USMLE Step 2 issues

[Tidelwave]

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So here's the question.

I am a 4th year getting ready for ERAS. I want to do IM for residency. Due to geographic requirements I want an ACGME residency.

I took COMLEX I and got a 520 and USMLE I and got a 198.

I studied real hard for boards last year I just don;t take standardized tests well. I am in the top 10% of my class with excellent LORs.

My question is do I take USMLE 2? I have serious anxiety about it now and really don't want to take the exam.

Advice?

 

[sylvanthus]

So here's the question.

I am a 4th year getting ready for ERAS. I want to do IM for residency. Due to geographic requirements I want an ACGME residency.

I took COMLEX I and got a 520 and USMLE I and got a 198.

I studied real hard for boards last year I just don;t take standardized tests well. I am in the top 10% of my class with excellent LORs.

My question is do I take USMLE 2? I have serious anxiety about it now and really don't want to take the exam.

Advice?

Take an NBME first and see how you do. If you can score 220+ go for it. Showing improvement on step 2 will help you. If you don't take it, ACGME IM is going to be hard to be honest.

 

[pattr]

I'm not sure honestly. I'm also a 4th year, studying for the step 2 right now and going to take it in less than two weeks.

Have you taken any practice tests? It's really a lot easier than the step 1 (which I hated studying for). If you like IM, a lot of step 2 material focuses on topics relevant to IM. On the other hand, they did just raise the passing grade to 203 for all tests after July 1st so that's something to bear in mind too. I feel a significant improvement on your Step 2 since you have a below average Step 1 would be a definite positive since you're applying ACGME. If you are really scared about failing it, I wouldn't take it as that wouldn't look good on your application (neither would withholding your score in the event you fail).

 

[cliquesh]

I would take it.

As of now, you probably have little chance of matching a decent Acgme IM program, so you have nothing to lose right now. If you were to fail it won't change much.

Usmle step 2 is easier than step 1. If you got around a 230, which is average for step 2, I think you'll be fine. Do as many practice questions as you can.

You'll be fine with AOA programs.

 

[se20001984]

So here's the question.

I am a 4th year getting ready for ERAS. I want to do IM for residency. Due to geographic requirements I want an ACGME residency.

I took COMLEX I and got a 520 and USMLE I and got a 198.

I studied real hard for boards last year I just don;t take standardized tests well. I am in the top 10% of my class with excellent LORs.

My question is do I take USMLE 2? I have serious anxiety about it now and really don't want to take the exam.

Advice?

How common is this? and how poorly prepared are DO schools?

 

[cliquesh]

How common is this? and how poorly prepared are DO schools?

I think it's common. DO schools are full of poor test takers. I don't think it's the schools fault necessarly.

 

[pattr]

How common is this? and how poorly prepared are DO schools?

Well in 2011-2012 2,564 DO students (44% of the 5,788 total students) took the USMLE Step 1. 91% of them passed it. Compared to 94% of USMD students.

So DO schools definitely prepare their students to pass the USMLE, though there is some self-selection going on. Unfortunately we don't know the average scores of all DO USMLE test-takers. But if I were to guess, it would probably fall in the 215-225 range, just slightly below the overall average.

I don't think "poorly prepared" is the right phrase, so much as usually DO schools teach with the goal being students passing the COMLEX and don't really focus any board prep toward the USMLE.

 

[Banned]

Like everyone else said, you need to take Step 2 and do well on it.

Good Step 1 score, then Step 2 is at your discretion. Although I would suggest skipping Step 2 with a very high Step 1 score.

Poor Step 1 score, then Step 2 is pretty much required to do demonstrate that the low score was because you had an off day.

 

[buccsmf1]

Like everyone else said, you need to take Step 2 and do well on it.

Good Step 1 score, then Step 2 is at your discretion. Although I would suggest skipping Step 2 with a very high Step 1 score.

Poor Step 1 score, then Step 2 is pretty much required to do demonstrate that the low score was because you had an off day.

as a DO, i think even if you get a good step 1 score, you should still take step 2. Ive heard countless people on the last few cycles saying that tons of PDs commented on them taking or not taking step 2. I think theyre getting tired of the, 'just do well on step 1 then cruise,' mentality.

 

[thethethe]

is the step 1 score more important than step 2, step 1 is a more difficult exam...