Unhappy Failed Step 2, haven't released USMLE transcript on ERAS! What should

[nh48]

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I was about to submit my ERAS app when I saw in my email that I failed my step 2 CK by a point 😱 despite passing Step 1 in flying colors, I don't know what happened in my Step 2 but am now devastated because I have yet to release my USMLE transcript in my ERAS app (step 1 scores + step 2 CK scores). Now my step 2 CK score on the transcript is going to destroy my application 🙁 .

I know I am caught in a pretty crappy situation, and I badly need advice.

Should I:
A) withhold my USMLE transcript all together in my ERAS app? (this way programs won't even see my Step 1 score, i.e. I am obviously hiding stuff)

B) Release my USMLE transcript and cross my fingers?

Or...
C) can I withhold my USMLE transcript on ERAS and only send in my Step 1 paper transcript individually to each program?

Thanks.

 

[dream2008]

you can only do (B).

c is impossible.

a is possible but no program will interview anyone without step 1 score.

sorry to tell you this. 🙁

 

[Arsenic]

I was about to submit my ERAS app when I saw in my email that I failed my step 2 CK by a point 😱 despite passing Step 1 in flying colors, I don't know what happened in my Step 2 but am now devastated because I have yet to release my USMLE transcript in my ERAS app (step 1 scores + step 2 CK scores). Now my step 2 CK score on the transcript is going to destroy my application 🙁 .

I know I am caught in a pretty crappy situation, and I badly need advice.

Should I:
A) withhold my USMLE transcript all together in my ERAS app? (this way programs won't even see my Step 1 score, i.e. I am obviously hiding stuff)

B) Release my USMLE transcript and cross my fingers?

Or...
C) can I withhold my USMLE transcript on ERAS and only send in my Step 1 paper transcript individually to each program?

Thanks.

im sorry, nh48! 🙁

option c isn't possible, programs only accept the electronic usmle transcript they get from the NBME. you can't release just step 1 and not step 2 with these transcripts, they send everything. programs just wont accept a paper version you send them with your step score.

at this point i would go with option A, but id retake step 2 soon like 3 weeks from now. that way your new score would be out near 11/1 when your dean's letter goes out. this way when you transmit the usmle transcript.... yeah they will see a fail on step 2 but they will also see a pass and wont worry about you not passing it before starting residency. lots of programs have december deadlines so you'd still be in time. submit ERAS now though without the usmle transcript so that everything else for your application is in place by then.

also, do your homework on your programs before you submit ERAS, lots of them have requirements like "at least an 85 on first attempt of both step 1 and 2" for example and you dont want to waste your money.

 

[SippiGirl08]

I was about to submit my ERAS app when I saw in my email that I failed my step 2 CK by a point 😱 despite passing Step 1 in flying colors, I don't know what happened in my Step 2 but am now devastated because I have yet to release my USMLE transcript in my ERAS app (step 1 scores + step 2 CK scores). Now my step 2 CK score on the transcript is going to destroy my application 🙁 .

I know I am caught in a pretty crappy situation, and I badly need advice.

Should I:
A) withhold my USMLE transcript all together in my ERAS app? (this way programs won't even see my Step 1 score, i.e. I am obviously hiding stuff)

B) Release my USMLE transcript and cross my fingers?

Or...
C) can I withhold my USMLE transcript on ERAS and only send in my Step 1 paper transcript individually to each program?

Thanks.

Like you said, doing "A" would make it obvious that you are hiding something as well as kill any chances of interview invites until you do finally release the scores. How soon can you be ready to retake CK? If you can dedicate 1-2 full weeks, take the test by early to mid-October, get your results by early to mid-November, then go for "A". But with you rushing to re-take the exam, what's the likelihood that you will pass this time when you're under so much stress and anxiety? I would choose "B" and go ahead and release the scores. There is an option on ERAS where you list the exams you have taken where you can choose "have not taken" vs "awaiting results" vs "will take". Release your current scores and be sure to specify that you "will take" the exam again very soon. Take as much time as you think you will need to re-learn the material to do well this time, and kick a$$ on the test.

