Time for research, apps and Step 2 studying?

[tufts02]

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Hey everyone, just wondering if anyone can lend some advice.

I have the next 8 weeks off and am involved in two research projects at the moment that should be finished in about 6 weeks. I decided on ophtho a few months ago so I don' t have any ophtho specific research to date, but I do have 4 orthopaedic pubs since that was my initial interest in medicine.

My question is whether I should focus on this research, which should lead to two solid LORs and pubs/presentations, and my applications or also try and squeeze in step 2 for July to bump up my just below ophtho avg step 1 scores.

Thanks

 

[jbloggs]

I think this depends on several things and is not an easy decision either way. How much do you think you could improve your step 2 score by if you took it early? If you think greater than 15 points...it sounds like you're moving up from a 225i-sh to a 240-ish which is probably a boost worth shooting for. How do you KNOW this research will be done in 6 weeks? In my experience, my research projects have usually finished 3-6 months after the date I KNEW for certain they would be done, although you've obviously published before so you probably realize this. It just seems like research is usually hard to predict, that's all. The next question I would ask you is what your goals are: just to match into ophtho, or to match at a top 15 place.
I go to a top 40 school with a decent ophtho program but not top 20 by any means...so just to give you some perspective, I can tell you that our chairman would probably say to be competitive for our program the best thing would be those strong letters of rec. from your ophtho research. You already have publications, and you at least did decent on the boards. This is just our program though...I'm sure others will have different input. Hope that helps.

 

[4424]

Hey everyone, just wondering if anyone can lend some advice.

I have the next 8 weeks off and am involved in two research projects at the moment that should be finished in about 6 weeks. I decided on ophtho a few months ago so I don' t have any ophtho specific research to date, but I do have 4 orthopaedic pubs since that was my initial interest in medicine.

My question is whether I should focus on this research, which should lead to two solid LORs and pubs/presentations, and my applications or also try and squeeze in step 2 for July to bump up my just below ophtho avg step 1 scores.

Thanks

I have to agree with the previous poster. If you got around a 220 on step 1 and are thinking about taking step 2 early and trying to get a 235+, i would say to go that route. i think it's manageable to study for step 2 and get somethings going on your research front as well but you definitely would want to focus on step2.

do you have any ophtho letters? i would also use some of that time to work on talking with your chairman, etc

 

[diopter]

Your priorities should be (with regards to your specific CAS application):

LORs
Step 2
Last- Ophtho publications/abstracts

My rationale is as follows... in order to match, you need to:
1) pass the initial screen
2) be intriguing enough to merit an interview
3) stand out somehow, in order to be ranked highly amongst the large pool of stellar candidates.

Strong LORs from well-known ophtho clinicians are key for #2... ophtho is a small field, so the recognizability of your recommenders will go far in your attainment of interviews at your programs of choice.

As for #1, higher Step scores are always better, but not at the expense of getting those ever-important LORs or writing a kickass PS. If you choose to go for it, take Step 2 around the time you submit your application (mid-August). If you rock Step 2, send an update to CAS in early Sept.

To help you get a sense of things, my step 1 score was 214 (def. below the average matching applicant), but was enough to pass the initial screen at at least the 23 places that I got offered interviews, including groovy progs. like Iowa, Wash U, Wisc, Columbia (as well as UIC, USC, MEEI and UCSF... but I had personal contacts at those last 4, so who knows if I really passed the screen).

As for #3, everyone has their own major selling points. A long record of successful research was one of mine. I agree with the above posters that research is quite unpredictable... BUT, I still say keep with those projects, cuz they'll earn you those LORs... but if you don't finish them in the 8 weeks (due to your CAS or Step 2 prep)... no worries... still describe your research in your application, finish up the projects in the fall... and then you can talk about your work, presentations, etc. during your interviews.

So… work on the projects, get your 2 stellar LORs, take step 2 in mid-August if you feel feisty, and finish off those publications at some point (a priority for your career, but not for your CAS application in August).

 

[Oceandust]

I'm happy with my step 1 score, and have been away from the wards for 2 years doing research.

however, our school has a Dec 31 Step 2 deadline. I have rotations until early Sept, and a busy research month October, and [hopefully] interviews nov and dec.

I'm not a big fan taking the exam Dec 30th, but don't want to take it too early such that my score could show up , just in case, for the ophtho or internship matches.

I was hoping to study a few weeks for Step 2 CK, and take it early October. I heard as long as you don't hit "automatically submit" on the ERAS application, or take it before August for the CAS application, it won't matter, programs won't ask about it.

Is this true? Would I be fine taking it Oct 2 or so?

 

[PDT4CNV]

I'm happy with my step 1 score, and have been away from the wards for 2 years doing research.

however, our school has a Dec 31 Step 2 deadline. I have rotations until early Sept, and a busy research month October, and [hopefully] interviews nov and dec.

I'm not a big fan taking the exam Dec 30th, but don't want to take it too early such that my score could show up , just in case, for the ophtho or internship matches.

I was hoping to study a few weeks for Step 2 CK, and take it early October. I heard as long as you don't hit "automatically submit" on the ERAS application, or take it before August for the CAS application, it won't matter, programs won't ask about it.

Is this true? Would I be fine taking it Oct 2 or so?

My school had a similar deadline for step 2. I did not follow it and it took step 2 several months after the deadline. My school required passing of step 2 for graduation and thus feared not graduating students because their scores were not back yet or they had not taken it. It is up to you though. Not a single program asked about step 2 scores. Take it when it is convenient for you. Do not blow it off though as ophthalmology fellowships do ask for your usmle scores.

As for applications, what gets you an interview are board scores, grades, and LOR. If your step 1 score is sufficient (at least the mean for those matching the last few years) then focus on other things such as LORs. Your ortho research will be of benefit to you but not a "deal-maker" so don't worry too much about it as it sounds like you have plenty of research background already.

I would suggest really trying to get 1-2 LORs from ophthalmologists. At least one of them should be from either a department chairman or well known ophthalmologist. LOR's are dealmakers. And coming from ophthalmologists will mean more than coming from a saw-bones or scientist.