to release or not to release

[motoo]

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edited to remove personal information. thanks for all the replies. I decided to not submit my step 2 b/c it's only going to hurt me and hope for the best that programs will still rank me

 

[thegraduate56]

my step 1 was 240. got and went on all the interviews I wanted for IM, including high power programs like cornell, u of chicago, northwestern, UMich, etc.

but just got my step 2 ck back as 234. worth it to release at this point or not? would appreciate your thoughts. thanks

I would definitely release it. Those scores are not too different...

 

[VPDcurt]

As thegraduate said, those scores are not very different; however, I personally don't see any benefit to releasing the score. It's definitely not going to help you in any way.

 

[thegraduate56]

I think it could help you if...
-you mentioned on ERAS that you were taking it by a certain date (programs might assume you took the exam and are withholding your score because it's bad, which it's not)
-I've heard it said that programs prefer to have Step 2 CK and CS scores prior to ranking applicants because then it's a sure thing that you'll be ready to start intern year in June

 

[TexasPhysician]

Definitely release it. I'm applying a different field, but I've had PD's directly tell me that having Step 2 CK and CS is bonus points to move people up on ROL's. They just like knowing the people they accept are 100% ready to start intern year.

 

[Cerberus]

I wouldn't release it. The scores aren't very different but it does go down while the mean for STEP II goes up. I don't see any benefit to releasing it at this point.

 

[VPDcurt]

If you got a 190 on Step I, I would definitely say release it because whether or not you would actually pass Step 2 becomes an issue. There is no way in hell that the PD is thinking someone with good grades and a 240 on Step I is going to fail Step 2 and not be ready to start your internship.

 

[thedrjojo]

do you have any programs that require the step 2? some programs won't rank without them... if you know this to be the case or even if it might be, then release

 

[motoo]

edited - see original post

 

[TexasPhysician]

I wouldn't release it. The scores aren't very different but it does go down while the mean for STEP II goes up. I don't see any benefit to releasing it at this point.

While you are correct in that the average usually goes up a little, the percentile difference is almost nothing when looking at his Step 1 & 2 scores. It's essentially the same score.

 

[TexasPhysician]

If you got a 190 on Step I, I would definitely say release it because whether or not you would actually pass Step 2 becomes an issue. There is no way in hell that the PD is thinking someone with good grades and a 240 on Step I is going to fail Step 2 and not be ready to start your internship.

I have about the same score on Step 1 as this person, and I've been told by multiple PD's that they would like me to release Step 2. They hate taking any risks....

 

[thesauce]

While you are correct in that the average usually goes up a little, the percentile difference is almost nothing when looking at his Step 1 & 2 scores. It's essentially the same score.

I don't think you're right. His step 1 is about 1 standard deviation above the mean (~85th percentile). His step 2 is just a bit above average, and depending on when he took it, his score minus the standard error may include the mean, so it could be interpreted as average. At best, it's probably 60th percentile. Do you interpret a 25 percentile gap as "almost nothing?"

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I don't think you're right. His step 1 is about 1 standard deviation above the mean (~85th percentile). His step 2 is just a bit above average, and depending on when he took it, his score minus the standard error may include the mean, so it could be interpreted as average. At best, it's probably 60th percentile. Do you interpret a 25 percentile gap as "almost nothing?"

True, but the bigger questions is do PDs really know this? Lots of PDs still think the two digit score is a percentile, so I doubt most of them are really hip on the means and SDs for Step 1 and Step 2. Either way, though, the op still passed and did above average (albeit very close to average), so I don't foresee many PDs seeing the score as a negative. Honestly I think proving that you've passed means more to most PDs than anything else.

Anecdotally, I've had PDs on interviews ask me when I'm taking CK even though I did better than 240 on Step 1, so no, I don't think they assume you'll automatically pass it and that it's a non-issue just because of a good Step 1 score. It's highly likely you'll pass if you did well on Step 1, but showing a passing Step 2 score is a guarantee that you'll be able to start residency on time.

 

[tarlovcyst]

my step 1 was 240. got and went on all the interviews I wanted for IM, including high power programs like cornell, u of chicago, northwestern, UMich, etc.

but just got my step 2 ck back as 234. worth it to release at this point or not? would appreciate your thoughts. thanks

The question really is -- why wouldn't you release it? What are you scared of? What do you lose by not releasing it?

You have everything to gain from releasing it. It's like passing CS, but posting here asking whether you should release it or not.

Even if 234 is less than 240, 234 alone is an above average score.

Someone came into my office the other day with a 190 step 2 CK score. She scored well over 250 on step 1.