So you’ve got the internal medicine shelf exam ahead of you huh? Well, don’t stress! While shelf exams may seem stressful or intimidating at first, with proper preparation and planning, you’ll do just fine. Here are our tips on how to study for the IM shelf exam.

When starting your medical school application, you will find that there are multiple paths you can choose, namely, MD vs DO. Should you apply to an Allopathic or an Osteopathic medical school? What’s the difference between them, and which path is right for you?

What is the USMLE Step 2 CK Exam?   USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) is an examination conducted by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) in the United States. It is one of the steps required for medical licensure in...

USMLE Step 3 is the final exam in the series for obtaining a medical license. In this blog, we'll discuss the USMLE Step 3 2025 exam dates, costs, registration, and required materials.     USMLE Step 3 Format   Unlike the prior two Step exams, Step 3 is administered over...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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!

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.,...