Jia Wei Tan came from Malaysia dreaming of completing her residency in the U.S. and becoming a nephrologist. Luckily, she took the USMLE and interviewed for programs before COVID-19 shook the world, and she began her residency at Yale University Bridgeport Hospital in June 2020. Having just reached her target ... Read more
Jia Wei Tan, PhD, MD and Anupam Garg, PhD
Updated June 22, 2022 by Jia Wei Tan, PhD, MD and Anupam Garg, PhD
Social media platforms lit up when sponsors of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) announced Step 1 score reporting will change from 3-digit numerical scores to pass/fail by January 1, 2022. First-year Harvard Medical School ... Read more
Bethany Erb
Updated June 22, 2022 by Bethany Erb
Today, the stakes are higher than ever to absorb as much information as possible during med school. Passing exams is great, but we need to be ready when we’re called into action — as many ... Read more
Mark Heslin
Updated August 24, 2020 by Mark Heslin
Medical students, residents, and other health professional students are running into significant issues as they attempt to complete their licensing exams, which are required for them to progress into practice. On April 23, 2020, the ... Read more
Laura Turner
Updated June 22, 2022 by Laura Turner
Updated June 21, 2021. The article was updated to correct minor grammatical errors, and technical details were added by Tyler York and Justin Pincar, founders of Achievable. On Wednesday, February 12, 2020, the United States ... Read more
Kunal Sindhu
Updated June 23, 2022 by Kunal Sindhu
What are “The Boards”? The MCAT consumes the minds of premed students. However, an even bigger beast looms on the horizon for every allopathic medical student and would-be physician: the United States Medical Licensing Exam, ... Read more
Harrison Snyder
Updated June 23, 2022 by Harrison Snyder
In honor of SDN’s 20th birthday, we have compiled a list of the most popular and helpful forums threads throughout the years. From interview advice to whether you should have a dog in medical school, ... Read more
Student Doctor Network
Updated June 26, 2022 by Student Doctor Network
For many medical students, and especially those nearing the end of their second year, one concern seems to prevail above most others: preparing for USMLE Step 1. This is the first big standardized exam in ... Read more
Emily Hayward
Updated June 23, 2022 by Emily Hayward
Lessons I Learned During My USMLE Step 1 Exam The USMLE Step 1 exam was the most daunting test I’ve ever taken. That it covers anything—anything—from the first two years of medical school is enough ... Read more
Cassie Kosarek
Updated February 1, 2019 by Cassie Kosarek
Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (or USMLE) covers all preclinical topics taught in medical school, from DNA replication to the details of disorders like ulcerative colitis and diabetes. Depending on your ... Read more
Cassie Kosarek
Updated June 24, 2022 by Cassie Kosarek
Last year, over a thousand American senior medical students, failed to Match into a residency to advance their training. That’s almost 6% of all senior students. Over eight thousand total applicants failed to obtain a ... Read more
Mohamed Gad
Updated March 14, 2023 by Mohamed Gad
There’s no question that medical school is tough, especially when you consider the amount of material you need to cover in a few short years. Even if you’re putting in the hard work and making ... Read more
Eric Brown
Updated June 26, 2022 by Eric Brown
No matter how you plan on preparing for boards, getting started sooner than later is a good policy to apply. First, when should you start prepping for boards? The quick answer is DAY 1 of ... Read more
Boards Boot Camp
Updated June 26, 2022 by Boards Boot Camp
Finally on the other side! This morning I soaked in the luxury of not having to be up at the crack of dawn, only to stare at the same brachial plexus diagram for what felt ... Read more
Adelle
Updated June 26, 2022 by Adelle
Updated December 8, 2021. The article was updated to correct minor grammatical and technical errors. The first key to success on the boards is using practice questions to develop your “hunch reflex.” If you’re a ... Read more
Patrick C. Beeman
Updated June 26, 2022 by Patrick C. Beeman
Studying for the boards overwhelms most people. The sheer amount of information to know is staggering. And while being a good doctor will require you to know much more than what is covered on a ... Read more
Patrick C. Beeman
Updated June 26, 2022 by Patrick C. Beeman
1. Set a goal As the saying goes, “being begin with the end in mind.” Before you begin preparing for the USMLE Step 1, you should consider where you are with your knowledge base and ... Read more
Elsevier
Updated June 26, 2022 by Elsevier
Do you know of a colleague who is extremely good at their job, yet cannot pass the professional exams required to ascend the career ladder? Or an exceptionally bright friend – who seems to fall ... Read more
OUPBlog
Updated June 26, 2022 by OUPBlog
Physiology is different! If you’re in the midst of learning physiology, either in a traditional or systems course, you’ve noticed that it feels different from biochemistry and anatomy. There are several reasons. First, the stakes are ... Read more
Elsevier
Updated June 26, 2022 by Elsevier