Step 3 for FM

[secretwave101]

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This is coming up for me this summer. Wondering if there are any insights about the test. I've heard from some people that you REALLY need to study and from others that they did the whole #2 pencil thing and it worked out.

Specifically, I wonder if it's a bit more workable for FP residents because we cover all the main subjects in our training.

 

[rossuniversity]

I am an fm resident who passed......didn't like reading too much so i did questions upon questions...did usmleworld and qbank online....helped mucho! just read all the answers to the q's ..if u got them right or wrong...hope this helps.

 

[Ascultator]

Some of my friends are thinking about taking Step 3 before internship to get it out of the way -- any thoughts on this?

 

[Aesklepius]

Some of my friends are thinking about taking Step 3 before internship to get it out of the way -- any thoughts on this?

I have wondered the same thing since I have time to take step 3 before residency. I took the active approach by asking residents at all the programs I interviewed at what they thought and it was mixed. At 8 programs they said take it before so you could get it out of the way and at 4 of them they said wait. The reasoning for all those that said wait was that it helps on the CCS to have done internship but at the same time we are FM residents so we are comprehensive in that we cover all topics in our rotations. I think if you went over to the surgery forum or peds maybe they would say take it before residency.

Oh, and on a side note, even the Program Director at one program saw my transcript and that I had time left since I start and specifically told me I should consider taking it before I start. His reasoning: you just need to pass and it will be less to worry about during PGY1.

 

[Doc Alamat]

I just started my FM residency and am glad I got that Step 3 out of the way. If u have the time, do it. U can concentrate on more "important" things during training while ur fellow residents grumble about it. Some programs need their interns to pass it before being promoted to 2nd year. U don't want that hanging over ur head.
On another point however, u would want to have a fabulous time before starting residency. So putting off studying maybe a good thing. Maybe u want to see the Alps, or go to Sicily and tastes great olive oil. It boils down to ur lifestyle.

 

[ramonaquimby]

i'm a PGY2 and studying for it now. i say wait.
relax before residency - enjoy it! don't study! bleh.
intern year is too busy. don't study then either - bleh.
PGY2 is a whole new world. nice time for yourself, your hobbies, rediscover your friends/partner/city you live in.

choose one of those months to study for step 3, esp with clinical under your belt (CCS sooo much easier that way!), and you'll be golden! 😀