Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study
Schedules & Support Services
OSLER
October 21, 2014
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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
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You must take and complete the exam by the
Friday prior to the beginning of Transition to
Clerkship
◦ Friday, April 24, 2015
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All students who complete Step 1 by this date
will be allowed to start and complete clerkship #1
If you do not take and complete Step 1 by this
date…
◦ You will not be allowed to start Clerkship #1
◦ You will notify Committee on Student Promotions (CSP)
◦ You will submit a plan for completing Step 1 prior to the
start of clerkship #2
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If you fail Step 1 you will…
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Complete clerkship #1
Develop a plan to prepare for/retake Step 1
Defer clerkship #2, prepare for/retake Step 1
CSP will determine if you will be allowed to begin
clerkship #3
Step 1 policy:
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mdprogram/
medicalstudentpolicies/csp/step1policy.html
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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!
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What is an eligibility period?
◦ 90 day window in which you may schedule/take
your exam
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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)
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The first month of your eligibility period
should be the month in which you are going
to test.
◦ Last course ends February 27, 2015.
◦ Boards study typically lasts 5-6 weeks.
 Eligibility
period: April-May-June
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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.
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Accommodations for documented disabilities
covered under the Americans with Disabilities
Act
Request for Personal Item Exceptions
◦ Hearing aids, insulin pumps, inhalers, etc.
◦ http://www.usmle.org/bulletin/applying-and-scheduling/#disabilities
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Different levels of support to meet your
individual needs:
◦ Lowest level: help creating a study schedule (or
feedback on a schedule you have created), 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
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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, Two Pass, etc.
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All are variations on a theme
◦ Different curricula, different goals, different exams
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Be informed!!!
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Clear start and end dates
Days off
Review days
Reserved time for questions
Reserved time for NBME practice tests
Time limits
◦ Organ systems vs. disciplines
◦ Nervous system vs. cardiovascular
◦ CV physiology vs. CV pharmacology
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Pick a start date
◦ Block 5 ends on February 27, 2015
◦ Time off?
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Pick a test date
◦ On or before April 24, 2015
◦ April 24 test date doesn’t allow for “acts of God”
◦ Time off?
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Identify “special” days off
◦ Identify any day that you will be away from studying
 Weddings, conferences, presentations, birthdays, etc.
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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
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Identify question-based review 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
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Pick practice test days
◦ NBME self-assessments
◦ Typically scheduled after 2-3 weeks of study and 1
week prior to the exam.
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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
April 2014
March 2014
Sun
Mon
1
Tue
2
Wed
3
Thu
4
Fri
5
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
1
6
Thu
2
Fri
3
Sat
4
Q
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
5
6
7
8
9
10
Q
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
NBME
12
22
23
24
25
26
27
13
R
Q
21
14
R
15
R
16
R
REST
19
20
21
22
23
26
27
28
29
30
17
29
30
18
TEST!!
24
NBME
28
11
25 study days
3 question bank “practice tests”
2 NBME practice tests
3.5 days of cumulative review
25
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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?
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First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – 2015 edition
One additional reference per discipline
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Anatomy/Histology
Biochemistry
Physiology
Immunology/Microbiology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Embryology
Question Bank
◦ USMLE World
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Six week guided study
Focused on approach, strategy
◦ NOT a content based review
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Designed to provide structure, accountability
and additional support for those who need it
Informational meeting on December 11 at
noon
If interested, talk to Joanna or Richard
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December 3 – noon
◦ Reviewing Behavioral Science & Psychiatry
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December 8 – 1-5 pm
◦ BSX Exam (required!)
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December 11 – noon
◦ Information session for students interested in
Boards Review class
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On-going November-February
◦ Individual appointments to create a Step 1 study
plan
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October-December
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Complete registration
Select and schedule test day
Meet with OSLER to create/review study schedule
Take BSX exam – December 8
January-February
◦ Review results of BSX
◦ Revise study schedule (if necessary)
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March-April
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Activate Question bank
Purchase NBME practice exams
Study!
Take Step 1
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Be informed
Be systematic
Be reflective
Know yourself and what works for you
Ask questions now
Help is available
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Step 1and Residency
◦ Dr. Jones
◦ leon.jones@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
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Testing Accommodations, Personal Item
Exceptions
◦ Gail Peoples
 gail.peoples@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
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Study Support
◦ Joanna Arnold
 joanna.arnold@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
◦ Richard Moses
 richard.moses@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu