USMLE woes--advice?

[gimmedog]

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Applying this fall to EM. I didn't beat the mean on step 1 and need to do step 2 early and BETTER. 😡 Does anyone have advice about when in the summer/fall to take step 2?

I'm just returning from a one year leave of abscence between 3rd and 4th yr and had little clinical exposure during that year off. Would it be better to wait until after a rotation or will studying help get me in gear to return to the wards?

Also, other than interviews, what (and when) was the most time consuming part of the application process?

Thanks! I don't have buddies going into EM, so this forum has really helped. 😀

 

[endo]

I would tend to think that taking step 2 close to the requisite 3rd year rotations would be optimal. Take a few weeks right after you end the year and then go in and take it. Good luck!

 

[fauci]

I was in a similar situation last year. 215 on step 1, then 241 on step 2. First you want to ask your PD if s/he thinks you need to. On the other hand, I think that it's very realistic to expect yourself to do alot better on step2, maybe because most don't study as hard for step 2, definately because emergency medicine prepares you well for step 2. So, you're lucky: preparing for your EM rotations prepares you for step 2. Here's a few things that you might want to consider:

-take it in mid June to early July. I think you get scores back in 60 days, and that would give you enough time to get the scores in your application.

-Do some solid "core" rotations between now and May (trauma surgery?, Peds EM?, critical care?, medicine?, EM?). During those months, you study the respective core subjects (medicine, peds, surgery). Those will also prepare you for your EM rotations in the summer/fall. Seems like there were a fair number of critical care questions. Also a fair number of trauma questions. Consider auditing an ATLS course. Surgical recall, Wash manual, and blueprints (except medicine and peds) were all good, I thought.

-Do a fairly easy FP rotation (with OB) up to 2 weeks before you take the test. Focus your studying on psyche, OB, and preventative med. Those are subjects that are highly tested and not too tough to study for.

-take a 2 week vacation before the test to do questions, read Advanced Life Support for the USMLE2, etc.

-During the coming months, whether you do an EM rotation or not, do alot of EM reading and questions. Like I said above, I think that EM is great preparation (it seems like 75% of the questions start with "patient presents to the ED with...)

-Do lots of practice questions throughout. NMS,etc.

Good luck!

 

[Pegasus]

just wondering why you took a year off? I have the opportunity to take a year off and get my MPH degree in health care and prevention at one of the countries top schools. I would want to take Step II after the year off and after I do a 4th year rotation in July and then take it in August..although this may not be as early as I need to take it b/c of my poor Step I score.

did the year off help you? do you feel like you have forgotten everything and wish you would have taken step I right after 3rd year? and did the clinical experience in your year off help you retain any knowledge?

sorry for all the ?'s.
I just cant decide whether to take the year off or not. In a way im ready to get through and into residency, in the other way, im undecided b/t EM and Peds?

Thanks
Pegasus

 

[gimmedog]

I already pm'd the last post, but didn't want to leave that question hanging for the rest of the forum. Learning public health is a great complement to EM, where you may often feel as if you're just sewing them up and sending them out without really fixing anything.

It does invite all new frustrations about the political economy, etc, but better to fight the good fight! Grrrrr!

 

[Nof55]

I also had the same experience. Did not beat the mean on Step 1 and was very worried about my chances of matching at all in EM. Solid information by Fauci . Agree with all of the advice.

I did my first EM rotation in July, then took and easy rotation (anesthesia) and then a vacation month. This way all of the first three months were hard core review time for me. I would suggest doing a ton of questions - usually it is the test and not the content that screws people up on Step 1. I got my scores in with plenty of time with my test date in the end of Sept..

Also I would suggest studying to do everything you can to rock on your EM rotations. Would also suggest you do two at places that have EM residencies in order to get LORs from people who are known to the PDs at places you apply to. Everyone knows you can do great on the Steps and suck on the floor and EM values people who do great work! I was able to interview at great programs and got my number one at a pretty competitive program in EM. Get along well with the residents and attendings, be eager and really love EM and you'll match, just make sure you rank enough programs. Good luck!

Nof55

 

[DrQuinn]

Good advice from fauci and Nof...

Key is to get good LORs and do audition rotations. If the residents and attendings see that you "fit" with EM, then you have a much better chance. You can score a 99%ile on boards but still be a dufus...

Q

 

[Melb]

Totally agree with the above posts. I FAILED the USMLE part I, I am an FMG, but did really well on the part II and had great LORs. You are more than a bunch of numbers. Just be yourself and show that this is what you really want to do. There is nothing worse than having someone who doesn't want to be there.

If you find that a bunch of doors are locked....break a window! If this is what you really want you will get it!

Melb