Step 3 (Pathology specific)

[Dral]

I'm not really familiar with the specific content of step 3. However, I was wondering if the exam is more difficult for Pathology trainees since they do not typically experience an intern year.

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[KeratinPearls]

I'm not really familiar with the specific content of step 3. However, I was wondering if the exam is more difficult for Pathology trainees since they do not typically experience an intern year.

Duh, of course. Step 3 is all clinical.

I recommend all 4th years take it before residency if they can.

 

[Napoleon1801]

Duh, of course. Step 3 is all clinical.

I recommend all 4th years take it before residency if they can.

As far as I know, you can only register for Step 3 whenever you have officially graduated and it takes 2-3 mo to get scheduled for a test date.

 

[listeriaismfb]

As far as I know, you can only register for Step 3 whenever you have officially graduated and it takes 2-3 mo to get scheduled for a test date.

Some states licensing requirements are that you have at least one year of residency in before you can sit for step 3.

 

[Dral]

I apologize for the inane question. I'm only a lowly rising 4th year.

So 'Duh, of course' it is I guess.

 

[docbiohazard]

I'm not really familiar with the specific content of step 3. However, I was wondering if the exam is more difficult for Pathology trainees since they do not typically experience an intern year.

Here's what I'd say - it's not going to get easier the further you get away from med school. Path trainees that i know that waited until 3rd or 4th year to take it loathed it. It's not that much different than Step 2 - just a little more bread and butter, a little less zebras. I'd recommend taking it AS SOON AS YOU CAN (more on that later...) The one thing we have in our first year that most interns don't, honestly, is time to study/prep for Step 3 if you want.

As far as I know, you can only register for Step 3 whenever you have officially graduated and it takes 2-3 mo to get scheduled for a test date.

True. Dral is a MD/PHD like me, and sometimes we get lucky and actually get that MD conferred "early" (like in December)... thats how I took step 3 in May before I started residency, which rocked. I highly recommend this sort of a plan. If you can't pull that off, just register for it as soon as you can after graduation - get it out of the way!

Some states licensing requirements are that you have at least one year of residency in before you can sit for step 3.

This is a common point of confusion. It's not state licensing requirements, it has to do with the FSMB and picking a state to sit for Step 3... it really has no bearing on anything - it doesn't have to be the state you practice in, plan on practicing in, live in, take the test in... plenty of states don't require any experience, so you can just pick any of those.

I apologize for the inane question. I'm only a lowly rising 4th year.

So 'Duh, of course' it is I guess.

Don't just take guff like that, man! Stand up for yourself! It was a decent question... although one thats been traveled before - you might've found your answer with a quick search of the forums...

Good luck
DBH

 

[sohsie]

Quote:
Originally Posted by listeriaismfb
Some states licensing requirements are that you have at least one year of residency in before you can sit for step 3.

This is a common point of confusion. It's not state licensing requirements, it has to do with the FSMB and picking a state to sit for Step 3... it really has no bearing on anything - it doesn't have to be the state you practice in, plan on practicing in, live in, take the test in... plenty of states don't require any experience, so you can just pick any of those.
DBH

Ditto on the above point. Just register through a state like California or Connecticut as soon as you graduate. It doesnt matter if you never plan to step foot in that state in your entire life, and you can take the test wherever you want. It isnt logical, but thats the way it is.

 

[Dral]

Don't just take guff like that, man! Stand up for yourself! It was a decent question... although one thats been traveled before - you might've found your answer with a quick search of the forums...

Good luck
DBH

Imagine my second post in this thread with as much sarcasm as you could attach to an internet post. 😉

Thanks for your reply, docbiohazard. I think I may have some time between graduation and residency in June. I may try to take Step3 then.

 

[stainedglass]

So you can register for the test as if you were in California, but take the test in another state with no bad consequences?

How much time did you guys give yourselves to study for this test?

 

[sohsie]

So you can register for the test as if you were in California, but take the test in another state with no bad consequences?

How much time did you guys give yourselves to study for this test?

