores in before ERAS opens up in September so programs don't have to wonder if you will be able to get licensed.

Only take step 2 if you are willing and able to put just as much time into it as you did for step 1 and are sure you can at least beat your step 1 score. Also, don't use Level 2 as a gauge for how you might do on step 2 because COMLEX is so poorly correlated. I know of people who did 50-100 points better on Level 2 vs Level 1 and then dropped points on step 2.

 

[Melkor]

As a DO who matched in rads last year, I would strongly recommend to take it. You are already at a disadvantage so why make it worse. However, don't get overconfident in the average being 10 points higher than step 1, you still need to study for it to maintain or improve your score.

As for 3rd year rotations at DO vs MD schools, I don't think the quality of rotations really matters for step 2 scores. You should be studying for shelfs during 3rd year regardless and those study materials should be about the same as you use for step 2 study. And it doesn't really matter if your school makes you take the COMATs vs NBMEs because you should be using study materials designed for the NBMEs just like you studied for step 1 (focus on materials designed to teach towards usmle vs comlex and then cram omm at the last second). If your are studying like you are taking a NBME your medicine sections should be higher which will let you take hits on omm stuff without a change in score.

If you haven't been studying like you should be during your 3rd year and/or were close to failing step 1 then maybe not taking step 2 could be beneficial. Then again if you are in this position you might not want to be applying to only MD residencies in the first place I think for fear of not matching.

 

[River Rat]

take it. avoiding it shows a lack of confidence and fear on your part. if you want to be on the same playing field as our MD counterparts, put in the effort and take all the exams they do as well so there are no perceived question marks on your application, that's my philosophy. If it were me, it'd be a turn-off to see an applicant not having the balls/confidence or willingness to try to succeed at all costs. Just put in the effort and study, don't count on your rotations giving you a solid foundation for the exam, and you should come out doing better the second time around (interestingly, most people I knew did 5-15 points better on Step II than step I USMLE.)

 

[Voodoo Chile]

As a DO with a similar step I score who just matched to a solid midwest program, I'd highly recommend taking step II. Assuming you've stayed on top of studying for 3rd year, just study hard for a couple weeks, and you should match your step 1 score no problem.

 

[qqw]

As a DO with a similar step I score who just matched to a solid midwest program, I'd highly recommend taking step II. Assuming you've stayed on top of studying for 3rd year, just study hard for a couple weeks, and you should match your step 1 score no problem.

did you guys that got in match AOA or ACGME?

 

[DragonDO]

I am also a DO who matched to one of Texas programs, ACGME. Definitely take Step 1 and 2 and improve your score on Step 2 if your Step 1 is average. Try to eliminate factors that may hinder you when comparing to other MD applicants. Competitiveness for radiology will seem to go up each year from now on when accounting on more new medical schools building up with more applicants. Match percent for radiology went up significantly from 86 to 95% compared to 2015 match (Pre-SOAP).

 

[PHanDoc]

Just a follow up- i still say take step 2

 

[Voodoo Chile]

did you guys that got in match AOA or ACGME?

Matched ACGME at an upper-tier midwest program

 

[thatsrad]

did you guys that got in match AOA or ACGME?

ACGME

 

[Melkor]

did you guys that got in match AOA or ACGME?

I matched acgme yale rads last year

 

[deleted564680]

Congrats on the matches! "Best" places I've heard that take DOs are Yale, CCF, and UPMC. I think this will start to change though as programs are realizing they need to start interviewing DOs and taking them seriously.

 

[Melkor]

Congrats on the matches! "Best" places I've heard that take DOs are Yale, CCF, and UPMC. I think this will start to change though as programs are realizing they need to start interviewing DOs and taking them seriously.

On that note, although I don't think they have any DOs right now, for future applicants, I think Emory is becoming more DO friendly for those who like the South...