The whole process

[Livestrong51085]

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So after deciding to go to medical school a few months ago, I have been devouring all the information I possibly can, and am already beginning my post-bacc journey, etc. But I was just wondering if someone could kind of verify for me a few things/answer a few questions. I know a lot of these answers probably exist on the forum somewhere, but from what I searched, I didn't fully find my answers.

From what I understand, the process is as follows (once admitted to med school):

1) MSI
2) MSII
3) Step I exam
4) MSIII - consists of the basic rotations such as family med, IM, peds, obgyn, surgery, etc, where "shelf" exams are taken after each rotation to count as a part of your grade.

**Are these rotations also known as "clerkships" ? I've heard the term thrown around and I'm not sure if they are the same **

5) MSIV - Is this the year for electives? Do you only do electives this year? Shelf exams given?

6) Step II exam during the 4th year

**What time of the MSIV year is the Step II exam normally taken?

7) Sub-intership? Can someone shed a little light on what this is?

8) Internship/PGY-1

9) Step III exam

10) PGY-2,3,4,fellowship (if appliable)

11) Board Certification? Is this required/optional..is this done once you become an attending or must be done after residency/fellowship?



I know my format for asking these questions is a little weird, but please bear with me. Again, I'm sorry if a lot of these questions are redundant or are meant to be common knowledge, but I haven't had a chance to meet with my post-bacc pre-med advisors yet, since I don't start for another week yet, and I hear (from SDN) that most of them are kinda clueless anyway.

Thank you SO much in advance!


P.S. 2 more REALLY random question....

What does "medicine" mean? Like if someone says "admit the patient to medicine" Is that referring to internal medicine? That's always confused me.

When is chief residency done? (given that you are selected) - 4th year of residency, or must you take on an additional year of residency if you want to add that particular feather to your cap?

 

[Urticaria]

You've got the right idea. A lot more than I knew as a pre-med. 🙂

- Rotations = Clerkships.
- MSIV rotations are different. Every school is different in what they require you to do, but generally your rotations will be 4 weeks long, you'll have a good amount of elective time. Some examples of what you would do 4th year are your sub-I, emergency med, internal medicine subspecialties, radiology, surgical subspecialties, an ICU rotation, etc.
- People tend to take Step II in the first half the year at my school, but I know it varies widely, and every school has different requirements as to when you have to take Step II by.
- A Sub-I is when you do a rotation, generally in what you plan on doing (such as IM, peds, surg, etc.), and you act as an intern. Different specialties at different schools run this rotation differently in terms of how much actual responsibility you get, but the idea is to be an intern for a month.
- "Medicine" as you referred to it = internal medicine, as a specialty.

 

[Livestrong51085]

Thank you for your response, Urticaria. Anyone else care to shed some light on the questions Urticaria didn't touch on? Thanks in advance!

 

[Livestrong51085]

bump*

 

[DrYoda]

When is chief residency done? (given that you are selected) - 4th year of residency, or must you take on an additional year of residency if you want to add that particular feather to your cap?

This depends on what speciality you are in. Most specialities the chief resident is one (sometimes more) of the residents in their last year. Internal medicine is different and has chief resident as a fellowship-like program where you do a chief resident year after your last year of IM residency.