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Step 2 let-down
#1
Hi all, 

looking for advice regarding a bad showing on step 2...

I'm an applying MS4 from a mid-upper tier med school with 242 step 1 (yes, i know, borderline) with 4 honors in 6 possible rotations (COVID affected the ability for more), Gold Humanism Honors Society election, and good research (15 pubs (11 first/second author), couple oral presentation at national mtgs, posters to boot). My school has no AOA, though I am top quartile (how my school "ranks" us) among my peers. Feedback on sub-I was really positive and I think I have good letters coming down the pike. 

However, Step 2 has been a nightmare for me. Ultimately, I didn't do well (237) -- not trying to make excuses here, though I worry the circumstances affected my ability to be at my peak. I was supposed to take in may (covid pushed this date after 4 weeks of studying and then cancelled altogether), which I moved to Late september after my rotations. 1 week before exam, my roommate gets COVID so I had to push my date again to quarantine.  Knowing this is low, I'm concerned programs will negatively look upon me for the borderline Step 1 further being weakened by a lower step 2. I don't think this reflects my clinical abilities. 

My question --  is this worth hitting head-on in something like a personal statement? or should I just wait until it gets brought up at an interview (I expect it would) and discuss the surrounding factors/own a bad test day?

Yes, I know this is a post dripping with anxiety and self doubt and I have total confidence in my ability to become a great resident and surgeon, I just want to know everyone's thoughts on how much this may/may not hurt me in the upcoming cycle and how to best combat this. 

tl;dr: pretty good applicant

(10-14-2020, 11:46 AM)Guest Wrote: Hi all, 

looking for advice regarding a bad showing on step 2...

I'm an applying MS4 from a mid-upper tier med school with 242 step 1 (yes, i know, borderline) with 4 honors in 6 possible rotations (COVID affected the ability for more), Gold Humanism Honors Society election, and good research (15 pubs (11 first/second author), couple oral presentation at national mtgs, posters to boot). My school has no AOA, though I am top quartile (how my school "ranks" us) among my peers. Feedback on sub-I was really positive and I think I have good letters coming down the pike. 

However, Step 2 has been a nightmare for me. Ultimately, I didn't do well (237) -- not trying to make excuses here, though I worry the circumstances affected my ability to be at my peak. I was supposed to take in may (covid pushed this date after 4 weeks of studying and then cancelled altogether), which I moved to Late september after my rotations. 1 week before exam, my roommate gets COVID so I had to push my date again to quarantine.  Knowing this is low, I'm concerned programs will negatively look upon me for the borderline Step 1 further being weakened by a lower step 2. I don't think this reflects my clinical abilities. 

My question --  is this worth hitting head-on in something like a personal statement? or should I just wait until it gets brought up at an interview (I expect it would) and discuss the surrounding factors/own a bad test day?

Yes, I know this is a post dripping with anxiety and self doubt and I have total confidence in my ability to become a great resident and surgeon, I just want to know everyone's thoughts on how much this may/may not hurt me in the upcoming cycle and how to best combat this. 

tl;dr: pretty good applicant

OP here -- never finished the tl;dr -- pretty good applicant with bad step 2 looking for advice
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#2
Your step 1 score is pretty in line with your step 2 score. Since you have a step 1 score, that's going to be much more weighted still. I would not address it in your PS. Frankly it probably won't come up much because the few (if any) programs that care will screen you out by numbers alone and won't even read your PS.
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#3
Composite step score = mean(Step 1, Step 2 - 10). Adjust expectations
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#4
(10-15-2020, 10:36 AM)Guest Wrote: Composite step score = mean(Step 1, Step 2 - 10). Adjust expectations

Bro please stop trying to push this dumb formula you came up with
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#5
(10-14-2020, 03:00 PM)Guest Wrote: Your step 1 score is pretty in line with your step 2 score. Since you have a step 1 score, that's going to be much more weighted still. I would not address it in your PS. Frankly it probably won't come up much because the few (if any) programs that care will screen you out by numbers alone and won't even read your PS.

Don't address it. Most programs use Step 1 as a cut-off and many applicants won't even have a Step 2 reported at the time of interviews
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#6
From what I've heard, most look at Step 1 > Step 2. Significant increase or decrease in Step 2 (>10 points) from Step 1 might be viewed positively or negatively, respectively.

As of now, Step 1 is king. Once Step 1 becomes P/F, Step 2 will be king.
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#7
You are competitive for general surgery.
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#8
You are competitive for nursing
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#9
(03-13-2021, 09:16 PM)Guest Wrote: You are competitive for nursing

Are y'all so insecure that comments like these are how you think to spend your time? Good luck with the match OP, I hope that things work out how you want them!
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#10
(03-14-2021, 02:03 PM)Guest Wrote:
(03-13-2021, 09:16 PM)Guest Wrote: You are competitive for nursing

Are y'all so insecure that comments like these are how you think to spend your time? Good luck with the match OP, I hope that things work out how you want them!

Are you shit talking the nursing staff?
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