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Is there a big difference in how well different schools will prepare you for step 1? Or are all US MD schools basically the same on that front?
Step 1 prep
- Thread starter QuinnTheEskimo
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From what I can tell, no real difference in terms of preparation. How well you do is really a function of how much work you put in, how you study, how well you learned the information during preclinical years, how good you are at retaining information, luck, etc.
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In the big picture, Step 1 prep is pretty much an individual thing based on how much work you put in, how much you retain, and how good you are with the style of testing. However, I think there are little things that schools do that can make Step 1 prep better/easier. Keep in mind that I'm not taking Step 1 until April this year so I'm sure a med student who has gone through everything would have more insight into what is actually better.
-Length of dedicated board study time. My school gives 8-9 weeks of "board study" time, the first 4 of those weeks have 3 half days per week of case study workshops and 1 half day per week for clinical skills. The remaining weeks are solely for board study and taking the exam. I've heard some schools have very little dedicated board study time, forcing students to study for boards while concurrently studying for school exams.
-Curriculums with faculty-written vs. NBME exams. We have a mix. Most of our exams are faculty-written, but we do take a few NBME exams, which are board-style, on the computer, etc. Some schools do more NBME, some schools do none. I think it's nice to have a little preview of board-style questioning throughout the first 2 years.
-This is a pretty minor perk, but we get vouchers for NBME practice exams, which I believe normally cost $45 each? The school pays for us to take a diagnostic NBME before the dedicated study period, then we take one after 4 weeks of studying to see how we progress. I believe we were told that we can request more vouchers for practice exams. There seems to be a lot of support available if needed, people to help you craft a study plan, etc.
-Length of dedicated board study time. My school gives 8-9 weeks of "board study" time, the first 4 of those weeks have 3 half days per week of case study workshops and 1 half day per week for clinical skills. The remaining weeks are solely for board study and taking the exam. I've heard some schools have very little dedicated board study time, forcing students to study for boards while concurrently studying for school exams.
-Curriculums with faculty-written vs. NBME exams. We have a mix. Most of our exams are faculty-written, but we do take a few NBME exams, which are board-style, on the computer, etc. Some schools do more NBME, some schools do none. I think it's nice to have a little preview of board-style questioning throughout the first 2 years.
-This is a pretty minor perk, but we get vouchers for NBME practice exams, which I believe normally cost $45 each? The school pays for us to take a diagnostic NBME before the dedicated study period, then we take one after 4 weeks of studying to see how we progress. I believe we were told that we can request more vouchers for practice exams. There seems to be a lot of support available if needed, people to help you craft a study plan, etc.
Pretty much the same. Some schools - I have heard, at least - teach from the Step 1 book like Ross in the carribean. Having said that, I think most MD schools are pretty much on par with each other. Some places take their Step 1 after one year, some after 1.5, and most after 2 years. The averages are decently similar.
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Who takes Step 1 after one year?
Well kind of. haha. Duke finishes their "courses" after the first year so technically they could take their Step 1. I've heard of some people doing that - I think most though wait until they have a year of rotations under their belt. Sorry for the confusion X:
