Hey all! So I'm an M3 currently in the process of scheduling step 2. I was wondering if I could get some advice. It seems to be the consensus that you should have your step 2 score available by the time you apply if you're applying to highly competitive programs. That being said, I was wondering if you think it would be reasonable to schedule step 2 shortly after an Ob/Gyn rotation. Here is my tentative timeline:
4 more weeks of Peds
6 weeks of OB
1 week dedicated to step 2 studying
Step 2 July 5
So here's what I would have to do:
- Study for Peds shelf & finish peds rotation
- Study for Ob/Gyn shelf & complete ob/gyn rotation
- Study for step 2 during the above
Here is some info that may be helpful in providing advice:
All other shelf scores (neurology, IM, surgery, FM, psych) were >95th percentile.
Step 1: 261
My goal is to beat my Step 1 score.
My alternative:
- Take IM sub-I first block of 4th year and focus on the rotation and getting LoR
- Take a medicine subspecialty elective in 2nd block of 4th year and study during that
- Take step 2 after 2nd block of 4th year (results would come in shortly after applications are sent out)
My gut says I would be able to do it... but I'm still feeling apprehensive about it. I'd really like to have it done early while shelf exams are fresh and so I don't have to worry about it in 4th year. What do you guys think? Is it reasonable? Let me know if there's any other information you want.
4 more weeks of Peds
6 weeks of OB
1 week dedicated to step 2 studying
Step 2 July 5
So here's what I would have to do:
- Study for Peds shelf & finish peds rotation
- Study for Ob/Gyn shelf & complete ob/gyn rotation
- Study for step 2 during the above
Here is some info that may be helpful in providing advice:
All other shelf scores (neurology, IM, surgery, FM, psych) were >95th percentile.
Step 1: 261
My goal is to beat my Step 1 score.
My alternative:
- Take IM sub-I first block of 4th year and focus on the rotation and getting LoR
- Take a medicine subspecialty elective in 2nd block of 4th year and study during that
- Take step 2 after 2nd block of 4th year (results would come in shortly after applications are sent out)
My gut says I would be able to do it... but I'm still feeling apprehensive about it. I'd really like to have it done early while shelf exams are fresh and so I don't have to worry about it in 4th year. What do you guys think? Is it reasonable? Let me know if there's any other information you want.