When to do the USMLE??

[Sparsha21]

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hi i am an NRI doing my 2nd yr MBBS at KIMS in bangalore.
i just wanted to know when the best time to do the USMLE is. Is it better to take USMLE step 1 after 2nd year or after i finish my intern year??

 

[schandan13]

Step 1 scores will stick to you for 7 years like superglue (unless god forbid you don't pass). So IMO, don't rush it. Ace your MBBS first, you will have plenty of time in internship to give it. There is no harm in starting to prepare for it though.

 

[dggopal]

Hey sparsha... I'm a final year student at KIMS... we should meet up sometime....

anyways... I agree with schandan... I mean ultimately the way the Indian curriculum is made it helps to have taken Medicine as a subject... it ties things in nicely... otherwise though you do know your subjects they remain somewhat compartmentalized.... and seeing as how if you pass step one.... you can't really retake the exam... you should really aim to really do your best... just my two cents....

 

[Sparsha21]

hey, thanks so much for the advice...

 

[schmartdoc]

I am about to finish my second professional as an MBBS student in India and I was thinking of taking USMLE in May 2010 because I thought that whatever they ask in USMLE I, we have learned as we complete second prof. Now I think that may be I should wait til I start my Internship

 

[dggopal]

I mean yeah there are benefits either way.... I mean some would say that since you just took your second year exams you will remember all the material much better and that it really helps with internship opportunities in the states if you get step one out of the way after second year... but then again if you get a crap score ( barely passing) its not really gonna matter if you have American clinical experience.... I mean the thing is... whenever you take the exam... be it after second year... or during internship.... make sure you do well...

 

[schandan13]

Also if i may point out something interesting, how you fare in MBBS professional examinations has very little (if any) to do with how you'd handle the steps. I know of 2 people, both having %ages in high 60s during their MBBS, who got 86 on their step 1s. I know of another female who studied seriously for 2-3 months during internship and got a 241/99 on her step 1.

The material, although in terms of subjects and perhaps basics of the first 2 profs, is all you need to know for step 1, how to go about preparing for it is a whole different issue. The more i hear of people who did just about average on the step 1, the more i think it's got to do with test taking strategies and planning more than just "knowing the subject matter".

Oh well, different strokes for different folks. Some may want to have the step 1 out of their way quickly. But I think the whole process of getting into the US healthcare system is very long and very tiring (given that I have only just taken the first baby step). IMO, there should be no rush.