Step 1 After Clerkships

[clutchgene]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey everyone, I'm deciding between Wayne State (Step 1 before clerkships) and Stony Brook (Step 1 after clerkships). I am leaning towards Stony Brook; however, I am having my doubts about whether their new implementation of taking Step 1 after clerkships will be successful. I understand that other schools have seen results and that Step is becoming more clinical, but any medical student I have talked to prefer taking Step before rotations.

For students in medical school that are currently in a curriculum that has you take Step 1 after clerkships, how do you all end up being able to balance rotations while studying for Step 1. Also, how do you transition to immediately taking Step 2 after Step 1?

 

[Redpancreas]

On a semi-related note, come to Wayne State. It’s severing ties with unproductive hospital systems and is on the upswing. The same can be said about the city. In the next 10 years, I think it’s going to be a top 50 medical school.

 

[libertyyne]

On a semi-related note, come to Wayne State. It’s severing ties with unproductive hospital systems and is on the upswing. The same can be said about the city. In the next 10 years, I think it’s going to be a top 50 medical school.

I dont know about the first part. I can buy the last two though.

 

[libertyyne]

Wayne is going to have a brand spanking new curriculum next year as well, so there is bound to be growing pains. There is some evidence that taking step after rotations is helpful.

 

[Redpancreas]

I dont know about the first part. I can buy the last two though.

Bro! During the match day, the dean made reference to all partners big or small, but left out you-know-which.

 

[libertyyne]

Bro! During the match day, the dean made reference to all partners big or small, but left out you-know-which.

Negotiation tactics. Wayne Medical group provides a large chunk of specialty services there. Its hard divorcing yourself with an institution that you share grounds with.

 

[Oso]

I don't know anything about either school, but my opinion is to not make a decision based on when they take step 1.

I would instead base it on the usual stuff - COA, location, fit, etc.

IF I were to decide based on curricular stuff, my priority would be to not be in the first class of a new curriculum...

 

[Redpancreas]

I don't know anything about either school, but my opinion is to not make a decision based on when they take step 1.

I would instead base it on the usual stuff - COA, location, fit, etc.

IF I were to decide based on curricular stuff, my priority would be to not be in the first class of a new curriculum...

The curriculum will change but here’s what will continue to get better. Lectures will continue to be optional with a <1 hr lag from real time, the course pack will continue to be enhanced yearly with a robust review process that involves student input, and while the curriculum is still not moving to integrating normal and abnormal, it’s headed in the right direction with organ system blocks. Student involvement in the city’s betterment will continue to improve, and much more. True, the Step score is only a few points above the national average, but the school also recruits a very diverse student body from former olympians to primary schoolteachers yet still finds ways to match its top students into Hopkins Med and MGH Ortho. Come sip on Koolaid with me.

 

[Willy38]

Taking step after clerkships means you’re less prepared for rotations. It’s give and take. One sort of prepares you for the other. Personally I think step has way more to do with dedicated study period than anything else. My diagnostic at the beginning of study period was awful (150) and had ~100 point jump to the real deal. We take it after clerkships and it doesn’t really make that much of a difference. Ends up being a very personal study habits thing. Definitely not worth deciding on a school over IMO.

 

[ejay19955]

While I agree taking Step 1 after the clerkship should not influence your decision, I can't see that being a negative. Yes, your shelf scores and clinical preparedness may suffer, but so will everyone else's and at most schools you are basically ranked against each other. I think it will allow more time for me to study pure Step 1 stuff like biochem, physio, etc over the dedicated.

 

[ejay19955]

For students in medical school that are currently in a curriculum that has you take Step 1 after clerkships, how do you all end up being able to balance rotations while studying for Step 1. Also, how do you transition to immediately taking Step 2 after Step 1?

As for answers to this question, there is some overlap between Step 1 material and the shelves (the IM clerkship director told us about 40% overlap. I'd think certainly less so for other clerkships), so I don't bother studying for Step 1 yet. My school still recommends taking Step 1 before Step 2. The exams are made by the same entity anyways it's just the material that's different, so I don't even think that much of a transition is necessary.

 

[sadkmladkds]

i would say stony brook