USMLE Guide
Part 1: An international medical graduate’s journey from med school to US residency (I was on Visa)
I graduated from OBGYN residency exactly 4 years ago. Lifelong studying, sacrifices and struggles finally rewarded. It was a long road especially because I was an international medical graduate (IMG). After finishing medical school in Pakistan, I married and came to US. After a few months of break, I started my preparation for this beast of an exam I had come to fear, USMLE step 1.
The fear of USMLE was greater than the exam itself. It used to paralyze me. I would start to study but end up doing everything but study. I have previously talked about my struggle with ADD in med school. USMLE was no different. I had the same problem. I would spend hours and days on USMLE forums like prep4usmle trying to find study partners. I studied with 2-3 with one being my most steady partner who was always on my a** and really pushed me to study.
USMLE STEP 1 STUDY GUIDE: (Mainly for IMGs)
Total time: 4-6 months
Study Materials:
Kaplan series books and lectures for all subjects except pathology
Goljan: Pathology book and lectures (OR Pathoma)
First Aid Step 1
USMLE world question bank
BONUS: @ dr.gohari USMLE step 1 review (excellent for mnemonics/diagrams)
Study Technique:
Kaplan series books reading x 1 thoroughly with lecture series with attention to understanding basic concepts
Kaplan reading x 2 with attention to memorization
Kaplan reading x 3 for revision
Do USMLEWorld a couple times during your final and 3rd read while taking down notes in your first aid.
Read First aid x 2-3
Take the NBME mock exams
Take the exam! (8 hours of sleep prior!)