Step 2 write up
Hello all,
I am a MSTP non-traditional student. Just received my Step 2 score -230+
I wanted to do this write up to help anyone struggling. I had a rough time during preclinical years and did not pass my Step 1.
Lessons for Step 2: I studied with my-all during 3rd year clerkships. Took me a while to get into a study pattern, and figure out successful practices. I.e. I did not do NBME practice exams for medicine and Peds-just UWorld (my first 2 rotations because I did not know they exist and I was overwhelmed with starting 3rd year)-passed those 2 clerkships. For all my other rotations I did NBME practice exams and HP and Honored those).
I did not have a chance for dedicated period for my Step 2 exam because I finished my PhD late and started 3rd year in August so I studied while on 4th year SubIs. I shared this information with everyone I was working with and they were incredibly helpful and generous and allowed me to leave early and come in late some days to prepare for my exam.
What made the biggest difference in my uptrend in my shelf exams and Step 2 scores are the few things listed below:
- Divine Intervention Podcasts-he is a God sent and I got at least 15 questions right on the actual exam because of him.
- UWorld-I did not use UWorld at all during 1st and 2nd year because I didn't know what Uworld was to be honest, but I did all of the topic questions for each clerkship and the additional step 2 questions during my dedicated.
- Anki- I used Cheesy Dorian and the DIP deck (thank you for the angel who created it)-and did all the sections for my weak areas.
- Getting ADA accommodations-having the accommodations for my shelf exams and Step 2 made a significant difference. Getting USMLE accommodations is not an easy feat and took many rounds of resubmission before I was provided with the accommodations I needed.
I have an otherwise very strong application, the only thing holding me back was passing my Step 2, so I know to a lot of people this score may seem insignificant and not a cause for celebration but I am so grateful and jumping with joy and relieved that I am finally going to be able to achieve my childhood dream.
In terms of lessons I learned-things not do do:
***If you are a non-traditional, first generation college graduate, and an immigrant from a financially disadvantaged background like me then do yourself a favor and meet with interns or residents or even recently minted faculty and ask them a lot of questions about how to navigate medical school including tips for success for preclinical and clinical years. Believe it or not, it wasn't any of my classmates or fellow students who shared what UWorld was with me. It was a OBGYN faculty I was rotating with during 3rd year. Mentors from all stages of training were incredibly impactful in my academic and personal journey.
***Do not take Step 1 or 2 without attempting and passing UWorld qbank and UWorld and NBME practice exams. My school didn't provide me with UWorld for Step 1 and I tried to save money by using other resources (tight finances) but that was a mistake because I could have saved myself so much grief and suffering if I had just invested that $600 ahead of time which I had to spend anyways for retaking step 1.
***Advocate for yourself (biggest lesson I can share with you)-My medical school wanted to put me on a leave of absence, but I appealed the decision and was successful in continuing 3rd and 4rd year while I studied for my board exams. I wasn't offered sufficient accommodations by my medical school or USMLE and I had to keep fighting until I got what I really needed to pass my exams and do well on my clinical rotations.
***Do not let your test scores define you. I know this score is not reflective of my knowledge, in fact my clinical evaluations reflect what my true abilities are. Do your best during rotations and really work with faculty and mentors to improve your clinical performance.
***Cultivate your strengths, my strengths were never standardized tests, because I didn't grow up here and still learning to understand all the tricks and mind games they play through tests lol, plus I have pretty substantial testing anxiety (not the reason for my accommodations). I have a strong research and publication portfolio. I have extensive involvement in community service and other service related projects which has earned me several awards and GHHS induction.
Final thoughts: Hang in there and don't compare yourself and your achievements to anyone but who you were previously. Be proud of where you came from and how far you have come. Be transparent, honest, and boast about your strengths and don't hide your vulnerabilities. Celebrate your uniqueness and understand that medicine isn't a field welcoming to people like us, but for the first time we have the opportunity to fight and change that for ourselves and future generations.
P.S. I already have 2 interviews as soon as I released my score from my top 5 programs.
Please feel free to DM me if I can help/answer any questions. Don't be shy to share your worst mistakes (been there and done that lol).
Good luck to everyone on this rewarding but grueling path!