Canceling Step 1 to take at later time - advice?

[Alcon]

I have come to the conclusion, a few days before my scheduled date, that I am not well prepared for Step 1 on my original scheluded date next week.

This is not a typical case of freaking out a few days before - I have been unable to concentrate on the material at hand for weeks now and need significant time in order to face this test properly.

Now here is my dilemma:

-- I can cancel/reschedule my current appointment and then extend my eligibility until the end of October...

-- Or I can cancel this test, forget about the registration fee, and take Step 1 in April when I have 4 free weeks and the most important year of MS under my belt.


I am 110% confident that either option will result in a better outcome score-wise, but I am hesitant to forefit the $500 I already paid NBME.



Please let me know what you think!

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[vtrain]

Do what makes you most comfortable. A good gauge is what you are getting on the NBME and qbank. The general concensus is ~65%-75% for qbank and youre ready to take the exam. In the end, if you need to cancel, isn't $500 more than worth a decent score?

 

[Alcon]

In the end, if you need to cancel, isn't $500 more than worth a decent score?

Totally.

I am leaning toward the extension... October would put me at the end of Medicine rotation and assuming I can find a day off (or a weekend date) to sit for it, I feel good about that. I can always re-register in 2007 if necessary.

I am scoring below 60% at this time, not surprisingly because I have not been able to study seriously for as long as I can remember. I am a great standardized test taker and I would HATE to barely pass with a 185 and have to live with that for the next X years.

This past year was the worst in recent memory (ie. the last 24) for a number of reasons, and I don't feel mentally ready at the moment. But I will be.


Thanks for your reply.

 

[JaniceDickinson]

Hey Alcon--

Sorry to hear your distress. If I were in your situation I would definitely postpone my exam too. In fact, I believe I have read on this forum that someone actually took a year off just to better prepare for this test.

So it seems the choice is whether to take it October or next April. Well, first of all, does your school let you on the wards if you haven't passed your boards yet? So what would be the real difference between taking it Oct vs. April (besides the registration fee)?

Assuming you don't have any other obligations (ie: clerkships/ third year) between now and October, I would say--reschedule your test for October.

I'm sure you've learned quite a bit from your studies now, even if you say you weren't able to concentrate. What are you gonna do if you take it in April? Relearn all this s**t and re-annotate in FA 2007? Poop if you do that. Unless you don't have unrestricted time btwn now and Oct; only you know your schedule best.

I think one of the hardest things about preparing for this test is your mental health and self-esteem (at least for me it is). I think if I was feeling unprepared this close to my test date and chose to take it next year instead, that I would have all this extra anxiety built up before I even start.

Hope things work out,
JD

 

[Paws]

Hey Alcon,

I think it is wise to wait and take the exam when you feel better mentally and otherwise. No reason to rush into something that you are not ready for. One of my favorite mottos is: when in doubt, do nothing.

I am feeling like I want to postpone it until say, never but then I also am thinking I want to take some time off. I feel burnt from school and all kinds of peripheral mishigaz. I am working my darndest getting my brain, etc prepared. But, if I don't feel ready come closer to the date, I will delay it until I feel ready. There's no one standing over my shoulder saying you have to do this NOW. This is my life, and I have to do what feels right for me even if it means postponing a rotation.

 

[njbmd]

I have come to the conclusion, a few days before my scheduled date, that I am not well prepared for Step 1 on my original scheluded date next week.

This is not a typical case of freaking out a few days before - I have been unable to concentrate on the material at hand for weeks now and need significant time in order to face this test properly.

Now here is my dilemma:

-- I can cancel/reschedule my current appointment and then extend my eligibility until the end of October...

-- Or I can cancel this test, forget about the registration fee, and take Step 1 in April when I have 4 free weeks and the most important year of MS under my belt.


I am 110% confident that either option will result in a better outcome score-wise, but I am hesitant to forefit the $500 I already paid NBME.



Please let me know what you think!

Hi there,
Do not take USMLE Step I until you are prepared. If you feel that you are not ready, postpone this test. The ramifications of failing are far worse than forfeiting the cash. Postpone and set a solid study schedule that will get you prepared.

njbmd 🙂

 

[Alcon]

Thanks to all for the words of wisdom and encouragement.

