Third year medical student thinking to start USMLE prep

[dr.rakesh]

Hi,
I want detail information about the entrance test...would like to kno about how to go about preparing for step 1 as i hav jus completed my 3rd year of medicine(that is in SPM, ENT & OPTHLM) ...n wen is d right time 2 appear for d exam....al dis shows m pretty new 2 dis....need sum guidance...

[DrSeddik]

Have a look at this thread
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-st...ooks-plan.html

When to start preparing depends on your med school, generally you should have studied at least internal medicine to go through any of the exams because even for step 1, by far the most common type of questions is clinical cases and you have to know the pathophysiology of the disease. I recommend that you start preparing during med school, but don't take the exam until you are finished with the clinical part of your education. If you have a compulsory internship year, it would be the best time to take the exam.

Personally I am one of those who can't let any information go while reading, so I use mainly one high yeild book (contains the most frequently asked info on the exam), the best one of those is the First Aid (FA), and if I sense that I'm weak at one point, I use any standard well known books for clarification as Robbin's pathology, Kaplan books, Gray's anatomy, Guyton's physiology or the internet. With this method you'll find some subjects time consuming more than others as biochemistry and embryo, but the good thing about it is that you concentrate and you are guided through the most important points asked in the exam, and you will save a looooooot of time, and find studying less boring... After all, I didn't ask anyone who took step 1 about how much the FA covers from the exam, and he said less than 80% of the questions, and if you get 80% correct (hypothetically) you'll have the greatest score.

After you finish this stage (or during if you prefer) you have to do at least one of the question banks, the best one is USMLE World (UW), even though you can get it by pirating, I recommend you join them online for any updates, video or audio questions and to get feedback of your performance.

Lastly, if you have the financial ability to go to the US for an elective or externship now is the best time, because it gets more difficult when you are graduated.

You have to visit the USMLE website www.USMLE.org and www.ECFMG.org because I can write for a week and it won't be enough for you to know everything...

Good luck

[lemontea88]

Hi DrSeddik, so its true that medical students get externships easier than graduated doctors?

[DrSeddik]

Originally Posted by lemontea88

Hi DrSeddik, so its true that medical students get externships easier than graduated doctors?

Yes, I read this many times, a lot of ppl told me about it, it's reffered to in First Aid for the match book. Apparently, legally if you are graduated it's more difficult to get in touch with patients than when you are a medical student. Sorry but since I am graduated, I didn't research the subject more than that, I am hoping to get an observership by July or August, but still I didn't read that much about the process.

[avleen]

hi dr seddik ... can you plz give me ur yahoo or some messenger id ... i need some refrences... thanxxxxxxx