When to take Step 2?

[adeno]

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I'm a third year going into Peds, and I am planning on applying to some pretty competitive programs...I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on when to take Step 2.

I have a very nice Step 1 score (99), so I am kind of scared of messing up Step 2. At the same time, my med school's name is definitely at the lower end of the spectrum, and I'm worried that it might negatively affect my application at the big name programs.

Also, how does anoyone know how this release/not release score thing works? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[earmuffs]

I'm a third year going into Peds, and I am planning on applying to some pretty competitive programs...I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on when to take Step 2.

I have a very nice Step 1 score (99), so I am kind of scared of messing up Step 2. At the same time, my med school's name is definitely at the lower end of the spectrum, and I'm worried that it might negatively affect my application at the big name programs.

Also, how does anoyone know how this release/not release score thing works? Any help would be appreciated!

I still haven't taken Step II. 😀

I talked to my advisors about this too. I was afraid of blowing my Step I score as well, and my schedule was very front-loaded, so I didn't have time to really sit down and study for Step II until March.

I freaked out when I saw after applying that a few programs (if memory is correct they were CHOP, Boston & Hopkins) wrote on their website that Step II was required pretty early in the process. So, my advisor actually called the programs up about this. Their PDs said this was NOT a requirement to have done prior to the Match.

There were 2 caveats though (and you might want to hear a few other perspectives on this too):

1. If they're ranking 2 similar applicants, and one has taken & passed Step II and the other hasn't, the one who has passed already will get the edge. That edge could end up being the difference between matching there or not.

2. Doesn't apply in your case, but if you bombed Step I, you need to do well on Step II to prove it was a fluke.

I didn't get interviews at Hopkins, Boston, or CHOP, but doubt it was due to not taking Step II and more because of an unremarkable 3rd year.

Good luck!

 

[sscooterguy]

I'm a third year going into Peds, and I am planning on applying to some pretty competitive programs...I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on when to take Step 2.

I have a very nice Step 1 score (99), so I am kind of scared of messing up Step 2. At the same time, my med school's name is definitely at the lower end of the spectrum, and I'm worried that it might negatively affect my application at the big name programs.

Also, how does anoyone know how this release/not release score thing works? Any help would be appreciated!

I was talking to a residency director at my school (although not peds), and they told me to take step 2 later if you aced step 1, take step 2 super early if you bombed step 1, and if you got mediocre scores, take it early if you want top programs. When I asked what taking it later meant, he wanted to see posted scores before the rank list was due. This way, your step 1 will get you those top interviews, and a posted score on step 2 will be more or less confirmed before ranking with the least impact upon how the school sees you. That isn't a problem at my school, cuz the latest we can take it is end of December any ways. Check with your school's policy to see if you need to take it by a certain time, otherwise, push I'd push it back if I were you.

sscooterguy

 

[SurfingDoctor]

It doesn't really matter. Take it whenever. And remember board scores are only a small part of the entire picture.

 

[Palmetto]

Speaking with the various program directors (not just pediatrics) at my school, the general consensus is that you might as well go ahead and take it for a few reasons:

1) You're generally smarter at the end of 3rd year, when you've been working, than in the middle of 4th year (when you've been drinking.)

2) Step II is easy, and you have to really blow it off to not do well on it. I was EXTREMELY happy with my Step I, and studied sort of lazily for 10 days for Step II, and still did 9 points better.

3) As a follow up to 1, no one wants to start studying again in the middle of fourth year. Might as well roll right into it in July when you're used to being in the library instead of on the beach.