Target Step 2 Score for IM PSTPs

[GritsNGuts]

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[Fencer]

Passing comfortably... High quality publications

 

[SurfingDoctor]

Thanks for the response! I have high quality publications (although I'm biased haha). What exactly does passing comfortably mean? Should I aim for above 250? Above 240? Thanks you!

Either of those are good scores. That being said, shouldn't you want to try to get the highest score possible if you know you can?

 

[SurfingDoctor]

Thank you for your response! And to be honest, no. For instance, I don't think cracking 260 will make me a better physician than if I crack 240. And it certainly won't make me a better scientist. But trying to get there could cause some unnecessary stress.

Especially knowing how many individuals there are who score extremely high because of cheating. Some of the most incredible physicians I personally know had middle-of-the-pack scores on Step 2.

I don't personally see the value in trying to score the highest score possible just for the sake of scoring that high. If that is your belief system, I respect it. It's just not how I feel. I'm satisfied with scoring high enough to be competitive. Beyond that, it's diminishing returns imo. I don't want to burn out early, and chasing scores certainly doesn't help reduce burnout. I don't associate my value or ability with how high I can score on a standardized test.

Well, no step score of any kind makes one a better physician. Ever. That's not the point of the test anyway.

But, if your goal is to get into the best PSTP program that you want to go in, why wouldn't you aim for the best possible score you can achieve, since that is one of the key metrics used to achieve said goal? I thought that was the point of this thread? I guess I'm confused why one would aim for the "minimum" to be "competitive"?