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USMLE Step 1. Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study Schedules & Support Services. OSLER October 2, 2012. 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 2, 2012
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 April 15, 2013 • If you do not pass… • You will stop your rotation immediately • Prepare a plan of remediation • Take exam and post passing score by start of rotation 3
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 $535)
Selecting Your Eligibility Period • The first month of your eligibility period should be the month in which you are going to test. • Block 5 ends March 1. • 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 • Accommodations for documented disabilities covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act • You must apply for accommodations at the same time you register for the exam • See Gail Peoples if you plan on applying for or have questions about applying for accommodations • Request for Personal Items • 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/reviewing a study schedule, 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, etc. • All are variations on a theme • Different curricula, different goals, different exams • Be informed!!!
What all schedules have in common… • Clear start and end dates • Days off • Review days • Reserved time for questions • 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 March 1, 2013 • Time off? • Pick a test date • You must test on or before April 15, 2013 • Identify “special” days off • Identify any day that you will be away from studying • Weddings, conferences, 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 bank 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
NBME Q R R R R REST Q NBME Q 24 study days 3 question bank days 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?
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 • If interested, talk to Joanna, Gail or Richard
What resources do I need? • First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – 2012 or 2013 edition • One additional reference per discipline • Anatomy/Histology • Biochemistry • Physiology • Immunology/Microbiology • Pathology • Pharmacology • Embryology • Question Bank • USMLE World • Kaplan Q-bank
Upcoming Events • October 12 – 3-4:30 pm • Strategies for Reviewing Year 1 Content (Respiratory Physiology) • October 26 – 1-2:30 pm • Strategies for Reviewing Pharmacology (Autonomic Drugs) • December 4 – 1-5 pm • BSX Exam (required!) • December 7 – 3-4:30 pm • Planning a review of Behavioral Science & Psychiatry • 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 • Participate in Step 1 workshops • Take BSX exam – December 4 • 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 • Registration, Testing Accommodations, Personal Item Exceptions • Gail Peoples – 4101G • gail.peoples@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu, 734-4122 • Study Support • Joanna Arnold – 4101C, 734-8785 • joanna.arnold@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu • Richard Moses – 4101A, 734-4678 • richard.moses@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu