I am really not sure about that. I am not in clinicals yet. My sense is there's probably a sabatical you can take, and I do think that a percentage of students do give themselves 3 or more months after med 5 to take a review course then take teh USMLE. Or, are you asking if you are required to wait 3 months? because I am sure you are not, you can them asap. Hope that helps.

But, best thing would be to just ask the school administration, I'd think they could address it from every angle.

The school has a policy in which they want you to take the step 1 within 3 months of completing basic sciences. The key is to stay in contact with the clinical office at all times and tell them about what you've scheduled and what plans you have. I don't believe you will be penalized for not taking the exam within the 3 months but you definately will lose priority on many clinical rotations. The longer you take, the more students from following classes will come along and take the exam and move ahead of you in line for a clinical spot.

As far as doing psych without taking the Step 1, this is totally false. What the school does do is allow you to take step 1 and while you are waiting for results let you start psych. The school must feel very confident that you will pass, much of the time reflected by your grades in basic sciences, pre and post test scores, any nbme exams you submit and so on. The stronger the student, the more confident the school is at allowing them to start without offical scores.

Not all hospitals allow starting without scores. Some hospitals in fact have minimum scores which they require the student to meet, and almost all do require that you have passed prior to starting.

My advice to anyone is worry about basic sciences at this time, learn them while you are on the island properly. Study and pass step 1 the first time, then worry about clinicals!!!