Quoted: Concerns about Step 1 failure possibility

[Doodledog]

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My medical school only gives students 3.5 weeks after second year to study for Step 1 (assuming you take every allotted vacation day between second year and third year to study for Step 1). Despite my best efforts, I didn't do particularly well in my first year classes, and I'm worried that I'll need more time to study for step 1 after second year. I haven't failed anything yet (crossed fingers), but I've come close enough. If I did fail a module next year, I would have to remediate the class during the 3.5 weeks between second and third year. That would shrink my Step 1 study time even more.

Because I made a decision to do extended research over the summer after my first year (i.e. now), I have to make up the beginning of second year classes during third year vacation time (i.e. after step 1).* So not only am I missing a second year class (to take time off for research), I also have no third year vacation time that I could use to push back my Step 1 date.

I don't want to fail Step 1. I want to go on with my life and graduate and so on and so forth.

What can I do?**


*I took 10 weeks of vacation to do research instead of the allotted 5 weeks.

**If you're wondering, it might be difficult for me take an extra year off.

 

[Doodledog]

I think you need to slow down a bit and really focus on mastering the basic course work. If academics were a problem then choosing extra research time wasn't the best decision. Time to back off the research time and focus entirely on getting ready for the fall classes.

Now, you need to make sure that you have a plan for the next 9-10 months that includes not taking on any extra activities in school/research and focusing on academics and, when the time gets close, studying for Step 1. Others can comment more about strategies for studying, and there is a whole forum here about that. What I am concerned about is that you need to make decisions that emphasize your current course work.

Good luck!