℅ 2023. Thoughts on taking Step 1 after M2 vs after M3?

[subdermallight]

My school is letting us decide. Essentially this is letting me pick whether I want to take a scored Step 1 in 2021 vs a P/F Step 1 in 2022 (assuming the USMLE instates the policy by April 2022).

I'm honestly a bit torn here. I could rise to the occasion and try and knock Step 1 out of the park with a great scored test, but also there is risk there that I might not get a great score and tank my app.

I tend to be less risk aversive and I do wonder if a P/F Step 1 is something I'd be more comfortable with. Step 2 will then be my scored test but I would have had an additional year to prepare for it, as well clinical experiences to tie it all together.

What other factors should I consider here? I will be applying to residency with other people who have scored Step 1s, I'm only from a mid-tier school. So I suppose it may be disadvantage but I guess it depends on my Step 2 and evaluations etc.

Any thoughts about this appreciated.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[IsleyOfTheNorth]

If you did take it, what month would you do it? Figure that out then walk back 6 months and take a practice exam then to see if you're on target. If so, schedule the exam.

That's my thought anyway, but I'm not an expert in such things.

 

[subdermallight]

If you did take it, what month would you do it? Figure that out then walk back 6 months and take a practice exam then to see if you're on target. If so, schedule the exam.

That's my thought anyway, but I'm not an expert in such things.

Thanks. I would actually be taking it in 7 months from now. And I and very very not ready I will say

 

[theonlytycrane]

what speciality are you interested in? It depends on what you may be aiming for

 

[IsleyOfTheNorth]

Thanks. I would actually be taking it in 7 months from now. And I and very very not ready I will say

Will your studying habits be *significantly* different over the next 7 months? If not, I'd wait. It may not go pass/fail anyway.

 

[subdermallight]

what speciality are you interested in? It depends on what you may be aiming for

Ideally I'd make into a top 20 IM program but not necessary. I'm thinking GI fellowship afterwards

 

[drducky.]

Depends on your med school imo. If you go to a top med school, p/f is probably good enough to get in a top 20 im program. If you’re in a low tier med school, I would take it scored. Keep in mind you’ll be competing against people who would have taken it scored.

Say you get a pass and you go to a lower tier school, everyone from top 20 schools will be ranked above you. The only way to traditionally to overcome this was to get a high step 1 score. Ontop of that, other lower tier school students that score well will also be ranked higher than you. So I would take it scored if I were you.

 

[COMMANDER CLOWN]

If you want:
Competitive specialty + high ranked program=scored
Competitive specialty + low ranked program=scored
Noncompetitive specialty + high ranked program=scored
Noncompetitive specialty + low ranked program=p/f

 

[blockrudder1]

I mean this isn't really set in stone yet, who knows if anyone from c/o 2023 will p/f step 1. If you plan on taking it later, don't count on just passing until it's clear.
Edit: whoops youre assuming they do instate that as policy. Nevermind then.
What commander clown said above is true, unless you're at a top program. You will not need it scored, if you have the choice anyway. Most top programs take it after clerkships.

 

[theonlytycrane]

Ideally I'd make into a top 20 IM program but not necessary. I'm thinking GI fellowship afterwards

I agree w above^

Grind and aim for scored > 240, ideally > 250

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

IMO

The best thing I did was take step after family medicine and OBGYN. Currently in internal and took a day off to take step. I studied like crazy, but kept up w/ and learning from everything else.

It was amazing how much you can do on step, w/ clinical experience. The OBGYN ?s were simple as could be, even experimental what-to-do-next were easy, b/c I was in the hospital already.

But you do you. It was hard studying for both.

 

[AceMedBoards]

From our students, we have seen people do better if they had the option to take it after 3rd year vs after 2nd year.