Yep. I was living in NJ, starting a residency in NY, registered in CT, and took the exam in CA. Right now, Im applying for licenses in 5 other states. 3 of them require a significant amount of post-graduate training (either 6 months or one year), none of which I had when I took the exam. Yet, none of them care if I took it before their particular state board regulations said that I could.

The FSMB explicitly states this in a FAQ:
Do I have to take Step 3 for the medical board of the state where I reside?
No. While many people do this, it is not required.
http://www.fsmb.org/usmle_faq.html#q06

The FSMB also implies this in this statement on their USMLE general info page:

After identifying a board whose eligibility requirements you meet, print that state board's instructions for your reference. You may also need to print and submit a postgraduate training form or additional documents from these instructions.
http://www.fsmb.org/m_usmlestep3.html

 

[Cloaca]

So you can register for the test as if you were in California, but take the test in another state with no bad consequences?

How much time did you guys give yourselves to study for this test?

I studied for about 3 - 4 weeks in my second year of path. That seemed to be about the maximum people devote to it and everyone so far has passed.

 

[docbiohazard]

How much time did you guys give yourselves to study for this test?

About 2 weeks... recommend USMLEWorld, primarily, and do the downloadable demo for the mini-cases...

DBH

 

[Patholog]

Took Step 3 my PGY 4 year, studied for about 2 weeks...Not hard at all. Scored very close to both Step 1 and 2. Used my Step 2 stuff and something called blast the boards or something like that.

 

[KeratinPearls]

Took Step 3 my PGY 4 year, studied for about 2 weeks...Not hard at all. Scored very close to both Step 1 and 2. Used my Step 2 stuff and something called blast the boards or something like that.

4 post medical school AND no clinical experience and only two weeks of studying. Either this is BS or you are a genius.

 

[Prairie]

Don't think it's BS. You really don't need any more clinical experience for Step 3 than you do for Step 2. I studied much less than 2 weeks and did fine. (I took it during the first year of residency)

 

[sohsie]

I took it about 4 months into residency, read Crush Step 3 a few times, did the whole Kaplan QBank, reread Boards and Wards, scored slightly lower than Step 1 & 2, but slightly above average score.

I know of two people who waited until PGY4 and then failed and had to repeat to pass, and they were smart and not slackers. Don't make that mistake, take it as soon as you can.

 

[Patholog]

Either this is BS or you are a genius.

Do the two have to be mutually exclusive?

The test is not that hard. I studied very, very hard in med school, and the Step 3 material required some brushing up, but it seemed as though it was mostly common medical sense. Not a lot of things that required rote memorization, like which antibiotic do you use for this, etc. It was just not that bad.

And I am definitely not a genius. I get lost going to work every day. And going back home. And I can never quite figure out how to turn my scope on.

 

[Sean2tall]

I don't think doing pathology puts you at too much of a disadvantage. I thought my half-year of pathology training actually helped somewhat, in the sense that I know more about the indications of lab tests and the consequences of a biopsy result. I was highly worried that my studying was inadequate (reviewed approx. 75% of the USMLE World questions and 50% of their simulated cases and did nothing else) but I passed with a score comparable to my Step 1/2 (average). I would be sure to familiarize myself with the simulation cases and do as many as possible. They are not hard once you understand the formula.

 

[longlakeboy]

I just got my score back last week. I took it about 8 months into my first year. Basically, I studied for three days approximately one week before I took the exam, and in the evenings leading up to it for a couple hours. I read through First Aid, Crush, and did Blueprints questions. Did the five practice cases on the CD they send you. In other words, I didn't do a lot. I dropped 29 points off my Step II score but still passed easily.

Basically, if you did well on Step 2, you just need a brief refresher and to know the system for the cases. Otherwise, don't waste your time studying for weeks.

 

[xanthines]

This is obviously anecdotal but the path fellow I worked with took Step 3 during his last year of residency. The program wasn't too happy with him, but he passed with what seemed like minimal studying. He said he didn't do as well on Step3 as Step 1 or 2, but "whatever, dude, I passed."

-X