What are my next steps?

[slytherclaw6]

Hi everyone,

I've been interested in ENT since my first year and it is still my first choice, but unfortunately I did not perform for my Step 1 (238). Have yet to take Step 2. I have a great relationship with my home ENT department and have a few publications with them and more lined up. My question is, what should my next steps be to make sure that I match? The obvious one would be to ace Step 2, but would a research year be valuable?

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[Graywolf]

You may get interviews if your application is strong and you can make it past the screen. Prepare to potentially be auto-rejected with Step 1 <240. Apply to >60 programs and prepare for a back up. I've heard some programs have cutoffs as high as 250 (just a rumor, I have no specifics). Goodluck.

 

[Reckoning]

Hi everyone,

I've been interested in ENT since my first year and it is still my first choice, but unfortunately I did not perform for my Step 1 (238). Have yet to take Step 2. I have a great relationship with my home ENT department and have a few publications with them and more lined up. My question is, what should my next steps be to make sure that I match? The obvious one would be to ace Step 2, but would a research year be valuable?

The fact is no one can "make sure that [they] match". People match with Step I scores less than yours although they may need to work a bit harder at everything else they do. Keep your head up. If you really like research and you will be very productive, take a year, otherwise keep publishing on the side and nail the rest of your rotations and Step II. And when application time comes, EVERYONE needs a back up plan. Period.