step 2

[jackets5]

what clinical rotations does one have to complete in order to take step 2. im assuming it is all of your core rotations, correct?

[got milk?]

no. there is no requirement.

take it when you feel ready.

[jackets5]

really there is no requirment. so what rotations do people have before they take step 2, usually

[JTP73]

Most take it sometime after all cores.

[silverfish]

I would base it off the shelf exams. If you take a few shelf exams, and you feel confident, study the rest of the topics for step 2 and just take it. You need to factor in having your step 2 results ready in time for the year you plan on matching. Good luck

[smu79]

i took step2 with 4/6 cores completed and got a 99. take it when you are ready....remember, there is no FM on step 2.

make sure to at least rotate through IM AND SURGERY before you take it.

[Future MD | DM erutuF]

i took step2 with 4/6 cores completed and got a 99. take it when you are ready....remember, there is no FM on step 2.

make sure to at least rotate through IM AND SURGERY before you take it.

Excellent score! Judging by your electives line-up, I think you should be a shoe-in.

[silverfish]

i took step2 with 4/6 cores completed and got a 99. take it when you are ready....remember, there is no FM on step 2.

make sure to at least rotate through IM AND SURGERY before you take it.


No "Family Medicine" is like saying no office visit questions, no management for basic medical problems. Sorry, but my surgery questions on step 2 never asked me anything I had learned during my rotation or were even similar to the shelf. Isn't the point of family medicine that it incorporates ALL MEDICINE. I think FM basically = step 2

[smu79]

Isn't the point of family medicine that it incorporates ALL MEDICINE. I think FM basically = step 2

Lol….who are you trying to fool?
Family medicine does not equal medicine. Medicine, hence IM equals medicine. Indeed, step 2 constitutes of management questions or “what would you do next questions ” in all phases of medicine (peds, ER, surgery, obgyn etc).
Are you suggesting that a Family Medicine core rotation is all you need to succeed in step 2? (this is what the poster is asking) I would like to see your step 2 card buddy. I would like to quote Hulk Hogan with “this is irresponsible reporting”

[AmericanIMG]

Lol….who are you trying to fool?
Family medicine does not equal medicine. Medicine, hence IM equals medicine. Indeed, step 2 constitutes of management questions or “what would you do next questions ” in all phases of medicine (peds, ER, surgery, obgyn etc).
Are you suggesting that a Family Medicine core rotation is all you need to succeed in step 2? (this is what the poster is asking) I would like to see your step 2 card buddy. I would like to quote Hulk Hogan with “this is irresponsible reporting”

i agree...partially. since fam med and im cross over its basically the same thing so u need to know ur fam med. basically use blueprints/pretest is what the consensus seems to be. smu79, since u rocked out w/ ur c out on the exam, maybe some advice?

[smu79]

i agree...partially. since fam med and im cross over its basically the same thing so u need to know ur fam med. basically use blueprints/pretest is what the consensus seems to be. smu79, since u rocked out w/ ur c out on the exam, maybe some advice?

IMG
Everyone studies differently and thus, my approach to studying for step 2 is probably useless to other students.
However, all I can offer is how I studied:
In short, I used Kaplan books, which I purchased on Ebay fairly cheaply and World in tutor mode. I went through the Kaplan books once and World once. I studied for my shelfs and rotations using Kaplan and thus concentrated all of my time studying for step 2----minus the 2 weeks I studied for CS.

I am sorry i cant be of further help.

[got milk?]

IMG
Everyone studies differently and thus, my approach to studying for step 2 is probably useless to other students.
However, all I can offer is how I studied:
In short, I used Kaplan books, which I purchased on Ebay fairly cheaply and World in tutor mode. I went through the Kaplan books once and World once. I studied for my shelfs and rotations using Kaplan and thus concentrated all of my time studying for step 2----minus the 2 weeks I studied for CS.

I am sorry i cant be of further help.



that's a good plan.

the other 5% of the time should be spent trying to find ways to slack off and not get in trouble, or kissing the attendings butt.

otherwise, rotations hardly teach you a quarter of what you need to know for step 2. Just read the review books and you'll say "damn! I didn't learn that on rounds....?"

[AmericanIMG]

smu79, thats a great way to do things. no wonder u did well. congrats!

[UFTim]

I haven't gotten my CK score back yet, so I won't talk about studying. However, my test was like this:

75% Medicine & sub-specialities (you DO see these in Family since it is a general specialty, so I can see why the one poster posted what they did). Obviously, Internal is more appropriate a category.
5% preventive/general (Family track)
2.5% Surgery
5% Psych
7.5% Ped
2.5% OB/Gyn
2.5% Biostats
100%

[silverfish]

I haven't gotten my CK score back yet, so I won't talk about studying. However, my test was like this:

75% Medicine & sub-specialities (you DO see these in Family since it is a general specialty, so I can see why the one poster posted what they did). Obviously, Internal is more appropriate a category.
5% preventive/general (Family track)
2.5% Surgery
5% Psych
7.5% Ped
2.5% OB/Gyn
2.5% Biostats
100%


Thanks for the back up UFTim, I'm not trying to mislead anybody or tell you to grab a family medicine book only, but family medicine topics are really important. YES THEY ARE SEEN IN OTHER SPECIALTIES which is why you don't need to study specifically for family medicine step 2. Family medicine is a shelf exam by the way and schools that have students take this exam say that the Family Medicine shelf exam is one of the toughest.

[ghanngmgirl]

Thanks for the breakdown, it really helps!

I have just a few other questions-

How much ACLS protocol was tested?

As for the sub-specialties, you are referring to ENT and Ophth and Neuro?

Thanks! ;)

[UFTim]

Thanks for the breakdown, it really helps!

I have just a few other questions-

How much ACLS protocol was tested?

As for the sub-specialties, you are referring to ENT and Ophth and Neuro?

Thanks! ;)

I think I had one ACLS/ER type of question, which shocked me.

IM subspecialties: GI; ID; Neuro (a lot of spine); Cardio (a lot), Respiratory (a lot--adjusting vent settings, etc.); Nephro (Electrolytes); etc.

You have to remember that everyone's is a little different. I talked to one guy who swore his test was mostly OB/GYN and Peds.