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Hi Guys!
I just received my Step 2 CS score and I passed! So relieved and happy, my heart was doing backflips in the hours counting down to the result! So I thought I would share my experience and give some tips regarding how to go about CS. It's a simple exam, I do agree with that, but one can't waltz in and just pass. Personally I struggled a bit, plus the nerves were of no help.
Background: Im an IMG, graduated a few years ago. Gave Step 1 last year, scored below average. Need to give CK Personality type: nervous, over-thinker, self-doubter in regards to CS. Plus loads of people told me not to give CS before CK (this added to the self doubt).
My advice and experience:
- PREP TIME: I think this is where one needs to figure this out for themselves. I was told the 2 weeks is more than enough from multiple people and it turns out that it wasn't for me. I needed a month of good preparation. Don't go by other people's word, assess yourself and your improvement and then decide. It's okay to take a little more time than others.
- CHANGING ONE'S EXAM DATE: I started my prep 3 weeks before my exam, and a week before the exam I realized that I wasn't ready for it. I ended up cancelling my exam date, I cried because it was upsetting and ruined my plans of applying. But I knew that this was better, that I wanted to make sure that I pass the first time. It took me a month to get a new date, which was another 1 month away. So, start your prep early! That way you won't be in a position where you're underprepared. I think 1-1.5 months early is important, it's better to be over-prepared.
- RESOURCES: First Aid was a true help. I feel like its a must. I would say that one should read the cases by themselves and as well as practice each case with a study partner.
- PREP COURSES: I wasn't a fan of my prep course, but I met someone who liked it. I guess everyone's perception is different. I felt that the prep course was helpful in giving an idea of what goes on, but thats about it. Some people that I met really loved their courses.
- STUDY PARTNERS: I would say that it's important to start out with someone who is at the same preparation level as you are. I started with someone way ahead of me, and weirdly that one helped them while I lagged behind. Also, if you are able to find someone who has passed CS and is willing to do cases with you, please practice with them! I found someone who was kind enough to help me out, and it really made a difference in my prep. I would advice one to practice with many partners besides your main one, getting different perspectives is important. If you practice with just one person, you both run the risk of making the same mistakes together and overlooking it.
- PREP ENVIRONMENT: My advise would be to stay at the place where most students stay near an exam center of a city. Firstly, you are near the exam center - just walk over on exam day! Secondly, you are living with multiple people going through the same stress - aka you'll get the support that you need and you'll get multiple study partners.
- SEP: For some IMGs, this component of the can be a struggle and be quite stressful. It would be best if you start practicing speaking in English all the time a few months before your exam. The more you practice speaking, the more comfortable you'll be. Don't be afraid to make mistakes in front of people, English is a tough language. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it'll be worth the struggle. If you rotate in the US before your CS, you'll be lucky enough to meet many people with whom you can practice.
- ICE: This component was my reason to extend my exam. I was freaking out over differentials, panicking and messing up my cases. Important: stay calm. Also, if you are bad at differentials, sit with someone and keep practicing them from Step 1 or CK. Just go over the differentials in those books of the common chief complaints. And do it again and again.
- PATIENT NOTES: I was bad at them. Finally, I opened FA and just retyped each patient note (while referring to the book). I think I did this twice. It gave me a clear idea of the flow of the patient note and obviously helped my typing speed.
-CIS: This was another area where I struggled. One of my study partners called me "icy". So I had to put in a lot of work to come across as warm. It's about walking in and smiling with a hand shake, asking them if they're comfortable, if they would need anything else, etc. My tip here would be to practice with someone who is good at this, and have them critique you.
I'll add a notes on my patient encounter format next. This was just some general tips on how to start. Hope it helps!
I just received my Step 2 CS score and I passed! So relieved and happy, my heart was doing backflips in the hours counting down to the result! So I thought I would share my experience and give some tips regarding how to go about CS. It's a simple exam, I do agree with that, but one can't waltz in and just pass. Personally I struggled a bit, plus the nerves were of no help.
Background: Im an IMG, graduated a few years ago. Gave Step 1 last year, scored below average. Need to give CK Personality type: nervous, over-thinker, self-doubter in regards to CS. Plus loads of people told me not to give CS before CK (this added to the self doubt).
My advice and experience:
- PREP TIME: I think this is where one needs to figure this out for themselves. I was told the 2 weeks is more than enough from multiple people and it turns out that it wasn't for me. I needed a month of good preparation. Don't go by other people's word, assess yourself and your improvement and then decide. It's okay to take a little more time than others.
- CHANGING ONE'S EXAM DATE: I started my prep 3 weeks before my exam, and a week before the exam I realized that I wasn't ready for it. I ended up cancelling my exam date, I cried because it was upsetting and ruined my plans of applying. But I knew that this was better, that I wanted to make sure that I pass the first time. It took me a month to get a new date, which was another 1 month away. So, start your prep early! That way you won't be in a position where you're underprepared. I think 1-1.5 months early is important, it's better to be over-prepared.
- RESOURCES: First Aid was a true help. I feel like its a must. I would say that one should read the cases by themselves and as well as practice each case with a study partner.
- PREP COURSES: I wasn't a fan of my prep course, but I met someone who liked it. I guess everyone's perception is different. I felt that the prep course was helpful in giving an idea of what goes on, but thats about it. Some people that I met really loved their courses.
- STUDY PARTNERS: I would say that it's important to start out with someone who is at the same preparation level as you are. I started with someone way ahead of me, and weirdly that one helped them while I lagged behind. Also, if you are able to find someone who has passed CS and is willing to do cases with you, please practice with them! I found someone who was kind enough to help me out, and it really made a difference in my prep. I would advice one to practice with many partners besides your main one, getting different perspectives is important. If you practice with just one person, you both run the risk of making the same mistakes together and overlooking it.
- PREP ENVIRONMENT: My advise would be to stay at the place where most students stay near an exam center of a city. Firstly, you are near the exam center - just walk over on exam day! Secondly, you are living with multiple people going through the same stress - aka you'll get the support that you need and you'll get multiple study partners.
- SEP: For some IMGs, this component of the can be a struggle and be quite stressful. It would be best if you start practicing speaking in English all the time a few months before your exam. The more you practice speaking, the more comfortable you'll be. Don't be afraid to make mistakes in front of people, English is a tough language. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it'll be worth the struggle. If you rotate in the US before your CS, you'll be lucky enough to meet many people with whom you can practice.
- ICE: This component was my reason to extend my exam. I was freaking out over differentials, panicking and messing up my cases. Important: stay calm. Also, if you are bad at differentials, sit with someone and keep practicing them from Step 1 or CK. Just go over the differentials in those books of the common chief complaints. And do it again and again.
- PATIENT NOTES: I was bad at them. Finally, I opened FA and just retyped each patient note (while referring to the book). I think I did this twice. It gave me a clear idea of the flow of the patient note and obviously helped my typing speed.
-CIS: This was another area where I struggled. One of my study partners called me "icy". So I had to put in a lot of work to come across as warm. It's about walking in and smiling with a hand shake, asking them if they're comfortable, if they would need anything else, etc. My tip here would be to practice with someone who is good at this, and have them critique you.
I'll add a notes on my patient encounter format next. This was just some general tips on how to start. Hope it helps!
