Step2 CS is actually very easy unless you are an old graduate who has not seen clinical practice for sometime. If you are a fresh graduate or an old graduate with clinical experience, it’s not too difficult. The problem of foreign grads is that the US follow a systematic method in approaching and diagnosing cases and you need to follow that protocol in order to pass Step 2 CS. In fact the most common cause of failure for IMG’s is poor English. For AMG’s it is usually the clinical part that is the problem. The most important thing in Step 2 CS is practice. I’ve detailed what you need to do in the actual exam in this and related posts. Before the exam, you need to practice with a live patient. In my case, I recruited my brother and my sister and my niece to act as simulated patient. Practice also writing notes so that you can write that fast. 10 minutes goes by so fast, especially in a tense exam environment. My suggestion is use USMLEWorld Step 2 CS. Take the 1 month version. (You can print out the cases. Copy the ones that can’t be printed out by hand.) Borrow First Aid. Familiarize yourself with the differentials there. and you are good to go. If you are not sure how good your English is, have someone of another ethnicity listen to you. People of the same ethnicity usually have the same accents which while easy for them may be hard for others to understand.

Askdoc

FA cases are too easy compared to actual exam. USMLE World Cases are a bit more complex than actual exam. Plus, there will always be cases that are unequivocal with unclear diagnosis. Good differentials more important than nailing diagnosis.

Askdoc

You’re welcome. Ask away, you don’t have to apologize for asking questions, it’s a pleasure to answer them.

Askoc

lara

Although the best chance for getting interviews is by having all steps finished by September 1 and applying within the first week of September, not doing so does not mean you have no chance. First, if you get high 90′s in Step 1 and passed CS by the time you apply in September and indicated you have scheduled Step 2CK, you will get interviews that is for sure. Once your Step 2 CK comes out you will get additional interviews so long as it is still high. If you get 80′s in Step 1, then getting interviews with just Step 1 becomes not so good.

You are never compared with current examinees but with a pool of examinees from past exams. So it does not affect your score at all.

The High Yield Fast Facts Course is set up for two weeks currently. I can manually extend your enrollment for an additional 2 weeks if you need it.

Askdoc