Not sure if this question has been answered, as my search phrases were too short for the search engine, but what is the average time people usually take to study for CS? Is there any downfall for taking it at the LA center (i.e.: no english speaker considering the population there)? Thanks =)

CS takes like 2 weeks to study for. Buy First Aid For Step 2 CS and go through it and you're golden plus maybe alittle practice with a friend. If you can do basic stuff in your clinical roations that every competent student should know how to do you are fine. Know the format they want for notes ,which FA shows you and what they are looking for.


The hardest part is getting a test date, they are backed up to January as of now at all 5 sites.

this site also has some good info http://csprotocol.blogspot.com/2006/...p-courses.html

TWO WEEKS!!!!! good god, what did you do????

4 days max- just go through FA and act out the scenarios with a partner....

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I read through the cases and then practiced with my mom. It took me two weeks to prepare b/c we could only go over 2-3 cases a day. But I think that a week is sufficient. When i was practicing the cases I would pretend to drape the pt and wash my hands. it's those things that under pressure you forget and will lose points.
FA is really all you need. If you've done the medicine core and have done admissions then you should be totally alright. Good luck.

Stay away from Philly. I'd recommend either Houston or Chicago.

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I heard Atlanta was nice, although it should be essentially the same at any center. The only concern I would have with LA is the fact that there are actual actors there who most likely dream of being legitimate actors. They may get really into their roles. On the other hand, the weather should be nice in LA.

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Don't blow this off. It's expensive to have to do over again. I agree it's not that hard but to make sure you don't have to retake it read FA and go over the cases. Some practice helps as well to give you an idea of timing.

All that being said I only knew two people who failed it.

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Patients beware!!!

Passing isn't really that hard with minimum prep as mentioned earlier. Scheduling is a huge problem, as all sites are backed up to January(filling in a cancellation is playing a dangerous game). Rescheduling a failure if your matching 2009 may not be possible as your score takes months to come back. That would be a really sad reason to get pulled from the match not passing CS.