Applying in 2012 ??? - moske

[ArchivalUser]

now I am think of saving this year....may be I will give cs in may after step 1...I will try to get done with step 1 in the end of march....who knows may be my nbme scores will come out good...

The thing is we have to TRY to save this year at least....Its like trying to save a dying patient with CPR....if we sit back and accept that we cant save the patient , then nobody will try to do cpr even and patient will die obviously!!...Right now we are struggling with time. I think it is best to try at least ...

You also regarding your visa , you can try applying for visa after step 1...If that doesnt work out then obviously try after step 2 ck....the visa determines your next exam...

So I guess, we just have to study and try to get this step 1 out first. I am going to see how much i finish by the end of jan...then in beginning i will register for step 1 in end of march and cs in may. Lets see how it goes!!...If I am not prepared with step 1 , I think I will take break at that time and give CS first in may....and will postpone my step 1 and take step 1 in summer when i am ready....In that case I will have cs and step 1 scores to apply and then i will write that i am taking ck in the sept-dec...or whenever.....I dunno what will happen...but at least this way I can apply this year at least ...Thats what I am thinking now...lets see...but for that i need to rush up my step 1 prep now...I think I am going to stop watching dvds and spend the rest of the january just reading and memorizing kaplan lecture notes...and start usmleworld in feb and march. Every year of our life is precious...instead of just sitting here and letting the year pass by we have to at least try to save this year.

so try for the visa with your step 1 score....

I dunno what else we can do...

[ArchivalUser]

@indianchic

hey wat ve u finally decided .. i see that u plan is diff fm the previous one u mentioned .. am in the same dilema . i alredy wasted 2 yrs and want to finish off this yr .. giving my steps in march prob..

[ArchivalUser]

yeah...yeah my fingers started shiverring as I started typing about the increase in the competition by applying next year!!....Thats why I think I will TRY to finish step 1 by march 30th at least....if i dont finish prep by that time i will switch to cs prep in april and may and get cs out of the way...and then come back and finish step 1 in august...(assumung 2 months will be enough to catch up the step 1 prep lost due to the break)...Then ck in november and report ck scores by december...This way may be I can apply this year in september with step 1 and cs scores...Thats what i am thinking now....This is hard problem!!!

[ArchivalUser]

hey guys this is what i read in the ECFMG reporter

As previously announced in the 2012 Bulletin of Information, these enhancements are scheduled for implementation in mid-2012. These changes will be introduced in Step 2 CS for examinations delivered beginning June 17, 2012.

The reporting schedule for examinees testing from June 17, 2012 through November 3, 2012 will be 2-3 weeks longer than for examinees testing during other periods.

More information about the Step 2 CS score reporting dates for examinations delivered in 2012 is provided in the Step 2 CS Score Reporting Schedule at http://www.ecfmg.org/news/2011/09/29/201...s-results/.


CHANGES TO THE ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS (CIS)

The CIS subcomponent of Step 2 CS has been redesigned to assess a fuller range of competencies. Background information about these changes is provided on pages 5-6 of the Fall 2010/Winter 2011 NBME Examiner at http://www.nbme.org/PDF/Publications/Exa...Winter.pdf. The new approach divides communication skills into a series of functions. These functions have been further divided into sub-functions. Beginning June 17, 2012, the Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) scale will focus on five functions:

1. Fostering the relationship
2. Gathering information
3. Providing information
4. Making decisions: basic
5. Supporting emotions: basic

Several additional functions are still under development; these include making decisions: advanced; supporting emotions: advanced; and helping patients with behavior change. A list of the functions and sub-functions is available at http://www.usmle.org/pdfs/step-2-cs/Asse...r_List.pdf.


CHANGES TO THE PATIENT NOTE

Also beginning June 17, 2012, a new patient note will be introduced. The patient note is completed by the Step 2 CS examinee after the encounter with the standardized patient. In the new note, examinees will continue to be asked to document relevant history and physical examination findings and to list initial diagnostic studies to be ordered. Examinees will also be asked to create a reasoned, focused differential (maximum of three diagnoses) listed in order of likelihood and to indicate the evidence obtained from the history and physical examination that supports (or refutes) each potential diagnosis. The new patient note provides examinees with an opportunity to document their analysis of a patient's possible diagnoses. A sample of the new patient note is available for review at http://www.usmle.org/pdfs/practice-mater...t-note.pdf.


PRACTICE MATERIALS

Updated practice materials for Step 2 CS will be posted to the USMLE website in March 2012. These include the Step 2 CS Content Description and General Information Booklet, onsite orientation video, sample patient notes, and a simulation of the program for typing patient notes.