USMLE Step 1

hi umarbhai..its a great work that you are doing on this side.. i got my score of usmle step-1..got only 90(220)..i am from india..so can you please tell me should i go further in this us residency???

hi.. i wanted to ask if i start preparing for usmle from today onwards (ie start from a scratch) wat should be the timeline of the exams wich will allow me to participate in the residency aplication in sept 2010....yani in  how many months should i give step1 ,2 etc...moreover do i need to clear all the steps 1 ,2, cs before applying for match  ...your opinion will be a gr8 help for me

hi i wanted to ask if i start preparing for usmle from today onwards(ie start from  a scratch)wat should be the timeline of the exams that will allow me to participate in the residency aplication process in sept 2010..means  wen should i give step1,2 etc..moreover  do i need to pass all the steps 1,2,cs for becoming eligible for residency application...i heard that minimum we shud pass 1 and ck before september..but im confiused...your opinion will be gr8 help for me..

hello sir ,

first of all congrats for such a good score and for this site as it is of a gr88 help to the juniors

welll i am in my first year mbbs and aspire for us so want to know like when should i really start my prep for the exam(usmle - step 1 ) and like practically when will i b able to give the step 1 . also i am not undestanding the term of marks like someone has got 90/220 (arbitary number ) so what does it mean i mean how much marks the paper was and like why is it not that good score for non green card holders also as i know that most of the step 1 has chapters right from first year like anatomy etc. like then should i study the kaplan individual subject material with the video lectures and can u explain the thing about the residency for non americans

thanx in advance sir

keep up the good work !!!!!!

cheers !!!!!

helllo sir ,

well first of all congrats for such a gr888 score and for the site as it is of gr88 help to juniors like me :)

i m in frist year mbbs and aspire for US  so want to ask a few doubts abt the exam :

1 ) well when will i b practically able to give the step 1 considering clearing of my basics and dion all the procedure required for step 1 like (the whole list given in the materials  done as soon as possible)

2 ) as step 1 has the subjects which are of first year too so how to actually study for those subjects through usmle piont of view like studying what material of usmle duirng the course

3 ) can u explain what is the residency program and like how to gurantee our selves for a safe thing  in getting there and i read earlier that if u give exam earlier in your course u can aplly for residency so is it that the ones who hav cleared there step 1 can get to apply i mean not after clearing the step 3

4 ) i dont understand the way in which the marks are written i mean like in the last post its 90 / 220

so how much marks the paper was and how much did one scored also in the last post its written like it is not a bad score but i guess its not at all a bad score but as u are more aware so how much does a non green card holder should get in order to gurantee his addmission in one of the top pg branches or may be university of our choice

hi , m have graduated recently ....plannin to take step 1 next month  .... does no clerkship means no residency ?

 visitor

hi does year of graduation play an imp role in residency match ?

Hi

Your site s excellent.thanks for all d help.thanks to all d info on your site. m really confused about d prep for mle.ll only kaplan and the qbank do?

salam bro.

i find this site an excellent compilation of important infos regarding usmle.tx a bundle for ur hard work......i wanted to clear few thingsss,hope i would get an answer

1..if i score 99 in both steps but i have no usce,what are my chances

2.how much a green card helps?

3.how difficult is getting radiology or ortho residency for an img

4.i had a backlog in anatomy,will it create a bottleneck for me laterrr in match ,when it comes to interview calls....how much important is aggregate score of mbbs latar on....i had 63% overall percentage and i took 5 year 3 month to complete my mbbs

hey..i just gave my final year exam.so m fresh with step2 clinical subjects.just wanted to know is it ok to give step2 b4 step1.i think my reading will go faster if i give step2 ck 1st.wanted to ask some1 who's given all 3 n would know it all.generally every1 follows the sequence of step1,then step2 ck.would it be better this way?

 hello umar bro.....wazup?

actually i am gonna start with the pathology.......i have few queries

1. web path slides are useful?

2. abt 1900 slides are available on wb path...........which ones do i need to do?

