USMLE Studying for the USMLE 1 with Kids! Help!

[behindthemd]

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I have a kid in first grade and am a first year MD student out-of-state. First year has been a bit of a struggle since this is the first time I don't have my parents helping me out. Her stepdad is around a lot and helps out (does basically everything). However, I'm worried about next year and studying for step 1. I am not academically where I would like to be (I am about average on my test scores with my class), and I know I could be doing a lot better since they both distract me a lot and I feel a responsibility to spend time with them. So the question is -- for MSII, do I send her to live with my parents (her grandparents) for the year so I can concentrate on USMLE Step 1? Or do I suck it up and figure out a way to be a parent next year and to do well? I feel like either way has pros and cons, and neither choice is better than the other. So for those who have taken the exam or who are taking it, or from those who have kids and have taken the exam, what do you think?

 

[notbobtrustme]

Daycare/school + library. If you're at the library, they can't bug you. Sometimes, you just gotta be super selfish so that you can do right by your family.

That's how I handle it with a 3 year old right now. It's rough on my wife, but you know what's even rougher? Not getting the score you want and having your options limited for your career.

 

[MalibuPreMD]

IMHO, your obligation is to your child more than the exam. You're doing average at an allopathic med school so you're doing fine. Suck it up and be there for your child as much as you possibly can. Communicate to the stepdad that you can't be there for him for 2-3 months next year- he'll survive. Maybe you can tell him you need protected study time (5:30 am - 5 pm is what I get) and that anything after 5 you'll devote to the 2 of them without being distracted.

(disclosure: I have a 1 year old, my wife is an MS 1, and we have no parental support where we live.)

 

[behindthemd]

Thanks so much for your input. I don't think so much that I am prioritizing the exam over her, but rather trying to make a decision in which I can both give her the attention she needs and the attention my career needs. She is extremely close with my parents, and we actually lived with them since she was born until we moved this year. Although I would miss her extremely much, she would have all the attention I could ever offer her from my parents next year that honestly I will probably not be able to give her. She misses her grandparents a lot and the move has been rough on her. I also may have unrealistic expectations of myself as a parent (I want to be the one who takes her and picks her up from school, takes to her activities, etc.). I obviously am not making this decision lightly, and I am just curious as to how those of you who have kids are doing to balance your school, life, board studying, and children. For me, doing average isn't satisfying. But then again, I don't know how much of a correlation course grades are to board scores.

Can I ask how you're doing academically, twolittlebears and MalibuPreMed? And what your career goals are? How have you been doing with board prep so far? And how many hours have you been able to put in? Have you encountered any problems so far? If you could give me any tangible advice on balancing your life, that would be helpful.

 

[MalibuPreMD]

Can I ask how you're doing academically?

USC is p/f. I have not yet come close to failing. Our class rank is dependent upon one cumulative exam at the end of the year. I did well enough on that exam to make dean's list.

And what your career goals are?

I have been working on a research project with the trauma / acute care surgeons at LA county hospital since early in MS 1. For now, I could see myself staying at LAC and training with them. Third year might change that though. My wife is an osteopathic medical student. We'll have to see what our realistic options are for couple's matching.

How have you been doing with board prep so far?

I have been working through usmle-rx for each organ system (I started early in MS II). For the last month I have been going back through heme/onc/msk/neuro/psychiatry rx after reading corresponding chapters in FA and goljian. I commute 2.5 hours per day by train and that has been my dedicated study time for the last month.

And how many hours have you been able to put in?

Technically, I've been studying for the USMLE since the start of MS II.

Have you encountered any problems so far? If you could give me any tangible advice on balancing your life, that would be helpful.

I cannot say that what works well for my wife and me will work well for you and your husband. As a medical student, she is well aware of the time commitment required to be successful. She takes care of my son in the morning, we have help for ~6 hours per day, and I take care of my son at night. We do not have a ton of time together (probably important to note). My advice is always be conscious of time management. Also, always be thankful that you have something else besides medical school. So many of my peers derive their identities from medical school, how well they do in classes, etc… it is a blessing to come home and see a little one who couldn't care less how successful you were that day, who just wants your love and to give you love.