I am awaiting word on what my school has to say regarding M3 rotations and Step 1... I do not believe they require that I take it before starting them - and that would be most excellent news.

For the time being I am cancelling my current appointment and planning a better approach to a tentative October sitting. That gives me about four free weeks and a whole Medicine rotation to get it right 😛

 

[OSUdoc08]

I have come to the conclusion, a few days before my scheduled date, that I am not well prepared for Step 1 on my original scheluded date next week.

This is not a typical case of freaking out a few days before - I have been unable to concentrate on the material at hand for weeks now and need significant time in order to face this test properly.

Now here is my dilemma:

-- I can cancel/reschedule my current appointment and then extend my eligibility until the end of October...

-- Or I can cancel this test, forget about the registration fee, and take Step 1 in April when I have 4 free weeks and the most important year of MS under my belt.


I am 110% confident that either option will result in a better outcome score-wise, but I am hesitant to forefit the $500 I already paid NBME.



Please let me know what you think!

Take it. You're not going to do any better if you wait---you've already learned the information. You'll probably have only forgetten information if you wait to take it later.

My school requires passing the boards to be promoted to the 3rd year. Most schools are like this.

P.S. For your psychological issues, consider using a benzodiazepine for short-term and an SSRI for long-term therapy.

 

[bigfrank]

P.S. For your psychological issues, consider using a benzodiazepine for short-term and an SSRI for long-term therapy.

Perhaps you should consider being one of those internet MDs that has the God-like ego to prescribe based on short surveys, postings, etc. I hear it is rather lucrative.

🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

Perhaps you should consider being one of those internet MDs that has the God-like ego to prescribe based on short surveys, postings, etc. I hear it is rather lucrative.

🙂

Nah, I'll just stick to the sarcasm. Thanks though.

 

[Alcon]

I have a backup plan - there is an opening two days before I begin my first rotation. On monday I will find out my school's position and i will have 2 weeks to solidify what I need to know. Not a ton of time, but I'll take it!

For those in schools that require a passing score before M3...What happens to students who begin their rotations and then get their score and find out they did not pass? Are they immediately demoted and put aside until they pass, or do they continue with the understanding that it needs to be passed before the end of M3 year?

 

[Quixotic]

They may have to actually see your scores before they allow you to begin, I think that's how we work.

 

[njbmd]

Thanks to all for the words of wisdom and encouragement.

I am awaiting word on what my school has to say regarding M3 rotations and Step 1... I do not believe they require that I take it before starting them - and that would be most excellent news.

For the time being I am cancelling my current appointment and planning a better approach to a tentative October sitting. That gives me about four free weeks and a whole Medicine rotation to get it right 😛

Hi there,

You are not going to get much from a medicine rotation that will help you on Step I. If you postpone the test, then do not try to study and do rotation work. If you are not prepared at this point, you will not be able to do a rotation and prepare at the same time. Besides, you will probably need to be preparing for your medicine shelf exam while you are doing your medicine rotation.

Start rotations after you have taken step I. (At my school, you had to have a passing score on Step I before you could start any clinical rotations). Make sure that you know your schools rules before you commit to taking the test in October. Those shelf exams have a way of coming up pretty fast and demanding their own study time.

njbmd 🙂

 

[ambientbaby]

We are requried to SIT for step 1 before we start. If we do not pass, we get an onimous page that says, "Please report to the Office of Academic Affairs." We are then yanked from our first rotation and forced to study and retake and post a passing score. That would be awful.

 

[Iron123]

i feel like i'm in a similar situation. i took nbme 3 on fri and got a 198. grateful that it's passing but totally not near my target score. i'm supposed to take step 1 on tues. after reading all these posts on how ppl who were getting 230s on practice NBME's think they failed, I think should probably postpone my first block and work on getting my practice scores up. a 198 is too close to risky and I should be more confident going into this thing. i've been trying to get FA into my head but it may not be enough. Please tell me what you think.

