Dedicated Step I study time?

[kunfu]

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I need the help of SDN. The school I attend has over the last three years reduced the amount of time between our last final and the date we are required to take Step I by. It would be helpful to know the amount of time other schools give their student to prepare for Step I. What I need to know is when is the date of your last final and when do you have to take Step I by? Thank you, this is a big help.

 

[silas2642]

I need the help of SDN. The school I attend has over the last three years reduced the amount of time between our last final and the date we are required to take Step I by. It would be helpful to know the amount of time other schools give their student to prepare for Step I. What I need to know is when is the date of your last final and when do you have to take Step I by? Thank you, this is a big help.

I don't see how knowing this is going to help you... I mean when your school tells you you have to take Step I by a certain date, you have to take Step I by that date.

 

[kunfu]

OK further explanation. I am a first year student. The school recently released our schedule for second year and we realized we lost a significant amount of time because classes end much later next year for our class. While we can’t change the date we have to take it by it may be possible to shift around some classes. But in all honesty arguments are always better with data, hence why I am asking what is typical in other schools.

 

[pseudoknot]

Well how much time are they giving you? We have about two months between M2 and M3 but they really recommend that you only study for 4 or 5 weeks and nearly everyone does that.

If you want to really go to the mat with your admin you will probably need more substantial data than "some people on SDN said..."

 

[pseudoknot]

As an aside, it seems like there are way too many M1s and premeds in the step i forum these days. People are way too obsessed with this stupid exam. It's just one of the many hoops we have to jump through, not the focal point of medical education.

 

[kunfu]

As an aside, it seems like there are way too many M1s and premeds in the step i forum these days. People are way too obsessed with this stupid exam. It's just one of the many hoops we have to jump through, not the focal point of medical education.

I completely agree that Step I is just one part. There is no denying that it is a significant part even if it may not be the majority of your application. I agree what a few people said on SDN wont hold much weight but it gives me a better idea of what is average or what is optimal and if its worth pursing with our faculty. At this point we are examining the issue, and feedback like yours is very valuable.

 

[future_dr_house]

We have 5.5 weeks

 

[scube]

last final May 22, i.e. tomorrow
first day of clerkships july 6
most students will take the exam June 15-26, some outliers as early as June 8.

Hope this helps, damn the man, down with the institution.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

We got off 5/19. I'm taking my exam 7/21. Yep, giving myself 7-8 weeks since im taking mostly this week off to relax. 1st rotation is 7/27.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

We finished the second week of May, and have to take it by the end of June (usually 5 or 6 weeks).

 

[Cirrus83]

I think our school gave us a lot of time this year...originally it was going to be less since they were going to bring up the start of third year but they pushed it back so we ended up with about 10-11 weeks of time. But that's if you take it at the absolute last possible minute, which far as I know nobody is doing.

 

[Mr. Tee]

4 weeks

 

[nogolfinsnow]

We could in theory take 9 weeks, but I don't know if many people are. If we take 4-5 weeks then we get 4 weeks vacation, so that's my plan. We've also received countless emails from the administration imploring us to not take any more than 6 weeks b/c the analysis they've done shows scores drop after 6 weeks (at our school). I think if you have a decent curriculum the first two years then 4-5 weeks and you'll be ok.

 

[scube]

wow. this is making me think we should push for an extra week or two.

 

[kunfu]

wow. this is making me think we should push for an extra week or two.

Yeah its really interesting to see how much variation there is. I wish their was a study that examined if days of study time correlates with score.

Thanks everyone who has responded so far.

 

[NCF145]

Yeah its really interesting to see how much variation there is. I wish their was a study that examined if days of study time correlates with score.

Thanks everyone who has responded so far.

There is. All studies have shown that after six weeks scores begin to drop.

 

[Slide]

Yeah its really interesting to see how much variation there is. I wish their was a study that examined if days of study time correlates with score.

Thanks everyone who has responded so far.

After our last board exam, we get 5 and a half weeks before the start of rotations. Most people take the test 3-4 weeks, leaving 1-2 weeks of vacation. However, you could include board studying as studying for step 1 since they're the bulk of the material tested on step 1 (path, pharm, behavioral, and some micro/path). I can't imagine anyone studying for the damn thing more than 6 weeks, it's hard enough to devote 3 weeks to dedicated studying.

 

[kunfu]

There is. All studies have shown that after six weeks scores begin to drop.

That makes sense to me. Any links to the study's, I have searched but no luck.

Also as many have pointed out it would be extremely nice to be able to take a week or god for bid two weeks off before starting 3rd year.

 

[Cirrus83]

There is. All studies have shown that after six weeks scores begin to drop.

Uh oh, don't tell that to Taus
I actually just pushed back my own test date so I'm going to end up taking about 8 weeks total. Of course if I had a better grip on the basic sciences I probably wouldn't need more than 6, but I think the extra couple of weeks to make sure I have the basics down is worth it.