Getting ready to take the USMLE Step 1 exam can be a brutal process, but most of the stress and anxiety that comes with the preparation is the fact that we aren't preparing adequately beforehand, rather we simply give ourselves a few months of hardcore study and then expect to score well above average. The key to success not only on the USMLE exams but anywhere in life is to be adequately prepared, and preparation for these brutal exams should start from day one of your medical school education. It isn't easy to get yourself into study-mode for a test that is two years away, especially since nobody will be starting this early, but if you make the conscious decision to start preparing from day number one, then I guarantee you will score much better than your classmates and it will also come much easier.
So how exactly do we start to prepare for the Step 1 this early? Well, first it takes dedication and discipline, but it doesn't mean studying 10 hrs every day, all it takes is the conscious decision that all of your studying is done with the purpose of acing the big exam. Instead of studying for your upcoming class exams, make sure that it is a "combined" effort, meaning you are studying to do well on your class exams but with the ultimate purpose of doing well on the USMLE.
Here are three ways to incorporate USMLE Step 1 studying into your first two years of basic sciences:
#1 - Use your class time wisely
Don't screw around, don't take a nap, instead pay attention to the stuff that your teacher tells you is important and high-yield. Take note of this, then when you go home, throw these high-yield facts into a workbook. Though this may be annoying, when you are ready to study solely for the Step 1, you will have a real high-yield book that will be priceless to you.
#2 - Start using question banks immediately
Most people won't buy a q-bank until it is USMLE time, but if you want to get ahead, start immediately. You can get a full year of the best q-banks for a reasonable price, and what this will do is put you ahead of your classmates, put you well ahead on your USMLE prep, and also give you the ability to learn ahead and take the workload down for your future semesters. The key to doing questions early is to take good notes, learning everything you can from each question, as most questions teach you a solid 10-15 points. Doing only 5-10 questions daily may take 25-30 minutes, but will provide you will a super high-yield set of notes that will help put you way ahead of the game.
#3 - Get the right study guide written for the USMLE Step 1 exam
While you do have a great set of notes already, the study guide will serve to clue you in on what high-yield information is currently being asked on the exam. If you have done the above two tips, you will only need to buy one study guide, helping keep your spending to a minimum.
Do you want a top quality, high-yield study guide written by someone who has scored above average on the USMLE Step 1 Exam?
Grab a copy of The USMLE Step 1 BIBLE by clicking HERE
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