I was wondering if your program required a step 2 score to grant an interview. I have a step 1 of 255, and I was wondering if you ahad any recommendation regarding when to take step 2.
Thank you!
No we don't (most programs do not). There are different points of view on this topic but the 3 general theories are 1) If you have a high USLME step 1 score than don't potentially ruin it by taking step 2 until after the interview season; 2) If you have a high USLME step 1 score and you're a good test taker, why not take it to further enhance your application; and 3) you didn't do as well as you would have liked on step 1 so you must take step 2 early to show the doubters that you're not a test-taking risk.
I will say that this year we interviewed more people who took step 2 than ever before (mostly category 2 above).
Thank you for your response Dr. Levine. How much could step 2 enhance an application for a applicant with a step 1>250? I don't mind taking step 2 if doing well actually improves my chances at academic programs.
Honestly I don't think it will enhance it much at all. Your 3rd year clinical grades, AOA status, Orthopaedic research and scholarly pursuit, and letters of recommendation will be much more important to your application than your step 2 score.
I had a step 1 score that was just about average for ortho and I took step 2 early and scored 40+ points higher. I was told by the chairman of a very well-respected ortho program in the east that they wouldn't have interviewed me had I not done that (their average step 1 for interviewees was >250).
Dr. Levine would this logic be any different for and IMG? I am currently 3rd year at Ross University and scored 254 on step 1. My clinical advisor recommended that I wait until after interviews to sit for step 2, however a attending had the opposite view stating that programs prefer to have all the scores of IMG's in before they make a decision of whether or not to grant the person an Interview.
Also, I believe that one area where my application will be lacking is in the Research area. How big of an impact will this make? Research possibilities are virtually non existent in out school. Any recommendations on how I can get involved in some othropaedic research? I am here in NYC.
