Timing of Step2 CK

[estingray]

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I'm a longtime lurker who just registered to get some opinions on the optimal time to take Step2 CK.

I'm an MS3 with 2 B's in preclinical years and a B in family medicine so far this year. All other grades are A's. When we were preparing to take Step1, the administration made a big deal about how if you did well it was common practice to put off step2 ck until after applying to take some stress off. Now that we're past that milestone, they're saying that we all need to take CK early because it makes a huge difference and programs really want to see it.

My adviser is also pushing me to take CK early. My step1 was a 258, and I am nervous to take CK before applying to rads. It seems like I have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

Does anyone who's recently gone through this process or who is affiliated with a residency program have any words of wisdom on this one?

 

[Rzarecta]

I'm a longtime lurker who just registered to get some opinions on the optimal time to take Step2 CK.

I'm an MS3 with 2 B's in preclinical years and a B in family medicine so far this year. All other grades are A's. When we were preparing to take Step1, the administration made a big deal about how if you did well it was common practice to put off step2 ck until after applying to take some stress off. Now that we're past that milestone, they're saying that we all need to take CK early because it makes a huge difference and programs really want to see it.

My adviser is also pushing me to take CK early. My step1 was a 258, and I am nervous to take CK before applying to rads. It seems like I have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

Does anyone who's recently gone through this process or who is affiliated with a residency program have any words of wisdom on this one?

For radiology, given your fantastic step 1 there is no need to take step 2 early. UCSF requires an applicant to have passed both step 2 ck and cs before they rank you, but I haven't heard of any other programs with this rule.

When I was interviewing, I met very few people who had actually taken step 2. Those that had taken step 2 did only because it was mandated by their school (new school policy at some places) or to make up for a weaker step 1. Many people were planning to take it during the end of interview season (January or February).

The only thing that sucks about pushing off Step 2 is relearning the material and having to study while on the interview trail.

 

[Labslave]

I'm a longtime lurker who just registered to get some opinions on the optimal time to take Step2 CK.

I'm an MS3 with 2 B's in preclinical years and a B in family medicine so far this year. All other grades are A's. When we were preparing to take Step1, the administration made a big deal about how if you did well it was common practice to put off step2 ck until after applying to take some stress off. Now that we're past that milestone, they're saying that we all need to take CK early because it makes a huge difference and programs really want to see it.

My adviser is also pushing me to take CK early. My step1 was a 258, and I am nervous to take CK before applying to rads. It seems like I have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

Does anyone who's recently gone through this process or who is affiliated with a residency program have any words of wisdom on this one?

I see no reason why you shouldn't just take it and get it out of the way. Very few people go down, and in your case (given your achievements - i.e. Step 1 was not a fluke) there's little to no chance of you getting anything less than a stellar score. I would be very surprised if you didn't score in the 260+ range. I'm serious when I say that it's a virtual lock to be yet another feather in your cap. Being a good test taker, I honestly think that you should take advantage of this opportunity. In other words, I do think you have something to gain.

On the flip side, you have no actual need to take it early unless you're considering UCSF or U of Florida, which are the only two schools I'm aware of that require CK and CS scores before ranking.

Your call.

 

[estingray]

I appreciate the replies. I posted this over on auntminnie also, and I think what I'm going to end up doing is take the CK in late Sep. or October so that I can see the score and release it if it's good, but it won't be automatically included in my ERAS.

The folks over at AM seemed to think that it would be foolish to take it so early that it was auto-included in my ERAS because of the chance that I have a bad day, get sick, etc, and don't do so well on it.

 

[fun8stuff]

I appreciate the replies. I posted this over on auntminnie also, and I think what I'm going to end up doing is take the CK in late Sep. or October so that I can see the score and release it if it's good, but it won't be automatically included in my ERAS.

The folks over at AM seemed to think that it would be foolish to take it so early that it was auto-included in my ERAS because of the chance that I have a bad day, get sick, etc, and don't do so well on it.

I was in a similar position/score last cycle. I ended up taking it in January, against school advisement and policy, and scored 15 points higher than step 1. It doesn't matter for interviews whether you have step 2 done or not. I did get asked by a couple of TYs when I was going to take it. It does suck to study during interviews... more difficult than I thought it would be. It probably would be better to get it done in late september as you said. The reason i didn't was that I was paranoid that if I were to do bad, they would ask me why I chose not to disclose it.... specifically ask me how bad it went.

 

[penguin24]

You are at the top of your game at the end of M3. The longer you wait, the lower your score will be. However, if you take Step 2 in Sept or later and choose to withhold your score, then I guess it doesn't matter what your score is.

 

[durfen]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but were you not to disclose the score, the schools would not know that you took it right?

 

[estingray]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but were you not to disclose the score, the schools would not know that you took it right?

That's how I understand it to work. That doesn't keep them from asking you if you've taken it, though. I'm sure if you lied they would find out.

 

[penguin24]

That's how I understand it to work. That doesn't keep them from asking you if you've taken it, though. I'm sure if you lied they would find out.

Actually, there is a section on ERAS that asks:

1) If you've taken Step 2CK
2) If you haven't taken it, when do you plan on taking it

Thus, if you put down you plan on taking it, say, in Oct, then programs can see that and I presume if you are on an interview in Dec they could ask you about it.