When to take Step 2

[MonsterAddict]

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I looked a previous posts and what I found was from 2010. Does the mantra that if you did well on Step 1, you should wait until later of after the match to take Step 2? Does that still hold true? Thanks

 

[billambeer]

I looked a previous posts and what I found was from 2010. Does the mantra that if you did well on Step 1, you should wait until later of after the match to take Step 2? Does that still hold true? Thanks

I did well on step 1 and I improved my Step 2 by 10 points, but in one of my interviews in an ivy league school I was asked why I didn't "significantly improve" my score. I was dumbfounded because everywhere else I received congratulations, etc. it made me angry that I was told that it could only do nothing or improve my app if I improved my score. on the contrary, in my case, it cast a shadow on my app or did nothing for it.

from that I have been advising other students to not take it until later in the year, preferably after Dec 18 (which is the last interview of the season).

 

[breezethrusd]

I took step 2 after I matched, and I matched to my #1.
Out of 14 interviews, only one program asked me why I didn't take step 2.

 

[kwel]

Are there any programs that require or "highly recommend" step 2 before you apply, regardless of your step 1 score? I know some rads programs are like that

 

[ophthope]

I took step 2 after I matched, and I matched to my #1.
Out of 14 interviews, only one program asked me why I didn't take step 2.

Just for another data point: I took Step 2 in late December and didn't get my score back until after matching. Matched at my #1. Maybe one place asked if I had it scheduled, not even why I hadn't taken it yet.