Postpone first rotation for more study time?

[PediatricsRocks]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Well the way things are looking, I'll only have made it through FA twice and half of UWorld. I'm getting 50's-60's, percentage-wise, on UWorld. If I had more time I would want to make it through all of UWorld and also the Goljan audios. I would like to get a more competitive score, if possible. Should I take some time off or not?

 

[BenCarson]

well depends on your target score and your progress so far in the NBMEs. twice FA and 1/2 of UW is not that bad. Give us more info so we can suggest something.

 

[PokerDoc]

I agree with Ben, provide us with the implications of delaying your rotation as well, what does it mean for your standing with your school? does that put you behind too far? do you just skip your vacation? will that make you have one less rotation when you go on your interviews? What are you trying to match in?

btw... the avg on UW is in the 50%s, i always see 53% almost every time as the avg for a question block.. so its not like youre in deep doodoo or anything

 

[DocDanny]

You have nothing to worry about.

You are going into pediatrics, so if you have ANYTHING over a 200, you have a 99% chance of getting accepted somewhere.

And according tot he clinical review score converter, you are on pace to get around a 210 or so, which makes it even more likely for you.

 

[PediatricsRocks]

What worries me is that the avg person also finishes most of UW 🙁. I'll be taking a practice test within the next one or two days, so I'll let you know how I do.

I am trying to match in pediatrics. However, I just hate taking a test that I'm not fully prepared for (story of my med school life).

I don't know too much about delaying a rotation, but I don't think the implications are too serious. I'll have to find out for sure, though.

Thanks for the responses guys, and I'll keep you updated.

 

[PokerDoc]

What worries me is that the avg person also finishes most of UW 🙁. I'll be taking a practice test within the next one or two days, so I'll let you know how I do.

I am trying to match in pediatrics. However, I just hate taking a test that I'm not fully prepared for (story of my med school life).

I don't know too much about delaying a rotation, but I don't think the implications are too serious. I'll have to find out for sure, though.

Thanks for the responses guys, and I'll keep you updated.

yeah first and foremost find out what those implications are.. they can be worse than scoring a few points lower; pediatricians are in demand, it wont be that hard to match somewhere. Also, you should find out if delaying winds up on your transcript somehow, you definitely wouldn't want that.

 

[IMGUSMLEStep1]

What worries me is that the avg person also finishes most of UW 🙁. I'll be taking a practice test within the next one or two days, so I'll let you know how I do.

I am trying to match in pediatrics. However, I just hate taking a test that I'm not fully prepared for (story of my med school life).

I don't know too much about delaying a rotation, but I don't think the implications are too serious. I'll have to find out for sure, though.

Thanks for the responses guys, and I'll keep you updated.

Taking a practice test would be the most useful thing you can do right now. If it's below your target score you might want to consider postponing, but hopefully you won't need to do that. Good luck!

 

[PokerDoc]

Taking a practice test would be the most useful thing you can do right now. If it's below your target score you might want to consider postponing, but hopefully you won't need to do that. Good luck!

do NBME 6 or 7, those are the most accurate

 

[MilkmanAl]

What worries me is that the avg person also finishes most of UW 🙁. I'll be taking a practice test within the next one or two days, so I'll let you know how I do.

I am trying to match in pediatrics. However, I just hate taking a test that I'm not fully prepared for (story of my med school life).

I don't know too much about delaying a rotation, but I don't think the implications are too serious. I'll have to find out for sure, though.

Thanks for the responses guys, and I'll keep you updated.

I'd actually say that the average person doesn't even own UW. Don't mistake the SDN norm for average. For reference, I was scoring anywhere from the mid 50's to mid 60's (right where you are, pretty much) before I took my NBME exams, and they all went quite well. If you're learning from the questions and the info is sticking, you're in pretty good shape. I'd be pretty shocked if you maintained a 60+% average and didn't score in the 210's, at least.

 

[PokerDoc]

I'd actually say that the average person doesn't even own UW. Don't mistake the SDN norm for average. For reference, I was scoring anywhere from the mid 50's to mid 60's (right where you are, pretty much) before I took my NBME exams, and they all went quite well. If you're learning from the questions and the info is sticking, you're in pretty good shape. I'd be pretty shocked if you maintained a 60+% average and didn't score in the 210's, at least.

cmon dont short change him 😉 60% is much better than a 210 🙂

 

[MilkmanAl]

Hey now, I did say *at least* a 210. Gimme a break!

 

[PediatricsRocks]

Update: so I took NBME 7 and got a 220---I know I can do much better if I have more time, like maybe a 230 or 240. What's the verdict, guys? Postpone or not?

 

[PokerDoc]

Update: so I took NBME 7 and got a 220---I know I can do much better if I have more time, like maybe a 230 or 240. What's the verdict, guys? Postpone or not?

for peds? nah, youre good, unless you have already selected the place you want to do your residency at and theyre a top program.

 

[kunfu]

I'd actually say that the average person doesn't even own UW. Don't mistake the SDN norm for average. For reference, I was scoring anywhere from the mid 50's to mid 60's (right where you are, pretty much) before I took my NBME exams, and they all went quite well. If you're learning from the questions and the info is sticking, you're in pretty good shape. I'd be pretty shocked if you maintained a 60+% average and didn't score in the 210's, at least.

At my med school I would say 80%-90% of us use Uworld.

 

[PokerDoc]

At my med school I would say 80%-90% of us use Uworld.

yeah most people i know are using UW too.. its not a big secret.. the difference is: i know a lot of people who just use it and then only look at what they got wrong.. which I think probably cuts the value of the software right in half.

 

[killinsound]

yeah most people i know are using UW too.. its not a big secret.. the difference is: i know a lot of people who just use it and then only look at what they got wrong.. which I think probably cuts the value of the software right in half.

< guilty of doing that, especially in the late game when spending 2 hours on a 48 block was becoming too taxing.

 

[engineeredout]

Slightly off topic but how early in Step 1 studying do most people start using UWorld? Immediately? Do you use it along with 2nd year classes as well?

 

[Perrotfish]

OP: I postponed a month and my practice test scores went up significantly. I'll find out in July if my real test score went up too, but it definitely seemed to help. Whether the boost is worth the vacation time is a decision you'll have to make.

Slightly off topic but how early in Step 1 studying do most people start using UWorld? Immediately? Do you use it along with 2nd year classes as well?

No you do not use UWorld with 2nd year classes. UWorld questions are very integrative, and therefore don't make a lot of sense until you finished with your second year classes and entered into your dedicated step 2 study time. If you want a Qbank to go with/periodically review your second year classes (not a bad idea) Kaplan and USMLERx are both good bets. You could also try one of the cheaper, lesser known qbanks if you're short on $. Whether you buy one or not, though, do not start on UWorld until you're done (or just about done) with 2nd year.

 

[kunfu]

Like other posters have said it really depends on your school. I know at my school no matter what come July 1st your starting 3rd year. If you don't start that day you dont start 3rd year at any point that year. So you would only push back your test if you had no chance of passing.