Advice needed for 8 week Step I schedule

[Gradient Echo]

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https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/schowni1/public_html/Step I Schedule.htm


This is an 8 week schedule that I'm putting together for Step I. Its mostly an organ based approach. I'd appreciate any feedback from teh Step I veterans on this, specifically on whether I'm overemphasizing certain areas or not showing enough emphasis on other areas.

 

[trouta]

My only piece of advice would be to do random Qbank questions rather than questions on what you just learned/studied.

This is a better simulation of the real exam and will better reflect what you know and dont know.

Just my two cents...

 

[King Arthur]

i don't know about spending all your last days on behavioral.

 

[Long Dong]

My only piece of advice would be to do random Qbank questions rather than questions on what you just learned/studied.

This is a better simulation of the real exam and will better reflect what you know and dont know.

Just my two cents...

Agreed 👍

 

[ssm82]

so my two cents:

you know what subjects you're better at and ones that you're not... i dont think you need as much time as you have allotted on certain subjects (ie 4 days on just endocrine, or 5 days on just biochem)

you should shorten the time on some of those subjects and instead spend the last week doing JUST first aid and maybe path... those are the most important and itll be fresh

 

[closertofine]

I really don't want to come up with a plan or a schedule...is this pretty much a requirement for doing well? I feel like I've made it through 2 years of med school just reading what I felt like I was weak on at the moment and testing myself...having a rigid schedule makes me feel like I'm chained to a desk, and I just want to shut the book right then! Is that OK, or is this one time I need to come up with a plan in order to get a decent score?

 

[JaniceDickinson]

i also don't think that you should save behavioral and biostats until the last week. my suggestions:

1. definitely move behavioral and biostats up in your schedule
2. i think week 1 is the least effectively organized--condense some of it
3. you don't need the "general embryo" in week 6--you're already packing it in for every organ system
4. save week 9 for just review (right now, it doesn't look like you've alotted any time for review)
5. take at least half a day off the day before your test

otherwise, your schedule looks good. mind posting your booklist?

JaniceD

 

[missbonnie]

who gets 8 weeks for step 1???

 

[Kashue]

My school gives a few days more then 8 weeks. Some schools give 3 months! I think USC Keck is one of them.

who gets 8 weeks for step 1???

 

[Long Dong]

who gets 8 weeks for step 1???

ucla gets 8 weeks off for step 1, but most spend about 5-6 of it studying and the rest for vacation.

 

[dara678]

My school gives a few days more then 8 weeks. Some schools give 3 months! I think USC Keck is one of them.

Kinda, but not really. Here at USC we finished all of our systems by March 20th, and our rotations start July 5th. But in between March 20th and May 20th we are in required classes 4 days/wk 4 hrs/day (all clinical cases aimed at preparing us for third year) AND at the end we have to take a comprehensive exam over years I and II. So while we do get time to study for the USMLE, we have to divide it with studying for the comprehensive and the OSCE. 🙁

Granted, I do think our schedule is still pretty generous.