IS THERE A DIFFERENCE STARTING IN MAY VS JAN OR SEPTEMBER?

[Nevermore]

As far as the boards go, how much time do I have for studying if I start in May? Jan? September?

[jim]

the only fiffernece is that you may have soem down time befopre starting residency. I would NOT recommend taking too much time to study for boards, just ebcause it seems to be available. stats show worse performance the more time you study after sem5, and not to mention that you must always remember that you are judged in comparison to US schools. Their attitude when you go applying for residency is that US students dont get time to study for boards and they pass, so why did you need to take time to do it? It is looked at as a big negative if you take alot of time.

[Havelock]

I have many friends who are US medical students and most of them were able to study 1 and a half to 2 months for Step I. I dont believe that if a person took 3 months to study for Step I and did well that they would be discriminated against.

[Nevermore]

So, what's the answer? If I go in May when do I take the boards? If I go in Jan when do I take the boards? Sept?

[Daniel]

So, what's the answer? If I go in May when do I take the boards? If I go in Jan when do I take the boards? Sept?


Currently, Ross gives you 5 months from the day you pass 4th semester with a GPA above 2.9.

So, assuming you make it through without failing or getting C's all over the place...expect to take the boards within that 5 month window.

If you start in May 2005, you'll finish August 2006...and will have between August 2006 till Late January/Early February 2007 to sit for the USMLE Step 1.

[Duke76]

Boards are a priority. Do what ever it takes to get the best score. If that means taking months off then do it. However you have to stay discapined and study the entire time. I took 2 months and i got 222. I dont think i would of got that score if i didnt take 2 months with nothing but studying. Also my GPA was 3.5. Anyway, I started in January and in order to make my match i would had to do all my clinicals back to back and not take too much time to study for step 2. Otherwise you have to wait a whole year for residency. If you dont mind the time off the January is good time to start. Thats the only diference

[jim]

as duke says, boards are a priority. 3 months most likely wont get a stray look. But scoring a 245 on the second try will. Your prioritys are #1.to pass. #2, to do well. the ERAS system has a way of locking out certain apps due to various parameters. the most commonly used parameters is to block out anyoen who has ever failed a step. that means many progarms would never even see that high score on the second try. Pass on the first try. a 182 on step 1 is better then a fail and a repeat with a better score.

[jim]

by the way, I dont know anyone who took a single day off to study for step 2. it is a drastically easier exam. I studyied nights while doing my rotations and then took the exam as soon as i finished my cores. I used no more then the kaplan video study. I scored about 25 points higher on step 2 without working near as hard as I did for step 1. and just wait until you get to step 3!

[Daniel]

by the way, I dont know anyone who took a single day off to study for step 2. it is a drastically easier exam. I studyied nights while doing my rotations and then took the exam as soon as i finished my cores. I used no more then the <a target=new href=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=c97WUMRO5hY&offerid=47491.10002441&type=3 &subid=0 >Kaplan</a><IMG border=0 width=1 height=1 src=http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=c97WUMRO5hY&bids=47491.10002441&type=3&sub id=0 > video study. I scored about 25 points higher on step 2 without working near as hard as I did for step 1. and just wait until you get to step 3!

Just a point I thought should be made: those students capable to passing the USMLE Step 1 on the first time with a good score are in a self-selective group. These good students will probably pass Step 2 with less problems than most. And, after having passed Step 2 the first time, passing Step 3 should be easy.

On the flip side, it stands to reason that a weak student is a weak student no matter how you slice it. If a student takes 3 attempts to pass Step 1, I would not put it pass that student to fail Step 2 without taking time off to study!

I understand the point Jim was making....that Step 2 is easier than Step 1. Good students will find Step 2 easy or easier. Conversely, for a weak student, Step 1 may seem difficult to damn near impossible....and find Step 2 still difficult.