BY DR.UROOJ FATIMA
SMC BATCH OF 2008
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APPLICATION AND STUDY METHOD FOR
USMLE STEP1,STEP2CK,STEP2CS AND STEP3
RESIDENCY APPLICATION FOR “THE MATCH”
APPLICATION PROCESS:
 Log onto www.usmle.org
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Click onto the “apply” tab and by clicking the option
for “students/graduates outside US” you will be
directed to the page where you will have to establish
an online account.
Within 5 business days you will receive your USMLE ID
via e-mail ,after which you can start filling in the
online application for step1.
At the end of the online part of the application select
“triplet” i.e 3 months eligibility period for the exam.
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Pay with a credit card and print out the forms.
Once the application gets accepted you will
get a scheduling permit on the e-mail that
you provide.
Using the permit schedule an appointment
with the prometric center.( contact details of
which are given on scheduling permit).
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Step1 is one day 8 hours computer based test.
Exam has around 322 MCQ’s divided in 7
blocks.Each block has 46 questions and has to
be completed in 60 mins.( this makes it 7hrs) .
Out of remaining one hour 15 minutes are for
tutorial and 45mins is the break time.
Break time can be utilized according to
preference in between the blocks. If you skip
tutorial or complete block early that time will be
added to the break time.
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Anatomy
Behavioral sciences
Microbiology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology
Interdisciplinary topics ,such as
nutrition,aging and genetics.
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Kaplan lecture notes for all subjects along with
DVD’s( especially DVD’s for
pathology,behavioural sciences,pharmacology
and physiology).
Kaplan 100 cases of ethics.
Goljan’s pathology/ DVD’S.
First Aid for USMLE Step1.
Kaplan Q bank.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the
USMLE(Appleton and Lange).
Purchase online subscription of Uworld question
bank from www.usmleworld.com
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Preferably 3 reads should be done.
First Read:
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Study all the books thoroughly with concepts,
do not
try to memorize.
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Read all lecture notes along with DVD’s and add any
important points simultaneously on the lecture notes.
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During first read its better not to go through First Aid.
Second Read:
 Revise all the study material including First Aid.
 Start kaplan Q bank and study all explanations given
carefully.
Third Read:
 With the third read go through the study
material quickly.
 Most important thing to do with this is to go
through all the questions given in the online
Uworld question bank.Study explanations
given as a study tool .
 Uworld questions should be done in timed
mode with an average of 3-4 blocks/day.
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After completing Uworld try to give exam
within the next 1 to 2 weeks at the most.
Whatever time is left after completing the
preparation and the day of exam just revise
first aid, uworld explanations,slides,CT’S and
MRI’s.
PATHOLOGY SLIDES:
These can be done from first aid, Kaplan
pathology DVD and images given in Goljan.
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Day before the exam just relax and do the official
orientation material available on www.usmle.org
EXAM DAY:
Try to reach atleast half an hour before.
Make sure you have your scheduling permit,ID
and prometric confirmation with you.
While solving the questions it is best to study
each question carefully and think of an answer in
your mind and then select the best response
from the options given.
Do not leave any question unanswered.
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APPLICATION PROCESS:
It is same as that for Step1.
EXAM FORMAT:
It is a single day 9 hour computer based
exam.
Total number of questions are around 346
divided in 8 blocks.Each block has to be
completed in 1hour.
Out of remaining 1hour, 45 minutes is the
break time and 15 minutes are for tutorial.
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SUBJECTS TESTED:
Internal medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pediatrics
Preventive medicine
Psychiatry
Surgery
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Kaplan lecture notes for step2ck.
Uworld online ( www.usmleworld.com).
Master the boards step3/first aid for step2ck (
optional).
STUDY METHOD:
 On average preparation time 2 to 3 months.
 2 to 3 reads of kaplan lecture notes for step2ck is
more then enough.
 Solve Uworld questions simultaneously with kaplan
lecture notes and add any additional points from
Uworld.
 Day before the exam just revise uworld notes and do
official tutorial given on USMLE website.
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APPLICATION:
Same as that of step1,except that schedule it
atleast 4-6 months before your intended
exam date.
Apply early for CS because slots get filled
very quickly and it takes around 2months to
get the result.
You can schedule a date at any of the 5
centers: Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston,LA,
Atlanta.
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The exam last 8 hours.
There are 12 cases.15 minutes are given for each
patient encounter and another 10 minutes for writing
patient notes.
If you complete patient encounter early so the
additional time is added to the patient notes.
In each patient encounter 3components are tested:
ICE: that includes data gathering and documentation
CIS: which includes questioning and information
sharing skills and professional manner .
SEP: Spoken english proficiency.
To pass CS you need to clear all these 3 components
separately.
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First Aid for Step2CS
Uworld for examination.
STUDY METHOD:
Preparation can be easily done in 2 weeks.
Go through the orientation video on the USMLE
website (www.usmle.org) so that you get an idea
as to what the exam is like.
Key to success is to practice. Go through the First
Aid completely and practice all the cases with a
partner twice while timing yourself.
To brush up examination techniques go through
Uworld .
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In exam the best way to approach the case is to
make a list of differential diagnosis in mind after
reading the initial case history.
Practice all first aid cases in this way .
Format for patient notes should be followed as
given in the first aid.
To get acquainted with the software for typing
patient notes on computer go through the
orientation material available on www.usmle.org
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EXAM DAY:
Make sure you carry scheduling
permit,confirmation letter,ID,stethoscope and
labcoat.
