when to take step 1?

[velouria]

---

Members do not see this ad.

i'm confused about when you can take step 1. i'm an ms-II and plan to take it in the spring. i see posts about people taking it now, or december, etc....are these people taking it in their 3rd year? or in the beginning/middle of 2nd year?? just wondering. thanks.

 

[ttumed]

Typicaly, US students take it between the end of 2nd and beginning of 3rd year.

 

[vtrain]

Typicaly, US students take it between the end of 2nd and beginning of 3rd year.

What specific date is recommended or what date around do students usually take the exam?

 

[ttumed]

We had 6 weeks off between 2nd and 3rd year. I took step 1 the last week of june, but many of my classmates took it a few weeks earlier and had some vacation time left.

 

[ColdChillin]

I'm going to recommend that you take it a couple of weeks before you start your third year rotations. That way you will have some time to chill or whatever before you start working in the hospital all the time. I personally took it the last week in June and had OB/GYN starting like a week later. It pretty much sucked and it was real easy to get burned out real early. I guess if you have psych or some other bs rotation first, you can take it late, but if you have anything that requires effort then give yourself some time off before you start. And don't worry that you won't have enough time to study if you take it early. You pretty much need a month of hardcore studying. After that you're so sick of it and you're pretty much trying not to forget stuff that you knew instead of learning new things. That's my opinion, take it for what it's worth.