Thread: Step 2 CK timing

Does anyone have any advice on timing for scheduling CK? I have heard its good to get it done and scored before applications in Sept, but I'll be doing cores straight through until the 3rd week in August.
I don't want my score to suffer since I'll be working right up until the day of the exam but I don't want to negatively affect my application by not getting my scores in.

What do you think is worse? Potentially compromising my grade or not having one at all until later in the application process?

Compromising your grade is INDEED WORSE. Tanking Step 2 is a red flag, and from all the warnings I've been told, you don't want that on your application, especially as an IMG.

Is it possible to take CK before your last core? Or having 3-4 weeks off? Unless they changed it again, you DONT need to do all your cores in order to be allowed to take CK. It's highly recommended, but as you'll see, not doing one core is fine(psych and surgery are personally the only ones I would say it's safe to skip). You can read up on it and tackle UW questions. In fact, I would say it's mandatory to do ALL UWorld questions. There are people that only study UW and knock it out too.

I wanna say taking CK by Sept-Oct is fine, someone can correct me if this is wrong. It's better to take it when you feel comfortable and ready.

Is it better to turn in an application late, or to miss match and wait until the following year???

What would you do to boost your CV in that time off?

Originally Posted by krs12

Does anyone have any advice on timing for scheduling CK? I have heard its good to get it done and scored before applications in Sept, but I'll be doing cores straight through until the 3rd week in August.
I don't want my score to suffer since I'll be working right up until the day of the exam but I don't want to negatively affect my application by not getting my scores in.

What do you think is worse? Potentially compromising my grade or not having one at all until later in the application process?

What core do you end on? I'm ending on psych and from all I've heard it shouldn't be too demanding soo I plan on using 3 or 4 of those weeks to get the step studying going and then taking another 4 weeks off after i finish cores to do a final push for step 2. I think if you end on surg it might be a whole lot harder and you may need more time but I would think as long as you can get it taken in sept at the latest you will be fine.

What about ending w Ob? My schedule is similar to krs12's schedule. Is Ob a demanding rotation, or is it possible to start studying for step 2 during this rotation?
However, I have heard that programs don't start reviewing apps until October so maybe we can wait until sep...but what about getting LORs from electives??

Just remember that it takes almost 2 months for scores to come in!

Originally Posted by Rfisher

Just remember that it takes almost 2 months for scores to come in!

what do you mean? i thought the extended time to release scores was just for august test takers with a target score release of 26. If you take it in sept its the standard 3 wednesdays..... have u heard otherwise?

^ sept 26 target score i meant

I took it first of August= 7 1/2 weeks

I thought only CS takes 2 months to get your scores back? CK really is delayed that much too in august? I finish all my cores and 1 elective by July 19th 2013. But I finish with internal. My plan was to take CS in February/March during my radiology rotation, then take 1 month off after internal in july and study for CK, taking it by the end of August. If i took CK in start of september would I get it at end of september or is it still delayed 2 months then as well?