Creating a Personalized Study Schedule with AI
The rapid advancement of AI, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, has introduced new possibilities for medical and premedical students looking to optimize their study strategies. AI is now widely used in medical education, from generating personalized study schedules to assisting with active recall and spaced repetition. In the past,...
The Hardest Residency Specialties and What to Expect
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...
SOAPing Into a Competitive Residency Program
The last thing on most students’ minds going through the SOAP is, “how do I match into a competitive program?” The truth is, most SOAPing medical students just hope they Match into a residency program at all. But, the best applicants make the most of this tough situation. Sometimes, these...
When Do You Take USMLE Step 1? 2025 Exam Dates & Costs
The USMLE Step 1 exam is an important early step in the career of any aspiring US-licensed doctor. In this blog post we will review some frequently asked questions about the exam. This includes USMLE Step 1 2025 exam dates and costs, the scope and length of the exam and...
Best Study Books for the Step 2 CK 2025
If you are about to start your dedicated study period for the USMLE Step 2CK, you may be asking yourself, “what are the best study books I should use to prepare for this test?” Well, look no further! Here at EMP, we provide a comprehensive review of the best study books for Step 2CK!
Guide to Using UWorld For Step 2 CK
This blog was originally posted on January 17, 2023, and updated in December 2024. Growing up, my studying always seemed to follow a natural sequence: learn new content, review that content, and then quiz yourself on that content with practice questions. The idea of beginning with the end, i.e.,...
Step 2 CK Breakdown by Subject for Better Results
This blog was originally posted on November 22, 2022, and updated by Dr. Ria Patel in November 2024. The USMLE Step 2 CK is a challenging exam that tests a wide range of clinical knowledge and skills across multiple subjects. Understanding the Step 2 CK breakdown by subject is...
2025 MCAT Test Dates
The 2025 MCAT test dates have been announced and we are here to let you know when you should take the MCAT and start studying for it, when scores will be released, and give you plenty of MCAT study tips! See our ultimate 3-month MCAT study schedule or our 1-month MCAT...
How Much Time Should You Actually Spend Studying For Step 3?
When entering medical school, the thought of impending USMLE exams looms over the preclinical and clinical years. Once Step 1 and Step 2 are traversed, residency is on the horizon and the idea of further examination preparation can be unsavory. However, Step 3 is not an exam to be taken...
Matching Into Orthopedic Surgery Residency
The NRMP Program directors survey “at a glance” tool is extremely helpful in gauging where your application packet stands compared to the applicant pool. Here are the major components to consider when applying into Orthopaedic Surgery.