Did you take Step I after 3rd year?

[mryoshi13]

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I know this is the Step II discussion board but I was hoping maybe some of you may have some good advice. I've heard that at a few schools (UPenn maybe?) it is the norm to take Step I after 3rd year. What are your thoughts on this? Does it hurt you or help you to have a year of clinical medicine under your belt? We have the option of taking it after 3rd year as well (although most take it after 2nd year) and I am seriously considering taking that option due to my less than stellar performance on QBank. I was thinking maybe a year in the hospital will help solidify many of the concepts. Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially from those who have taken it after 3rd year. 🙂

 

[NIghtfall]

I know this is the Step II discussion board but I was hoping maybe some of you may have some good advice. I've heard that at a few schools (UPenn maybe?) it is the norm to take Step I after 3rd year. What are your thoughts on this? Does it hurt you or help you to have a year of clinical medicine under your belt? We have the option of taking it after 3rd year as well (although most take it after 2nd year) and I am seriously considering taking that option due to my less than stellar performance on QBank. I was thinking maybe a year in the hospital will help solidify many of the concepts. Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially from those who have taken it after 3rd year. 🙂

The material you learn for step 1 is vastly different from what you learn on the wards.

 

[mdphd2b]

I know this is the Step II discussion board but I was hoping maybe some of you may have some good advice. I've heard that at a few schools (UPenn maybe?) it is the norm to take Step I after 3rd year. What are your thoughts on this? Does it hurt you or help you to have a year of clinical medicine under your belt? We have the option of taking it after 3rd year as well (although most take it after 2nd year) and I am seriously considering taking that option due to my less than stellar performance on QBank. I was thinking maybe a year in the hospital will help solidify many of the concepts. Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially from those who have taken it after 3rd year. 🙂

Hi mryoshi,

So Step1 is mainly pathophysiology and basic science stuff that you learn in MS1/2. Ideally, after MS2 you have reached your "peak" in this knowledge, and you'll soon forget the minutia (sp?) when you have to do clinical work in MS3. Remember that 3rd year serves as the basis of your Step2 preparation--that's where your clinical knowledge will be tested (eg, pt management, "what's the next best step...?" kind of questions that you get on Shelf exams).

Also, remember that after MS3, you have to take Step2 CS AND CK (most schools require this for graduation), so why add to the stress, when you'll also be applying/interviewing for residency, etc.

 

[mryoshi13]

There must be a reason why schools like UPenn and Baylor decide to take it after 3rd year right?

 

[bujji13]

I just gradutated from Baylor this year. Like most people in my class, I took Step 1 towards the end of 3rd year (after medicine, peds, surgery, etc). The step 1 avg at Baylor is pretty high, and everyone likes to think this has to do with the scheduling, but I think it has more to do with studying.

I think the reason why we do it like this (and probably upenn too) is that we only have 1.5 years of basic science, so we fit in an extra semester of clinics; we have to pass a step 1-like exam before we start clinics, but the score isn't reported, just a p or f.

In short, I doubt there's a benefit, if it exists, its marginal and can be made up with studying. Step 1 is basic science, even if the questions "sound clinical."