Residency and USMLE 3

[apma77]

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how long did you guys study for this test given that residency is hard enough with barely anytime to study????

and what materials were most high yield ?

thanks

 

[southerndoc]

How funny apma... I was about to start a Step 3 thread today because I'm thinking of buying some books and studying a little bit throughout the year (before taking a 2-week break to do some cramming). Of course, I may not even need to study from what some people have posted.

BTW, to the mods out there, can we keep this in the residency forum and not move it to the USMLE forum? So many residents no longer visit the USMLE forum that I'm afraid it would be a dying thread once moved there! Thanks!

 

[edfig99]

How funny apma... I was about to start a Step 3 thread today because I'm thinking of buying some books and studying a little bit throughout the year (before taking a 2-week break to do some cramming). Of course, I may not even need to study from what some people have posted.

BTW, to the mods out there, can we keep this in the residency forum and not move it to the USMLE forum? So many residents no longer visit the USMLE forum that I'm afraid it would be a dying thread once moved there! Thanks!

step 3 is cake, honestly.

i found the family practice inservice exam questions very helpful and this was pretty much the only thing I looked at. you can take 1000 questions for free on line at www.familypractice.com (they're called "intraining" exam questions at that site and it's sponsored by the American Board of Family Practice). it's also very important to do the CD rom or whatever sample the NBME sends out to practice the case simulator since the interface isn't super intuitive and they're isn't time for learning the system during the actual exam.)

i honestly wouldn't spend money on any books. remember that people used to take this exam post call and passed. heck even surgeons and pathologists pass it 😉 just kidding...no flames, please!

 

[southerndoc]

step 3 is cake, honestly.

i found the family practice inservice exam questions very helpful and this was pretty much the only thing I looked at. you can take 1000 questions for free on line at www.familypractice.com (they're called "intraining" exam questions at that site and it's sponsored by the American Board of Family Practice). it's also very important to do the CD rom or whatever sample the NBME sends out to practice the case simulator since the interface isn't super intuitive and they're isn't time for learning the system during the actual exam.)

i honestly wouldn't spend money on any books. remember that people used to take this exam post call and passed. heck even surgeons and pathologists pass it 😉 just kidding...no flames, please!

I'm wondering if I should try to do well on it since I plan on a fellowship. If residency was the end of my training, then all I would want is to just pass it.

 

[edfig99]

I'm wondering if I should try to do well on it since I plan on a fellowship. If residency was the end of my training, then all I would want is to just pass it.

i guess it's worth asking around then. i'm not sure how much weight (if any) is put into step 3 for fellowship. just from talking to friends of mine it really does seem what greases the fellowship wheels is letters and who ya know, much less about step 3.

i will say that using the questions I did do pretty well and not just passed 😉

 

[DrQuinn]

I'm wondering if I should try to do well on it since I plan on a fellowship. If residency was the end of my training, then all I would want is to just pass it.

Fellowship? Come on, in EM its not about board scores man!

I'll be taking Step 3 next month (COMLEX but not USMLE) I will post here how it went... but everyone tells me not to even bother studying for it since I'm EM (and we know enough about all the other specialties). I did buy Crush Step 3 however... and am studying that a little bit each day.

Q, DO

 

[southerndoc]

How much does step 3 cost?

 

[edfig99]

How much does step 3 cost?

the test itself is $610 for the 2004 year. at least in new york, you apply for initial licensure at the same time and that has its own set of fees, plus if you use the credentialing service offered by the FSMB... well, suffice to say it adds up.

when i applied a few years ago i think the whole thing ran almost $1500. fortunately my hospital paid (reimbursed) for initial licensure, so I was only out the money of the test and the credentialing service.

go to www.fsmb.org and check out the FAQ for step 3.

 

[southerndoc]

the test itself is $610 for the 2004 year. at least in new york, you apply for initial licensure at the same time and that has its own set of fees, plus if you use the credentialing service offered by the FSMB... well, suffice to say it adds up.

go to www.fsmb.org and check out the FAQ for step 3.

Just checked... I don't have to apply for licensure when I take step 3. (That makes sense since CT requires you to have 2 years of GME before you can get a license.)

Can I take step 3, pass it, and then apply for a license in another state after a year of internship, even though CT requires 2 years? I don't need a "sponsor" do I?

 

[addicted2hope]

Just checked... I don't have to apply for licensure when I take step 3. (That makes sense since CT requires you to have 2 years of GME before you can get a license.)

Can I take step 3, pass it, and then apply for a license in another state after a year of internship, even though CT requires 2 years? I don't need a "sponsor" do I?

Yes, you can. Step 3 passed in one state is 'valid' in all states. Also, you don't necessarily have to take the exam in the state you apply to.

 

[edfig99]

Just checked... I don't have to apply for licensure when I take step 3. (That makes sense since CT requires you to have 2 years of GME before you can get a license.)

Can I take step 3, pass it, and then apply for a license in another state after a year of internship, even though CT requires 2 years? I don't need a "sponsor" do I?

it depends on the state. Mass. for example requires you to be nominated for licensure by a licensed Mass. license if that's what you mean by sponsor. in states that require one year of GME prior to licensure, you'll be eligible provided you meet all other criteria (Texas requires you to take a medical jurisprudence exam before you can get licensed there.) The FSMB website has links to all the state medical boards where you can find licensure requirements.

 

[AJM]

it depends on the state. Mass. for example requires you to be nominated for licensure by a licensed Mass. license if that's what you mean by sponsor.

You don't have to be nominated by a licensed Mass. physician to get a Mass. medical license. I think what you are referring to is the "Statement of Moral and Professional Character" that needs to be signed by a licensed physician who has known you for at least 2 years. The Mass. Medical Board prefers it to be signed by a Mass. physician, but any licensed physician can sign the form. But check FSMB for state-specific requirements if you're thinking about getting licensure elsewhere.

To answer the original question, Step 3 is very easy. I only studied about 2 nights before the exam. I just reviewed a little Ob-Gyn and Peds, since I don't know either of those at all. The other thing I would recommend doing is the practice test the USMLE gives you -- especially the 2nd part (the free-form cases), since it helps to be familiar with the format.

If you're in EM or FP, you really shouldn't have to study at all. In any other specialty, just review the areas that you don't deal with regularly in your specialty (just a superficial review is all that's necessary, since it's the easiest step of the USMLEs).

 

[njbmd]

how long did you guys study for this test given that residency is hard enough with barely anytime to study????

and what materials were most high yield ?

thanks

Hey there,
Read through "Crush the USMLE Step 3" over a weekend and took the test the next weekend. It is pretty benign if you can read and answer the question that they ask.

njbmd 🙂
"Glad this one's in the can"

 

[fourthyear]

heck even surgeons and pathologists pass it 😉 just kidding...no flames, please!

I know you were just making an innocent joke. But thought I'm make this point anyway. Surgery residents take a big exam every January called ABSITE - american board of surg inservice training exam. It's a tough exam, and there is a lot of pressure on residents to do well, not just in the big name programs but in all surgery programs. If you don't do well a few years in a row, there's a good chance you could get fired, not just for a bad scores alone of course, but it sure does help highlight your other weaknesses and mistakes when everyone thinks your dumb b/c you get a poor absite score. So I hope no one really thinks they are going to do a surgery residency and not study almost every day. You may get by in a few other specialties without reading, but surgeons sure do like to make you feel lazy and dumb if you aren't studying hard enough to do well on this test and know disease processes inside and out when you are caring for or operating on patients.

Apma77 asks how do you find time to study during residency - well, you just have to make the time. Sould be easier with new work limits. This means using your post-call days and days off to get the books out, not hit the beach or whatever else you'd love to do on days off. And this means reading every night you get home tired - you just HAVE to study during residency if you want to keep learning and do well. This has been made very clear to me in my first year of surgery - so to all those who think their study days are essentially over when they finish med school or when they pass step3, you are wrong. If you want to be a good doctor you'll be reading throughout your carreer. Welcome to the medical profession where you will be a student your whole life.

 

[DrQuinn]

I know you were just making an innocent joke. But thought I'm make this point anyway. Surgery residents take a big exam every January called ABSITE - american board of surg inservice training exam. It's a tough exam, and there is a lot of pressure on residents to do well, not just in the big name programs but in all surgery programs. If you don't do well a few years in a row, there's a good chance you could get fired, not just for a bad scores alone of course, but it sure does help highlight your other weaknesses and mistakes when everyone thinks your dumb b/c you get a poor absite score. So I hope no one really thinks they are going to do a surgery residency and not study almost every day. You may get by in a few other specialties without reading, but surgeons sure do like to make you feel lazy and dumb if you aren't studying hard enough to do well on this test and know disease processes inside and out when you are caring for or operating on patients.

Surgery isn't the only specialty that has annual in-service exams. We have one put out by ACEP (Amer College of Emer Phys) every February... and it carries the same importance that yours does.

Q, DO

 

[apma77]

im just studying the crush step3 and doing the sample questions from USMLE

do you guys think thats good enough?
anyone with experience please reply

thanks

 

[xmxpro]

Just checked... I don't have to apply for licensure when I take step 3. (That makes sense since CT requires you to have 2 years of GME before you can get a license.)

Can I take step 3, pass it, and then apply for a license in another state after a year of internship, even though CT requires 2 years? I don't need a "sponsor" do I?

What part of CT do you live in, and what hosp. do you work in? Hope you dont mind me asking.

 

[docB]

Surgery isn't the only specialty that has annual in-service exams. We have one put out by ACEP (Amer College of Emer Phys) every February... and it carries the same importance that yours does.

Q, DO

BTW I found the Carol Rivers books to be really helpful for the EM boards. My inservice scores were so-so. After I went through those books I did well on the actual boards.