When should I sign up for Step 2?

[daveyjwin]

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Specifically COMLEX? We are supposed to have taken step 2 CS by August, and PE just some time during the year. I don't know when we should sign up for it though. I know a couple of friends that have signed up for both already, nearly a year in advance and they claim "spots are filling up fast," but I find this kind of hard to believe this far out. Now, I can't really afford to spend $1500 on the tests right now, and was planning on waiting until Jan/Feb to sign up for the tests, but after hearing these people, I'm kinda nervous, because I don't want to not have a spot. I've talked to a couple of 4th years at my school and they said they didn't have any problems signing up until the beginning of next semester. So, now I'm getting mixed messages, and I thought the collective wisdom of SDN may help.

Thanks!

 

[AmyO]

I don't know when to tell you to take it, but the spots are all taken currently if you want a COMLEX 2 PE date in July or August (when everybody's off). I had to settle for taking it earlier than I wanted, in June, b/c I didn't want it hanging over my head while I was trying to do away rotations/acting internships for 4th year. I was surprised at how July and August were already booked and June has only 5 days open so you might just want to check out the availability of COMLEX 2 PE dates periodically. Good luck!

 

[ShyRem]

But we haven't even gotten our disbursement to PAY for it yet!!! Oh, well. UNE won't let us take it any earlier than Aug 1 anyway, so perhaps September.

 

[AmyO]

Yeah, I was waiting for my financial aid too. KCUMB lets us take it after we have passed all of our 3rd year CORE clerkships. Luckily, I have my elective last in June so it happened to work out. Kind of off the topic, but are you guys taking USMLE Step 2 CK? I took USMLE step 1 and did well so I don't know that it would help any as far as residency options go.