Worried about Step 2 Cs dates hurting app

[1edyfirel]

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Hi--I'm an M4 at an allopathic med school in the states. No red flags, will graduate in 4 years. Passed all classes years 1-2 (we are P/F); received high pass in all M3 rotations, got an outstanding in psych. Step 1: 233

My question--I was able to secure a step 2 CS spot for Dec 11. (That's the earliest I could grab--totally my fault.) According to the calendar, scores should be available between Feb 4-February 25. But now I'm freaking out because I'm worried my scores will come in too late--before rank lists come out, but cutting it superclose. Will programs not rank me with my CS coming in right before or right at the rank deadline? And if so, any advice on how to approach programs about this? ( and I know one major concern is not passing, but I absolutely will take CS seriously and prep for it.)

Also, I'll be taking step2 ck in late sept and programs will have that info well before rank list.

I'm grateful for any advice or thoughts you may have.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

I would keep looking at the site to see if an earlier date opens. There's some trick to monitoring for earlier dates that others in the Step 2 forum have posted before, but I don't remember it off-hand. I doubt it will hurt you, given that it's CS and not CK, but I'd still try to get it in earlier if at all possible.

 

[slappy]

It certainly won't hurt you, especially as an allopathic student with a decent step 1 score. But you can definitely download Firefox browser, and the Check4Change add-on. Select the right texts and get it to sound an alarm if something changes. There is also a way to get NBME to email you when a date opens up in your range but these are usually taken quite quickly, presumably by people using the Check4Change or similar software. But then again, you might be lucky so do both.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

Certain programs won't rank you if you don't have it. Not many though. 1 out of the 15 I interviewed at had that policy. This was also 5 years ago though.

 

[TexasPhysician]

There are probably half a dozen programs in the US that might downgrade you. Most won't notice or care.

 

[HarryMTieboutMD]

You will most likely be fine. The NBME times score releases so they are released well before the actual NRMP rank list deadline. I took mine Dec 26 and received my score the first week of February, well before the rank list deadline. One of the programs at which I interviewed emailed me in late January asking me to update them, but other than that no one raised any questions. I matched at my #1. The real downside to taking it later is that it one more thing you have to do and wait for results, which can be stressful. I tell current 4th years to take it (and CK) as early in the year as possible, mostly to prevent angst!

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

I think things might have changed since some of you were fourth years. I don't think CS is that big a deal, so long as you have CK, but CK definitely is a big deal. Many places won't rank you without CK. Given that the OP is talking about CS, I think he'll be okay, but I still wouldn't chance it. I'd take it earlier, if at all possible.

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

CS is relatively new and dinosaurs like PDs don’t know much about them other than failing is bad. Programs pay a lot of attention to CK2 scores because this can prevent most but not all medical students from graduating. I’ll let other posters tell us if CS passing is a requirement for graduation. If it is, I have not seen it stop anyone. It is all about can you start work on time by the end of June or not. Programs only have to be burned once to remember such things. We need to know that you are done with medical school on time. If you have to take another USMLE test to license, there is more time let us know how much time. I cannot remember this being an unsurmountable hurdle to anyone. If I were interviewed without CS results, I would be sure and tell the PD what my school’s rules were would say that if lightning hit twice and I failed my first hurdle in life, I would have X amount of time to retake the thing.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

CS is relatively new and dinosaurs like PDs don’t know much about them other than failing is bad. Programs pay a lot of attention to CK2 scores because this can prevent most but not all medical students from graduating. I’ll let other posters tell us if CS passing is a requirement for graduation. If it is, I have not seen it stop anyone. It is all about can you start work on time by the end of June or not. Programs only have to be burned once to remember such things. We need to know that you are done with medical school on time. If you have to take another USMLE test to license, there is more time let us know how much time. I cannot remember this being an unsurmountable hurdle to anyone. If I were interviewed without CS results, I would be sure and tell the PD what my school’s rules were would say that if lightning hit twice and I failed my first hurdle in life, I would have X amount of time to retake the thing.

A passing CS score is a requirement for graduation for most schools and is definitely a requirement for licensure -- CS and CK are essentially two parts of the same step so both need to be passed. However, last I looked, ~97% of US students pass CS, so it's considered to be somewhat a formality for most people. Failing it could be a bigger obstacle to starting, though, because it fills up months in advance and can take up to 3 months to score -- at least the last part used to be true because it really did take me 3 months to get my score.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

As @Doctor Bagel said, CS is a requirement for graduation at every school I know, both DO and MD. And yes, slots are taken fast. Look at the original poster. He can't get in until December. Scoring takes months as well.

 

[HarryMTieboutMD]

A passing CS score is a requirement for graduation for most schools and is definitely a requirement for licensure -- CS and CK are essentially two parts of the same step so both need to be passed. However, last I looked, ~97% of US students pass CS, so it's considered to be somewhat a formality for most people. Failing it could be a bigger obstacle to starting, though, because it fills up months in advance and can take up to 3 months to score -- at least the last part used to be true because it really did take me 3 months to get my score.

It was definitely a requirement at my medical school alma mater, and I remember reading on at least one program's website that a passing CS by a certain date is required for ranking. Also, CS is no longer a "you pass if you speak English" test. In response to complaints about the purpose of the test, the NBME made the scoring more stringent, so the pass rate is around 92% for US MD allopathic. Still, if one passes third year, reads through First Aid, and understands the format, he or she *should* be fine. And the score reporting system is detailed on the NBME website. Nevertheless, if one takes it earlier in the year, it becomes one less thing one has to worry about and makes the rest of fourth year that much more enjoyable.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

CS is required even for hte training license. That's why some make it a big deal. No one wants an intern that has to start late.

Wash your hands before and after, identify the primary emotion, ask if you've answered all their concerns. Wash your hands again, preferably in the middle of the physical. And identify the primary emotion again.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

CS is required even for hte training license. That's why some make it a big deal. No one wants an intern that has to start late.

Wash your hands before and after, identify the primary emotion, ask if you've answered all their concerns. Wash your hands again, preferably in the middle of the physical. And identify the primary emotion again.

+ knock before you enter, address patient by name, introduce yourself, sit down, drape. It's the little things that matter.

 

[TexasPhysician]

CS is required even for hte training license. That's why some make it a big deal. No one wants an intern that has to start late.

Wash your hands before and after, identify the primary emotion, ask if you've answered all their concerns. Wash your hands again, preferably in the middle of the physical. And identify the primary emotion again.

In the middle of the physical? Post-cardiac and pre-respiratory exam?

Just get first aid cs and read it one day pre-test. Easiest test ever.