Time off for Step 2

[TheeeGod]

I was wondering what you guys think of taking ~2 mos off to study for Step 2 CK. I heard that if you take off more than 6 wks straight w/o a rotation, Ross automatically withdraws you. Will it be a big hassle to get re-instated? Will this be reflected on your transcript or whatever? I really don't need the financial aid as I am at home. What do ya think?

[Shah_Patel_PT]

I was wondering what you guys think of taking ~2 mos off to study for Step 2 CK. I heard that if you take off more than 6 wks straight w/o a rotation, Ross automatically withdraws you. Will it be a big hassle to get re-instated? Will this be reflected on your transcript or whatever? I really don't need the financial aid as I am at home. What do ya think?


u dont need more than 4 weeks off for it.

[baylor77536]

For God sake don't listen to people when they say you don't need more than X amount of time. Push the test date back if you don't feel comfortable with it. I studied until I thought I couldn't memorize anymore and I did World questions twice. I scored very well and matched.
4 weeks was not enought for me.

Study until you know you will do ok.

[RossMD2006]

For God sake don't listen to people when they say you don't need more than X amount of time. Push the test date back if you don't feel comfortable with it. I studied until I thought I couldn't memorize anymore and I did World questions twice. I scored very well and matched.
4 weeks was not enought for me.

Study until you know you will do ok.

I second that...take as much time as you need to do well...if I told you 1 week is all you need, would you listen to me? People are different....you don't want to go into this test feeling unprepared...also plan your time well...you want the scores back by Sept 1st if possible, so you can apply with Step 1 and 2CK in hand. Some programs will not consider your application if you do not have Step 2 CK in hand when you apply (unless you have a stellar Step 1). So better to have your scores in come application time.

[Dru]

If you take more time off your school loans may become due. Also I've heard that it is sometimes difficult to explain LOA's in interviews for residency. A better alternative may be to take a light elective and study simultaneously. My kid did this, and it worked out well. Find an elective that demands no call time and lets you out early. That way you can go home and hit the books and not have a LOA.

[TheeeGod]

I am not really worried about the loans - just more concerned about LOA - does this really show up on your transcript? i guess I might have to take some electives in between.

BTW, Does anyone have the newest edition of the Graduate Planning guide that Ross usually gives out when you start rotations? I have one for 05-06 but wanted one for 07-08.

Also, I have a choice to do a rotation from Feb 18 till March 28th or Jan 7 till Feb 15 in 2008. Is March 28th too late to do rotations i.e. will it affect graduation b/c maybe they will send the grades in later or something?

[singer]

I am not really worried about the loans - just more concerned about LOA - does this really show up on your transcript? i guess I might have to take some electives in between.

BTW, Does anyone have the newest edition of the Graduate Planning guide that Ross usually gives out when you start rotations? I have one for 05-06 but wanted one for 07-08.

Also, I have a choice to do a rotation from Feb 18 till March 28th or Jan 7 till Feb 15 in 2008. Is March 28th too late to do rotations i.e. will it affect graduation b/c maybe they will send the grades in later or something?

all rotations must be done by May 31st

[Chianti]

Anyone who says "study a week for Step 2" is on crack.

I thought Step 2 was harder than Step 1. My study my butt of for Step 2 (like I did for Step 1) and my score fell by 15 points.

I know a guy who got a 225 on Step 1 and failed Step 2. Have heard of many Rossies failing Step 2.

DO NOT BLOW IT OFF!! Most PDs think Step 2 is more important than Step 1.

[singer]

Anyone who says "study a week for Step 2" is on crack.

I thought Step 2 was harder than Step 1. My study my butt of for Step 2 (like I did for Step 1) and my score fell by 15 points.

I know a guy who got a 225 on Step 1 and failed Step 2. Have heard of many Rossies failing Step 2.

DO NOT BLOW IT OFF!! Most PDs think Step 2 is more important than Step 1.

my son took his step 2ck after 2 weeks of study and after a gruling Surgery rotation. He also scored lower on his Step 2 then Step 1. It wouldhave been great if he had sceduled it after one of the easy 2 hour a day electives. I am sure he would have had alot more time to study which should have equated to a higher score.

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Anyone who says "study a week for Step 2" is on crack.

I thought Step 2 was harder than Step 1. My study my butt of for Step 2 (like I did for Step 1) and my score fell by 15 points.

