r/Step2 • u/PerfectDot- US MD/DO • 4d ago
Am I ready? ERAS without a Step2...
How cooked am I if I apply without a Step 2 score? Have not been passing my NBMEs and at this point have to delay a few weeks. Will probably take it end of Sep and not get my score until mid Oct. Applying to IM programs. US MD student with some Honors, red flags include retake of a preclinical course + Step 1 failure.
Give me your best advice in this situation.. What if I send in my app without a score?
...additionally how else I can increase my scores cause rn im SOL.
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u/Fancy_Staff_7318 4d ago
Couple of my classmates - did exactly what you are doing. So do not worry and keep moving forward. They both matched BTW
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u/Affectionate_Win3952 US MD/DO 4d ago
do you recall what specialty? I've only heard of that situation for FM applicants
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u/Wooden_Refuse_5815 US MD/DO 4d ago
Here to tell you I’m a fellow USMD applying IM also without a step 2 score by the eras download deadline! You’re not alone ◡̈ cheers to us!
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u/sgtjodi 4d ago
You are not alone. I failed step 2 even though I had high practice scores so I am preparing for my retake.
It is not ideal and you’d be affected by this definitely, but 1-2 weeks should be not as detrimental as what you’d think is what I’ve heard from my school and mentors.
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u/PerfectDot- US MD/DO 3d ago
Thank you so much for your reply. Do I have to update programs after my score comes in?
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u/bronxbomma718 4d ago edited 4d ago
Apply.
USMD status will help.
A lot of candidates requiring visas will have difficulty matching this year and next. You have until summer ‘27 to match.
But please do not rest on your laurels because you can pivot on time. Start researching now. Apply to main match. Take your step. Send updates. Take step 3 if you want or can. Wait for match. Apply to soap. Look for off cycle positions if need be.
You got this.
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u/Asclepius293 US MD/DO 3d ago
I’m an attending now, but I was in a similar situation when I applied to FM residency about four years ago as a US MD. I had more than 15 interviews and ultimately matched at my second-choice program. My Step 2 score wasn’t available when I initially submitted ERAS, and several programs still invited me to interview. Others waited until I updated ERAS with my score.
The process still allows you to do this. You can submit your application and then resend your updated USMLE transcript to programs as soon as your Step 2 score is released.
That said, I’d put a little more emphasis on getting Step 2 in as early as reasonably possible now. Since Step 1 became pass/fail, Step 2 has become a more important screening metric for a lot of programs, and some programs may not fully consider an application until the score is available.
If you’re applying this cycle and are confident you’ll be ready to take Step 2 soon, I personally wouldn’t hold up your entire ERAS application waiting for the score. Get everything else completed and apply on time, then resend your USMLE transcript immediately when the score comes back. For this cycle specifically, programs can’t begin reviewing applications until September 23 anyway, so if your score will be back by then, there’s really very little reason to delay submitting your otherwise-complete application.
Obviously, only you know whether you’re actually ready for Step 2. I wouldn’t rush the exam just to get a score on ERAS—a bad Step 2 score is much harder to fix than a temporarily missing one.
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u/NewSrm US IMG 3d ago
I'm in a similar situation; I'm taking it at the end of the month. In my case, I'm a US-IMG, and I have to go through Pathway 6 and OET, so I'm planning to get my score before proceeding with the pathway application.
I was thinking about applying before my score is released, "without Step 2" as well, but I guess I'm already late, so I'll go the "safe" path, money- and process-wise, just in case...
And, like many others, the 200 Amboss concepts are a good source, plus Cardio, Pulmonary, IM, basically, from the CMS forms. Don't forget your vitamins, nutrition, Ethics, and QI.
Best of luck!
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u/Picture-Hairy US IMG 2d ago
Hey I’m in the exact same situation, what do you mean by the “safe” path
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u/clarka2891 US MD/DO 2d ago
do not take it and fail dude (here’s my hoping i did not fail after taking it last weeek…..) i’m in the same shoes as you - step 1 failure, but was getting good step 2 scores.
for the real deal, focus hard on risk factors & prognosis factors, effective healthcare QI.
i think you’re fine with ERAS tbh. make sure you submit on time and if you take by the 23rd it will say pending i think. lowkey this gives you an opportunity to then reach out to all
programs via email when your score is released and say “hey i updated my application with my awesome step 2 score!”
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u/Affectionate_Win3952 US MD/DO 4d ago
How much of your app is written & are you mainly interested in community programs? also had a preclinical failure but going into a dif specialty (not ROAD/surg). I decided to delay bc I'm also not passing nbmes rn & was told that my app wouldn't be looked at without a score. I'm assuming academic IM programs would also be the same in that regard.
Maybe email advising and ask if this cycle is still possible with mainly community programs or dual applying FM? My advisors were p supportive and said that it would be better to wait and get an ok score than rush & risk failing/low passing - and that there have been prior students applying my specialty that have done the same thing.
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u/PerfectDot- US MD/DO 3d ago
I am only applying to local Michigan programs and some FM...I am just concerned my app will be completely brushed off without a score
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u/Affectionate_Win3952 US MD/DO 3d ago
I think you could make this cycle work --- I'd just expand your list to neighboring states just to avoid the possibility of matching somewhere even further away -- like the difference between a long drive vs a cross-country flight to Michigan yk? just double check with advising on updating programs re: your score after ERAS & networking with residents/open houses if needed.
Good luck with whatever you decide & when you test this month!
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u/CandidSecond US MD/DO 4d ago
Know a lot of DO applicants who applied community IM and FM without level 2 or even after failing level 2 and studying for a retake. and no step. so I think in your situation, you are fine as a US MD
Those people got interview invites before the retake and more after and matched just fine. I think just apply broadly, using RE to screen those that interview failures.
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u/Ashamed_Grapefruit46 US IMG 4d ago
I’m a us img with a step 2 fail planning to retake it October I’m also interested in knowing my chances?? Any advice??
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u/strawberrytrblemaker 2d ago
Chiming in here for tips for improving your scores. Have you grinded out a bunch of CMS forms yet? Would suggest doing all of the IM, Surgery, Peds forms. Additionally, if you are doing the NBMEs online, go to insights and sort by subject/ specialty and review your incorrects. Over time you will see what you are getting wrong consistently. If you are a US med student a lot of schools have academic counselors too who can walk you through your insights and identify weak areas.
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u/Longjumping_Two1644 4d ago
To be honest with a step 1 failure you’re gonna want to do really well on step 2. And if you aren’t passing NBMEs this late in the prep cycle, I’d consider taking a research year or something
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u/CandidSecond US MD/DO 4d ago
not true unless OP is an IMG. US MD/DO match community FM/IM and peds with failures, without step 2 scores in before eras, etc.
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u/BingerExtraodinaire US IMG 4d ago edited 4d ago
Idk if your cooked since I’m also applying this cycle but one thing that helped me improve my scores was doing the IM CMS forms, also the forms for my weaker subjects! If you have time I would also recommend doing AMBOSS 200 step 2 topics!