When Do Ppl Usually Write Their USMLEs?
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You will need to do Step 1, Step 2 CK and CS before you graduate in order to get ECFMG certification (assuming you're applying for US residency).
It depends on the curriculum of your program - you've applied to UK schools right? Do they follow 6 year or 5 year programs?
Regardless, you'd probably take step 1 after your 3rd year (when you've done all your pre-clinical subjects) - especially after completion of pharmacology. Some clinical experience might help too (ie. psych or something). Some people take it in the summer after 3rd year or during 4th year.
Step 2 traditionally is taken in your 5th or final year, and you try to get Step 2 CS out of the way in the summer after your 4th year while you're hopefully doing US electives so that you're in the US at the same time.
Now, you don't really have to stick with this. some people find it easier to do step 2 before step 1 if they want more time to study step 1 stuff (although ...I can't really see the logic to this because you don't really have enough time to go back and relearn pathology and other subjects during your more senior years).
Hope that helps. Ask around if you find other Americans at your school.
It depends on the curriculum of your program - you've applied to UK schools right? Do they follow 6 year or 5 year programs?
Regardless, you'd probably take step 1 after your 3rd year (when you've done all your pre-clinical subjects) - especially after completion of pharmacology. Some clinical experience might help too (ie. psych or something). Some people take it in the summer after 3rd year or during 4th year.
Step 2 traditionally is taken in your 5th or final year, and you try to get Step 2 CS out of the way in the summer after your 4th year while you're hopefully doing US electives so that you're in the US at the same time.
Now, you don't really have to stick with this. some people find it easier to do step 2 before step 1 if they want more time to study step 1 stuff (although ...I can't really see the logic to this because you don't really have enough time to go back and relearn pathology and other subjects during your more senior years).
Hope that helps. Ask around if you find other Americans at your school.
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Oh, i think you mentioned before you're Canadian. You'd sit Canadian boards sometime in your last two years.
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Hey Leorl,
Thanks for response.
Yeah, If I do get into med school, it will probably be England or Ireland (So yeah, they both are 5 Years).
Step 2 after 4th/during 5th eh...
What about Step 3? From the reserach I've done on this forum, people suggest that I need Step 3 completed if I want a decent chance at a H1b Visa in the U.S....
Step 1 after year 3 eh?
I have a Life Sciences degree under my belt, do you think I should take a crack at it after 1st or 2nd year meds? I can write Step 1 as many times as I want right, and they just look at my best mark? or no?
I really want to rock USMLEs, so I'm willing to write it more than 1x if it means I can rock good scores...
Yeah, Canadian Boards....I really want to practice meds in the U.S....so I'm gunning for USMLEs....
Thanks.
Thanks for response.
Yeah, If I do get into med school, it will probably be England or Ireland (So yeah, they both are 5 Years).
Step 2 after 4th/during 5th eh...
What about Step 3? From the reserach I've done on this forum, people suggest that I need Step 3 completed if I want a decent chance at a H1b Visa in the U.S....
Step 1 after year 3 eh?
I have a Life Sciences degree under my belt, do you think I should take a crack at it after 1st or 2nd year meds? I can write Step 1 as many times as I want right, and they just look at my best mark? or no?
I really want to rock USMLEs, so I'm willing to write it more than 1x if it means I can rock good scores...
Yeah, Canadian Boards....I really want to practice meds in the U.S....so I'm gunning for USMLEs....
Thanks.
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Hi,
1) oh no no no, that's the stinker about the USMLE exams. Once you pass, you're stuck with that score. You can't retake it to try to get a better mark. And it is one biotch of an exam. If you want to try for a good shot, you've got to do it first time around. We all want good marks...easier said than done!
Okay, so if you're in a 5 year program, most people would generally take Step 1 in summer of 3rd year or beginning/middle of 4th year. Take Step 2 cs summer of 4th year, and the Step 2 CK in the beginning of 5th year.
