Step II-6 weeks too long

[utlonghorn50]

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Is 6 weeks too long to study for step II for an american medical graduate. I am trying to make >250 and I was going to try to give a good effort

 

[klubguts]

i certainly admire your aspirations, but i think six weeks is too long to study for step 2 CK. If you are taking it early in the fourth year (while M3 clerkships are fresh), you really need just review and do some practice questions. Most of my classmates improved their scores on step 2 and studied much less than they did for step 1. In my experience, step 2 was certainly an easier exam than 1. I only studied for about ten days (was on an off period) and improved my score. Good luck and hope you meet your goals!

 

[notatriagenurse]

Is 6 weeks too long to study for step II for an american medical graduate. I am trying to make >250 and I was going to try to give a good effort

I would say that 6 wks is overkill. I studied 15 days and got a 240 and did not even take Step 2 until 6 months into my 4th year. I would say if you take Step 2 early (~2 mos.) after 3rd year so you have the clerkships fresh in your mind and study about as much as I did then you probably can pull >250. Also, if you are currently working/worked your butt off in 3rd year then you should do great. IMHO, Step 2 is easier than both Step 1 or the shelf exams. Good luck!!

 

[12R34Y]

I agree. Most of the fourth year students at my school routinely tell us that step II is a little easier than step 1 and the several i've talked to only studied a couple of weeks tops. I'm taking it two weeks after the end of my third year this summer.

I mean afterall.......I will have taken 7 different NBME written shelves over the course of the last year and I think that's pretty adequate question prep.

overwhelmingly, boards and wards and usmle secrets step II are the two books folks are telling us to read frequently.

later

 

[dlung]

I didn't take Step II until mid-November. I was similarly worried that so much time since my core rotations would make it difficult. So I gave myself 3.5 weeks... I lost enthusiasm for studying after 2 and spent the last 1.5 weeks surfing the internet, daydreaming, watching movies, and talking on the phone... kind of like what I'm doing on radiology right now 😀

Bottom line: I scored a bit better on Step II with a quarter of the studying for Step I.