MD When to register for Step 2 CS

[membr323232]

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Any advice on the best date to take CS? I know some people suggest taking it so that your score comes out after you have to submit applications, just in case you fail. Are there certain specialties that are less likely to require CS for ranking? Or do pretty much all require it now?

Thanks!

 

[Redpancreas]

Any advice on the best date to take CS? I know some people suggest taking it so that your score comes out after you have to submit applications, just in case you fail. Are there certain specialties that are less likely to require CS for ranking? Or do pretty much all require it now?

Thanks!

Do it before CK. Really gets those differential juices flowing. Get it over with, study for 3 days. If you fail (sometimes random) take again before December. Done.

 

[christmasindr]

I wouldn’t do it before CK as I find no reason to. CK is by far a more important exam to take prior to ERAS submission. It doesn’t hurt to take the CS early like in August, but you will be fine too if you take it in October.

 

[pacman2018]

Most programs seem to be a little more risk averse when it comes to CS these days and will want to see it before ranking. Ideally, you would take it so your score comes out after Sept 15 (in case you are one of the poor souls who fails). This lets you release the score if you pass or wait to retake and have a passing score before rank lists are due. I doubt there are many (if any) programs that require a CS score to interview.

 

[NickNaylor]

Back when I was applying (this is in psychiatry - to some degree this is a field-specific issue with respect to residency programs), about a third of programs required a passing CS score before submitting their ROL in ~February. To cover your bases, I would make sure to try and take the exam before November or December at the absolute latest. This would give you enough time to have your score back before your ROL is due, though there’s no real room to retake if for some reason you don’t pass.

I would say try and get it out of the way as soon as possible. It’s really not a difficult test, and your clerkship experiences will hopefully prepare you well for it. I studied for maybe a week, and that was super overkill compared to most of my peers.

 

[W19]

I would advise people to take that stupid test early, so you can retake it and got your result before ROL due date if you did not pass on your first attempt. I am interviewing right now and I have not had my CS result yet, so if I fail that test, all the money spent traveling/hotel/car rental etc... will be wasted.

That test is blatant robbery.

 

[Waterlover]

I'm planning to take it as soon as I finish my rotations, don't see why not get it over with.

 

[PAIR56help]

Anybody suspicious of any bias or possible discrimination on the step 2 CS? Took it on december 19th in chicago, took 2 review courses for it prior to test day at the usmle success academy...practiced and practice and practiced...got my score back yesterday and found that ICE and SEP were way high, but that the CIS was failing. Now can't make the match, even after having 9 interviews, since I am an IMG. I am in disbelief, can not believe it. Part of me thinks that there was some bias going on...everybody makes judgements when someone walks into a room...I say this because, with the time given to me, I really can't think of anything that I did wrong. "Anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable?" "I am so sorry to hear that" "Do you have any more questions for me?" Always washed my hands prior to physical exam, and with the time given to me did my best to counsel and summarize. I guess I am just in shock that my entire career and life plans are at the mercy to standardized patients getting paid 12-16$/hour...making judgments on the future of my career. I don''t really know what to think right now to be honest. Tried communicating with NBME but it is like talking to a brick wall.

 

[DBV]

Anybody suspicious of any bias or possible discrimination on the step 2 CS? Took it on december 19th in chicago, took 2 review courses for it prior to test day at the usmle success academy...practiced and practice and practiced...got my score back yesterday and found that ICE and SEP were way high, but that the CIS was failing. Now can't make the match, even after having 9 interviews, since I am an IMG. I am in disbelief, can not believe it. Part of me thinks that there was some bias going on...everybody makes judgements when someone walks into a room...I say this because, with the time given to me, I really can't think of anything that I did wrong. "Anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable?" "I am so sorry to hear that" "Do you have any more questions for me?" Always washed my hands prior to physical exam, and with the time given to me did my best to counsel and summarize. I guess I am just in shock that my entire career and life plans are at the mercy to standardized patients getting paid 12-16$/hour...making judgments on the future of my career. I don''t really know what to think right now to be honest. Tried communicating with NBME but it is like talking to a brick wall.

I am for sure suspicious but that doesn't make for proof. I was worried as hell being a Latino applicant that id do poorly on the speaking English portion despite English being my first language.

 

[wegh]

Any advice on the best date to take CS? I know some people suggest taking it so that your score comes out after you have to submit applications, just in case you fail. Are there certain specialties that are less likely to require CS for ranking? Or do pretty much all require it now?

Thanks!

earlier rather than later. I took mine after CK but I believe that was around August. If you can take ER around that time, or during, it is really helpful. It helps you get accustomed to thinking of basic differentials quickly