nuts & bolts: policy, registration, study schedules & support services osler october 4, 2013
TRANSCRIPT
USMLE Step 1Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study
Schedules & Support Services
OSLEROctober 4, 2013
Review UC Davis SOM policy related to Step 1
Provide information related to registration, scheduling and testing accommodations for Step 1
Describe support available from OSLER Identify essential study resources for Step 1 Provide an outline of deadlines and events
related to Step 1 preparation
Goals
You must TAKE (and complete!) the exam by April 15, 2014
If you do not pass…◦ You will stop your rotation immediately◦ Prepare a plan of remediation◦ Take exam and post passing score by start of
rotation 3
UC Davis School of Medicine Policy
Go to www.nbme.org Click on “Log-in to NBME Licensing Exam
Services” Follow prompts to complete registration Select 90-day eligibility period Print form, attach picture and deliver form
to Registrar’s Office – Room 1208◦ Take your ID when you submit form!
Registration
Financial Aid
What is an eligibility period?◦ 90 day window in which you may schedule/take
your exam
You can not test outside of your eligibility period unless you:◦ File for a one time extension
$65 fee and you only get one extension!!!◦ Re-register for the exam (i.e. pay another $580)
Selecting Your Eligibility Period
The first month of your eligibility period should be the month in which you are going to test.◦ Last Block ends February 28. ◦ Boards study typically lasts 5-6 weeks.
Eligibility period: April-May-June
Selecting Your Eligibility Period
You will receive an e-mail telling you that your scheduling permit is available
Log-in, click on “Scheduling Permit” Go to Prometric website and schedule your
test date.
Scheduling Your Exam
Accommodations for documented disabilities covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act
You must apply for accommodations at the same time you register for the exam◦ See Gail Peoples if you plan on applying for or
have questions about applying for accommodations
Request for Personal Items◦ Hearing aids, insulin pumps, inhalers, etc.◦ http://www.usmle.org/bulletin/applying-and-scheduling/#disabilities
NBME Accommodations
Different levels of support to meet your individual needs:◦ Lowest level: help creating/reviewing a study
schedule, choosing supplemental resources and reassurance that you can do this
◦ Medium level: help assessing results of the BSX, individual appointments throughout boards study to help with quizzing, review and confidence
◦ Highest level: Boards Review Class
What support does OSLER offer?
OSLER will help you build a study schedule and plan the study that is best for you!
There are many methods out there:◦ DIT, Kaplan, Penn Method, Taus Method,
Questions Only, etc. All are variations on a theme
◦ Different curricula, different goals, different exams
Be informed!!!
Once you have scheduled your exam…
Clear start and end dates Days off Review days Reserved time for questions Time limits
◦ Organ systems vs. disciplines◦ Nervous system vs. cardiovascular◦ CV physiology vs. CV pharmacology
What all successful schedules have in common…
Pick a start date◦ Last Block ends on February 28, 2014◦ Time off?
Pick a test date◦ You must test on or before April 15, 2014
Identify “special” days off◦ Identify any day that you will be away from
studying Weddings, conferences, birthdays, etc.
Before you can create a study schedule…
Identify “scheduled” days off…◦ For the sake of your health, sanity and personal
hygiene, give yourself 1 reliable day off each week.
◦ Usually Saturday or Sunday
Before you can create a study schedule…
Identify question bank days◦ One day/week devoted to question based
cumulative review Track progress Identify weak areas Prepare for the real deal
◦ Usually the day before scheduled day off
Before you can create a study schedule…
Pick practice test days◦ NBME self-assessments◦ Typically scheduled after 2-3 weeks of study and 1
week prior to the exam. Identify time for final cumulative review
◦ Time set aside for final push for detail◦ Usually 3-3.5 days immediately before test date
2 days for organ system review 1 to 1.5 days for discipline review
Before you can create a study schedule…
March 2014Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
April 2014
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11
TEST
12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
25 study days3 question bank days2 NBME practice tests3.5 days of cumulative review
Q
Q
Q
R R R RREST
NBME
NBME
Ok, I’m ready for a schedule. What’s next? Schedule an appointment with OSLER It may take two appointments…
◦ Appointment 1- weekly schedule Day 1 to exam day When do I review? When do I do a practice test? How
many days for Renal?◦ Appointment 2 – daily schedule
How long is a study day? How long for Heme pathology?
What do I do during the four hours scheduled for CV pharm?
Six week guided study Focused on approach, strategy
◦ NOT a content based review Designed to provide structure,
accountability and additional support for those who need it
If interested, ◦ Talk to Joanna, Richard or Gail◦ Attend information session on December 16
Boards Review Class
First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – 2013 or 2014 edition
One additional reference per discipline◦ Anatomy/Histology◦ Biochemistry◦ Physiology◦ Immunology/Microbiology◦ Pathology◦ Pharmacology◦ Embryology
Question Bank◦ USMLE World
What resources do I need?
November 18 – 3-4:30 pm◦ Planning a review of Behavioral Science &
Psychiatry December 9 – 1-5 pm
◦ BSX Exam (required!) December 16 – noon-1pm
◦ Information Session for Boards Review Class On-going October-February
◦ Individual appointments to create a Step 1 study plan
Upcoming Events
October-December◦ Complete registration◦ Select and schedule test day◦ Meet with OSLER to create/review study schedule◦ Participate in Step 1 workshops◦ Take BSX exam – December 9
January-February◦ Review results of BSX◦ Revise study schedule (if necessary)
March-April◦ Activate Question bank◦ Purchase NBME practice exams◦ Study!◦ Take Step 1
Fall-Winter-Spring Timeline
Be informed Be systematic Be reflective Know yourself and what works for you Ask questions now Help is available
The Bottom Line
Step 1and Residency◦ Dr. Jones
Registration, Testing Accommodations, Personal Item Exceptions◦ Gail Peoples – 4101G
[email protected], 734-4122 Study Support
◦ Joanna Arnold – 4101C, 734-8785 [email protected]
◦ Richard Moses – 4101A, 734-4678 [email protected]
Questions?