studying for Step I and Step II at the same time during 3rd year Rotations?

[Zuperdoc]

---

Members do not see this ad.

sorry for the double post (i posted this earlier in the allopathic forum, but i think i would get better help here)

I have finished two years of medical school, and this summer i planned to study for the step one by going over kaplan and various other study sources like usmle world. however, i have had some issues to deal with outside of medical studies.

i am about to start my third year rotations, however i have not had time to prepare for my step 1 AT ALL! my first rotation is in pediatrics. i am not sure what to expect, but do you think it is feasable to cram studying for the step 1 while at the same time being on rotations?

i plan to take the step 1 late december/early january. during that time, i will only have my pediatrics rotation completed, and my internal medicine starts in january 2009.

i go to a foreign school in europe, and they don't require i pass the usmle to proceed (as long as i pass all of their exams). however, i really want to get my step 1 out of the way.

for those that have gone through year 3, do you think it would be feasable to handle both step 1 review and also step 2 material? is there really a significant overlap in step 1 and step 2 material?

thx in advance


edit: The title of this thread is a little misleading. I plan to study for step 1, and do my third year rotations at the same time

 

[smq123]

for those that have gone through year 3, do you think it would be feasable to handle both step 1 review and also step 2 material?

No.

This is based, though, on fairly demanding and intense 3rd year rotations. I don't know how demanding the 3rd year rotations are in European medical schools. If you have a lot of call, long hours, and exams for each rotation - it's just not that feasible.

is there really a significant overlap in step 1 and step 2 material?

Not much.

Step 1 isn't that closely related to rotations. Step 2 is, though. I found it easier to study for rotations and Step 2 at the same time.

Good luck.

 

[Zuperdoc]

i was fearing that would be the answer. i really want to continue with third year, but don't know where to fit in my step 1 review!?

i anticipate that i will have to miss a semester or take time off to study for step 1 somewhere down the line.

is it possible to take step 2 before step 1?


do you have any advice? i would prefer to go on with my third year rotations, and not delay those. thx again, and appreciate the post!




my pediatrics rotation is 8 weeks. i may be mistaken, but for peds there is one exam (the final is the boards). i'm also taking a lab course, which starts at the same time peds does, but lasts 4 weeks.

i'm really stressed, as none of this was planned.

 

[smq123]

i was fearing that would be the answer. i really want to continue with third year, but don't know where to fit in my step 1 review!?

is it possible to take step 2 before step 1?

do you have any advice? i would prefer to go on with my third year rotations, and not delay those. thx again, and appreciate the post!

my pediatrics rotation is 8 weeks. i may be mistaken, but for peds there is one exam (the final is the boards). i'm also taking a lab course, which starts at the same time peds does, but lasts 4 weeks.

As far as I know, you can't take Step 2 before Step 1. I think you must take them in order.

Is there any reason why you MUST take Step 1 in a few months? Could it wait until later this summer? You wouldn't necessarily need to take a semester off to study for Step 1. A month of vacation (or even 2 months of a very light, easy rotation) could be enough.

Sorry. 🙁 I hope it works out for you.

 

[Zuperdoc]

As far as I know, you can't take Step 2 before Step 1. I think you must take them in order.

Is there any reason why you MUST take Step 1 in a few months? Could it wait until later this summer? You wouldn't necessarily need to take a semester off to study for Step 1. A month of vacation (or even 2 months of a very light, easy rotation) could be enough.

Sorry. 🙁 I hope it works out for you.

this summer? or are you talking about summer 2009?

my rotations start next week!

 

[smq123]

this summer? or are you talking about summer 2009?

my rotations start next week!

I'm sorry, I meant Summer 2009.

If you do it this way, it might be do-able:

- Annotate First Aid for Step 2 as you do your rotations. Make additional notes, etc.

- Take a month off, or do a VERY easy rotation in Spring of 2009. Use that time to study intensely for Step 1.

- Take Step 1 in Spring or Summer of 2009.

- In Fall of 2009, study for Step 2, using the notes that you took during your rotations. Step 2 is "easier" than Step 1, and doesn't require quite as much studying.

- Take Step 2 in Fall of 2009, or during January, 2010.

It'll be tough, but doable.

But trying to study for Step 1 during your peds rotation will be very, very difficult, I think.

 

[SoCuteMD]

Taking Step 1 is no longer a prerequisite to taking Step 2. Link: http://www.ecfmg.org/news/jul3004.html

Link to USMLE Bulletin: http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/bulletin/2009.html

 

[Zuperdoc]

thx socutemd, i thought i had heard that was true. would you recommend completing step 2 before step 1 though? i really want to shoot for the step one by december/janurary, but not sure if that is going to be feasable.