I know a guy who got a 225 on Step 1 and failed Step 2. Have heard of many Rossies failing Step 2.

DO NOT BLOW IT OFF!! Most PDs think Step 2 is more important than Step 1.

Actually the PDs for IM, FP and OBGYN all agree that they give more importance to the step 2 score than step 1 score when deciding the ranks. (based on a national research survey of program directors done in 2004)

[hasantht]

am a 5th year medical student
and planing to do step 2 ck, month after graduation
in thr 6th year i'll be having ( internal med, surgery, obs& gyne, and pediatrics )
so i believe ill be ready for it

about step 2 cs, am gonna do it after 7 months
and step 1 will be the last one 2 do

am doing it all backward
cs- ck - step 1

[jfriedla77]

if you take off more than 4 weeks for step 2, you'll have to explain it to the following people:

1) program directors during residency interview
2) state licensure board - it counts as an official leave of absence from medical education and is not taken lightly by every state.

I agree that if you're absolutely not ready, then perhaps postponing is appropriate. but seriously, it CAN hurt your chances at matching to a good program and can cause problems or delays in getting licensed. (yes, yes, I understand that a bad score can cause problems too)

So here is what you do. schedule easier electives that are less time consuming for the 2 months preceding your time off for step 2, or at least schedule easier cores like FP. Then, take your 4 weeks off. Get your kaplan books and read a little every day, during your rotations or at night. Buy usmleworld and make your way through it during those 3 easier months.

I know this approach won't work for everyone, but seriously, it can save you from trouble down the road.

[singer]

am a 5th year medical student
and planing to do step 2 ck, month after graduation
in thr 6th year i'll be having ( internal med, surgery, obs& gyne, and pediatrics )
so i believe ill be ready for it

about step 2 cs, am gonna do it after 7 months
and step 1 will be the last one 2 do

am doing it all backward
cs- ck - step 1

How many years will you be in Medical school?

Are you talking years or semesters?

[Shah_Patel_PT]

am a 5th year medical student
and planing to do step 2 ck, month after graduation
in thr 6th year i'll be having ( internal med, surgery, obs& gyne, and pediatrics )
so i believe ill be ready for it

about step 2 cs, am gonna do it after 7 months
and step 1 will be the last one 2 do

am doing it all backward
cs- ck - step 1

what medical school ru in?

[TheeeGod]

You can take 4 weeks off straight or 6 wks off straight w/o LOA?

[Shah_Patel_PT]

You can take 4 weeks off straight or 6 wks off straight w/o LOA?

i repeat again...dont take more than 4 weeks off!

U will have a lot of explaining to do...that is all I am going to say on this issue....

[bevo]

I thin its ok to take some time off to study soley for step 2 ck, but I wouldn't take out a huge chunk of time to study for step 2 like you did for step 1.

You're gonna have to study during clinicals 1 way or another. I don't know how much programs pay attention to time off and stuff like that (looking for gaps in your schedules). But I remember thumbing through a book in a bookstore about how programs what to see you being able to do your daily work and do well in your exams.

I mean, when you get into residency, you're not gonna be able to take time off to study for in house exams or whatever other boards. Some places don't even give you time off to sit for step 3 (but most do).

I think I took 3? weeks off for step 2 and then just studied during rotations for the rest.

Also, I think taking a LOA will cause a score report delay for you as well as it will take longer for the ecfmg? to verify your student status.

basically, it does not pay to take time off for step 2 ck or cs.

Its better to have a prolonged study period that is consistent rather a shorter cramming style we are used to for step 1.


and definatly try to get CS done as soon as possible. Don't wait to take it while you're in the midest of sending out applications, waiting to schedule interviews (i.e. the fall of your final year). Its a long time to wait for the results and to sign up once more if you need to. So if you can take the exam in May/June/July - its best.

You don't need to sit down and study a ton for the exam. Get first aid and practice with a friend or whoever running through the cases like it was real (including writing the note in 10? mins).

[Chianti]

While Step 2 CK is a b*tch, Step 2 CS is a JOKE. I actually enjoyed taking the test- it was that easy. Simply get First Aid for Step 2 CS and study the practice cases the weekend before (8 hours a day- going over the cases again and again) and you should ace this test.

[Shah_Patel_PT]

While Step 2 CK is a b*tch, Step 2 CS is a JOKE. I actually enjoyed taking the test- it was that easy. Simply get First Aid for Step 2 CS and study the practice cases the weekend before (8 hours a day- going over the cases again and again) and you should ace this test.