3. also few u can tell abt..CTs n MRIs n Angiograms..........r the imp?........and from where to get them ( i mean sum link) n how many r sufficient for confidence?

thanks 

himanshu 

hi umer bhy!first of all congratulations for this amazing amazing website.sparing time from ur own tough study schedule you are helping people beyond imaginations.its been almost three consecutive hours that i have been reading posts on ur website.

umer bhy im a final year student in india.i intend to start the prep of my step 1 exam in april next year i.e 2011.meanwhile i would really like to do something that will help me getting a good score in step 1.so what subjects would you recommend me to read from kaplan lecture notes at this point of time that will really help me get a good score and will also reduce my time of preparation for step1??also which are the subjects tested most in step 1 exam that need some thorough reading??

thankin you in advance

Thanks a lot for helping about visas last time.I have few doubts

1.Which book or website is to be used for radiographs.

2.Roughly how much chance is there to get a H1b for residency if i have taken and passed step 3 at the time of interview.

3.if i want to do clinical  research in US for about 6 months after my graduation,are there any paid researches so that i can be paid that much just to manage my basic needs.

Thanks a lot again. :)

Hi,

 I'm graduating this year in March.I am pursuing a masters in Biomechanics from Stanford Starting this September and hence plan to apply for residency by around 2012/13. Is it better to get my steps done right now ( before/during masters) or would it be better to do them after I finish masters?

Also, does Stanford medical school take Indian students?

    Salam umer bhai,

i am currently in my final year mbbs in pakistan.

i am interested to give my mle during/ just after completing my degree..
1. how can we look for the seat availability and check for the exam dates.

2. what documents are required from the university for applying.

3. how long does it generally take to complete the revision of prep materials; mentioning here that i only have surgery and medicine in my final year and only medicine for my last semester, i.e june to october. we are already finished with our surgery in the complete first semester since june..

regards..

hi umarbai...

i am indian student presently in US...i gratuated in 2007 november...now i got got married and shifted to US....now  planning to give my step 1 at sept...goinn to regester only...got some doubts...

1.will it be difficult to get a residency if i apply for2011 or 2012 match(thats around 5 yrs after i complete my graduation).??

2,.if i do my step 2 and cs by 2011 june..can i apply for next year residence??

3.my hubby is research person. so planning to do some kind of research in medical university...but will i get paid for that if i have a proper visa( but without clearing usmle)??and in what postition should i apply??

4.will it be enough to do a research instid of observership or externship??

5.should we do observership before we go for CS??

6.can we apply after we complete step 1??without CS and step 2?

THANKS A LOT IN ADVANCE....

and god bless you lot and lot for your good work...

bye...

hi umar bhai n others

I AM IN A UNIQUE CONDITION

hii bhayya..! 

i  became a graduate on MAY 2010.i culd like 2 take STEP1 on october 2010..any suggesstions abt the pattern of exam preparation..! i didnt get time 2 prepare during my house surgency period..i wasted time till now.can u send a mail abt u r  NBME to my above email address..is it better to prepare alone or with my friend.? hw much time for each subject per day..?

hi ,see i visited this page but i cudnt find any option where i shud register n then log in??2ndly i m planning to give mle in december-10 i i got usmle id no. from ecfmg,so wat shud i do next step? n when shud i apply for application, 3rdly wat u recommend me to do usmle world qbook or Qbank?? which is most important? i have kaplan Qbank series, which i have to finished first!! see i have not enough time thats why asking about us world qbank or qbook,

  thanks

                      We are really thankful to you for creating such a wonderful website which has guided thousands of students all over the world..I am very much curious to know that how much you scored in step 1 ? Thank you for your great 

u r doin grt job bro..

my self siddu doing my intern.planning to give step1 in this october..pls give u r valuable suggestion.in this moment what have to study only 2 months left...presently scores are decreasing is it really true?????

thanks bro

1. is there an age limit for  usmle aspirant and

2. what are his chances of getting an residency there in the same subject i.e,pathology 

please help with the names or links ,, 

i  m in chennai

Dear Bro Umar!

First of all let me tell you that what you mentioned that you got so many oppurtunitites, the reason for that, this site speaks for itself. I was searching for some1 to give me an honest opinion, and i think no other than you can guide me better. It is regarding my USMLE's. I havent cleared any exam yet. I graduated in December 2008 and then did my housejob. Now im double minded about a few things. First i thought of applying for the next year match (i.e Sep 2011) for the 2012 match. But in order to be prepared for the Sep 2011 deadline, i have to clear my 3 exams in next 9-10 months which i think is a big risk since i ruin my scores. But people have been telling me that if i un-necessarily delay my exam for one year, it will weaken my application as they prefer fresh graduates. Kindly help coz im really confused. If i give my exams sooner, i may ruin my scores and if i delay it then they say fresh graduates are preferred. Kindly suggest me an honest option.

