hey GBM,
in regards to your OP, i think that you’re going to be fine.  It always seemed like Step1 was weighted more heavily than Step2 in terms of interviews; I didn’t even take mine until almost January 1 of 4th year, and no one complained about the blank in my application.  my advice from here would be to work on other aspects of your application, cast a wide net in your distribution list, and carefully select the places that you do your SubI’s (ie places that don’t seem to be board score snobs) so that you can wow them while you’re there and make them forget about stupid step 2.

GBM - 29 March 2007 05:42 PM

Hello everyone,

This message is for the moderators of this site.
Is there a way to move replies that have noting to do with the original topic?
I don’t understand why people hijack others posts? There is plenty of room in this forum so please post your own topic in a separate column if it has noting to do with the original topic. This only will keep this forum as good as it has been and prevent it from turning to another trashy forum.

again, for those of you who are concerned about “trashy” posts, post in the areas of the forum that require registration (i.e., anything but “open mic").  these areas that allow anonymous posting are for people who need to get their yayas out and will remain uncensored.

It’s a bad sign to have a step2 score lower than step1 so it will definitely hurt you, for how much I don’t know. Is it possible to not put your step2 score on your CV?

Anyways there is nothing you can do about those scores, try to improve your other aspects and apply widely.

Your score on step 2 certainly isn’t going to help you. I don’t know how much it will hurt; I think that will vary by program.

You and future applicants can learn from your present situation:

If you have a 233 on step 1, that’s really good enough for most programs. Don’t get greedy unless you’re certain you can cash the check. The other important point is that perceptive programs will notice your declining step 2 score and will (rightly) wonder about your clinical abilities. You’re now in a position where the home and away electives in NS have become immensely important, and you should really set your sights on rotating at programs where you could realistically match.

I know this isn’t sunny advice, but I think it may help you. How were your grades on clinical rotations? A bunch of honors could really help you out.

Step 1 233 = you might match if all else is good but you’ll struggle and your boards will not help you. You’ll need to make calls, etc.

How do program directors feel about a failed step 1/2 score with a subsequent pass. If it’s combined with numerous pub/abstracts-good clinical grades and great letters

It’s a definite negative.

Ditto.

Guest - 02 May 2007 12:23 PM

How do program directors feel about a failed step 1/2 score with a subsequent pass. If it’s combined with numerous pub/abstracts-good clinical grades and great letters

They usually get all teary-eyed.  Some might sob...for a short time.

I’m non-American Asian, currently working as an SHO in neurosurgery for nearly 3 years in one of the hospitals in Asia (Pacific rim). Took 2 months off recently to read up for the Step 1 and scored 198 at the first attempt. This obviously isnt stellar, judging by the kind of scores mentioned in this thread. Could a better step 2 score provide any kind of leverage on my chances of landing interviews/ matching, if at all? Has anyone EVER landed a spot with a step 1 score as low as this??? If neurosurgery is so tough to land, why are there still vacancies as seen posted on the SFMAtch website??
Its hard to imagine applicants not being enough to apply for offered positions....

i have to agree with Dr. Hfuhruhurr: a 233 really is good enough for most programs. i don’t know why so many people that post here seem to think that unless an applicant has a step 1 score 10-20 points ABOVE THE AVERAGE score for people who match, than he/she will not match.

to the above poster, i believe that there are always enough people who apply for pgy1 positions; there are probably not enuogh who apply for upper level vacancies. to compund the problem, there are usually not enough people qualiefied to fill those spots that are available to fill them.

hallo, just a simple question, is it usually to apply before passing step 2??? and are the matches before getting the result of step 2? thx..

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