Step II Importance

DRSTEEL-
well kinda, but here is the catch....on the ERAS application they are going to ask you if you took step 2 or if you are scheduled to take it and when.

Alright, so the question many of us are wondering, Has anyone taken Step II early enough for it to be available during interviews, scored worse on it than Step I and felt that they missed out on a program or not as competitive because of it? :sick:

How do you decide to release or not release scores? It wasn't on the application. Is it on the day of test form (I don't remember from Step I). Then, once you get your score do you then release it? One way or another it gets to programs, does holding onto it just allow me to decide whether or not to share the score with the programs prior to applying?

For better or worse, Step II is now scheduled for August. Taking the year off for research tho so won't be applying til 2003. Figure the stuff will stick in my head better taking it right after all my cores instead of waiting for 12-18mo after them.

Bledsoe

there is a segment on ERAS when you submit your USMLE scores. included in this release are two questions. read them carefully. you can choose to release all scores that the USMLE has right now and to not release anymore until you request again.

example. i released my step I score, but did not give them permission to release any scores that came after my ERAS USMLE transcript release date. then i got my step II back (scored higher than step I) and rereleased the USMLE transcript to include it. as far as filling out the ERAS application, i put that i would be taking it in december, but in actuality took it in august due to an unexpected opening in my schedule. if they see you are not supposed to take it until december or beyond, they won't even be looking for it.

ORTHO2003 - Just wondering what your friend did to increase his Step II by 30 points?!! I am taking Step II early and would love any advice to increase my score over my Step I.
Thanks... :smokin:

He didn't do anything special. He read blue prints for every clerkship during the year and reviewed those and used NMS for the exam. His take was Step II was much mroe clinical and he was better at the clinical exam than the basic science (step I) exam. Good luck. I should be getting my little orange slip in the mail today or tomorrow. I am planniing on taking it in August.