USMLE PASS RATES

[medstudent2323]

Im an incoming smu student and was wondering what the first time pass rate for step 1 USMLE for smu

[MDTOB]

Im an incoming smu student and was wondering what the first time pass rate for step 1 USMLE for smu

I believe the unofficial pass rate is 60-80%, but you may want to confirm this with an SMU official.

[tampanian]

I was recently told by an SMU official that the USMLE pass rate over the past three years hasn't varied more than 2 to 3 percentage points from about 78 to 81%. Of the students I know that took Step 1, that seems about right. I was also told that there is presently a big push to get that number higher. When looking at a school’s pass rate, pay particular attention to the time period that they are reporting. The reason being is that if a reported rate is over just a few months, it may not be representative of what went on over the last year or two, and what your class may experience. Theoretically, a school's pass rate should only increase over time but that isn’t always the case. About two years ago, I was speaking with one of my professors that had just left another well known school that had a very high pass rate posted on their web site. I asked him what we could do to get our rate up that high. He explained that that figure reported was over a very short period of time and was not representative at all of the current pass rate at that school.
As you have probably read many times, Step 1 is up to you and how much you prepare. With good reason you want a school with a higher pass rate, but just keep in mind that it doesn’t matter how high a school’s pass rate is, your performance on that test is based solely up to you.
From the beginning of basic sciences it is a good idea to have a few good review books at your disposal (e.g. First Aid, BRS Path, BRS Physio). Even if you aren’t hard-core studying out of those books, start becoming very familiar with them as the ones I mentioned are clutch when preparing for the Step 1.
The ECFMG reports that the first time pass rate for US citizens trained in foreign schools around the world is around 67% on step 1. Personally, I would only attend a school that has no less than a few years of at least around an 80% pass rate or better.

Peace,

MS3

[SMU_Information]

The 78-81 percent is correct, although I have not been given any updated info for those who took it most recently.

[Junito]

The 78-81 percent is correct, although I have not been given any updated info for those who took it most recently.

Is this for first time test takers? If so, which cohort? If this is the case, then SMU has a higher pass rate than Ross, which is currently at 75% for first time test takers. :shock: Dean O, after much hesitation gave that number (further stating that it should go up after the new rules).

Juni