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:...

The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 1 is an important milestone for all osteopathic medical students. With the relatively recent transition to a pass/fail grading system, the focus has shifted from achieving a high numerical score to ensuring a solid understanding of fundamental medical concepts and passing comfortably....

If you are a medical student deep in your clinical rotations, there’s a good chance you have heard whispers (or outright panic) about Shelf Exams. Often, these exams can be the make or break between obtaining Honors or High Pass – a big deal for students applying into highly competitive...

*The Internal Medicine (IM) Shelf exam is one of the most challenging shelf exams you will take in medical school, primarily because it tests such a broad range of knowledge and clinical reasoning skills. Scoring in the 90th percentile or higher requires a combination of strategic studying, understanding high-yield topics,...