YOU WILL SURVIVE

USMLE Step 1 TIPS

Who….to study with?

• Alone

• Imaginary friends

• A friend in the room

• In a group

• Weekly groups

What…to use• First Aid• Q-Bank• BRS Physiology and Pathophysiology• High Yield

– Embryology– Neuroanatomy– Behavior Science

• Goljan• Take another practice test ½ to ¾ through studying• NBME exam from SSOM: 66% take it early, 15% use ½ way

through studying, 11% took it at the end.– Take it early to see you are very likley to pass before you start studying.

• Take another practice test ½ to ¾ through studying– This can be NBME, the free one online, or the free one at the testing

center.

Other Resources..review lectures?

•Faculty

•Student Run (Mike Levitt powerpoints)

Where…to study?

• School

• Home

• School Library:• Community Library:

Where…Chicago or burbs?

• Multiple types of exams are given at the testing center, so you may be next to someone taking STEP 1, GMAT,Trucking licensure,or a written test (aka lots of clicking)

• Head phones are supplied, but hurt if you wear glasses. You can bring your own ear plugs

When• Pick a date and stick too it!

–Most complete 4 weeks of studying then take the test in week 5.

–The last 3-5 days many use for review.

–You may feel you need to learn more, but you will probably forget things you learned earlier.

When…to start studying?

• 59% students start immediately after finals• 14% took time off after finals (the weekend)• 12% started during spring break• 12% started during winter break• 3% claim to start during 1st year (dorks!)

• 77% would not have started earlier– 23% who would have started earlier all began after

finals

Why• This will not be your favorite month, but it

will be over soon. And, third year is a lot of fun.

Practical tips

• Take a practice trip to your testing site- not a bad idea to take a practice test at your practice site- $50 or so

• The last 2 weeks of studying wake up when you need to on test day.

• Do Test Center Tutorial prior to day of• Bring Lunch and many snacks• DO NOT TALK ABOUT YOUR TEST ONCE IT

IS OVER- AT THAT POINT IT DOESN’T MATTER- ALSO DON’T GO HOME AND LOOK UP ANSWERS- CELEBRATE INSTEAD

Fun tips

• Exercise

• Eat well

• Do something fun every week

• A few glasses of wine the night before the test (Matt Boyce swears by it!)

• A few bottles the night of the test!( Matt Boyce doesn’t remember this!)

HOW TO STUDY

• THIRD YEAR SUCCESS STORIES

• Sample Schedules