Top Reasons to Finish USMLE Step2CS Early
There are some unmistakable personalities in the world that will irritate you not because of the content of what they say
- but because they repeat the same content over and over again. [I am sure some people might have already flickered up on your mental screen ;-) ]. I am risking being that irritating entity with this post - not because I feel the perverse need to be one, but because I really need to hammer in the point home about taking the Step 2 CS early :-D :-D
1. Convenient Dates for Step 2 CS are tough to come by and the score reporting takes an atrociously long time besides being unpredictable. A very common behavior amongst applicants is to postpone thinking about Step 2 CS until after taking the Step 1 and Step 2 CK and when the time arrives to say - "Awrite - lets apply for Step 2 CS now", they mostly find themselves also saying - "what ! no dates for the next 6 months !". :-) Step 2 CS dates become hot property when application months draw near since thats when most people plan to finish Step 1 and Step 2 CK by. I was even amused to see a message on my Step 2 CS forum by someone offering to pay money to anyone willing to exchange a CS date ;-).
So apply early and take the most convenient date early. In fact for the 2009 Match Participants, ECFMG posted an advisory asking candidates to take the Step 2 CS before the end of August 2008, due to increasing volumes of exam takers.
If you are not sure about a test date yet - Read the last question below on this post...
2. Though it is true that a Step 2 CS score is not compulsory to apply for the residencies via ERAS and that programs look out more for Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores for screening applicants for interviews rather than Step 2 CS performance, IMGs will still need the Step 2 CS to get the ECFMG Certificate on time! This is in turn is needed to be eligible for being included on the residency programs Rank Order Lists (Mid-February of a Match Year) and also also to apply for Step 3.
3. You need to avoid the "Failed-But-Too-Late-To-Reapply" Blunder that I had covered before while talking about the 2009 Residency Match planning timeline. Quoting the same here:
"There are probably hundreds of people who spend a fortune on applying to residency programs on time with Step 1 and/or Step 2 CK scores, attend interviews and then get a fail result on the Step 2 CS in Oct / Nov / Dec = Result ? No dates available to retake the exam on time to be eligible for ECFMG certification before the ROL submission deadline. All that application money and interview-travel money wasted since an incomplete Step 2 CS makes them ineligible for the match! "
In practical terms, a simple rule would be to aim for taking the USMLE Step 2 CS in the first six months of the ERAS application year - i.e. if you were planning for the 2010 residency match, you would be applying via from September 2009 and you gotta aim for taking the Step 2 CS before July 2009 - though, the earlier is better. That way, even if you failed, you could still hope to retake it on time for being considered
4. Some IMGs located outside the USA opine that taking the CS before other steps and applying for the CS visa is practical in the following way: If the CS Visa is rejected always, then there is no real point in taking other steps as well and CS fees are refunded too.
I differ on that last view though = Taking other steps reinforces your case for a CS visa approval ! A money-based based decision , I know , and must therefore be left to individual circumstances and priorities.
Q. Can the Step 2 CS be taken before Step 1 or Step 2 CK ?
A. Yes ! Any of the Steps 1, 2CK and 2CS can be taken in any order. Also, I don't believe Step 2 CS performance is affected by taking or not-taking the other steps before.
Q. Do Step 1 and / or Step 2 CK need to be taken within a year of Taking the Step 2 CS ?
A. No - There is no rule that says such.
Q. What is I am not sure of the date when I will be taking the Step 2 CS in USA ?
A. Fortunately, the USMLE Step 2 Scheduling permit is valid for up to one year - unlike the 3-month periods granted for the other USMLE steps. Take advantage of that ! Go ahead and apply and grab a comfortable date fast - you can always change it later if needed. As ECFMG advises:
"Registered applicants are encouraged to schedule a testing appointment, even if they are uncertain that they will be able keep the testing appointment. You can indicate preferences for other test dates/centers and you will be able to cancel an existing appointment without incurring a rescheduling fee, provided that you give more than 14 days' notice."
