Poll: How much time does your school allow for step 1 studying?

[ConfusedAboutEverything]

When I mean "study time", I mean the amount of time they allow you to take from when you first begin studying to when you have to take the exam. For example, let's say that med students typically begin studying on April, and the exam MUST be taken on May (then there is a 1 month allowed study time). Dedicated study time (class time off) allowed from med schools is the another good indicator.


Before applying, I'm going to create a school list detailing the amount of dedicated step 1 time given. Anyone know if the MSAR covers this? Where could I get this information easily?

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[mw18]

When I mean "study time", I mean the amount of time they allow you to take from when you first begin studying to when you have to take the exam. For example, let's say that med students typically begin studying on April, and the exam MUST be taken on May (then there is a 1 month allowed study time). Dedicated study time (class time off) allowed from med schools is the another good indicator.


Before applying, I'm going to create a school list detailing the amount of dedicated step 1 time given. Anyone know if the MSAR covers this? Where could I get this information easily?

How much insight do you have into how long studying should take?

 

[ConfusedAboutEverything]

How much insight do you have into how long studying should take?

I have no idea whatsoever, but I definitely prefer flexibility on how much time is allowed. Especially if you are looking for a competitive specialty and must have a certain high score.

 

[mw18]

I have no idea whatsoever, but I definitely prefer flexibility on how much time is allowed. Especially if you are looking for a competitive specialty and must have a certain high score.

Flexibility is never a bad thing. I wouldn't go anywhere that gives less than 4 weeks, if you can help it. I think 6-8 weeks is the sweet spot. Some people think any more than 6 weeks is too much. I wouldn't recommend making a school list on this, but it's definitely worth finding out about in interviews. You want a school list of schools you can get accepted to. If you have a good target list, see who invites you and then find out about step prep when you're there. I didn't interview at a school that didn't give a solid amount of time for it. And most schools will give you extra time if you need it, even if they don't broadcast that at interview days. Talk to the students at the school.

 

[Redpancreas]

Wouldn't rely too much on the poll there but at my school, we're given 1.5 months or approximately 6 weeks of dedicated time. There was a significant amount of students who took more than that but now due to clinical administration backlash (clinical deans were upset that a little over 25% of our students elected to take longer than that and delay third year entry) that number is likely reduced.

My opinion is in the minority, but the more time the better. Information atrophy is a thing, but I think it can be outweighed by discipline, drive, and staying balanced during dedicated.

 

[YoungDoc25]

How can you tell how long you have? Is it just the time between your sophomore and junior year?

 

[673441]

Personally I've been told there is a point where you reach diminishing returns. It's a massive amount of information and it's foolish to think one would remember everything. Do as many MCQs as possible and fill your short term memory with as much minutiae as possible = key to success on step 1 lol


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[mw18]

How can you tell how long you have? Is it just the time between your sophomore and junior year?

Depends on the school. Some schools do that, others have 2 or 3 times ranging from late spring to mid-fall that are open to take Step and you do rotations when you're not studying. Most medical schools don't have a true summer or time between 2nd and 3rd year.

 

[YoungDoc25]

Depends on the school. Some schools do that, others have 2 or 3 times ranging from late spring to mid-fall that are open to take Step and you do rotations when you're not studying. Most medical schools don't have a true summer or time between 2nd and 3rd year.

Makes sense. Our schedule shows summer starts for sophomores April 6 and then lists June 30 as the last day for rising juniors to take Step 1. I guess that means we get ~3 months?

 

[mw18]

Makes sense. Our schedule shows summer starts for sophomores April 6 and then lists June 30 as the last day for rising juniors to take Step 1. I guess that means we get ~3 months?

Yep, I'd say that's exactly it. But you will want some vacation, so if you take 8 weeks, you'll have 2 and a half weeks off before third year. Assuming you start back at the step 1 deadline.

 

[YoungDoc25]

Yep, I'd say that's exactly it. But you will want some vacation, so if you take 8 weeks, you'll have 2 and a half weeks off before third year. Assuming you start back at the step 1 deadline.

Awesome, I appreciate the help!

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Our school (A US, MD school) gives us recommendations based on our NBME (CBSE) results. It can range from 1 week to 8 weeks. A majority take 4-6 weeks.

1-2 students per year even get to take Step 1 right after M2 year ends and get 8 weeks off.

 

[Doctor Strange]

We were given eight weeks. I took it after five. I could not have studied more than that. I was so over it at that point.

 

[Azete]

We get 15 weeks, but I only decided to use 5. I worked really hard this year studying for boards while keeping up with classes, and my reward is going to be a 4 month summer vacation.

 

[sloop]

We got about 2 months, if I remember correctly. I studied for 6 weeks and I felt like it was too much time. 5 weeks probably would have been closer to ideal in retrospect but I would have been angry with myself if I hadn't given myself enough time and did poorly. Besides, I still had 2 weeks of vacation.

The school would give you more time if you needed it (determined by you being at risk of failing based on the NBMEs they gave you vouchers for, not "I'm in the 230s range but I want to do derm!"). This was a terrible option, though, because it meant delaying a clerkship, probably not having any dedicated time for step 2, and possibly not starting 4th year on time, sacrificing 4th year interview/vacation time. I encountered a couple of people who took extra time for step 1 and it becomes a huge mess. They are playing catch-up for all of MS3 and MS4—I was once the sub-I on a psych service with someone in my year who was doing their clerkship. I strongly recommend avoiding this but if you think you're gonna fail, you have to do what you have to do.

Step 2 requires a lot less time.

 

[theacks1]

8 weeks at a Caribbean school, I took it after five. I plateaued after three and those last two weeks were draining.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

Usually 6 weeks of dedicated, this year we get 7 weeks, I'm using 5.5 weeks (I've been studying for step haphazardly since March, doing much better this month). I'd say 6-8 weeks is perfect amount of time for dedicated period - it all depends on if you are able to study for step a little bit while finishing up your last few modules.