These are our STEP 1 studying reflections, and it includes what 1) resources we used and how we used them, 2) daily outlines, 3) ways we stayed sane, and 4) things we wish we did differently.
We want to start by saying studying for Step 1 is daunting and intimidating, but that you are 100% capable! At times, you may feel discouraged and overwhelmed, but know that everyone who has taken this exam or is currently studying has felt those feelings at least once, and if they haven’t, we don’t believe them.
Remember it is impossible to know everything! All you can do is your best to master the material and that is enough!
We hope this information helps someone, but remember this article is what we wish we knew prior to Step studying and that it may not work for you. You are the person who knows you best!
Tip: Don’t compare yourself to others/peers, it will lead to stress and feelings of inadequacy that will compromise your focus and hurt your confidence.
Remember, everyone is different and will approach this exam differently. We think it would be helpful for you to take some time to reflect about you, your study techniques, and what resources work best for you. Some questions you may want to ask yourself are:
- Yourself
- Do I procrastinate?
- Am I able to set a schedule and stick with it no matter what or do I need some external source to hold me accountable?
- Study techniques
- How much additional time do you have in the block to focus on board material? (You must balance passing the blocks and studying for Step)
- Where do I study best?
- Are study groups helpful for you?
- Resources
- Do I learn by listening to podcasts, lectures, or reading?
- What resources have worked for me in the past?
Encouragement/Perspective/Quotes from students (things that got us through):
- Encouragement from Laura Vater, MD:
- I am grateful for each question I get wrong because it teaches me something. I embrace this. I embrace the failures on the path to success.
- This exam does not get to steal my joy.
- All this time and effort studying is not wasted. There are patients who will benefit from what I learn today. I am learning this for them, so that when they are in a vulnerable and challenging moment, I can provide the best care possible to them.
- You are not a failure; you are doing an incredibly hard thing. You are not a failure for having to reschedule/adjust. You have an opportunity to utilize this extra time to solidify your pre-clinical knowledge/foundation and make sure you are solid prior to rotations/tx patients.
- My mindset when I entered the exam: My only job is to answer the questions in front of me to the best of my ability. That’s all I can do.
- A good chunk of the questions on the test are “test questions” that don’t actually factor into your score!! Any questions that seem ridiculous? – tell yourself it’s a test question and move on. This will help your sanity 🙂
Guides from students of the class of 2024: