To release or not to release......

[EM Dude]

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I just received my Step 2 score back, and I got a 205. Suffice it to say, I blew off studying for this test big time. I have in the 230's on Step 1, and passed Step 2 CS.

Should I release this 205 to programs I have interviewed at? I have heard that if I do not release the score, they may consider it a red flag.

What do you guys think? I am specifically looking for the opinions of faculty and senior residents involved in the residency selection process.

Thanks in advance!

 

[BKN]

I just received my Step 2 score back, and I got a 205. Suffice it to say, I blew off studying for this test big time. I have in the 230's on Step 1, and passed Step 2 CS.

Should I release this 205 to programs I have interviewed at? I have heard that if I do not release the score, they may consider it a red flag.

What do you guys think? I am specifically looking for the opinions of faculty and senior residents involved in the residency selection process.

Thanks in advance!

Given that I can see that you passed the test in the ERAS site, it would certainly catch my interest that you didn't release the score. It's hard for me to say how I would treat this. I suspect it will hurt you some either way. But If your transcript, dean's letter, and SLORs are good, I don't think it will prevent your matching.
Sorry,
BN

 

[peksi]

I agree with BKN,
Passing the Step and not posting would stand as an inconsistency for me, which would then really get my attention. When I review applicant files for interviews it's the key positives, negative and "red flags" that I note.

The reality is that I personally place a significant emphasis on LOR and clinical performance along with the applicant's "fit" to our program, but I am just one of several coggs in the system, Oh and I'm not the PD!

The key question for you will be is this an abberancy from your clinical performance and LOR, or is this consistent with a negative performance trend. I personally like the open approach.

If I ask an applicant a question about in issue of performance, a specific rotation, etc., I expect a reasonable honest answer, not a song and dance. That is a sure way to get on the bottom of my list of applicants for the day or in some cases a suggestion to establish a DNR (do not rank 👎 )!

Paul

 

[EM Dude]

Thanks for the advice....

Let me clarify that I have already completed my interviews. The question is whether or not to release my scores before rank lists are due.

Keep those opinions coming!

 

[EctopicFetus]

I have a similar Q. I got 217's on both Step 1 and Step 2 & I have yet to take step 2 CS (coming up next week).

I havent released my 2nd step score. I have gotten very very good feedback from my current top 3 programs (1 interview to go).

Should I release my scores BKN?

 

[EctopicFetus]

double post

 

[EctopicFetus]

sorry people

 

[corpsmanUP]

Anyone know if COMLEX II gets reported after you request it to? Someone told me that no matter what, NBOME will not release any scores after the orginal request. I made the request before my step II of COMLEX was in. I did fine on it but I don't want it to serve as some red flag if its not available to them.

 

[EM Dude]

So I think I will continue to withhold my scores, but will fax a copy of the score report along with a quick letter explaining myself to any program that requests it. (Something to the tune of: I messed up, blew off studying, my own fault, learned a valuable lesson, etc.)

The trouble is, I don't want to be seen as hiding anything.

Any thoughts on this idea?

 

[realruby2000]

since we're on the topic... I took the option to hold my step 2 scores on ERAS and just got them back and have to release them. does this mean im gonna have to reassign my usmle transcript to all the places i interviewed at?

 

[BKN]

So I think I will continue to withhold my scores, but will fax a copy of the score report along with a quick letter explaining myself to any program that requests it. (Something to the tune of: I messed up, blew off studying, my own fault, learned a valuable lesson, etc.)

The trouble is, I don't want to be seen as hiding anything.

Any thoughts on this idea?

Well, you are hiding something. It will be seen that way.

BN

 

[BKN]

I have a similar Q. I got 217's on both Step 1 and Step 2 & I have yet to take step 2 CS (coming up next week).

I havent released my 2nd step score. I have gotten very very good feedback from my current top 3 programs (1 interview to go).

Should I release my scores BKN?

Yes. it's exactly neutral with the same score. To not release it will be somehwat negative.
BN

 

[EctopicFetus]

Yes. it's exactly neutral with the same score. To not release it will be somehwat negative.
BN

BKN Thanks.. I will release later this week.

Always great to have your input.

 

[EM Dude]

Well, you are hiding something. It will be seen that way.

BN

You are absolutely right. I did not get into medical school based on lies or deceit and I wouldn't want to match into a residency that way either. I will release my scores once I receive my score report in the mail (after I return from a week of interviews in the southeast US in early Feb).

Thanks for all of your advice....

 

[EM Junkie]

since we're on the topic... I took the option to hold my step 2 scores on ERAS and just got them back and have to release them. does this mean im gonna have to reassign my usmle transcript to all the places i interviewed at?

Nope, just click "Resubmit USMLE transcript"

It will be resent to all programs to which you sent it to originally

 

[mikecwru]

You are absolutely right. I did not get into medical school based on lies or deceit and I wouldn't want to match into a residency that way either. I will release my scores once I receive my score report in the mail (after I return from a week of interviews in the southeast US in early Feb).

Thanks for all of your advice especially, BKN. Tech is among the schools that I interviewed at and will be ranking highly. 👍

USMLE scores for most programs do not hurt you unless they are very low or help you unless they are very high.

To solidify this point, our program makes a score of (if I remember correctly 5 to 20+) based on multiple factors. Both USMLE scores *together* count for a point. If you get a score pretty much like everyone else, you get the point. If you score under 200, you get a "0", if you score greater than 235 or 240 (I can't remember) you get a bonus point.

Just like BKN said, if you make the PD think you're shady, that's -20 points or the mythical "do not rank".

Submit your score.

mike

 

[EM Dude]

USMLE scores for most programs do not hurt you unless they are very low or help you unless they are very high.

To solidify this point, our program makes a score of (if I remember correctly 5 to 20+) based on multiple factors. Both USMLE scores *together* count for a point. If you get a score pretty much like everyone else, you get the point. If you score under 200, you get a "0", if you score greater than 235 or 240 (I can't remember) you get a bonus point.

Just like BKN said, if you make the PD think you're shady, that's -20 points or the mythical "do not rank".

Submit your score.

mike

Thanks Mike - another reason why I will definitely submit that score (once I actually get a copy to make sure my Student Affairs office wasn't wrong). I would rather not match than have my character called into question. I have never been considered "shady" before and I certainly don't want to start now!! 👍

 

[EctopicFetus]

Thanks Mike - another reason why I will definitely submit that score (once I actually get a copy to make sure my Student Affairs office wasn't wrong). I would rather not match than have my character called into question. I have never been considered "shady" before and I certainly don't want to start now!! 👍

Agreed! 👍 I didnt think that this would have a negative effect on me! Glad someone asked this!

 

[Apollyon]

like BKN said, if you make the PD think you're shady, that's -20 points or the mythical "do not rank".

What's mythical about it? It happens - every year.

 

[GeneralVeers]

What's mythical about it? It happens - every year.

It's not mythical at all. One of my attendings doing interviews said he would say "do not rank this person" in reference to one of the interviewees. I'd say the same thing if I thought a candidate was exceptionally bad.

 

[11-44]

I take Step 2CK in early February. Step 1 was 224, certainly nothing to brag about. How might a program look at this? No one inquired about Step 2 on the interview trail so I perceived it as a neutral point.

 

[BKN]

I take Step 2CK in early February. Step 1 was 224, certainly nothing to brag about. How might a program look at this? No one inquired about Step 2 on the interview trail so I perceived it as a neutral point.

Nothing wrong with a 224. If you have no CK, you have no CK. But next year it might be difficult to get ranked some places without it.

 

[11-44]

Nothing wrong with a 224. If you have no CK, you have no CK. But next year it might be difficult to get ranked some places without it.

Sorry, not clear. MS4, already done interviewing. Last year was mostly away rotations, out of country on electives abroad, etc. The scores will not reach the programs in time anyway. I just wanted to understand the implications a bit better.

 

[BKN]

Nothing wrong with a 224. If you have no CK, you have no CK. But next year it might be difficult to get ranked some places without it.

Sorry, not clear. MS4, already done interviewing. Last year was mostly away rotations, out of country on electives abroad, etc. The scores will not reach the programs in time anyway. I just wanted to understand the implications a bit better.

No, I was unclear. I understood you. the first two sentences were aimed at you and I meant to convey-Don't worry about it. 🙂

The last sentence was aimed at next year's worriers. 😉

 

[mikecwru]

What's mythical about it? It happens - every year.

There may be things that may get a person such a low score that they're essentially unmatchable, but although it happens, I think total "do not ranks" are less frequent than people think. The PD has to answer the question "Would I chose not filling over taking this person?" If a program does that to applicants frequently, they're probably being a little too cocky.

PS: I was also being a little sarcastic.

mike

 

[BKN]

There may be things that may get a person such a low score that they're essentially unmatchable, but although it happens, I think total "do not ranks" are less frequent than people think. The PD has to answer the question "Would I chose not filling over taking this person?" If a program does that to applicants frequently, they're probably being a little too cocky.

PS: I was also being a little sarcastic.

mike

We don't invite folks that we don't think we'd like to train. But at our shop any interviewer can black ball (has to explain it of course). Appolyon is right though every year there's one or two really unpleasant surprises. Sometimes, I think the whole process is mainly about identifying those one or two people.

 

[mikecwru]

We don't invite folks that we don't think we'd like to train. But at our shop any interviewer can black ball (has to explain it of course). Appolyon is right though every year there's one or two really unpleasant surprises. Sometimes, I think the whole process is mainly about identifying those one or two people.

Right, but my point to the applicants, that most times, if you see something you don't like, it usually gets them ranked lower. It takes a little something special to be taken completely off the rank list. I didn't want to give them the impression that one person each interview day is blackballed.

Oh, and our PD is very liberal at cutting at the interview invite stage, he holds the same view. He thinks it's unethical to make someone pay to travel to us if they don't have a very decent shot.

My original point was that everything is relative. If you score 10 points lower on step 2, for most places, it's a fairly small problem. If you set off the PD's BS meter, it can be a much bigger problem.

mike

 

[peksi]

As I posted the initial comment on DNR, let me be clear as well. Though this is not a daily occurance, it will happen about once a year that we have an applicant who we do not rank. We also have the view that we will usually rank everyone we interview. That being said there is the occasional handgrenade thrown in where "everyone" in the faculty applicant review session says" NO WAY-DNR".

These tend to be really inept folks, with poor interpersonal skills, that have a nightmare interview with almost every faculty member, not like the high quality, go-getter, cool cat applicants that post on SND! 😀

Paul

 

[BKN]

Right, but my point to the applicants, that most times, if you see something you don't like, it usually gets them ranked lower. It takes a little something special to be taken completely off the rank list. I didn't want to give them the impression that one person each interview day is blackballed.

Oh, and our PD is very liberal at cutting at the interview invite stage, he holds the same view. He thinks it's unethical to make someone pay to travel to us if they don't have a very decent shot.

My original point was that everything is relative. If you score 10 points lower on step 2, for most places, it's a fairly small problem. If you set off the PD's BS meter, it can be a much bigger problem.

mike

agreed. What peksi said.