Medical school is not just more school, it’s essentially a full-time job as you are almost always spending more times in the classroom and studying than a normal 9-5. It is also a personal and professional journey, and for many, some of the most intense period of training they will...

Let’s face it - there are a few things in medical school that will drain your spirit quite like seeing a low score on an NBME Step 1 practice exam. After the days and nights of review, Anki cards, reading First Aid, and watching Pathoma, a disappointing practice test score...

Pharmacology is one of the most challenging topics of medical school, and many students struggle with it during their preparation for Step 2 CK. Unlike Step 1, where pharmacology is heavily mechanism-focused, Step 2 CK emphasizes on clinical implications. In general, it is critically important that you understand which medications...

This blog was originally published in October 2025 by Dylan Eiger and updated in April 2026 by Kala Frye Bourque.   NBME shelf exams have evolved. Today’s shelves are longer, more reasoning-focused, and often mirror Step 2 CK in style. They emphasize next-step management, guideline-based care, and outpatient medicine more...

Preparing for Step 2 CK can feel like a fresh start, but in reality, many of the foundational topics from Step 1 resurface in a more clinical and applied context. Students often wonder which Step 1 topics they should review before diving into Step 2 CK prep. While Step 2...

The transition from the preclinical years to the clinical phase of medical education is marked by a fundamental shift in how your knowledge is acquired, processed, and, importantly, applied. For most students, the pinnacle of this transition is the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)....

When you are deep in the medical school application process, the waiting can be excruciating. You’ve submitted your primary and secondary applications, crushed your interviews, and now… radio silence. It’s during this nerve-wracking period of purgatory that many applicants start thinking about sending a Letter of Intent (LOI) to their...

Applying to medical school is not for the faint of heart. It’s a multi-year, high-stakes process that demands academic excellence, strategic planning, and unwavering persistence. Each year in the U.S., over 50,000 students apply to MD programs, but only around 40% are accepted. The process is even more competitive the...

Preparing for COMLEX Level 1 is a significant milestone for osteopathic medical students. With the recent transition to a pass/fail scoring system, the emphasis has shifted from achieving a competitive score to simply passing while developing strong clinical reasoning skills that will set you up for success in the hospital...

On the first day of medical school, the pace was the feature which stuck out the most. Even before orientation had fully concluded, new lectures were posted, laboratory assignments were due, and the reading list was already expanding. There was no easing-in period. The expectations were clear from the outset:...