Guide to Surviving Your First Year at SGU
The journey through the first year at St. George’s University (SGU) is uniquely demanding yet immensely rewarding. As an SGU student, I’ve experienced the highs and challenges firsthand. While I’ve chosen to remain anonymous to speak candidly, my aim is to provide you with practical insights and strategies that worked...
Mastering SOAP Note Style Questions on USMLE Step 2 CK
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 is Spaced Repetition and Why it’s SO Important for USMLE?
On its most basic level, spaced repetition is spacing out new concepts that we are learning over time to more efficiently remember various things. Furthermore, it involves progressively spacing out concepts that we are relatively strong in further and further into time while re-introducing topics that we are relatively weaker in a shorter interval in between.
Addressing Burnout During Step 2 CK Preparation
Why Are Medical Students at Risk of Burnout? Research indicates that up to half of medical students encounter burnout, as medicine is an intrinsically demanding profession. If you find yourself among these students, know that there is hope. You are not alone, and strategies are available to alleviate the...
A Guide for Medical Education Learning Specialists: Navigating the Residency Application Process
The role of a Medical Education Specialist in supporting students through the residency application process is invaluable. The journey toward securing a residency position can be complex, and your expertise plays a crucial role in ensuring students are well-prepared and organized. In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive...
COMLEX to USMLE Conversion: Insights for Osteopathic Medical Students
Students who have taken the COMLEX Level 1 may wonder how they can use this score to predict their USMLE Step 1 score. While the administrators of the COMLEX are currently developing a study plan for the development of a valid and reliable conversion formula of
Observations and Trends After the Switch to USMLE Step 1 Pass/Fail: What Learning Specialists Are Saying
2024 Update: This blog was originally posted on April 19, 2022. In 2024, an additional subheading was added to reevaluate the advice given within the context of the 2024 USMLE Step 1 landscape. One of the hottest topics among medical education learning specialists (MELS) is the behavior, motivation, and...
The Good Doctor: Tips and Tricks for Medical Students with ASD
This past month I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture by Dr. Rebecca Güler, senior learning specialist at UTMB, on working with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As a fan of the tv show, The Good Doctor, I found that this is a topic that I wanted to...
How to Learn the Most from Your Pre-Health Advisor
For a pre-medical undergraduate student, or anyone studying for the MCAT, perhaps the most important place on campus is the Pre-Health Advising Office. The Pre-Health Advising Office is a great destination for getting to know like-minded peers and learning more about the pre-health journey, but it is also the place...
How to Make Memory Palaces in Medical School
Let’s talk about using memory palaces to memorize information for your medical school exams! The idea here is to create a visual vocabulary that is distinct and fun – something you enjoy making, something that will stick in your mind, something that clearly represents the information you’re memorizing.