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USMLE Step 1. Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study Schedules & Support Services. OSLER October 21, 2014. Goals. Review UC Davis SOM policy related to Step 1 Provide information related to registration, scheduling and testing accommodations for Step 1
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USMLE Step 1 Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study Schedules & Support Services OSLER October 21, 2014
Goals • Review UC Davis SOM policy related to Step 1 • Provide information related to registration, scheduling and testing accommodations for Step 1 • Describe support available from OSLER • Identify essential study resources for Step 1 • Provide an outline of deadlines and events related to Step 1 preparation
UC Davis School of Medicine Policy • You must take and complete the exam by the Friday prior to the beginning of Transition to Clerkship • Friday, April 24, 2015 • All students who complete Step 1 by this date will be allowed to start and complete clerkship #1 • If you do not take and complete Step 1 by this date… • You will not be allowed to start Clerkship #1 • You will notify Committee on Student Promotions (CSP) • You will submit a plan for completing Step 1 prior to the start of clerkship #2
UC Davis School of Medicine Policy • If you fail Step 1 you will… • Complete clerkship #1 • Develop a plan to prepare for/retake Step 1 • Defer clerkship #2, prepare for/retake Step 1 • CSP will determine if you will be allowed to begin clerkship #3 • Step 1 policy: • http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mdprogram/medicalstudentpolicies/csp/step1policy.html
Registration • Go to www.nbme.org • Click on “Log-in to NBME Licensing Exam Services” • Follow prompts to complete registration • Select 90-day eligibility period • Print form, attach picture and deliver form to Registrar’s Office – Room 1208 • Take your ID when you submit form!
Selecting Your Eligibility Period • What is an eligibility period? • 90 day window in which you may schedule/take your exam • You can not test outside of your eligibility period unless you: • File for a one time extension • $65 fee and you only get one extension!!! • Re-register for the exam (i.e. pay another $580)
Selecting Your Eligibility Period • The first month of your eligibility period should be the month in which you are going to test. • Last course ends February 27, 2015. • Boards study typically lasts 5-6 weeks. • Eligibility period: April-May-June
Scheduling Your Exam • You will receive an e-mail telling you that your scheduling permit is available • Log-in, click on “Scheduling Permit” • Go to Prometric website and schedule your test date.
NBME Accommodations/Requests for Personal Item Exceptions • Accommodations for documented disabilities covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act • Request for Personal Item Exceptions • Hearing aids, insulin pumps, inhalers, etc. • http://www.usmle.org/bulletin/applying-and-scheduling/#disabilities
What support does OSLER offer? • Different levels of support to meet your individual needs: • Lowest level: help creating a study schedule (or feedback on a schedule you have created), choosing supplemental resources and reassurance that you can do this • Medium level: help assessing results of the BSX, individual appointments throughout boards study to help with quizzing, review and confidence • Highest level: Boards Review Class
Once you have scheduled your exam… • OSLER will help you build a study schedule and plan the study that is best for you! • There are many methods out there: • DIT, Kaplan, Penn Method, Taus Method, Questions Only, Two Pass, etc. • All are variations on a theme • Different curricula, different goals, different exams • Be informed!!!
What all successful schedules have in common… • Clear start and end dates • Days off • Review days • Reserved time for questions • Reserved time for NBME practice tests • Time limits • Organ systems vs. disciplines • Nervous system vs. cardiovascular • CV physiology vs. CV pharmacology
Before you can create a study schedule… • Pick a start date • Block 5 ends on February 27, 2015 • Time off? • Pick a test date • On or before April 24, 2015 • April 24 test date doesn’t allow for “acts of God” • Time off? • Identify “special” days off • Identify any day that you will be away from studying • Weddings, conferences, presentations, birthdays, etc.
Before you can create a study schedule… • Identify “scheduled” days off… • For the sake of your health, sanity and personal hygiene, give yourself 1 reliable day off each week. • Usually Saturday or Sunday
Before you can create a study schedule… • Identify question-based review days • One day/week devoted to question based cumulative review • Track progress • Identify weak areas • Prepare for the real deal • Usually the day before scheduled day off
Before you can create a study schedule… • Pick practice test days • NBME self-assessments • Typically scheduled after 2-3 weeks of study and 1 week prior to the exam. • Identify time for final cumulative review • Time set aside for final push for detail • Usually 3-3.5 days immediately before test date • 2 days for organ system review • 1 to 1.5 days for discipline review
Q NBME Q R R R R Q TEST!! REST NBME 25 study days 3 question bank “practice tests” 2 NBME practice tests 3.5 days of cumulative review
Ok, I’m ready for a schedule. What’s next? • Schedule an appointment with OSLER • It may take two appointments… • Appointment 1- weekly schedule • Day 1 to exam day • When do I review? When do I do a practice test? How many days for Renal? • Appointment 2 – daily schedule • How long is a study day? How long for Heme pathology? • What do I do during the four hours scheduled for CV pharm?
What resources do I need? • First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – 2015 edition • One additional reference per discipline • Anatomy/Histology • Biochemistry • Physiology • Immunology/Microbiology • Pathology • Pharmacology • Embryology • Question Bank • USMLE World
Boards Review Class • Six week guided study • Focused on approach, strategy • NOT a content based review • Designed to provide structure, accountability and additional support for those who need it • Informational meeting on December 11 at noon • If interested, talk to Joanna or Richard
Upcoming Events • December 3 – noon • Reviewing Behavioral Science & Psychiatry • December 8 – 1-5 pm • BSX Exam (required!) • December 11 – noon • Information session for students interested in Boards Review class • On-going November-February • Individual appointments to create a Step 1 study plan
Fall-Winter-Spring Timeline • October-December • Complete registration • Select and schedule test day • Meet with OSLER to create/review study schedule • Take BSX exam – December 8 • January-February • Review results of BSX • Revise study schedule (if necessary) • March-April • Activate Question bank • Purchase NBME practice exams • Study! • Take Step 1
The Bottom Line • Be informed • Be systematic • Be reflective • Know yourself and what works for you • Ask questions now • Help is available
Questions? • Step 1and Residency • Dr. Jones • leon.jones@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu • Testing Accommodations, Personal Item Exceptions • Gail Peoples • gail.peoples@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu • Study Support • Joanna Arnold • joanna.arnold@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu • Richard Moses • richard.moses@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu