Scheduling for June Step 1, is now a good time?

[zeppelinpage4]

So I had a quick question for Step 1 registration.

I believe they said that dates become available 6 months ahead of time. Since I want to take my exam the first week of June 2015, I thought this month would be a good time and there would be plenty of dates/seats available.

But, when I went to register for a date, the prometric site I wanted to take it at, near my hometown only had dates available in May, but not a single date available in June. 😵

A second further prometric site near my med school had Monday and Friday available the first week of June only, but Tues, Wed, and Thursday were unavailable.

Is it that people went and signed up for all these dates and they're filled now? Talking to classmates and those in the year above me, I thought I had plenty of time to sign up and dates are usually available for a while. I don't think most people register till after Winter break.
OR, is it that I am trying to register too early, and more June dates will appear in another month or two?

Just to be safe for now, I registered for one of the June dates at the prometric near my med school, I'll just have to drive down a few days beforehand.
But, I would have preferred the test site near my hometown, so I could relax at home. Yet, all dates in June are greyed out and show as unavailable for the prometric at my hometown. I just have a hard time believing all these slots are filled up, since I'm registering really early I think.

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[Psai]

Just wait a little
jesus christ

 

[DermViser]

So I had a quick question for Step 1 registration.

I believe they said that dates become available 6 months ahead of time. Since I want to take my exam the first week of June 2015, I thought this month would be a good time and there would be plenty of dates/seats available.

But, when I went to register for a date, the prometric site I wanted to take it at, near my hometown only had dates available in May, but not a single date available in June. 😵

A second further prometric site near my med school had Monday and Friday available the first week of June only, but Tues, Wed, and Thursday were unavailable.

Is it that people went and signed up for all these dates and they're filled now? Talking to classmates and those in the year above me, I thought I had plenty of time to sign up and dates are usually available for a while. I don't think most people register till after Winter break.
OR, is it that I am trying to register too early, and more June dates will appear in another month or two?

Just to be safe for now, I registered for one of the June dates at the prometric near my med school, I'll just have to drive down a few days beforehand.
But, I would have preferred the test site near my hometown, so I could relax at home. Yet, all dates in June are greyed out and show as unavailable for the prometric at my hometown. I just have a hard time believing all these slots are filled up, since I'm registering really early I think.

That's very unusual this early in the game. That being said you can check everyday on Prometric as people drop all the time. Realize it isn't just med students but ALL computerized exams for many professions that do it thru prometric. I would also pick an afternoon slot if you can, vs. an 8:00 am slot, if you're not a morning person. Did wonders for last minute cramming, getting your nerves under control, eating a nice breakfast, lunch, etc. also esp. if maybe you have trouble sleeping and need an hour or more extra to sleep.

 

[JP2740]

That's very unusual this early in the game. That being said you can check everyday on Prometric as people drop all the time. Realize it isn't just med students but ALL computerized exams for many professions that do it thru prometric. I would also pick an afternoon slot if you can, vs. an 8:00 am slot, if you're not a morning person. Did wonders for last minute cramming, getting your nerves under control, eating a nice breakfast, lunch, etc. also esp. if maybe you have trouble sleeping and need an hour or more extra to sleep.

I agree on most of this except for a few things...
1. Last minute cramming is useless for this exam. There are so many questions, and many agree that stressing yourself out that close to the exam after studying for it for 2 years just burns out your brain and doesn't allow you to be "fresh" on the real thing. Now that buzz words are disappearing, your performance also relies a lot on intuition, and kinda taking it easy on the last day and most definitely the morning of is ideal.
2. Even with the 8am exam, you will have this crazy adrenaline rush that will carry you through the entirety of the exam. It's hard to explain until you do it. I didn't take the later time, but I think it would suck to leave the test center at night lol.

In general, spots should open up closer to the exam. Schedule a date now, and periodically check from now until your exam (like once a day). When it gets closer to the exam, check more often. I rescheduled my test for a different day when a couple spots opened up.

 

[DermViser]

I agree on most of this except for a few things...
1. Last minute cramming is useless for this exam. There are so many questions, and many agree that stressing yourself out that close to the exam after studying for it for 2 years just burns out your brain and doesn't allow you to be "fresh" on the real thing. Now that buzz words are disappearing, your performance also relies a lot on intuition, and kinda taking it easy on the last day and most definitely the morning of is ideal.
2. Even with the 8am exam, you will have this crazy adrenaline rush that will carry you through the entirety of the exam. It's hard to explain until you do it. I didn't take the later time, but I think it would suck to leave the test center at night lol.

In general, spots should open up closer to the exam. Schedule a date now, and periodically check from now until your exam (like once a day). When it gets closer to the exam, check more often. I rescheduled my test for a different day when a couple spots opened up.

Well at that time it's not to get new information in, the time for that is up. It's just to make the sure the stuff you've reviewed in First Aid is easily accessible and seeing for example, last minute where the cranial nerves exit from the CNS and getting a question on it and remembering it bc you just saw the picture, snags it for you. Everything in First Aid are to answer the gimme questions. You shouldn't be missing he gimme questions. Most American medical students don't study for the boards for a full 2 straight years.

What I'm saying is that if you take the test in the afternoon as not all USMLE Step 1 exams at Prometric are at 8 AM, you have a much longer chance to get up at a near normal time, eat breakfast, etc. If you had difficulty getting to sleep and you tossed and turned for 1-2 hours before falling asleep, you could easily make this up.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

That's very unusual this early in the game. That being said you can check everyday on Prometric as people drop all the time. Realize it isn't just med students but ALL computerized exams for many professions that do it thru prometric. I would also pick an afternoon slot if you can, vs. an 8:00 am slot, if you're not a morning person. Did wonders for last minute cramming, getting your nerves under control, eating a nice breakfast, lunch, etc. also esp. if maybe you have trouble sleeping and need an hour or more extra to sleep.

Well at that time it's not to get new information in, the time for that is up. It's just to make the sure the stuff you've reviewed in First Aid is easily accessible and seeing for example, last minute where the cranial nerves exit from the CNS and getting a question on it and remembering it bc you just saw the picture, snags it for you. Everything in First Aid are to answer the gimme questions. You shouldn't be missing he gimme questions. Most American medical students don't study for the boards for a full 2 straight years.

What I'm saying is that if you take the test in the afternoon as not all USMLE Step 1 exams at Prometric are at 8 AM, you have a much longer chance to get up at a near normal time, eat breakfast, etc. If you had difficulty getting to sleep and you tossed and turned for 1-2 hours before falling asleep, you could easily make this up.

Okay, thanks DermViser! Good to know there may be more spots.

Our deans sent out an email to register last month, and the third years were all telling us to look at dates, so I just assumed now was the normal time. But, I didn't realize I was registering so early, hopefully more dates will open up in time then. And very true, I forgot they give all other tests in there, that would explain so many random dates being booked.

Your post cleared everything up nicely, I feel better about this now haha. I just had no idea when was a right time until now. I'll regularly check dates then, hopefully I can find an afternoon one in my hometown in the coming months.

Oh good to know! I think an afternoon slot would be nice. That is another issue, the only available dates/locations right now, all are morning slots. I had a lot of trouble sleeping the night before my MCAT, and I've never been a morning person in my entire life, so I think being able to get up at a regular time and have a proper breakfast or lunch would be nice. I also like looking over old notes before a test, not necessarily cramming, but I know what you mean. It's nice to skim it all just to re-affirm the things you know and get some extra confidence for the test.

I agree on most of this except for a few things...
1. Last minute cramming is useless for this exam. There are so many questions, and many agree that stressing yourself out that close to the exam after studying for it for 2 years just burns out your brain and doesn't allow you to be "fresh" on the real thing. Now that buzz words are disappearing, your performance also relies a lot on intuition, and kinda taking it easy on the last day and most definitely the morning of is ideal.
2. Even with the 8am exam, you will have this crazy adrenaline rush that will carry you through the entirety of the exam. It's hard to explain until you do it. I didn't take the later time, but I think it would suck to leave the test center at night lol.

In general, spots should open up closer to the exam. Schedule a date now, and periodically check from now until your exam (like once a day). When it gets closer to the exam, check more often. I rescheduled my test for a different day when a couple spots opened up.

Thanks JP, yeah, leaving at night is definitely not fun, but like DermViser pointed out, I think I might be more in the zone after a good night sleep and a chance to eat or skim through some pneumonics. Unless, it's a huge adrenaline rush, I've never been functional at 6am, especially not for an exam.
I notice I seem to do better, or at least feel much better taking med school exams in the afternoon versus the morning. I'll look at what's available though, and where I can take it. Better early than late anyways.

Just wait a little
jesus christ

Our deans have been emailing us about this stuff for the last month or two, and students at my school are already registering. Maybe it's too early, but that's how folks seem to be doing it here.
Better early than late for stuff like this.

 

[Frazier]

My local center only has 8am administrations 🙁

Oh well, at least it is only 8 minutes away from my house. 🙂

 

[zeppelinpage4]

My local center only has 8am administrations 🙁

Oh well, at least it is only 8 minutes away from my house. 🙂

Jealous! The closest one to my school is almost an hour away. -_-

 

[I_Cant_tell_you]

They just randomly pop up. I scheduled mine for late April and I was looking practically everyday for a month for new dates.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I'll wait and check dates regularly, just wanted to confirm my timing was okay.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Well at that time it's not to get new information in, the time for that is up. It's just to make the sure the stuff you've reviewed in First Aid is easily accessible and seeing for example, last minute where the cranial nerves exit from the CNS and getting a question on it and remembering it bc you just saw the picture, snags it for you. Everything in First Aid are to answer the gimme questions. You shouldn't be missing he gimme questions. Most American medical students don't study for the boards for a full 2 straight years.

What I'm saying is that if you take the test in the afternoon as not all USMLE Step 1 exams at Prometric are at 8 AM, you have a much longer chance to get up at a near normal time, eat breakfast, etc. If you had difficulty getting to sleep and you tossed and turned for 1-2 hours before falling asleep, you could easily make this up.

I actually tried that strategy an hour before my exams because nervousness got the best of me.

I wish I had that hour back to watch cartoons because nothing I glanced at within that hour showed up on Step 1.

 

[DermViser]

I actually tried that strategy an hour before my exams because nervousness got the best of me.

I wish I had that hour back to watch cartoons because nothing I glanced at within that hour showed up on Step 1.

Was your exam at 8 am?

 

[JP2740]

This thread is just so dumb. Who cares if you schedule now or not? What difference does it make?

Can I report this poster???

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Was your exam at 8 am?

Yup. Mine was at 8 AM. If I had chosen a later time, I probably would've burnt myself out studying right before it, so taking an earlier time slot forces to minimize nervous habits (i.e. cramming) between getting out of bed and taking the exam.

 

[DermViser]

Yup. Mine was at 8 AM. If I had chosen a later time, I probably would've burnt myself out studying right before it, so taking an earlier time slot forces to minimize nervous habits (i.e. cramming) between getting out of bed and taking the exam.

Yup, mine was in afternoon. None of that morning just woke up haze. Mind is clear, eaten well, I was already prepped for it to be a full day affair so either way.

 

[seminoma]

Both centers near me don't have any dates on the schedule after May.

 

[PL198]

yeah all the people in my class were like ZOMG GOTTA SCHEDULE MY STEP 1 DATE RIGHT NOW... umm that's kinda an important thing, I'd want to think about it and plan it out a little first...

 

[DermViser]

yeah all the people in my class were like ZOMG GOTTA SCHEDULE MY STEP 1 DATE RIGHT NOW... umm that's kinda an important thing, I'd want to think about it and plan it out a little first...

Plan what out?

 

[seminoma]

Plan what out?

How many Uworld blocks you can do in 1 day brah.

 

[PL198]

Plan what out?

like the scheduling aspect of it? how much study time you want, opportunities for vacation. not taking too much/too little time. that's not really something I think someone should just arbitrarily pick in 5 minutes.

 

[DermViser]

like the scheduling aspect of it? how much study time you want, opportunities for vacation. not taking too much/too little time. that's not really something I think someone should just arbitrarily pick in 5 minutes.

Or use the Cram Fighter app and pick the books and Qbanks you're using, the date you're taking your exam, and it will make a schedule for you.

 

[PL198]

Or use the Cram Fighter app and pick the books and Qbanks you're using, the date you're taking your exam, and it will make a schedule for you.

right and that'd be a good way to plan, I'm saying people just arbitrarily pick it, which is *****ic for something with so much importance.

 

[DermViser]

right and that'd be a good way to plan, I'm saying people just arbitrarily pick it, which is *****ic for something with so much importance.

I would pick the very last date before starting clerkships, or one where you get a a few days off after the exam, to catch your breath, before starting clerkships (and starting with an easy clerkship).

 

[PL198]

I would pick the very last date before starting clerkships, or one where you get a a few days off after the exam, to catch your breath, before starting clerkships (and starting with an easy clerkship).

see I'm the opposite because I have a few things I want to compete in before clerkships start, because it'll probably be the last chance I've ever be able to. Thinking I'm going to take 5 weeks but don't have a true idea until I look at the schedules for everything.

 

[DermViser]

see I'm the opposite because I have a few things I want to compete in before clerkships start, because it'll probably be the last chance I've ever be able to. Thinking I'm going to take 5 weeks but don't have a true idea until I look at the schedules for everything.

Take an NBME and that should give you an accurate idea of where you are, which will tell you if you need shorter or longer.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

This thread is just so dumb. Who cares if you schedule now or not? What difference does it make?

Can I report this poster???

Really? Go ahead, report me for asking a straightforward and honest question. I'm taking a break from this place. I've wasted too many precious hours trying to defend myself to other users in the past on here.

P.s. This info. does matter, and most of us trying to figure out scheduling do care. Some great advice has been given out already in this thread, and I'm sure it'll help others wondering the same things I did.

 

[seminoma]

Or use the Cram Fighter app and pick the books and Qbanks you're using, the date you're taking your exam, and it will make a schedule for you.

Did not know about this.

Edit: It's not free? Meh. Can make my own.

 

[DermViser]

Did not know about this.

Edit: It's not free? Meh. Can make my own.

I have no idea if it's free. I thought they give you a free trial. Not sure though.

 

[DermViser]

This thread is just so dumb. Who cares if you schedule now or not? What difference does it make?

Can I report this poster???

😵

 

[seminoma]

I have no idea if it's free. I thought they give you a free trial. Not sure though.

There's a 7 day free trial, but they only show you the first 7 days of your schedule unless you pay them. I think it's only $9.99 or something, but still.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Might be a dumb question, but I'm going out of the country and won't be able to register until January 2nd. I also want a late June test day, will this be harder to get then?