Should I take Step 3 before residency?

[VisserThree]

Gonna start internal med residency this july 2012

Take step 3 before then or wait a while?

thx

[queenofspades11]

It wont really help you unless your other scores are low. No one expects you to have step 3 done. You would only do that in order to boost your application.

[C35]

It wont really help you unless your other scores are low. No one expects you to have step 3 done. You would only do that in order to boost your application.

Not.

OP, you can get it done if you wish, I know a bunch of people who have gotten over it prior to starting PGY1, doesn't require much because one is only required to pass as no one cares about the score at that point. Completely your call. Infact people even say it might help you get ready for intern year..

[VisserThree]

thanks coolest35..

so everything i need to pass step 3 is in the books, and pgy1 in internal med won't really help?

[C35]

Yes, thats correct.

[rokshana]

thanks coolest35..

so everything i need to pass step 3 is in the books, and pgy1 in internal med won't really help?

i disagree, most of III is IM, so it will make most of questions seem pretty easy...if you have the time to study and take it...go ahead, but a yr or 2 of IM is certainly going to make it easier.

i took it in my 3rd yr so 3 yrs of IM certainly make it easier!

[jcu]

I'm gonna have to agree with rok on this one. Since step 3 is like 80% IM, any IM/FM resident would benefit from a year or two of residency. Since Step 3 prep more or less is specialty-specific board prep for you guys, it makes sense to wait. That being said, you can take it before residency starts if you really want and still pass.

[C35]

i disagree, most of III is IM, so it will make most of questions seem pretty easy...if you have the time to study and take it...go ahead, but a yr or 2 of IM is certainly going to make it easier.

i took it in my 3rd yr so 3 yrs of IM certainly make it easier!

I always thought most programs required you to pass it before the start of PGY2?

[rokshana]

I always thought most programs required you to pass it before the start of PGY2?

depends on the program...and the state its located...some states (many in fact) don't allow for FMGs to sit for step III until the 3yr yr of training so the program can't make passing it a requirement for promotion...many of the NE programs however do require passage by PGY 3 yr.

[C35]

depends on the program...and the state its located...some states (many in fact) don't allow for FMGs to sit for step III until the 3yr yr of training so the program can't make passing it a requirement for promotion...many of the NE programs however do require passage by PGY 3 yr.

So then how are FMG's able to take Step 3 and use it as a part of their residency app?

I was hoping it wasn't dependent on the state or program, so that I would be able to take it before the start of PGY1 and not have to worry about it later when one would be worried about the specialty boards..