3rd yr. IMG (from Europe) wondering when I should take Step 1

[shreypete]

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I'm currently in the 3rd year (as a matter of fact, the school year just started) in Europe. I'm wondering when I should take Step 1.

I know that it depends a lot on the curriculum and so far we've finished Anatomy, Histo and Embryology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Genetics, and a bunch of other subjects which aren't really tested on the USMLEs. This year, we have Pathology, Pathobiochemistry, Pathophysiology, Psychology, Ethics, Microbiology, Immunology, Propaedeutics in Internal Medicine and Surgery (2 separate courses) and finally Pharmacology (which will however end in the winter semester of 4th year. We also have clinical anatomy and clinical biochemistry in the 4th year so I feel as though it's a better idea to take it after the 4th year.

The problem is that we don't get much time to really study for the Step 1 because the exam pattern and teaching is quite different from that of USMLE. We use proper textbooks (Which can take forever to read) as there is no other way to pass the exams. I'm thinking of supplementing my texts with some review books but I'm a bit intimidated by the fact that I might get so burned out by the end of all of it that I will not be able to focus on either (class exams as well as the Step 1).

Any advice? or is anyone else going through a similar scenario? Thank you in advance.

 

[McGillGrad]

Your best bet would be to take it as soon after your path classes as possible. Start uding UW and USMLErx with those courses and keep up in FA. You won't need more than 3 weeks to do well. Can you squeeze in 3 weeks of dedicated Step studying?

 

[hj0517]

Your best time is just after the end of your basic sciences, I understand what you mean about time but that's a hurdle you must overcome.

Secondly try not to worry about review books and "big" books, as far as I was aware everyone uses those during normal study and review books are exactly for that purpose - a concise "review"

Start a question bank asap as that is where the money is

To put you a little bit at ease - I was in a very similar position to you prior to beginning my step 1 study, I'm at a university in England.

 

[shreypete]

Yeah, I can squeeze in 3 weeks of study time during the summer perhaps. However, I feel like I should keep doing some USMLE oriented q's as I go along. For eg., for pathology, I bought Robbins Basic Pathology (which is recommended by our university) as well as Robbins Review of Pathology (which is solely comprise of USMLE q's). Do you think this is a good idea? to integrate the study material? Can one remember stuff if he/she use this approach?

 

[McGillGrad]

Yes, the best thing you can do is apply your current classes to usmle-style q's.

Robbins is fine for now but make sure to use usmleworld down the road. The step is as much about knowing how to recognize and apply concepts as it is about knowing facts.

Yeah, I can squeeze in 3 weeks of study time during the summer perhaps. However, I feel like I should keep doing some USMLE oriented q's as I go along. For eg., for pathology, I bought Robbins Basic Pathology (which is recommended by our university) as well as Robbins Review of Pathology (which is solely comprise of USMLE q's). Do you think this is a good idea? to integrate the study material? Can one remember stuff if he/she use this approach?

 

[shreypete]

Yes, I hear that UW is quite high-yield and it's best used a month or 2 before taking the exam. I think I will use it once I finish learning the basic sciences. The only problem I have is that the pharmacology course ends during the winter semester of the 4th year (it's a 1 year course that starts during the summer semester of the 3rd year)...while the pathology course ends after 3rd year. So do you think delaying the exam date by one year will effect my chances in anyway?

To hj0517 or any other IMGs out there, are you guys planning to do any clinical rotations back in the States? I heard that Step 1 is the requirement but I'm not sure. If it isn't the requirement, then I don't mind taking my Step 1 later (around the 5th year or so), because I might have more time on my hands.

Thank you once again. I really do appreciate your replies.