So get over the mindset that Step 2 CS needs to be taken after Step 1 or Step 2 CK just coz' it's number with a "2" and read the 15-day study plan to study for the Step 2 CS :-)
And yeah - you might wanna consider reading this post again tomorrow - Naah, this was just to be plain irritating ;-)
There are some unmistakable personalities in the world that will irritate you not because of the content of what they say
- but because they repeat the same content over and over again. [I am sure some people might have already flickered up on your mental screen ;-) ]. I am risking being that irritating entity with this post - not because I feel the perverse need to be one, but because I really need to hammer in the point home about taking the Step 2 CS early :-D :-D1. Convenient Dates for Step 2 CS are tough to come by and the score reporting takes an atrociously long time besides being unpredictable. A very common behavior amongst applicants is to postpone thinking about Step 2 CS until after taking the Step 1 and Step 2 CK and when the time arrives to say - "Awrite - lets apply for Step 2 CS now", they mostly find themselves also saying - "what ! no dates for the next 6 months !". :-) Step 2 CS dates become hot property when application months draw near since thats when most people plan to finish Step 1 and Step 2 CK by. I was even amused to see a message on my Step 2 CS forum by someone offering to pay money to anyone willing to exchange a CS date ;-).
So apply early and take the most convenient date early. In fact for the 2009 Match Participants, ECFMG posted an advisory asking candidates to take the Step 2 CS before the end of August 2008, due to increasing volumes of exam takers.
If you are not sure about a test date yet - Read the last question below on this post...
2. Though it is true that a Step 2 CS score is not compulsory to apply for the residencies via ERAS and that programs look out more for Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores for screening applicants for interviews rather than Step 2 CS performance, IMGs will still need the Step 2 CS to get the ECFMG Certificate on time! This is in turn is needed to be eligible for being included on the residency programs Rank Order Lists (Mid-February of a Match Year) and also also to apply for Step 3.
3. You need to avoid the "Failed-But-Too-Late-To-Reapply" Blunder that I had covered before while talking about the 2009 Residency Match planning timeline. Quoting the same here:
"There are probably hundreds of people who spend a fortune on applying to residency programs on time with Step 1 and/or Step 2 CK scores, attend interviews and then get a fail result on the Step 2 CS in Oct / Nov / Dec = Result ? No dates available to retake the exam on time to be eligible for ECFMG certification before the ROL submission deadline. All that application money and interview-travel money wasted since an incomplete Step 2 CS makes them ineligible for the match! "
In practical terms, a simple rule would be to aim for taking the USMLE Step 2 CS in the first six months of the ERAS application year - i.e. if you were planning for the 2010 residency match, you would be applying via from September 2009 and you gotta aim for taking the Step 2 CS before July 2009 - though, the earlier is better. That way, even if you failed, you could still hope to retake it on time for being considered
4. Some IMGs located outside the USA opine that taking the CS before other steps and applying for the CS visa is practical in the following way: If the CS Visa is rejected always, then there is no real point in taking other steps as well and CS fees are refunded too.
I differ on that last view though = Taking other steps reinforces your case for a CS visa approval ! A money-based based decision , I know , and must therefore be left to individual circumstances and priorities.
Q. Can the Step 2 CS be taken before Step 1 or Step 2 CK ?
A. Yes ! Any of the Steps 1, 2CK and 2CS can be taken in any order. Also, I don't believe Step 2 CS performance is affected by taking or not-taking the other steps before.
Q. Do Step 1 and / or Step 2 CK need to be taken within a year of Taking the Step 2 CS ?
A. No - There is no rule that says such.
Q. What is I am not sure of the date when I will be taking the Step 2 CS in USA ?
A. Fortunately, the USMLE Step 2 Scheduling permit is valid for up to one year - unlike the 3-month periods granted for the other USMLE steps. Take advantage of that ! Go ahead and apply and grab a comfortable date fast - you can always change it later if needed. As ECFMG advises:
"Registered applicants are encouraged to schedule a testing appointment, even if they are uncertain that they will be able keep the testing appointment. You can indicate preferences for other test dates/centers and you will be able to cancel an existing appointment without incurring a rescheduling fee, provided that you give more than 14 days' notice."
So get over the mindset that Step 2 CS needs to be taken after Step 1 or Step 2 CK just coz' it's number with a "2" and read the 15-day study plan to study for the Step 2 CS :-)
And yeah - you might wanna consider reading this post again tomorrow - Naah, this was just to be plain irritating ;-)
Labels: Step 2 CS Visa
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posted by Digitaldoc, MD at 11:10 PM
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