 

[4424]

i feel like i'm in a similar situation. i took nbme 3 on fri and got a 198. grateful that it's passing but totally not near my target score. i'm supposed to take step 1 on tues. after reading all these posts on how ppl who were getting 230s on practice NBME's think they failed, I think should probably postpone my first block and work on getting my practice scores up. a 198 is too close to risky and I should be more confident going into this thing. i've been trying to get FA into my head but it may not be enough. Please tell me what you think.

i think only you can know. everyone starts to panic as the time gets closer but keep in mind once you start rotations, you will not have time to study for this test. it sounds harsh but i think it's pretty close to impossible to devote the same effort as you have been to this point. i definitely think you know more now than you will retain a few months for now and getting the test over with would be my thoughts.

of course if you are going through a major personal issue that will likely resolve in the near future, than maybe postponing it isn't a bad idea

 

[Iron123]

at my school, we don't start rotations until we've sat for step 1. so i would have the time. i don't know what a few more weeks will do. i could start branching out from FA and read some other texts. maybe i'm just a slow reader but it was taking me a week to go through one book in the beginning so i chucked that idea and have relied solely on FA. maybe i need a new tactic. gross anatomy and embryo are my worst subjects. and i would have time to go through cell/molec topics.

thanks for the advice...i think my nerves are clouding my judgement. although happy to pass, i'd like to at least break the lower 200s on the real thing. i really appreciate the feedback.

 

[4424]

at my school, we don't start rotations until we've sat for step 1. so i would have the time. i don't know what a few more weeks will do. i could start branching out from FA and read some other texts. maybe i'm just a slow reader but it was taking me a week to go through one book in the beginning so i chucked that idea and have relied solely on FA. maybe i need a new tactic. gross anatomy and embryo are my worst subjects. and i would have time to go through cell/molec topics.

thanks for the advice...i think my nerves are clouding my judgement. although happy to pass, i'd like to at least break the lower 200s on the real thing. i really appreciate the feedback.

if you have the time i would say take another nbme b4 ur testing date, if it's the same, postpone it and focur on FA and questions. especially questions

 

[argonne]

Hello all, I am seriously thinking of cancelling the boards. I am scheduled to take it on the last day (30th of June) of the 3 month period that I was allowed. I have already postponed it once to the end of this month. I still do not feel that I am prepared enough.

Can it be possible to postpone this test for another 1-2 months or longer? What will be the repercussions. At this point I'm not sure I care.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Hello all, I am seriously thinking of cancelling the boards. I am scheduled to take it on the last day (30th of June) of the 3 month period that I was allowed. I have already postponed it once to the end of this month. I still do not feel that I am prepared enough.

Can it be possible to postpone this test for another 1-2 months or longer? What will be the repercussions. At this point I'm not sure I care.

1. You are not going to learn any new information that will prepare you for the boards that you won't know by June 30th.

2. If you delay your boards, you may be dropped from the third year curriculum until they are passed. You would then have those months to make up.

3. You have 9 days to read First Aid for USMLE. That's plenty of time. Get off of SDN, and start reading it.

 

[dreds]

As some of the previous posters pointed out:
1. You probably can't do year 3 without passing the boards first.
2. Even if you could, you would be forgetting stuff you need to know for step 1 & would not have time to prepare. I suspect that your score would actually be lower in April.
3. Most people feel like they failed; it really doesn't reflect how they actually did. So don't let other people's perceptions of the test affect your plan.
4. At this point, you probably know most of what you need to know & are going to know when you take the test.
5. If you are really freaking out, postpone for a couple of weeks to regroup & review FA once more.

It will be OK!!! 🙂

 

[argonne]

As some of the previous posters pointed out:
1. You probably can't do year 3 without passing the boards first.
2. Even if you could, you would be forgetting stuff you need to know for step 1 & would not have time to prepare. I suspect that your score would actually be lower in April.
3. Most people feel like they failed; it really doesn't reflect how they actually did. So don't let other people's perceptions of the test affect your plan.
4. At this point, you probably know most of what you need to know & are going to know when you take the test.
5. If you are really freaking out, postpone for a couple of weeks to regroup & review FA once more.

It will be OK!!! 🙂

Thanks for the reply Dreds. I feel that I am seriously underprepared compared to the others. There are still some subjects that I have not reviewed, and I have hardly done any Qbank questions or even an NBME practice test for that matter. This is why I really feel like I could use more time.

 

[Alcon]

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

I've decided that, although my school would allow me to start M3 without having taken Step 1, doing so would put me at a big disadvantage come evaluation time.

I will cram as necessary now and get it over with during the first few days of July.

I feel I've made two right decisions this week... to not take it this week and to schedule it before rotations start.


Wish me luck!