6 year student taking the USMLE

[Kite]

I am in the 6 year program and I will be starting my third year over
at Poznan University of Medical sciences. I was also hoping that I
would be able to take my USMLE at the end of third year. Heres what my
plan is:

From the start of the year (along with studying the said subjects with
the rest of the class and using the recommended reading material...)

I was going to prepare myself for individual classes and subjects by
reading out First Aid and doing USMLE style questions from UW or
QBANK. By doing at least 20-30 questions a day for each subject for an
entire year, I kinda figure it would be good preparation for the style
of the questions given as well as learning and reinforcing the
material through explanations given for each question.

At the end of the third year, I am planning on applying for PASS PROGRAM.

I have already finished biochem and physiology, and now for third
year, I will be taking all the classes relevant to the USMLE,

Now heres the problem...

However, I will be taking 165 hours of Pathophysiology and 45 hours of
pharm, but there are 45 hours worth of pathophysiology and 110 hours
of "pharmacology and toxicology" that will carry on into the 4th year.

Heres the website for my school's curriculum so you understand what I
am talking about:


Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznañ, Poland (http://www.mdprogram.com/html/6yrmd/curriculum.shtml)


with that being said, would it be possible to take the USMLE after the
third year, studying pharmacology during the summer prep over at pass
program?

Thanks a lot for your time and response!!

[Narcan]

Hey,

I'll try to help. You can look at the class list for 2008. I'm one of the class reps, so you can get my email that way if you want.

Anyhow, are you worried that you would not have enough time in for Pharm or worried the school will not sign off on you?

I think the Step 1 is a little over rated, it can be easier than you would think looking at a website like this. I got a 205 (83), not great but a pass.

I used Lippincott and Lange's for Pharm and got a 5.0 in the class and a high score on the shelf. Are you taking the shelf tests? If not you can pay and try them. They are kind of like the Step 1.

I'll leave it at that for now. Bump back with more info.

[Kite]

Well, im not worried about having enough time in for pharm or that the school wont sign me off on it no, in fact I am pretty sure the school WOULD sign me off to take the boards without so much as a thought.

What I am worried about though is that we only cover 45 hours worth of pharm and 165 hours of patho in the third year,
and those classes carry on into the 4th year (45 hours of patho and another 110 hours of pharm)

My big question is that if I decided to take the USMLE after my third year (without those additional hours in class in 4th year), would it place some kinda hindrance in my preparation for the USMLE? Even after I have done USMLE WORLD, QBANK and Pass Program?

[Narcan]

I think if you get ahold of the Kaplan videos and can study well on your own than you should be fine. Sort of depends on what kind of student you are and how well you have been doing. It's doable in the short answer.

For Patho I used BRS and got a "5" in the course. I read one chapter out of Robbins. Also used the Robbins Q&A book. You might hear stories about our Patho class. I think you have a different lead instructor.

[Kite]

lol yes i have heard stories about your patho classes, seems like something out of a horror movie.

Fortunately, or UNfortunately depending on what people say, we have different teachers for the class, of which I hear are pretty good at what they do.

What is your recommendation about pharm then? I feel kinda uncomfortable seeing a 110 hours that I make up in the fourth year. Or I suppose a better question to ask would be, how big a role will pharmacology play in the USMLE? And can I make that up using Pass program or Kaplan videos and such?

I also hear that Golian CD's are godly when it comes to pathology, how do you feel about those?

Thanks alot for your help, I really appreciate this, my dad and I have been in arguement about when I should take the USMLE for the past 2 or 3 days now, lol. :)

[Narcan]

Oh I forgot about the Goljan audios. Yes listened to them twice through, very helpful. Honestly, I don't think the lectures at PUMS are that great. The Kaplan videos are more important and Goljan. Really I just used BRS for all subjects, watched the videos and listened to Goljan. I only went to lecture when it was required for any class, including Patho. By the way I think your instructors are better.

The only thing that I really should have used more was the First Aid book. I read it too late and too little. You really have to know Pathophysiology well for the Step. The other subjcts are more just straight facts like pharm, side effects were big on mine. But Pathophysiology you had to really know it, because of the way it is asked.

Also you could ask to take the NBME shelf for pharm, some other people were taking it when we did.

[Narcan]

Hey just got my Step 2 back. 215 (88). Lower than I hoped for but not bad.