This is if you want to stay on track and go straight back to US residency. You need to complete all your steps by December of the year you want to Match (Match comes in March). As you can see, it's a rather tight timeline. The problem comes because you most likely have finals in the beginning of your 5th year so it becomes a bit of a crunch and cram.
Some people choose to do Step 3 before starting residency. So that means sometime after Step 2 CK (or your last USMLE step for ECFMG cert) is done...so something like April/May/June of your final year, obviously trying not to have a conflict with your final year exams. This isn't necessary and I'm not sure how Step 3 affects H1B visa status, but you might as well get it out of the way if you can because there won't be much time to study for it intern year or residency years.
What did you cover in your Life Sciences degree? I doubt you'd have learned pathology and pharmacology? And there's quite a bit of micro too, they like virology/parasitology and topical subjects (AIDS)
1) oh no no no, that's the stinker about the USMLE exams. Once you pass, you're stuck with that score. You can't retake it to try to get a better mark. And it is one biotch of an exam. If you want to try for a good shot, you've got to do it first time around. We all want good marks...easier said than done!
Okay, so if you're in a 5 year program, most people would generally take Step 1 in summer of 3rd year or beginning/middle of 4th year. Take Step 2 cs summer of 4th year, and the Step 2 CK in the beginning of 5th year.
This is if you want to stay on track and go straight back to US residency. You need to complete all your steps by December of the year you want to Match (Match comes in March). As you can see, it's a rather tight timeline. The problem comes because you most likely have finals in the beginning of your 5th year so it becomes a bit of a crunch and cram.
Some people choose to do Step 3 before starting residency. So that means sometime after Step 2 CK (or your last USMLE step for ECFMG cert) is done...so something like April/May/June of your final year, obviously trying not to have a conflict with your final year exams. This isn't necessary and I'm not sure how Step 3 affects H1B visa status, but you might as well get it out of the way if you can because there won't be much time to study for it intern year or residency years.
What did you cover in your Life Sciences degree? I doubt you'd have learned pathology and pharmacology? And there's quite a bit of micro too, they like virology/parasitology and topical subjects (AIDS)
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Wow, thanks Leorl for the heads up.
Only once for Step 1 eh? Same deal goes with Step 2 CK and CS, just one time swing?
Hmmmm, in that case, I will write it after 3rd year summer. But I will start studying next summer if I have to, I am very determined to come back to the U.S and get a residency I want.
Yeah, Queen's Life Sciences degree is pretty solid. Here's some of the stuff I've taken
Anatomy - 6 Courses (2nd and 3rd Year Levels, quite in depth)
Microbiology - 1 course (2nd Year Level)
Pharmacology - 5 Courses (3rd and 4th year level, quite in depth)
Pathology - 1 Course (4th Year Level)
Physiology - 1 course(2nd Year Level)
Pathophysiology - 1 course(3rd Year level)
Immunology -1 course (3rd Year Level)
Biochemistry - 3 courses (3rd Year Level)
Molecular Biology - 1 course (3rd Year Level)
I did some practice USMLE questions online, a lot of it I was familiar with (with regards to content).
But if I can only write it once, then I'm just gonna do it after 3rd year.
I also applied to RCSI (and now it is only 4 years), but I think I would rather do a 5 year program (e.g. Trinity or UCD or England), since I think that extra year will help me get more time for research publications/U.S electives/USMLE studying. What do yuo think?
Thanks again for your help.
Only once for Step 1 eh? Same deal goes with Step 2 CK and CS, just one time swing?
Hmmmm, in that case, I will write it after 3rd year summer. But I will start studying next summer if I have to, I am very determined to come back to the U.S and get a residency I want.
Yeah, Queen's Life Sciences degree is pretty solid. Here's some of the stuff I've taken
Anatomy - 6 Courses (2nd and 3rd Year Levels, quite in depth)
Microbiology - 1 course (2nd Year Level)
Pharmacology - 5 Courses (3rd and 4th year level, quite in depth)
Pathology - 1 Course (4th Year Level)
Physiology - 1 course(2nd Year Level)
Pathophysiology - 1 course(3rd Year level)
Immunology -1 course (3rd Year Level)
Biochemistry - 3 courses (3rd Year Level)
Molecular Biology - 1 course (3rd Year Level)
I did some practice USMLE questions online, a lot of it I was familiar with (with regards to content).
