What counts as taking step 2 early?

[Julietcf14]

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Hey guys, I am applying Peds and I did not do as well as I wanted to on step I so I was planning on taking step II in mid oct. Is that too late to make an impression if I do well? By the time I get my scores will most programs have already decided on my application?

 

[NOsquid]

It depends on when Peds programs typically send out interview invites (I didn't apply to Peds). If you take it in mid-October, you will get your score back in early/mid November. So most likely you're missing your window for it helping you get better interviews (you might still get a few late in Nov/Dec due to cancellations/waitlist).

A good score at that time will help you in the final ranking for those interviews you've already gotten despite your Step1.

When I applied to Med-Peds, I got invites as early as mid-September. The more competitive programs tend to hold out until dean's letters on November 1st. But either way they fill up quick.

Ideally if you'd want it before the first invites go out, which I think will be earlier, hopefully a recent Peds applicant will fill you in.

 

[twilightdoc]

Ideally if you'd want it before the first invites go out, which I think will be earlier, hopefully a recent Peds applicant will fill you in.

Not a recent Peds applicant, but a faculty member. NOsquid gives good advice. If your Step 1 score is weak and you need a good Step 2 score to help you get interview invitations, I would definitely try to take Step 2 in time to have a score back by early October. Having a score back later could still factor into a program's ranking decisions, but if you didn't get an interview at that program, the point is moot.

 

[Bitsy]

I would say taking Step 2 by August would be early, because then you would have your scores back by the time interviews come out. I would only take it this early if you are absolutely prepared though, because a weak or below average performance on Step 2 will only worsen your application. If you're ready, I would push it up before October though, because you won't get your scores back before December and by then almost all interview invites will have gone out except for those replacing cancellations. I applied and matched peds last year and interviews go out early. I got interview invites starting one day after my application was officially submitted. There were only a few places that even waited for my Dean's Letter before sending invites. Most of my interview invites went out in September and October. A great Step 2 score will be most helpful in combating your Step 1 score and getting you more interview invites. I feel like the Step scores were primarily used to get you interviews, but weren't as important in the actual ranking process as some other specialties.

 

[Julietcf14]

This is all really good advice. I am having a hard time because I might be able to move my step 2 date up to the end of Aug but that would mean moving one of the rotations I am using to get an LOR to September (so I would not get my LOR until October which is too late correct? So if I moved Step 2 and took it Sept 17th would my scores be able to effect the interviews I get? I am unfamiliar with the time frame interviews are sent out.

Thanks for all the advice by the way.

 

[NOsquid]

9/17 means scores reported in early/mid October. Still not ideal but definitely better than the original plan.

Earlier (you said August possibly) would be even better. Do you already have a strong letter or two? October letter might be ok if so. You can submit your ERAS in September and send the letters later. I actually don't know which compromise to make in this case, maybe others will weigh in.

 

[michigangirl]

The main question I have is what does "not as well as I wanted" mean-- if you scored just at the mean or barely above on step 1, it might be worth improving your score. If you scored below the mean, definitely. If you barely passed, 100% take it in August, the early date. A lot of it will depend on how you did on your 3rd year clerkships as well. If your clinical grades are phenomenal and you got above the mean on step I, I would sweat it too much. As mentioned above, some programs don't even look at apps until they get the deans letter. So you could send in your step 2 score as an addendum and be fine.

Can't count out that it's possible to not do better or do worse on the step 2. I took it "early" in order to improve my score for ERAS submission-- got the EXACT same score the second time around. AND on step 3. It was comical actually. I got above the mean but not tons above.

So weigh your overall application and decide. Noone cant ell you exactly what to do here, only what we know from experience, since only you know your entire portofolio. In peds, Step I isn't a dealbreaker unless you get below the mean or your clerkship scores arent good. Good luck.