About the Author

Coco Stewart

Coco Stewart began tutoring with a much younger demographic when she taught Spanish to preschoolers and middle schoolers while studying at Lipscomb University. She greatly enjoyed teaching and even considered it as a full-time career. After college, she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in northern Spain. She then worked at the NIH studying the psychosocial variables of sickle cell disease prior to beginning medical school. During her time in medical school, Coco was president of the Urology Student Association and a member of the AOA Medical Honor Society. Coco is a first-year urology resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

The Most Difficult Residency Specialties to Match Into & Why They’re So Competitive

27 min

48948 Views

A resident that has matched into one of the most difficult specialties to match into standing in a hospital, wearing scrubs.

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This blog was originally published in 2023 by Dr. Alina Khil and updated for accuracy in February 2025 by Dr. Coco Stewart. The Hardest Medical Specialties to Match Into   Choosing a medical specialty is a challenging task, especially when it comes to many of the more competitive specialties. Is it...

Navigating Step 2 As a Non-traditional Medical Student

10 min

74 Views

A non-traditional medical student studying for Step 2 at home while balancing parenting, with a baby on her lap.

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You’ve made it through Step 1 (hooray!), and you find yourself preparing for Step 2. Step 2 is another mountain to conquer on your journey to becoming a physician. It is a tough road, but it doesn’t have to be terrible! Whether you took a few years off prior to...

How Many Times Can You Take the USMLE Step 1? Preparing for the Worst Case Scenario

24 min

496 Views

Medical student focused on studying for a USMLE Step 1 retake at a library desk with a laptop covered in sticky notes.

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The USMLE Step exams are no joke. There are plenty of students who have struggled to pass their exam on the first, second, or even third try. If you find yourself in a position where you are asking, “How many times can I take USMLE Step 1?”, know that you...

USMLE Step 2 CK Percentiles: How to Interpret and Score in the Top Ranges

18 min

24777 Views

Two medical school students on their clinical rotations studying for Step 2 CK in front of a laptop, wearing scrubs.

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The USMLE Step 2 CK percentiles provide a benchmark to evaluate your performance compared to other test-takers. With Step 1 now pass/fail, Step 2 CK scores play an increasingly important role in residency applications, making a high percentile score critical for competitive specialties. This guide breaks down the latest percentile...

A Step-by-Step Guide to Acquiring USMLE Test Accommodations

10 min

2003 Views

Close-up of hands typing on a laptop, submitting a USMLE test accommodations request online.

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Navigating the USMLE is not an easy task in and of itself. Add on to that a need for testing accommodations, and it may well feel impossible. While the process can certainly be difficult, it’s not impossible. This blog offers a few simple steps to help you navigate the process...

Balancing Medical School and Life: Strategies for Maintaining a Social Life

13 min

572 Views

Group of medical students studying together and socializing, illustrating the balance between academic life and maintaining friendships.

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The transition from undergraduate to medical school can be a difficult one! You may be accustomed to having lots of time on your hands to study, exercise, hang out with friends, and work. As you get used to your medical student life, you may have less personal time on your...

The Experts Weigh In: Survey Results on the Best Way to Study The Week Before Step 2

16 min

765 Views

Chart showing the results of question 1 of our Step 2 tutor survey: What is the general schedule do you recommend to students the week before the exam (excluding the day before)?

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Step 2 Studying: The Week Before Test Day Advice   So you’ve been studying for weeks or even months for your Step 2 exam… you are SO close, yet so far away. With only a week left before the big day, you may be asking yourself, “How should I spend...

Mastering SOAP Note Style Questions on USMLE Step 2 CK

20 min

1397 Views

A doctor in a clinical setting discussing a patient's medical history with the patient for the purpose of writing a SOAP note.

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The USMLE Step 2 CK now includes SOAP note style vignette questions, a format that tests your ability to manage clinical scenarios efficiently. These questions require a structured approach to patient care, making it essential to master the SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) framework.   The SOAP notes presented on...

What You Need to Match Into Urology for Residency – Step 2 Scores and Other Helpful Tips!

14 min

2384 Views

Medical tools and supplies arranged on a table with a paper labeled 'Urology,' including a stethoscope, syringes, a pill organizer, and a urine sample container.

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What Step 2 score do I need to get into a urology residency?   With the new scoring system of Pass/Fail for Step 1, much of the focus has shifted to a Step 2 score. In competitive residencies like urology, a higher Step 2 score can help open the door...

How Long to Study for Step 1: Road to USMLE Success

13 min

2545 Views

A medical student organizing their study schedule for Step 1 in front of a calendar, making notes with colorful sticky notes.

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With the transition from a scored Step 1 to PASS/FAIL, many students are left asking themselves how long they should take to study for Step 1. Is 2 weeks enough? Should I plan for a full 6 weeks for Step 1?   And, like many things in life, the answer...

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