Our school gives us roughly 4-5 weeks to study for step 1...is this the norm?

Yeah, a lot of schools schedule anywhere from 4-8 weeks for the boards. I am planning on studying ~6 weeks, but some of my classmates are only scheduling their studying to last 4 weeks.

Our school only gives us 5 weeks off between the last exam and the beginning of 3rd year clerkships. Most people are giving themselves 3 weeks to study for boards and two weeks off; some are doing 4 weeks and then only a week of vacation. Students complain, but the administration doesn't care... :rolleyes: