Step 2

[ckbuffalo]

Hi all!
Congrats to all of you who matched!
I have a few questions about Step 2:
1) should you take CK first then CS or does it not matter?
2) Is CS offered everyday like Step one and CK?
3) Do you guys recommend taking CK and CS the same week or spread it out?
4) Finally is AUC graduation in April and October or April and June?
Thanks
Khristina

[grace]

Hi all!
Congrats to all of you who matched!
I have a few questions about Step 2:
1) should you take CK first then CS or does it not matter?
IT DOESN'T MATTER; TWO VERY DIFFERENT TESTS

2) Is CS offered everyday like Step one and CK?
I DON'T THINK SO SINCE LIMITED TO ONLY A FEW PLACES IN THE COUNTRY; YOU CAN FIND OPEN DATES ONCE YOU SIGN UP

3) Do you guys recommend taking CK and CS the same week or spread it out?
EITHER WAY; MY HUSBAND TOOK THEM BOTH IN CHICAGO ABOUT TWO DAYS APART AND IT WORKED WELL FOR HIM; HE TOOK CK FIRST THEN SPENT THE DAYS IN BETWEEN REFRESHING HIS STUDIES FOR CS

4) Finally is AUC graduation in April and October or April and June?
SORRY CAN'T HELP YOU HERE; MAYBE CHECK AUC'S WEBSITE?


Sorry my answers were short; hope this helps some.

[ckbuffalo]

Thanks Grace!

[microphage]

i took a few days during my family medicine rotation to study for CS and took it during the rotation. I used that time to just practice my format and writing of the note. In hindsight, I probably would have just spent 7 days anywhere u feel like u have some time to study for CS. CK and CS aren't related so I wouldn't say U need to take one before the other. I took CS in June and CK in August. I wanted to get CS over with and outta my head before I had to worry about CK.

[ckbuffalo]

That sounds like a good plan, thanks for the advice. How many "patients" do you see for CS?

[Scientific]

Also, can someone explain what exactly CS is?? Is it you see some mock patients and write up an H&P?? Do they expect you to do the full "correct" Physical exams (ie: percussion before auscultation, etc) or is it more like as long as you do the "normal" exam like we do in the hospital and find the problem, you get the same score. Also, are you even graded on the physical exam or only on your diagnosis and H&P write up? Lastly, do they test on mostly High yield findings???

[DrShikima]

That sounds like a good plan, thanks for the advice. How many "patients" do you see for CS?

I think a total of 12 in the 8 hours. 5..4..3...

[PaulN]

You see 12 pts during CS and write up note either by hand or on computer.

First Aid for CS was adequate preparation. I took it in Chicago, found it intimidating with the rigidity of rules and how strict everything is. They threatened to fail the guy next to me for writing on his clipboard before they started the official timer. Having said that once things got going it became a routine day as if in the hospital. Just had to make sure you do certain things to get credit, ie wash hands,drape pt,shake hands and introduce yourself as Dr yada yada(not student Dr) day goes by quickly. The pt examples in first aid were right on the money.

Food is provided.

Later,
Dr. P

[Sugars8]

what about CK? i've heard that first aid isn't that good for CK, which kind of sucks since i study well in that type of format. any other recommendations?

[AUCMD2006]

I have a few questions about Step 2:
1) should you take CK first then CS or does it not matter?
Doesn't matter. I would absoluitely try to take the CS as early as possible because the 'rush' in august through february will be tough to schedule around if you fail.

2) Is CS offered everyday like Step one and CK?
yes, i beleive it is i took it on a monday

3) Do you guys recommend taking CK and CS the same week or spread it out?
i would schedule the CS towards the end of your outpatient FP rotation because in FP you do at least 5 physicals a day and it is a great time to have actual practice. read the FACS book before the rotation and pratice writing notes in that format. if you do that you literally only need a day or two to review the types of cases in FA so you aren't surprised. make sure you pay attention to the patient check off list in there....they pretty much tell you what you are graded on so make sure you wash your hands and drape the patient before anything and also watch the video on the usmle CD they send you it is a great orientation and the exam is exactly like that

12 patients, practice writing short hand notations while interviewing the patient to save time like CP (chest pain) or diagram out parts of the body that hurt with an arrow and a pain scale number which literally takes 5 seconds vs writing it out.....basically whatever shortcuts to transcribe all the info. then when you are done with the exam go outside relax and write out full sentences from your shorthand

what about CK? i've heard that first aid isn't that good for CK, which kind of sucks since i study well in that type of format. any other recommendations?
first aid is horrible for CK. you study for the CK every day during rotations. when you get apatient look up the disease and read about it. you will get the common stuff over an over and over and over again so you will know copd/asthma/dm/htn/cellulitis/normal delivery/common trauma without thinking about it then all you need to do is study the zebras. do question banks like usmleworld score in the 60's opr higher and you are set

[microphage]

i liked First aid for step 2 CK. I know the previous versions have sucked but the new 5th edition has really bulked up and is quite a read. Sure, its not like step 1 but there's no other book out there as good that I've seen.

[grace]

AUCMD's suggestion regarding taking CS early is probably a really good idea. Since they changed the grading criteria a lot more people have been failing (went from about 1 person failing at my husband's school to about 8 people in his class) and you need to give yourself ample time in case you need to retake the exam.

[Sugars8]

early = when?

[AUCMD2006]

early = when?


as soon as you are eligible..thagt is usually around when most of your cores are complete but try and have it done before july

[grace]

early = when?

Well, it takes two months to get your scores back so make sure you have enough time to reapply, take the exam, and wait for scores in case you fail or else you might miss the Match in March.

[ckbuffalo]

How do you guys suggest studying for CS? Is it just practice during cores. I bought the First Aid for CS, has any one used it?
Thanks

[AUCMD2006]

How do you guys suggest studying for CS? Is it just practice during cores. I bought the First Aid for CS, has any one used it?
Thanks

3) Do you guys recommend taking CK and CS the same week or spread it out?
i would schedule the CS towards the end of your outpatient FP rotation because in FP you do at least 5 physicals a day and it is a great time to have actual practice. read the FA-CS book before the rotation and pratice writing notes in that format. if you do that you literally only need a day or two to review the types of cases in FA so you aren't surprised. make sure you pay attention to the patient check off list in there....they pretty much tell you what you are graded on so make sure you wash your hands and drape the patient before anything and also watch the video on the usmle CD they send you it is a great orientation and the exam is exactly like that

12 patients, practice writing short hand notations while interviewing the patient to save time like CP (chest pain) or diagram out parts of the body that hurt with an arrow and a pain scale number which literally takes 5 seconds vs writing it out.....basically whatever shortcuts to transcribe all the info. then when you are done with the exam go outside relax and write out full sentences from your shorthand

[ckbuffalo]

Thanks, it's been a long day.

[levator]

How do you guys suggest studying for CS? Is it just practice during cores. I bought the First Aid for CS, has any one used it?
Thanks

I got together with a good friend for several afternoons a week and did cases with eachtother. we timed eachother and talked about how we could improve. By the time I took the CS, it was second hand and the time limits were no problem. We focused on first aid mostly but found some other cases to practice on.