Step 3 or Absite

[angleoflouise]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi!

I have a bit of a dillema. I have just started my intern year and I love it. I want to focus on general surgery and read about it every day and I also want to do exceptionally well on the Absite. But... I have to take Step 3 in August and don't know whether I should focus on Step 3 until then and get a decent score or just pass Step 3 but begin to study for the Absite and general surgery now and forget about it. I am at about 220 right now with Step 3 and desperately want to get at least 230.

Is doing well in both possible? Will the attendings notice my lack of general surgery knowledge from the get go because all I am studying for right now is Step 3? Is Step 3 worth me possibly seeming like I don't study for surgery?

Thank you!!

 

[LucidSplash]

Hi!

I have a bit of a dillema. I have just started my intern year and I love it. I want to focus on general surgery and read about it every day and I also want to do exceptionally well on the Absite. But... I have to take Step 3 in August and don't know whether I should focus on Step 3 until then and get a decent score or just pass Step 3 but begin to study for the Absite and general surgery now and forget about it. I am at about 220 right now with Step 3 and desperately want to get at least 230.

Is doing well in both possible? Will the attendings notice my lack of general surgery knowledge from the get go because all I am studying for right now is Step 3? Is Step 3 worth me possibly seeming like I don't study for surgery?

Thank you!!

Why do you want a 230 on Step 3? Most people would consider a 220 (ie well beyond passing) a completely adequate score. If you are concerned about fellowship, your ABSITE scores are going to factor in much more than Step 3.

Most people study just a couple weeks for Step 3 (if that). You should be reading/reviewing all year long for the ABSITE. Yes, your attendings will notice if you are not reading for surgery, especially if you are not reading up on your patients, finding out the answers to pimp questions you did not know, etc. It is early in the year though so being a bit green is somewhat expected and in theory reading only the bare minimum for surgery (ie enough to get you through your workday and for your conferences) will get you by through August. However, I want to emphasize that 220 is a perfectly fine score for Step 3 and conceivably you could continue to review lightly up until the exam and spend more time on surgery-focused reading which may be a better use of your time.

 

[angleoflouise]

Thank you! I want a 230 because I don't want to go down from my Step 2 too much and also to memorize Medicine to the best of my ability before I forget it and move on to Surgery for the rest of my life. I guess I will green light it until August.

 

[debvz]

In the grand scheme of things, your numeric Step 3 score means little as a surgical resident. Just pass it so you can get your license.

Focus on your ABSITE and your patients.

 

[Smurfette]

In the grand scheme of things, your numeric Step 3 score means little as a surgical resident. Just pass it so you can get your license.

Focus on your ABSITE and your patients.

This. In surgery-world, few people care about your Step 3 scores, only if you passed on the first try. There are exceptions, but your ABSITEs, LORs, mentors and program are what will matter for fellowship, and for some fellowships, research.

FWIW, no one has ever asked me my Step 3 score. Including my PD.

 

[jasb66]

You can get step 3 out of the way in August pretty easily and then there is plenty of time to read for ABSITE until January. You don't have to focus your reading on step 3 during this time. I took step 3 on my last intern rotation - just did UW for 2 weeks and got 239 - however, I had done extremely well in step 1 and 2. IMHO, 220 is great. If compared to step 3, ABSITE percentiles are of extremely more importance when it comes to fellowship applications. I would certainly believe that step 3 scores are not even taken into account. Failing can harm.

Agree with everyone. Just pass step 3, it is not going to be relevant, just clear it, don't fail, and get licensed. The faster you get your license, the better, the less trouble/time you'll find for its issuance. Your file will be slim for them folks at the state board to go through.

Don't sweat it. For those of us who have always gunned for the highest score possible, merely passing a test is an unfamiliar and uncomfortable thing to do. But trust me, it is not worth it. Focus in ABSITE, become pimp-proof, learn to be comfortable in the floor with your patients and do read, year-long, from a surgical text book.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

I felt like anything I made above 200 on Step III meant I spent too much time studying. Why not take it after the absite? Read and prepare for ABSITE, take it in January, still leaves plenty of time during intern year to take Step III. I got my 215 or whatever and moved on. No one cares (though I am not a general surgeon but I've never heard of anyone caring)

 

[OtoHNS]

As the old saying goes:

Step 1: 2 months of studying
Step 2: 2 weeks of studying
Step 3: 2 number two pencils

 

[Buzz Me]

Don't worry so much about Step 3. No one will look at it. I spent a long three-day weekend reviewing for it.

 

[45408]

As the old saying goes:

Step 1: 2 months of studying
Step 2: 2 weeks of studying
Step 3: 2 number two pencils

More or less. I scored the same on all three, so you can tell that everyone else is applying the same study methods 😉