Step II What would you do?

Started by Girl DO
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Girl DO

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Hey y'all!

I'm currently a third year student who's taking a research year off between 3rd and 4th year. I currently have my boards scheduled for the beginning of september, but I'm wondering if I should push them back a couple of months to give myself more step II ck study time. I scored a 254/99 on USMLE step I and a 651 on COMLEX 1, I'd really like to score over a 260 for step II, I'm looking to do a competitive allopathic IM residency. My current UWorld average is hovering around 72-73. And I'm stressed. Should I just bite the bullet and get it over with or is it worth giving myself some extra time?

Thanks for your input, it means a lot!
 
Last edited:
Hey y'all!

I'm currently a third year student who's taking a research year off between 3rd and 4th year. I currently have my boards scheduled for the beginning of september, but I'm wondering if I should push them back a couple of months to give myself more step II ck study time. I scored a 254/99 on USMLE step I and a 651 on COMLEX 1, I'd really like to score over a 260 for step II, I'm looking to do a competitive allopathic IM residency. My current UWorld average is hovering around 72-73. And I'm stressed. Should I just bite the bullet and get it over with or is it worth giving myself some extra time?

Thanks for your input, it means a lot!

Assuming you are just begining to your research year....Absolutely get it over with. A lot of people will advise you otherwise because of your high step I, but that seems like a cop out. If
you did well on your end of clerkship exams (do DO students take shelf exams?),get it over with. I'm a fourth year right now. I have very good grades, some research and a strong step I (247). People told me to put it off, I didn't listen. I studied a little and got a 267. The further you get from msIII, the more you will forget. Plus, the marginal return on step II study time is basically nil. I don't know if I learned more than 1-2 things that showed up on the actual exam during my step II devoted study time. I tried to memorize some of the tedious stuff, but ended up missing it anyway, lol. Chances are, it's all review for you anyway.

72.5% on UW extrapolates out to appx 261.

Good luck!