Advice Please - MS3.

Looking for guidance regarding when to take Step 2CK and how that fits in with doing aways and getting letters early on.

MS3 at a non-top 40 US MD school. No elective time during MS3. Clerkships are pass/fail, but our shelf percentile is reported in the MSPE.

Stats so far:
Step 1: 266
Preclinicals: Top 10%
Clerkships: Medicine and Neuro passed, both with 96th percentile on shelf.
Research: First author case report (ortho shoulder case). No other pubs but have multiple projects right now, one of which should be submitted soon. Also have some authorship credits elsewhere (book chapters and online texts), but no peer-reviewed stuff.

Thanks!

I am applying now and just dealt with this decision. I had similar Step 1 score and class rank. I elected to take CK right after I finished MS3. While taking it early exposes you to the risk that you don't do well, you have demonstrated you are a good standardized test taker. Worst case scenario, you score a few points lower than your step 1, which is still well above average. I ended up scoring higher on CK. Having a solid CK score gives program directors another piece of evidence that you are a top candidate. As a student at a middle-tier medical school, I think it's worth the risk to maximize your chances of going to the best program possible. Hope this helps.

Cool thanks man. Good luck on the interview trail!

Don't think Step 2CK much of a big deal either way now that you've established strong Step 1 score. Bigger deal is making ortho mentors, spending time with residents to figure out how to be a helpful part of the time, and prepping for a few crazy, fun, busy, exhausting months as a subI at a few programs you've decided might be a good fit. You should also read a basic orthopaedic textbook and keep reviewing your anatomy.

Hey guys,

Good info on here so far. I would appreciate some objective feedback if you guys have the time.

MS3 from a mid-tier US school

I will make this brief. I have always had an interest in functional movement and musculoskeletal medicine, both from personal experience and current rotations. I have kept an open mind during school and my surgery rotation has led me to lean towards that as a career. I am a non-traditional student, and a pretty average applicant in general. Unfortunately this places me in the bottom tier of potential ortho applicants.

Preclinical: mostly pass, some high pass
Step 1: 225 - yea, I know this is crap but it is what it is
Clinical: first two high pass, hoping for that or honors in surgery
Research: Was a research coordinator for a while - initially did not plan on medicine as a career
- 3 years of qualitative primary care research prior to medical school at a large academic institution
- Published three times - JAMA, Journal of Int Med. Unfortunately none of these are ortho related.
Work exp - Variety of jobs/careers prior to shifting gears into medical school

I have always been realistic and know that any shot I take will be a struggle. I assume my step score will get me initially screened out of most programs, leaving few options for any potential interviews. I am going to talk to professors at my school as well to get a feel for where I stand.

Do you guys think it is worth taking a year to do research, and go all in on trying to match, or just move forward with something else? I am unsure I will be able to get any interviews given the nature of the current applicant pool.

I appreciate any feedback and good luck to everyone this upcoming cycle

Not gonna lie, it's gonna tough with a 225. Definitely want to do well in 3rd year, especially surgery. Take step 2 early and crush it. Like get through the Qbank twice. Most important thing for someone with a 225 will be to pick your aways very carefully. Probably will want to do 3 aways and at programs that most orthogate posters would call "lower tier" (doesn't mean they are bad programs but just not fancy names). You'll definitely want to look to rotate at programs in locations most applicants will consider less desirable. Unfortunately it's just the brutal reality. Not sure if research year would be huge benefit for you since you already have good research experience (doesn't matter that it's not Ortho) and since the programs you'd be more competitive for probably won't care about research too much. Also, if you haven't already go ahead and make concerted effort to build relationship with your home program.