The best way to study the USMLE course – Part 3
Online Application Guidance
The following checklist will be of great help to medical graduates planning to apply to USMLE.
1. Plus competitive USMLE scores, participation in US internships, and additional clinical or research experience to earn letters of recommendation (LoRs) that can help improve your chances of getting a residency interview.
2. Register with ECFMG through the Online Applicant Status and Information System (OASIS) to begin your application to take the exam.
3. Submit your diploma and final medical school transcript to ECFMG (transcript must be translated into English); medical school and year of graduation must be listed in the IMED).
4. Schedule, take, and pass USMLE Step 1, CK, and CS Step 2. However, one has to complete all the above steps within a period of seven years.
Exam Preparation Tips
Adopting the Personal Learning System (PLS) from Kaplan’s test preparation materials or similar study materials from other publishers and taking advantage of the training facilities they offer are invaluable. Not only do these companies offer high-performance USMLE lecture notes and Q-books, they also provide excellent advice and guidance to help you succeed on the exam.
It would be a better idea to prepare for the exam in groups of two or more. This will bring out your strengths and weaknesses and you can improve them.
The key to doing well on this exam is to train yourself to make decisions.
During the last few days before the exam, you should be winding down your studies and getting physically and mentally fit.
This is not the time to cram in new material, but the time to organize and integrate what you already know. Review keywords, phrases and concepts
Have an honest conversation with yourself and decide what you don’t know. Be honest with yourself about what you know and don’t know.
Get on the right schedule. Wake up at the same time each day that you should wake up on test day.
This will match your circadian rhythm with the exam schedule. Don’t nap between 8 am and 5 pm. Otherwise, you will get your body used to shutting down during the critical hours of the exam.
Take time each day to relax. Have a nice dinner. Take a walk outside. Find time to exercise.
Get enough sleep, at least six hours a night. Sleep is an essential time for your brain to consolidate what you have learned. I wish you the best!