Study for Step 1 during IM rotation?

[LovingItAll]

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Hello everyone, I'd appreciate advice from those of you who've gone through your IM rotation. I'm considering doing what everyone says I shouldn't do: push back Step 1. I'm considering rescheduling to take it at the end of July, which would be 1 month into my IM clerkship. I just don't feel like I've mastered First Aid yet, and I want to "know it cold" for the exam.

In July, I've got 2 week weeks of Infectious Diseases followed by two weeks of renal.

I've heard that 3rd year clerkships are long and time consuming...Do any of you think it'd be feasible for me to squeeze in a couple of hours each night studying for step 1, or is this just a way, way, way bad?

 

[DarksideAllstar]

There is no way that I would try to study for Step 1 while on ANY clinical rotation (except maybe Psych). Get it over before you start IM. All the minutia that you have learned over the first two years is gradually expunged as you spend more time in the hospital (with the exception of bizarre facts that for some reason stick).

 

[realruby2000]

There is no way that I would try to study for Step 1 while on ANY clinical rotation (except maybe Psych). Get it over before you start IM. All the minutia that you have learned over the first two years is gradually expunged as you spend more time in the hospital (with the exception of bizarre facts that for some reason stick).

exactly. plus you dont want to neglect the stuff you're suppose to be learning on IM...its the most important clerkship regardless what you want to go into (except mabey psych)

 

[Wednesday]

I agree with the above posters, no question. Get Step I behind you before you start clinicals. You will probably be much more tired after a day of clinicals than you have any inkling of now, especially when you first start. And (especially during IM) you have to study in the evenings. You won't feel like sitting down to memorize anatomy when you really need to be stydying for all the renal pimp questions you will get the next day and figuring out how you can see all your patients before rounds without getting in at 5 am.

As far as First Aid, it is likely that you may never feel that you "know it cold". That's not necessary anyway. Just set a date and take the exam. If you've paid any attention up until this point, you should do just fine.

 

[nutmegs]

before I took the exam, I really thought I wanted more time. now that it's done, I'm really really really glad I didn't push it back.

 

[P Willi]

My advice is the same. I pushed mine back a week into Family Med and thought that it would be no problem, but atleast for me, I found it hard to come back home and study for the Step I, plus i think a lot of info did strangly get drained from my head in just that one week. But that was just my experience.

 

[LovingItAll]

well i see there is a clear consensus. Thanks for the posts everyone, I'll definately nix the idea and bite the bullet later this month.

 

[sophiejane]

I think it is totally an individual thing. I do my best learning by seeing things repeatedly, even if it is for a couple of hours a day. I also do really well when I have some time to let things sink in...it's just the opposite for me--time actually makes stuff stick better, especially if I have done more than rote memorization and have really tried to understand concepts.

It just depends on how you learn. I have Family first and I'm doing Step I 10 days into my rotation. I will be in a small town and have Tuesdays off and an extremely cool preceptor, so I think it will be fine for me.

By the way...I've heard from a number of people that First Aid isn't necessarily going to get you through the USMLE this year. It's a lot more integrative and a lot more about problem solving that it has been in the past, from what I hear.

Good luck on the exam and in Medicine!

 

[LovingItAll]

As a follow-up, I took the exam. I would've MAYBE picked up an extra 5-10 questions had I postponed. I felt many of the questions were on material I never would have looked at, regardless of how much extra time I had.

Unless that's the difference between 215 and 265, I'm glad I didn't postpone.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

 

[Pox in a box]

As a follow-up, I took the exam. I would've MAYBE picked up an extra 5-10 questions had I postponed. I felt many of the questions were on material I never would have looked at, regardless of how much extra time I had.

Unless that's the difference between 215 and 265, I'm glad I didn't postpone.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

Smart decision.