Step 3 resources

[pmpkn219]

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I'm a peds intern, scheduled my Step 3 for September 21-22. I was contemplating buying my UWorld subscription, and wondered what the consensus was, should I get 30 days or 60? I'm about 64 days away now.

Ive got an elective next month and the month I take the test. I own Crush Step3, and haven't opened it yet. I also heard good things about USMLE Step3 Triage book, and added it to my Amazon cart, but haven't bought it yet.

I have to look up the practice on USMLE's site (the CD stuff) and I'm not sure about getting a subscription for CCS cases. Any advice or ideas?

I scored really well on Step2 (Last September), but I feel like my general medical knowledge has swiftly diminished over the course of 4th year. I'm hoping it comes back with some review, for one last hoorah, which is why I'm taking it so early this year. Then I can focus on kids.

 

[HamOnWholeWheat]

I just took it two days ago, and I was in a similar situation. Granted I haven't got my score back yet, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Like you, I'm a new intern who did well on Step 2 last September, but had the knowledge atrophy in a big way since then. I also had two months to work with, but decided only to spend one month on it, because we just have to pass this thing (I'm a TY going into Rads, so it really has no impact on my life other than to just pass it). The consensus from what I have heard was that the best thing to do is questions and Premier Review, if you're willing to pay for it. I was cheap so I just did my old Step 2 books, Step Up to Medicine, and USMLEWorld/CCS.

Looking back on it, if I could do anything differently, it would be to finish USMLEWorld (I only did 80% of it), and go over the questions I missed again. There were so many questions on the real thing straight out of UWorld, you wouldn't believe. Also, UWorld CCS was good, but not great. It was an excellent tool to practice with, but there's no feedback on what you did wrong. You simply do the case, and then read their explanation. That said, there were 3 or 4 cases from UWorld that showed up on the real deal verbatim, so that was helpful.

One month was more than enough time to study. Any more time than that would run into diminishing returns quickly. The questions I missed on the real deal, I can't even imagine where I would go to study for them.

Overall, looking back I would have to say that taking this test so early is nice because the Step II knowledge is fresher, and its a good review to begin your intern year. However, as I was taking the test I kept realizing that this test would be so much easier with a year of clinical experience under your belt. Obvious conclusion, I know. But seriously, there's a lot of stuff on this test that I didn't know, that I knew would be a piece of cake a year from now. For example, there was one question regarding the drugs used in treatment of a CHF exacerbation. I really had to sit and think to figure out the answer, but I'm sure that would be a complete reflex answer to someone who has admitted 50+ CHF'ers during their intern year. What was a hard question for me would be a 'gimmie' answer to everyone else. When you think about this test in that context, you realize that by taking it early you're putting yourself at a very real disadvantage if you don't study your ***** off. Is it worth it to 'get it out of the way' if it means you have to put in 10x the effort studying?

If I had it to do over, I'd just wait until the end of the year, and try to do some studying on my patients throughout the year as they come in.

Good luck.