Canadian M2 student who needs a strong USMLE Step 1 score

[MTL McDougall]

Hello all,

I did a brief search through the website search engine and couldn't find a thread quite like this one, so I thought I'd go ahead and post.

I'm a US Citizen studying at a strong Canadian medical school and am looking to write the USMLE Step 1 in summer 2016 (between M2 and M3). Most Canadian students writing the USMLE are just looking for a pass so that they could be eligible to complete a fellowship in the US. On the other hand, I'm looking to complete my residency in the US and practice there, so a strong USMLE score is important for me.

1) I have heard that the pre-clinical years in Canada and the US have some significant differences in what they focus on, with US medical schools focusing more on the basic sciences of medicine than we do. I am also aware that the basic sciences weigh heavily on Step 1. I'm planning on starting to study in October-ish and writing the exam next July. Is this sufficient? Apparently we have to teach ourselves some of the stuff we weren't taught in med school over here, so the studying can take quite some time. Any Canadian students want to tell me how long they studied for in order to get a good USMLE score? I've heard of people starting 12 months before the exam, but surely that must be exaggerated??

2) What are good resources for me to get on par with US students taking the test? Should I consider one of those prep courses through Kaplan or whatever? What databases, books, flashcards would be good to use to prep? There are so many resources available online that it's hard to know which to focus on and invest in. I have First Aid for the USMLE already, of course. I'm not a fast notetaker so I think some good pre-made flashcards would be useful. Also I know some of these resources can be expensive (especially classes) but if the investment is worth it then that won't stop me.

Any advice at all is appreciated! Keep in mind that as a Canadian student I will need more study time to learn what US students have been prepped for throughout their M1 and M2 years.

Thank you!

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[qw098]

I have a Canadian friend at an Ontario med school who studied for the USMLE Step 1 2-3 years ago during the summer between M2 and M3 and CRUSHED it. He is now doing his ophthalmology residency at Stanford.

 

[Wordead]

I have a Canadian friend at an Ontario med school who studied for the USMLE Step 1 2-3 years ago during the summer between M2 and M3 and CRUSHED it. He is now doing his ophthalmology residency at Stanford.

http://ophthalmology.stanford.edu/education/residency_current.html

 

[Psai]

http://ophthalmology.stanford.edu/education/residency_current.html

damn gottem

 

[qw098]

Nice try with the trolls He's in his prelim/transitional year atm

Damn gottem

 

[Psai]

prelim year and transitional year are two different things
and you stated that he was doing an ophtho residency at stanford right now which he's not

 

[qw098]

prelim year and transitional year are two different things
and you stated that he was doing an ophtho residency at stanford right now which he's not

lol, im not here to divulge exactly who the guy is lol. the guy got accepted to stanford ophthalmology... he is doing a prelim/transitional year atm (not sure which one hence the slash lol) and he will be staring you straight in the face on that website in one year's time. lol

you're funny lol

 

[Psai]

he may be accepted but he ain't there now

 

[amichel]

Why would anyone have any reason whatsoever to lie about that?

 

[qw098]

Why would anyone have any reason whatsoever to lie about that?

trolls be trollin @amichel

 

[amichel]

trolls be trollin @amichel

Nvm got mixed up.

 

[TBV]

prelim year and transitional year are two different things
and you stated that he was doing an ophtho residency at stanford right now which he's not

And likely will not be back after a prelim year...