But if I can only write it once, then I'm just gonna do it after 3rd year.
I also applied to RCSI (and now it is only 4 years), but I think I would rather do a 5 year program (e.g. Trinity or UCD or England), since I think that extra year will help me get more time for research publications/U.S electives/USMLE studying. What do yuo think?
Thanks again for your help.
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Oh, that Life Sciences program seems pretty good...you've got your pharm and biochem covered. Immunology...USMLE 1 immunology gets really complicated sometimes. I did an immuno course when I was in college and still was like WTF? at some of that stuff. So bone up on the smaller subjects because it seems like you'd have a pretty good solid background on the other stuff like Anatomy/physiology. Keep in mind that the way they ask physiology questions is sorta different than we're used to thinking about it, with the graphs and charts and stuff. Man, I wish I'd had your background before taking Step 1...but I'd still wait after 3rd year of a final year program just to give more time for review.
Step 2 CK and 2CS also a one time shot. Although 2CS is just pass/fail.
Hmm...where do you think you'll get research pubs/experience? It might not be too hard to get research experience here (Trinity offers a couple summer programs) and I've arranged research stuff on my own just by approaching lecturers who's stuff I'm interested in. Doing 5 years would allow more time for completion of subjects...but keep in mind that your final year is basically an exam year so course exams can conflict with USMLE planning.
The four year route is ok too, because it's more like the US 4 years. You'd take USMLE 1 after 2nd year, maybe step 2 CS summer of 3rd year (it's pretty easy) after you've gotten some clinical experience, and also 2 CS summer of 3rd year or beginning of 4th year. This is if you want to shell out the $$$$$$$$$ needed for the RCSI 4-year program.
Step 2 CK and 2CS also a one time shot. Although 2CS is just pass/fail.
Hmm...where do you think you'll get research pubs/experience? It might not be too hard to get research experience here (Trinity offers a couple summer programs) and I've arranged research stuff on my own just by approaching lecturers who's stuff I'm interested in. Doing 5 years would allow more time for completion of subjects...but keep in mind that your final year is basically an exam year so course exams can conflict with USMLE planning.
The four year route is ok too, because it's more like the US 4 years. You'd take USMLE 1 after 2nd year, maybe step 2 CS summer of 3rd year (it's pretty easy) after you've gotten some clinical experience, and also 2 CS summer of 3rd year or beginning of 4th year. This is if you want to shell out the $$$$$$$$$ needed for the RCSI 4-year program.
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Wicked, thanks for the solid reply.
Yeah, thats the reason why I chose Queen's, cause its known to have a solid Life Sciences program. Of course, its also known to nail people's GPAs, and hence why i'm looking at crossing the Atlantic for meds, and not Canada/U.S. Oh well. I just hope my background will let me do well on USMLEs, cause I've always wanted to practice meds in the U.S since I was a kid.
Yeah, I'll definetly write after 3rd, if its one time shot.
Research? I've worked here in my hometown at University of Western Ontario for the past few summers, so I'm set there. However, I think I will apply to work in Toronto or the U.S if I'm in meds, cause working for a 'big name school' will help for residency matching, no?
Also, reason why I would like to do 5 years as opposed to 4, is that extra summer, will give me a chance to do perhaps clinical medicine in a 3rd world country (ie. India). Would you suggest I do that, work in a hospital in a 3rd world country over a summer. Would that help residency matching at all?
Basically my question is, for U.S residency matching, do they look at other things such as community work, research, publications, reference letters....or is it straight up USMLE marks?
Thanks
Yeah, thats the reason why I chose Queen's, cause its known to have a solid Life Sciences program. Of course, its also known to nail people's GPAs, and hence why i'm looking at crossing the Atlantic for meds, and not Canada/U.S. Oh well. I just hope my background will let me do well on USMLEs, cause I've always wanted to practice meds in the U.S since I was a kid.