Inspite of it being a joke....I personally know St. George and Ross students (USIMGs...who speak english fluently) who had good scores on Step 1 and CK...who failed the CS and eventually were automatically withdrawn from the match this year.

So I would not take it that lightly.........

[Cuando2]

Inspite of it being a joke....I personally know St. George and Ross students (USIMGs...who speak english fluently) who had good scores on Step 1 and CK...who failed the CS and eventually were automatically withdrawn from the match this year.

So I would not take it that lightly.........

You know of many people's shortcomings.

To the OP...you can consider taking 4 weeks off (which is allowable and usually not questioned...and if it IS questioned in an interview, just be honest and say you studied for step2)...then do a 2 week ** elective like Radiology at Prince George hospital in MD (where you dont even have to show up at ALL), and then take another 4 weeks off after that. That affords you 10 weeks to study if you really wanted maximal time. You could probably get all the CK studying and CS First aid reading out of the way all in that one huge chunk and bang-out both exams by the end of that 10 week session and then finish off your other rotations just in time for the match, meaning you wont have to take time off from some stupid rotation while you go and interview. GOod luck

[Shah_Patel_PT]

You know of many people's shortcomings.

To the OP...you can consider taking 4 weeks off (which is allowable and usually not questioned...and if it IS questioned in an interview, just be honest and say you studied for step2)...then do a 2 week ** elective like Radiology at Prince George hospital in MD (where you dont even have to show up at ALL), and then take another 4 weeks off after that. That affords you 10 weeks to study if you really wanted maximal time. You could probably get all the CK studying and CS First aid reading out of the way all in that one huge chunk and bang-out both exams by the end of that 10 week session and then finish off your other rotations just in time for the match, meaning you wont have to take time off from some stupid rotation while you go and interview. GOod luck

i know a lot of very succesful graduates as well....wait till match tomorrow...I can't wait!!

[bevo]

about CS

1) It is a joke
2) You have to at least respect it as an exam, but like Shah_Patel_PT. I too have friends who have been withdrawn from the match because of this "joke"

So don't dismiss it.

[Cuando2]

i know a lot of very succesful graduates as well....wait till match tomorrow...I can't wait!!

Yup, same here! Can't wait to see where I matched!

[Cuando2]

about CS

1) It is a joke
2) You have to at least respect it as an exam, but like Shah_Patel_PT. I too have friends who have been withdrawn from the match because of this "joke"

So don't dismiss it.

Maybe you are friends with the same people

[RossMD2006]

Dont let anyone tell you Step 2 CK or CS is easy. Take the time to study for these tests. We don't know you and you don't know us. The time you take off to actually study for the test should be review and review only (just as for Step 1). When we all left the island, those 4.0 students may have taken a few weeks off to REVIEW. Since these students knew their material well....studying time was for review. Those of us who arent as lucky to have gotten a 4.0 thought 3 months was necessary. These students used 3 months to review but at the same time they were trying to learn information that they did not grasp as well while in Dominica.

Whatever the case, you must be studying consistently, effectively and hard all thoughout 3rd year to expect a good score on Step 2. If you expect to start your hardcore studying when you actually take the time off to study for step 2, you can forget about doing well on that test. There is too much to learn...

In short, you have to study hard, consistently and effectively once you leave Miami to do well on the CK or for any board exam (a good step 1 score would help too :p). When ppl say one month is all you need, they mean 1 month is all you need to REVIEW. STUDYING and LEARNING should have been done the past year!

[baylor77536]

There is no need to "take off" to study for this exam. I studied through a surgery rotation and half of peds, scheduled many easy electives and scored fine.
If you want to take off for the 4 weeks that's fine but you certainly can study without taking any time off if you can study during off hours. However it may take you a several months to adequately learn the info.

[singer]

The importnat thing in scheduling 2cs is to make sure the results will get to ERAS by the dealine in January. It takes longer for this test to be marked then the computerized USMLE exams

[TheeeGod]

Anyone know where/whom to send the Form I-83 that the medical school official has to sign and then forward to ECFMG?

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Anyone know where/whom to send the Form I-83 that the medical school official has to sign and then forward to ECFMG?

send it to the registrar....they have an established direct link to the ECFMG....it's a quick process if you send documents through the proper channels.