Accommodation for lactating moms during step 3 - future impact?

[need_some_coffee]

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Good morning- I am currently breastfeeding my infant and planning on taking Step 3 this winter. I am a USMD grad in an intern year and already matched to an advanced program. If I request the accommodation of extra break time for pumping during the exam, does that show up on my USMLE transcript? And if so, does it matter for eventual fellowship applications?
Thanks!

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Good morning- I am currently breastfeeding my infant and planning on taking Step 3 this winter. I am a USMD grad in an intern year and already matched to an advanced program. If I request the accommodation of extra break time for pumping during the exam, does that show up on my USMLE transcript? And if so, does it matter for eventual fellowship applications?
Thanks!

If it does show up, you would just explain the reason and no one will care.

 

[Ironspy]

Not a big deal if it shows up on the score report. No one will care.

You should know that even if you get extra break time to pump many locations do not provide a place to pump or secure space to store a breast pump and milk. You can call ahead to ask. When I did this 5 years ago there was no location in the greater nyc area able to accommodate (provide a larger locker and a non bathroom space to pump) during the time I was able to take the exam. The provided lockers at my site were small. Really shameful IMO. I hope things have changed but I would consider this a heads up. Feel free to PM if needed

 

[Raryn]

Good morning- I am currently breastfeeding my infant and planning on taking Step 3 this winter. I am a USMD grad in an intern year and already matched to an advanced program. If I request the accommodation of extra break time for pumping during the exam, does that show up on my USMLE transcript? And if so, does it matter for eventual fellowship applications?
Thanks!

I think it does show, but it might not.

Regardless, it won't matter. Any place that will discriminate against you on *that* basis isn't worth your time.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Accommodations no longer show on USMLE transcripts. In any case, as others have mentioned, no one will care about this.

 

[need_some_coffee]

Thank you all for your input!

 

[njtrimed]

I ended up skipping the accommodations last year for Step 1 because it would have stretched the exam over two days, and seriously limited my options for available dates and locations. I took it on a Saturday at a Prometric in the greater NYC area and they were happy to hold my pump bag behind the front desk. I pumped while I ate lunch in an empty hallway since Prometric was the only office open in that building. I definitely would have had time to pump twice during the day if I needed to. As someone else mentioned, unfortunately there are no better accommodations even if you ask for accommodations, so you will have to pump in your car, a hallway, or a bathroom. Of course, you could always ask your Prometric center or neighboring offices if they have a space they will allow you to use.

 

[Bbutterfly]

Did this during level 2. The staff at the prometric center was kind enough to give me their lunch room and the key. So I ate lunch while pumping. I had ice in my pump bag to keep it cold and they had offered their fridge for me anyway. Did not do accommodations but called ahead of time to see if we could work something out. Also I pumped on my way to the exam. Then 4 hours of tests. Pumped during lunch . 4 hours and pumped on my way home. Was less stressful than I had thought it would be

 

[Throwawaydoc]

Good morning- I am currently breastfeeding my infant and planning on taking Step 3 this winter. I am a USMD grad in an intern year and already matched to an advanced program. If I request the accommodation of extra break time for pumping during the exam, does that show up on my USMLE transcript? And if so, does it matter for eventual fellowship applications?
Thanks!

It isn’t a big deal. Dont worry about it showing up. Take care of yourself that’s more important. People on studentdoctor and in medicine can be neurotic don’t listen to them. Take the tome to pump and be done with it.

 

[Merely]

Good morning- I am currently breastfeeding my infant and planning on taking Step 3 this winter. I am a USMD grad in an intern year and already matched to an advanced program. If I request the accommodation of extra break time for pumping during the exam, does that show up on my USMLE transcript? And if so, does it matter for eventual fellowship applications?
Thanks!

It shouldn’t be an issue