Bad form?

[BklynWill]

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I took COMLEX Level 1 in May and passed with a decent score. Now that I'm several months into my third year as DO student, lots of topics are starting to "click". If things continue to make more sense at this pace, I think I might have a good shot at scoring well on USMLE step 1.

My question is, would it be considered bad form for me to take USMLE Step 1 well into my third year? I can see how this would put me at unfair advantage compared to MSII's with little clinical experience, but I also know that people who fail Step 1 will likely take it again several months into their third-year too.

Opinions?

 

[tkim]

Outside of outright cheating, there is no such thing as 'bad form' or an 'unfair advantage'.

Consider this - the Carib schools finish their 2 year's worth of didactic in 18 months, leaving them 6 months to study for Step I. Six months.

Now, anyone who can cram the first two years of med school into 18 months has got my respect, but I'm a little bitter that they have so much time to study for boards. My class had 10 days free and clear after the last lecture to study for step I.

If you think that you can do well on Step I, take it.

You can skip Step I and just take USMLE Step II after third year.

 

[(nicedream)]

Usually taking Step 1 long after MS2 is a DISadvantage, since it is a basic science test and most of the clinical years are spent learning clinical material - thus Step 2. So I don't think taking Step 1 at this late point will be seen by admission committees as something that would boost score (truth be told I don't know that they even pay attention to the dates). But as tkim suggested, another option (which most in your position elect) is to just take Step 2 and use that to boost your app.

 

[Captainwada]

I'm from Ross...and we don't get 6 mo to "study"...we get up to 2mo...after our last class day. And we finish basic sciences in 1.3 yrs....It's not easy tryin to cram that much info in 1.3 YRS!!!!...so...2 months isn't all that great if you never really learned it solid from the begining...
Overall...we still end up taking the Step 1 BEFORE you guys...so stop complainin..