I know you don't want to hear this😳, but either way, your app is likely to be on the bottom of pile. It's up to you to choose if you want it on the bottom due to a late submission AND a poor score, or due to a poor score with a quickly pending re-take.

 

[golfpropsychguy]

I was about to submit my ERAS app when I saw in my email that I failed my step 2 CK by a point 😱 despite passing Step 1 in flying colors, I don't know what happened in my Step 2 but am now devastated because I have yet to release my USMLE transcript in my ERAS app (step 1 scores + step 2 CK scores). Now my step 2 CK score on the transcript is going to destroy my application 🙁 .

I know I am caught in a pretty crappy situation, and I badly need advice.

Should I:
A) withhold my USMLE transcript all together in my ERAS app? (this way programs won't even see my Step 1 score, i.e. I am obviously hiding stuff)

B) Release my USMLE transcript and cross my fingers?

Or...
C) can I withhold my USMLE transcript on ERAS and only send in my Step 1 paper transcript individually to each program?

Thanks.

Why dont you just release the step 1 score and hold the step 2 score until you retake it and release step 2 when you know you passed it. depending on what you are going into(rad, Gas, surg) a failing score wont get you any interviews.

unless you already have interviews with your step 1 score.

 

[SippiGirl08]

Why dont you just release the step 1 score and hold the step 2 score until you retake it and release step 2 when you know you passed it. depending on what you are going into(rad, Gas, surg) a failing score wont get you any interviews.

unless you already have interviews with your step 1 score.

this is impossible. you don't have a choice which scores you release (step 1 vs step 2 or CK vs CS). you only have a choice of releasing or not releasing ALL scores for ALL tests that have been posted thus far. then you have a choice of whether to automatically retransmit your transcript when any new scores come in.

if he had submitted his ERAS before he got these scores back, AND chosen NOT to automatically retransmit, then he would be ok. but since his exam has already been scored, the failing score is present on his transcript. there is no way to hide it unless he doesn't send his USMLE transcript at all (including step 1), which as he said, pretty much guarantees NO INTERVIEWS as well as making it quite obvious that he's trying to hide something.

 

[golfpropsychguy]

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[andwhat]

Oh, I sent my step 1 score before I received my failing step 2. I've received 15 interviews thus far. I guess his situation is different then. Sorry to hear your situation!!

take premier review, exceptionally hy course in a limited amount of time....Kaplan is ok if you have months to prepare, and it isnt even nearly as good as Premier Review...

 

[medmancubfan]

Hey nh48-I dont want to give any false hopes, i am in a similar situation, I applied to ERAS before I took Step 2, got about 6 interview invites before I got my results, got my Step 2ck score, found out I failed, and have still gotten 3 more interview offers even a week and a half after my fail score came out, only diff between you and me was that I foolishly assumed I would pass and decided to just report my scores even before I knew the result, and that cant be changed. The point is that even though I decided to release my scores and I failed, I am still getting interview offers. I wish I knew exactly what my chances are but all I can say is that programs are still inviting me despite my failure on step 2, so keep the faith, hopefully we will get a good match yet.

All the best,
medmancubfan

 

[ectopiman]

My usmle transcript was authorized on 9/13 and i applied in 9/15.My ck result came on sep 16 and it was a disaster. I want to hide the score.I dont remember if i ticked send scores automatically or not but what i can see as option now in transcript section is resend scores.Does that mean it was not automatically set to update the score?At the bottom of the usmle transcript section i can see view usmle request status report...if i click there i can see that only my step 1 and cs score has been sent but in the ecfmg status report it shows it was updated on 9/16 after my result came in.I am confused if the program knows about my CK failure or not?

Another question is if i want to apply new programs now and assign the transcript,will it be the older one or the newer one?

 

[Psai]

I didn't submit but my score is on my dean's letter. Also schools need it for ranking so you won't really get anything out of not submitting it