MD Timing of Step 2 CK and ERAS/interview invites

[mangobrz]

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Hello everyone,

I am a US MD student applying for IM. I am looking for any advice regarding the last possible date to take Step 2 CK and have it still be considered for interviews. Currently scheduled for CK in about 2 weeks but don't feel ready.

I am at an MD state school with a Step 1 of 208. My CK practice test scores are around 210 right now (barely passing I know). I have the two following options regarding my test date:

1) Take it in 2 weeks and get around 220.
Pros: Score will be back in time for ERAS
Cons: Low score with possibility of not scoring around 220 due to test-day anxiety. Also score will be automatically reported

2) Delay to early Sept after a (possibly intensive) IM rotation in August.
Pros: More time to study, and hopefully higher score
Cons: Score will not be reported with initial ERAS app. Unsure how reporting CK score later (hopefully end of Sept/beg of Oct) will affect initial interview invites or rejections

I know the general advice is to take CK early and do well to offset low Step 1 score, but since it's one or the other for me right now, I'd appreciate any advice on which might be the better option. I'd like to get into an academic IM program and a low Step 1 is already going to limit me, so looking to maximize my CK score with my current constraints.

Also if anyone has any insight regarding if IM programs consider CK scores that are reported a few weeks after ERAS (since they have score filters), I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you!

 

[GoSpursGo]

Hard to say. Honestly, are you NOT going to have test-day anxiety if you delay your test? Does anyone ever truly feel "ready?"

My general thought is that you still have 2 weeks to study, so do that and take another practice in about a week to see how things are going. If you're still not in the 220-ish range, then consider pushing back.

 

[glip-glop]

You need your step 2 ck score by october 1 for a lot of (probably most) IM programs. This means taking it by September 1st. Why can't you change your rotation schedule to give you study time in August and take it at the end of August?

Taking it early September might be okay if you're guaranteed to get your score back by Oct 1.

 

[mangobrz]

Why can't you change your rotation schedule to give you study time in August and take it at the end of August?

Taking it early September might be okay if you're guaranteed to get your score back by Oct 1.

I have my Sub-I next block which I want to do before ERAS.

Took NBME form 8 a couple days ago and got 196 which has really shot down my morale and made me really nervous.

Is it possible to still pull off 220 by this Friday?
Or is it better to delay the exam to the beginning of Sept and aim for 230-240?

 

[ciestar]

I have my Sub-I next block which I want to do before ERAS.

Took NBME form 8 a couple days ago and got 196 which has really shot down my morale and made me really nervous.

Is it possible to still pull off 220 by this Friday?
Or is it better to delay the exam to the beginning of Sept and aim for 230-240?

CK average is a 244. You have a less than stellar Step 1. Don’t settle for a 220.

 

[DLA Editors & Proofers]

Hello everyone,

I am a US MD student applying for IM. I am looking for any advice regarding the last possible date to take Step 2 CK and have it still be considered for interviews. Currently scheduled for CK in about 2 weeks but don't feel ready.

I am at an MD state school with a Step 1 of 208. My CK practice test scores are around 210 right now (barely passing I know). I have the two following options regarding my test date:

1) Take it in 2 weeks and get around 220.
Pros: Score will be back in time for ERAS
Cons: Low score with possibility of not scoring around 220 due to test-day anxiety. Also score will be automatically reported

2) Delay to early Sept after a (possibly intensive) IM rotation in August.
Pros: More time to study, and hopefully higher score
Cons: Score will not be reported with initial ERAS app. Unsure how reporting CK score later (hopefully end of Sept/beg of Oct) will affect initial interview invites or rejections

I know the general advice is to take CK early and do well to offset low Step 1 score, but since it's one or the other for me right now, I'd appreciate any advice on which might be the better option. I'd like to get into an academic IM program and a low Step 1 is already going to limit me, so looking to maximize my CK score with my current constraints.

Also if anyone has any insight regarding if IM programs consider CK scores that are reported a few weeks after ERAS (since they have score filters), I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you!

While the ideal situation would be to have your score back by when applications open, you should not rush into taking Step 2 CK, because once you take it, you're locked into whatever score you receive. While it is still possible to mitigate a low score on Step 2 CK (for example, by taking Step 3 and getting a high score on it), that is a far more difficult path than delaying a little to ensure you get the highest score possible on Step 2 CK. While the ideal is to have your application ready by September 15, there are still many interview slots available by the beginning of October. However, once you get into the second half of October, the opportunities diminish quickly.