USMLE Step 2 CSA results and effect on neuro residency?

[jacksonianmarch]

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Hey,

Got a question... I am waiting on my step 2 scores, but my good friend also applying for neuro got his back today -- and for some reason FAILED Step 2 CSA. He is a US med student, near the top of his class at a very well respected school.

Anyone else have a similar situation?

He failed one of the three parts (Integrated Clinical Encounter section) with startingly low scores, which are apparently provided just as they were on Step 1.

This situation has got me worried -- does anyone know how this result effects your ability to start Neuro residency? How about for taking step 3? Let alone that, what about graduation from medical school?

 

[GopherBrain]

I got my scores today too, and I took the goddamn exam on September 13th! Four freaking months it took them! Fortunately I don't find myself in the same situation as your friend. I didn't get any score, just a "PASS", maybe they only provide them if you do not pass.

It is likely just a fluke, which I know won't be any comfort to him. He'll have to dish out the $1000 bucks and take it again, ASAP. He has to wait 60 days from his previous attempt, which has likely already elapsed.

You DO need Step 2 CS to take Step 3 (according to www.fsmb.org). Whether you need it to graduate depends on your medical school. I think they all have their own policies. In terms of residency, there is no way the program will find out until after the match. Then, they would technically have a back-door out of the match agreement, but as long as your friend retakes the test before graduation I think the odds that they would boot him are about 0%. If he fails again (highly unlikely) he may be in trouble. Barring that, the main pain of this is going to be in his wallet...