It is advisable to shift to the nearest hotel to the
center a night before the exam to avoid any
unnecessary delays.( details of accomodation can
be found out on USMLE website).
CS is considered as the easiest of the series of 3
exams but only attempt it when you are fully
prepared as an attempt on CS is one of the
filtering factors used by the residency programs.
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Last in the series of USMLE exams.
Once you get your ECFMG certificate you can
apply for step3
It is not necessary to have step3 to go into
the match but it’s a requirement for getting
H1 visa and definitely having step3 does
increase the number of calls.
Try to give it soon after step2CK because
preparation is almost the same.
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Apply by logging onto www.fsmb.org
You have to select the board during the
online part of the application, its best to
choose connecticut because it does not
require extensive paper work.
In step3 triplet is assigned automatically once
the application gets accepted.
Schedule a test date once you get your permit
on the e-mail.
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It is a 2 day computer based exam that last 8
hours each.
On first day of exam there are 336 MCQ’s,
divided in 7 blocks with approximately 48
items each ,that has to be completed in 60
minutes.
On day2 there are 144 MCQ’s in 4 blocks with
36 items each.
On day2 there are 12 CCS cases with a
combination of 20 and 10 minute cases.
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Master the boards step3.
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Uworld question bank online.
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Kaplan lecture notes for step2ck/step3( if you
have given step2ck long time back or if you
feel that you have to brush up the concepts).
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Study time 2 months.
Read master the board twice.
With first read solve Uworld online questions
simultaneously because that is the most
important study tool for step3.
Make notes of any important points from the
explanation given in Uworld.
With the second read revise Uworld notes.
For CCS ,practice uworld cases atleast twice and
go through all the printable cases given on the
site as the management discussed there is very
helpful.
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Make sure you reach the center at least half
an hour before.
Take scheduling permit , ID, confirmation
with you.
At the end of day1 make sure that you take
your scheduling permit because you will have
to show that on day2 aswell.
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Make sure that you plan your steps for any
particular match year in such a way that you
are done with CS latest by january of the
match year.( this is if you decide to give CS
after giving step1 and step2CK).
This gives you a margin incase if you have to
retake CS and also because CS result usually
takes 2 months to be available.
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Below are the dates for the match of 2012( approximately
the dates remain same but do keep on checking
www.ecfmg.org and your OASIS account for any updates).
June 22, 2011: ERAS token was available.
July 1, 2011: Myeras open and you can register and start
sending supporting documents.
September 1,2011: you can submit Myeras application.
October 1,2011: make sure by this date you send your
MSPE to eras support service.
November 1,2011: MSPE is released to the program.
November 30,2011: NRMP early registration deadline.
February 22,2011: Rank order list submission and NRMP
registration deadline.
March 16,2011: match result announced.
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Log onto your account on www.ecfmg.org.
Sign in using your USMLE ID and password on
OASIS.
Click on “ERAS SUPPORT SERVICE” option
given on the page and request for eras token
once its available.
Usually token is available by june of the
match year.
“token” is a specific number that you get after
you pay with the credit card for it.( fee is
around $90).
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Use this token to log onto
http://www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm
Go to “for residency applicants” and click onto
“myeras login”
Once you login “token” is of no further use now.
You have access to ERAS now and you can start
filling in the application and writing personal
statement.
Soon after you get the token start sending the
supporting documents to the eras support
service.
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Original letters of recommendation ( along with
cover sheet).
Cover sheet can be printed out from
www.ecfmg.org/eras/applicants_documents_lor.
html
Transcripts ( which include clerkship record and
consolidated mark sheet).
MSPE
Every time you send documents to the ERAS
support service make sure it is accompanied by
DSF (document submission form) which can be
printed out from your OASIS account after
logging onto www.ecfmg.org
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Documents that have been received by ERAS
can be tracked by checking the “verify receipt
of documents” tab on your OASIS account.
Documents that have been scanned can be
seen in the ADTS section of your myeras
application.( to access myeras application link
is www.myeras.aamc.org)
Finally select programs assign documents
and personal statements and on 1september
submit the application.
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Make sure that your LOR’s are in accordance
with the format of ECFMG.
If you have any distinctions during MBBS ask
the college to mention it in your MSPE.(Also
check MSPE for any grammatical or spelling
errors before you submit).
Most of the students from SMC find it hard to
get the dean’s letter of the speciality in which
they are applying so make sure that if not
dean’s letter you should atleast have LOR
from that speciality.
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Make sure you write a good personal
statement that reflects you as a person and
highlights your achievements ,goals and
aspirations honestly.
When you submit documents to the ERAS
keep a photocopy with you of the originals
you are sending and send copies where
originals are not needed as you might need
them later for visa processing.
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Good scores( without any attempts)
US clinical experience ,preferably medical
school electives,but if you have not done any
so try to get observerships after graduation.
US clinical experience should be atleast of 3
months.
Strong letter of recommendations.
Research experience/publications/including
posters and oral presentations.
Having step3 before going in for the match.
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If you plan to give steps so then utilize your
time during the medical school to build up
your CV.
Right from the beginning study proper text
books to build your concepts so that when u
plan to give steps you can quickly grasp
lecture notes.
In which ever year you get a chance take part
in volunteer activities.
Try to go for US electives in third year ,this
really strengthens the application.
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Try to get attached with someone on a
research project ( it might not result in
publication but having a research LOR
definitely does give an impression that you
have an interest in research.
According to some its better to give steps
while you are in medical school.step1
somewhere in fourth year, and step2 soon
after or during final year.
Its more of a personal decision but make sure
that you do not compromise on score.
THANK YOU