When the heck do I take Step 3?

[Amy]

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Fellow residents, when do you think is a good time to take Step 3? I really want to get it over with, but don't see EVER having time during a busy surg residency to really study for it. I know the longer I put if off, the more OB/medicine/peds/psych is going to fall out of my brain. When are you taking it? 😕

 

[njbmd]

Fellow residents, when do you think is a good time to take Step 3? I really want to get it over with, but don't see EVER having time during a busy surg residency to really study for it. I know the longer I put if off, the more OB/medicine/peds/psych is going to fall out of my brain. When are you taking it? 😕

Hey Amy,
All you need is a pass on this exam so resist the urge to put in too much time studying here. Pick up Crush USMLE Step III and sign up to take this exam during one of your vacation weeks. You just need a couple of days to take it. Set aside an hour a week to read through the review book while you are doing your regular general surgery reading. Take this exam as soon as you are eligible and get it out of the way. This is not one that you want to have hanging over your head. As you correctly stated above, you want to take this exam while the other stuff is still floating around in your head.

USMLE Step III is really not bad at all. It is just time-consuming. I really did about a weeks work of reviewing and pass comfortably. The best thing that I did was get this out of the way. For a US grad, this is the most useless exam I have encoutered yet.

Good luck and enjoy your intern year. It is going to go by very fast.
njbmd 🙂

 

[GenSurg]

Most people in my intern class waited until the end of internship to take Step 3. I'm in a state that does not require you to finish an internship before taking the test. You need to check the requirements of your state medical board.

Really, you just need to pass the exam. Don't spend too much time worrying/studying. I would review peds/ob/gyn and look at a review book only. Most medicine and surgery you should be able to handle after an internship in any field.

Personally, I would not want to waste two of my precious vacation days to take step 3. That may be a little selfish, but I also don't know anyone who did use vacation to take the exam. Your surgical teammates can hold down the fort to two days. I would take the exam on a lighter month at the end of the year. You'll be more comfortable in your rotations and much more efficient. Good luck.

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[Blade28]

I hear you only have to study for 1-2 days. Nice!

I'm definitely planning on taking it early (by January would be my best guess)...I really want to get it out of the way, and I know I'm forgetting all my peds, psych, OB, etc. 🙂

 

[FliteSurgn]

You don't need to study for Step III. Show up, take the test, pass, and go about your business.

 

[klubguts]

Taking it during my ER month, as this is probably the only time i can count on two consecutive days off to do it (except for vacation, but i have other plans). Unfortunately, this is near the end of my intern year, so probably all that other stuff will be long gone. Hopefully it's true that minimal studying is needed...good luck everyone.

 

[TheThroat]

You don't need to study for Step III. Show up, take the test, pass, and go about your business.

I agree. I think that I skimmed Crush step 3 for about 4-5 hours in the week before the test. I can't remember what I scored on it, but I am pretty sure that I passed!

 

[Amy]

Most people in my intern class waited until the end of internship to take Step 3. I'm in a state that does not require you to finish an internship before taking the test. You need to check the requirements of your state medical board.

It's my understanding that you can register for Step 3 in ANY state (doesn't have to be the one you work in or plan on taking the test in). Many states have NO post graduate training requirement to take it, and you don't have to apply for licensure in that state either. Is this true?