Yeah, I'll definetly write after 3rd, if its one time shot.
Research? I've worked here in my hometown at University of Western Ontario for the past few summers, so I'm set there. However, I think I will apply to work in Toronto or the U.S if I'm in meds, cause working for a 'big name school' will help for residency matching, no?
Also, reason why I would like to do 5 years as opposed to 4, is that extra summer, will give me a chance to do perhaps clinical medicine in a 3rd world country (ie. India). Would you suggest I do that, work in a hospital in a 3rd world country over a summer. Would that help residency matching at all?
Basically my question is, for U.S residency matching, do they look at other things such as community work, research, publications, reference letters....or is it straight up USMLE marks?
Thanks
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blitz, just to clarify, step 2 cs doesn't equal step 3. here are the exams and how we take them in the US:
Step 1: basic sciences (we take this after M2 year, just before starting clinical rotations)
Step 2 CK: Clinical knowledge, demonstrates your ability to care for patients under supervision (we take this after completing basic core clerkships in M3 year, so basically at any time during M4 year)
Step 2 CS: Clinical skills, demonstrates your ability to interact with a patient, speak clear English, etc. Being phased out because a useless test of US grads (something like 97% pass and most med schools have harder tests along a similar line you must pass prior to graduation)
Step 3: Demonstrates your ability to care for patients independently (some states let you take this before residency, but many require at least one year or post-graduate training); the H1 visa is a big deal for FMG's and having passed Step 3 REALLY helps. my significant other went to med school and completed a residency program in india before coming to the US. he took all three steps at the same time (CS wasn't offered at that time).
best wishes.
Step 1: basic sciences (we take this after M2 year, just before starting clinical rotations)
Step 2 CK: Clinical knowledge, demonstrates your ability to care for patients under supervision (we take this after completing basic core clerkships in M3 year, so basically at any time during M4 year)
Step 2 CS: Clinical skills, demonstrates your ability to interact with a patient, speak clear English, etc. Being phased out because a useless test of US grads (something like 97% pass and most med schools have harder tests along a similar line you must pass prior to graduation)
Step 3: Demonstrates your ability to care for patients independently (some states let you take this before residency, but many require at least one year or post-graduate training); the H1 visa is a big deal for FMG's and having passed Step 3 REALLY helps. my significant other went to med school and completed a residency program in india before coming to the US. he took all three steps at the same time (CS wasn't offered at that time).
best wishes.
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Hey blitz.
I don't know how much doing a 3rd world rotation(s) would help with residency matching, but it couldn't hurt. Basically, it would be an absolutely fantastic experience for numerous reasons, and it could be a conversation point for something in interviews.
A big name hospital...well, i guess everyone likes a good reputation. But don't just shoot for the big names. There's a lot of great things about other programs.
Program directors do look at other things. Unfortunately, they look at USMLE a LOT....BUT other things do help 🙂
I don't know how much doing a 3rd world rotation(s) would help with residency matching, but it couldn't hurt. Basically, it would be an absolutely fantastic experience for numerous reasons, and it could be a conversation point for something in interviews.
A big name hospital...well, i guess everyone likes a good reputation. But don't just shoot for the big names. There's a lot of great things about other programs.
Program directors do look at other things. Unfortunately, they look at USMLE a LOT....BUT other things do help 🙂
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Colinator: Thanks for clearing that up. I definetly did think Step 2 CS was Step 3...thanks.
Leorl: Think you answered all my questions, thanks again man.
Now its just a waiting game...I got an interview in Nottingham in January. Still waiting for my other 3 English schools, and Ireland starts pumping their acceptances from Feb to June.
So if good news does arrive from Ireland, I will be looking to your wisdom once again 😎
Leorl: Think you answered all my questions, thanks again man.
Now its just a waiting game...I got an interview in Nottingham in January. Still waiting for my other 3 English schools, and Ireland starts pumping their acceptances from Feb to June.
So if good news does arrive from Ireland, I will be looking to your wisdom once again 😎
