Step II Timing of Step2CS

[JMLJasmine]

I have an appointment for early March since I was under the impression that this test was not a big deal. I recently learned this might be a problem for some programs since my score won't be back early and could cause problems if I don't pass for graduation on time. I had scheduled that way out of convenience not because I wanted to put it off (and I didn't realize just how fast Philadelphia books but. I had thought scheduling in June was plenty of time...)
Anyway, is this really a problem for getting a MATCH? I want to know if I need to look into going a long distance to get an earlier date (although there isn't really much left anywhere).

 

[diosa428]

It depends upon what you are applying to and what programs you are looking at. Some of the programs I'm applying to highly recommend or require that you have passed by the time rank lists are due or they will not rank you. Some programs have gotten burned recently by grads who scheduled Step 2 CS late and didn't pass and could not get another date soon enough to pass before the start of residency, delaying their start date and complicating things like scheduling. So now they are requiring it. There is a schedule somewhere on the NBME site but I believe to have your score by early February you have to take the exam by the end of Dec.

I would check the websites of each program that you're applying to and see if they say anything about requiring Step 2.