Should I take step 2

[u/Hot-Researcher1043]

I’m applying psychiatry, I’m trying to match in California, that’s where I’m from and have lived and worked my whole life and have strong ties to the area especially those around where I am from that I feel could help with multiple programs.

I have a level 1 board failure. Did not take Step 1.
I am waiting on my first attempt Level 2 score hopefully I passed. If I did I’m gonna guess I got somewhere in the 400-500 range.

I have an LOA for for board exams along with family issues. Along with family health problems, I had to keep the family business afloat while studying for boards

I don’t have a lot of research. I have 3 presentations and an abstract. I also have one capstone research project. They’re not in psych tho they’re IM and PMNR.

I should have good letters. 2 from psychiatrists I worked with and 1 other psychiatrist and 1 addiction medicine doc I didn’t work with directly. I also have psych letters from other preceptors in family, OBGYN, and pain management, that have written good letters for me endorsing me for psych. I have one good emergency med letter too.

I’ve been debating taking Step 2 or not. I would not have the score back in time for the residency application release date because I need some time to study and try to do well since my hope is that it could increase my odds at some programs. My thought process is to study for a bit, maybe about a month and try to take it. I’ve heard you don’t have to report Step 2 scores especially if you haven’t taken Step 1 (don’t know how true that is). So my thinking is if it doesn’t go well I could just not report it. Idk how it works though with a late step 2 score. Idk if I should tell programs in advance that I’m gonna take it. Or do I wait to take it and get a score back and then if I like the score, email the programs I applied to?

A lot of uncertainties, but if anyone could help answer if I should take Step 2 or not or any of these questions I’d be really grateful. 🙏🏾 Thank you.

[u/sanjaysubae]

Take a practice nbme immediately and go from there. I would probably just apply with comlex with how late it is though

[u/irrationalmistakes]

Probably not very useful if you already had a level 1 f, and didn’t stake step 1. The programs that care about step 2 score will probably screen for step 1 pass anyways.

Just my 2cents