Step II prep halfway through third year for an early taker

[omgwtfbbq?]

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I'm halfway through third year and want to take step II as early as possible.
I will be doing a research elective for a month before surgery and obgyn (my last two rotations) and wondered what I could best do during that month to set myself up for taking the exam early. My step one score wasn't as high as I'd like, though not enough to self-immolate over --- it was a 220. And i'd like to have a sturdy step two score because i need to stay close to home for residency due to family things. I'm looking at doing either Emergency or Physical med and rehab and remaining on the west coast - arizona, washington, oregon, colorado, etc....

So what can you guys suggest? I like to use only a few review materials, and i especially tend towards q and a (i LOVED mksap)
I'm looking for one online qbank
a few texts
suggestions about timeline
whether or not I should do it early
and anything else you guys can mention that I should keep in mind.

Thanks guys!

 

[kazuma]

How early are you planning on taking step 2? Did you try USMLE World for step 1? I did, and that's what I plan on using for step 2. It seems to be the best q-bank on the market.

 

[IM Substance P]

Hey OP -

I had a similar approach. My third year was frontloaded with the most time-intensive rotations before winter vacation except Internal Medicine.

However, studying for Internal Medicine can basically coincide with your studying for Step 2.

I picked up a three-month UWorld subscription in February and completed it by May. After third year, I took an additional week or so to prep for 2CK, and I took it before fourth year.

It was a great move, and my 2CK score blew my Step 1 score out of the water. Aside from UWorld and MKSAP for Med Students, I didn't really use any other Step 2CK study resources except Deja Review, which I breezed through in the final couple of weeks.

 

[omgwtfbbq?]

IM was my first rotation. I did reasonably well on the shelf, and own MKSAP 3 and 4. I'll get a subscription to uworld. i end on obgyn and surg unfortunately, but still want to take it as early as possible to make up for that step one score. of course, i don't want it to screw me over either. My step I was a 220, but i'm applying to some competitive fields, and so need ot try to have something that looks good on my resume!

 

[Guile]

IM was my first rotation. I did reasonably well on the shelf, and own MKSAP 3 and 4. I'll get a subscription to uworld. i end on obgyn and surg unfortunately, but still want to take it as early as possible to make up for that step one score. of course, i don't want it to screw me over either. My step I was a 220, but i'm applying to some competitive fields, and so need ot try to have something that looks good on my resume!

PM&R is one of the least competitive fields there is. I think it has the lowest average step 1 score.