Writing The Usmle As A Resident

[hkmedic]

I'm wondering if there are any residents out here on PM101 who have written the USMLEs as a resident, and what your experiences were like (e.g. studying in between work, regular reading). When I was a med student, I didn't think that I wanted to do a fellowship in the US, but now reconsidering it as there are just so many more options down south compared to here in Canada. I kind of regret not writing the USMLEs when I was a med student. 

 

Any thoughts?

[Med0123]

PGY-3 in a surgery program here.

Just passed Step 1 with an above than average mark.

It can be done, but it's way tougher than when you were MS2.

 

I only read First Aid book cover to cover and about 1200 questions from USMLEworld QBanks.

 

I am considering passing Step 2 CK this spring.

[Laika]

I wrote and studied for Step 1 as a PGY1, during moderately busy rotations.  It was not fun studying evenings and weekends, but definitely doable.  (Aside: I traveled the summer after MS2 instead of writing Step 1.  Even with the benefit of hindsight, I'd do the same thing again.)

[hkmedic]

Thanks for the replies guys!

[carmsismybestfriend]

This is just my 0.02 as an american medical graduate applying for carms. You can take your Step 2 before your Step 1 which alot of IMGs do.

 

Step 1 is basic sciences - mostly pathology and pathophysiology with physiology, biochem, genetics, statistics, neuro-science etc. It can be overwhelming if you haven't been in the loop for a while in basic sciences. You should definitely have at least 1 month of dedicated studying time. I'm sure if you spread it out over one year with USMLE-WORLD and First Aid you should be fine

 

Step 2 is more clinically related and I would take it first since it resembles MCCQE1

Main topics are all your clerkship core rotations - E.R., Family, Pediatrics, OBGYN, Neurology, Surgery, Psychiatry, etc. but mostly Internal Medicine which is not like the MCCQE1 where everything is equally weighted