It will be somewhat obvious when you’re discussing these things if it’s something done as CV padding/fluff versus a true passion or interest.įor more context, we suggest looking at the average number of extracurriculars for those matching into radiology and reaching out to mentors early in your career. Try to do/stick to things that truly represent who you are because you’ll be talking about these activities/experiences during interviews and away rotations. It looks odd if you’re applying to a specialty that you haven’t explored, just as it can be off putting if you’ve done everything and come off too intense. The main value of research, organization involvement, community service, conference attendance, et cetera is letting you explore and show off your interest in a field. When surveyed, program directors tend to rank extracurriculars as less important than STEP 1, core clerkship grades, and strong letters of recommendation. However, many of the more competitive programs require STEP 2 CS & CK, so it’s worth looking at the program websites you’re thinking about to plan out your M4 year. If you have a high STEP 1, you could choose to take it later and not to release it to programs. The typical advice is to take it early and study hard if you have a lower STEP 1 to show improvement. People tend to score ~5-10 points higher on STEP 2 CK and it has less weight. Becoming a competitive applicant What STEP 1 score do I need? What about STEP 2?īelow are the average scores of those who matched into integrated IR residency programs in 2018 according to NRMP Match Data.