About the Author

Bijoya Basu

Bijoya Basu (Bijou) graduated Cum Laude from Washington University in St. Louis, receiving her BS in Statistics and in Biology. After graduation, Bijou moved to Maryland where she spent one-year conducting research at the National Institutes of Health before matriculating into graduate school. Bijou is now part of the Case Western Reserve University Medical Scientist Training Program. After completing the first two years of medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Bijou is now working towards her PhD in Genetics.

The Power of Microlearning for USMLE Step 1 Prep

14 min

61 Views

Medical students studying in a library, using notebooks, laptops, and headphones—illustrating focused microlearning techniques for USMLE Step 1 preparation.

61 Views

The USMLE Step 1 is one of the most challenging milestones for medical students. With high stakes and a grueling preparation process, it often feels like an overwhelming task. Many students rely on traditional study methods such as long lectures, hours of reading dense textbooks, and marathon review sessions, but...

The USMLE Step 1 Content Outline: How to Make the Most of The Guide

12 min

731 Views

A medical student lying on a rug, studying the USMLE Step 1 Content Outline with a focused expression, surrounded by study materials, a laptop, and natural light from a nearby window.

731 Views

When preparing for the USMLE Step 1, students often find themselves wading through an ocean of resources, practice questions, and review books. Among the numerous tools available, one that is often overlooked but extremely useful is the USMLE Step 1 Content Outline, available here. Published by the USMLE itself, this...

What to Bring to Your Step 1 Exam

13 min

5720 Views

Medical school students taking their Step 1 exam in a prometric testing center.

5720 Views

For many medical students, the USMLE Step 1 is one of the most stressful and overwhelming experiences of medical school. However, with proper planning and organization, you can make test day feel more manageable. In this post we will not only provide you with a checklist of what to wear...

Everything You Need to Know About the USMLE Step 1 Pass Rate

12 min

2137 Views

A group of medical school students studying outside for their USMLE Step 1 exam.

2137 Views

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 is an important exam that medical students must pass in order to pursue a career in medicine. The Step 1 exam is the first of three such exams that students must take to become licensed medical doctors in the United States....

What Are The Best Practice Questions To Review For MCAT 2023

14 min

2715 Views

A pre-med student studying for the MCAT in a library in front of textbooks and a laptop.

2715 Views

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is an important exam for all premedical students. The purpose of this standardized test is to assess a student's knowledge and ability to apply concepts from various fields of science. These fields include biology, chemistry, and physics. A proven way to be successful in...

Everything You Need to Know About the USMLE Step 1 Pass Rate

11 min

4638 Views

A multiple choice answer sheet for the USMLE Step 1.

4638 Views

Passing the USMLE Step 1 is a very important step in the career of any future doctor. It can be very stress-inducing and requires determination, time, and lots of hard work! In this blog post we will break down this exam and the pass rate for the USMLE Step 1....

The Questions You’ll See on the MCAT – With MCAT Sample Questions!

17 min

10617 Views

A pre-med student doing MCAT practice questions on her laptop at home.

10617 Views

The MCAT examination is designed to test your content knowledge in a variety of science subjects as well as your critical reasoning skills. The MCAT is broken down into four sections: General Chemistry/Organic Chemistry/Physics; General Biology/Biochemistry; Psychology/Sociology and CARS (critical analysis and reasoning skills). In this blog post, we will...

How to Explain a Gap Year During Medical School Interviews

8 min

4303 Views

A prospective medical school student being interviewed for medical school.

4303 Views

In the last decade, it has become much more common for applicants to take a gap year (or multiple) before completing their medical school applications. According to the 2020 AAMC survey of matriculating students, only 33.7 went directly from college to medical school. The number of students taking gap years...

What to Do the Day Before Your MCAT to Prepare

10 min

6594 Views

A student jogging in the park the day before his MCAT.

6594 Views

You did it. You have studied for the MCAT for months, one of the biggest exams that you have ever had to prepare for.   You have gone through all the Anki decks, read through all of the best MCAT resources, taken several practice exams, maybe even taken a lesson...

How to Customize an MCAT Study Schedule

16 min

3182 Views

A student studying with Laptop and bookfor MCAT.

3182 Views

The MCAT is an important part of your medical school application and allows medical admissions committees to interpret your academic data when comparing you to students from other institutions. The key to success on your exam begins with an effective MCAT study schedule, incorporating a few great MCAT study resources.

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