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Step 2 CK Minimum Score is Increasing

14 min

5964 Views

A group of medical school students taking the USMLE Step 2 in a classroom.

5964 Views

As of July 1, 2022 the minimum score required to pass the USMLE Step 2 CK exam has increased by 5 points from 209 to 214. Anytime a USMLE exam, including USMLE Step 2 CK, receives a minimum score increase it sends a wave of anxiety out into the medical...

How to Prepare for SOAP Residency Applications: A Step-by-Step Guide

13 min

6247 Views

A student using a laptop to prepare her application for SOAP.

6247 Views

Take a deep breath. If you’ve found yourself here, then you are considering preparing for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, or SOAP and you probably already know what the SOAP is and what the SOAP process entails. In this post, we will review how to prepare your application for...

Time Saving Tricks to Study for the Surgery Shelf During Clerkship

12 min

6277 Views

Medical school students on their surgery rotation.

6277 Views

Surgery clerkship is well known for its long hours, which leaves little time for shelf exam studying. A normal day on the surgery ward involved waking up around 4 or 5am, getting to the hospital quickly, pre-rounding on your patients, and being ready for 6 or 6:30am rounds with your...

Step 3: Managing Anxiety if Day 1 Didn’t Go as Planned

5 min

7155 Views

Frustrated medical school student studying for the USMLE Step 3 exam.

7155 Views

Whether you spent a lot of time preparing for Step 3 or not, the first day for most test takers feels like absolute defeat. But, there is still another day of test taking.

Can I Cancel My MCAT and Postpone It?

13 min

6718 Views

A student surrounded by study books and thinking if he can cancel and postpone MCAT.

6718 Views

If you are deciding whether or not you should postpone your MCAT, you are not alone! Many students experience the stress and frustration of being in this position, and in fact, it is not uncommon at all.

How Will the USMLE Step 1 Pass Fail System Affect Your Step 2 Score?

11 min

6197 Views

A student studying for the USMLE Step 2 in a library in front of medical textbooks.

6197 Views

It used to be that USMLE Step 1 was “the big one”, but with it becoming pass/fail, attention has shifted to Step 2. The first thing my brain went to was: “Step 2 scores will be lower in the coming years”. I say this because Step 1 and Step 2...

Standing Out in Residency Applications With a Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1

17 min

9117 Views

A medical resident standing and smiling in front of her peers.

9117 Views

Although the recent USMLE switch to pass/fail scoring for Step 1 has been regarded as a largely positive change for most students, some of you may be wondering how this change will affect the overall appearance of your residency application. There are several key components to building a stand-out application...

Best Resources to Help You Prepare for Your Surgery Shelf Exam

A sudent looking at a book in the library, one of the best resources for Surgery Shelf Exam.

10947 Views

If you are preparing for your Surgery Shelf, the first and most important piece of advice I can share with you is to start early! Surgery is arguably one of the most demanding and time-consuming rotations you will participate in during your clinical year of medical school, so the earlier...

A Guide to Swapping Residency Programs

17 min

21829 Views

A group of medical residents in a hospital, wearing scrubs and smiling.

21829 Views

So, what do residents do when they need to switch programs or specialties for personal reasons? Fortunately, systems and businesses exist to help residents make that transition. 

7 Tips for Studying for the Family Medicine Shelf Exam

17 min

20158 Views

A group of medical school students on their Family Medicine clinical rotation.

20158 Views

There are few Shelf exams more difficult than the family medicine shelf. The unique thing about family medicine is that it covers – in some way – nearly every topic that you’ll see in your clinical year. There are components of pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry, internal medicine, and surgery. Of course,...

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