Thanks and regards!

i am suffering from a dilemma....can u please help me...

i had been doing kaplan lecture dvds of 2007 along with xerox notes of 2008....for last 2 months..

recently i talked to a friend of mine,doing pgy1 in US,he insisted that i should take the kaplan 2010 coaching due to the uptodate of the materials and the growing difficulty level of the exam each passing year,in order to get a high score in step 1...

do you feel i should avail of the coaching?

or should i look to buy the materials of 2010 and study them?

thks in advance....

Hi  everyone , i am filling application for step 1 and can someone pls guide me what to write in the option asking for clinical clerkships?

im still in my internship so im still not done with all of my rotations .... many ppl say they have left it blank cuz it can be changed later on .... can it be done ? or u need to fill ur clerkship exp in US, if any ?

kindly help

Thanks a lot !

hope u ll be doing fine ... i need to ask something

actually i have graduated 5 years back nd then i gave fcps-1 (passed it ) , also tired step-1 but failed

then i was busy for 2 years nd then i again sent step 1 admission but couldnt prepare nd just appeared nd failed

now i passed my step-1 exam with 98%

but i m little confused whether i ll get my residency there or not after passin step2 etc

will this failure in step1 effect my residency ?

i failed because i coundnt prepare properly

guide me plz

thanks :)

hi to all forum seniors.... i am currently in 2nd Year MBBS, i would be giving my 2nd prof exams in december 2010 and starting my 3rd year in Jan 2011...

I'm thinking of giving Step 1 during my graduation... But i am a little apprehensive because i havnt heard of ANYBODY do that except the AMGs...

Please guide me into the "risk-benefit ratio" of my decision... Thanksalot...

I would first like to thank you for this fabulous site which has helped me a lot from my very first step towards the residency program. I have a question. I graduate in may 2011. by then i will have completed my step 1 , cs, 2 months of observership and 2 months of clinical electives. what i am worried about now is i got a step score of 219/93. and i would like to apply for the 2012 match. I dont think that the score is good enough.Hope by god's grace i could get a score of 99 in step 2. what do u think are my chances of grtting into an internal medicine residency program??and what more can i do to improve my chance of gettin one and which other programs could i get easily with the above score? Please help me out with this as i am really tensed and am looking for an advice..

    once again i thank you for this great effort of yours to help out the budding doctors..

I plan to take my step1 in feb 2011. I have filled out the online part of form 183 and yet to send out the application to ECFMG. I have heard that ECFMG doesnt accepts application in the first 2 weeks of January. Considering this, should i send my application after 15 January ?

Also, How much time will it take for ECFMG people to provide me the scheduling permit ?

Hi Umar,

Need ur expert advice..

I graduated in july 2010, good research work locally and one international publication. i am almost prepared for my step 1 in march 2011. but i am confused and double minded after knwing dificulties and long procedure to get in to US residency program by one of my US citizen friend. I dont have a visa nor any experiance of working in US. I intend to apply for some research job in US and then after getting there i shuld plan further Or wat wud u advice.. my other option wud b to stay back and practise in Pakistan.

Thankyou

                   i do have some questions regarding myself can i ask you, o i forgot that ,i supposed to place questions heir.

ok , i myself a MBBS graduate from india, i am graduated in year 2007, with completion of my internship on dated 23/02/2007. then after i was having some health problems (IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME) .
now after doing contractural basis job for two years in government sector , i want ot prepare for the USMLE , will i be able to do that what is your advice ?  my friends told me that with continuing job it is hardly possible to prepare and give your best , but i have to work to finance my exam expenditure for USMLE.what do you suggest.  

I've got my usmle step 1 scores as 84 (203). I am presently doing my internship in India which is about to end by April 2011. Considering that I have not done any elective, Please can you guide me with such average score should I proceed further with USMLE preparation with the aim of doing an IM residency or start preparing for competitive exams in India. Please do help me....

Hi,

I just finished my final yr MBBS exams from India and plan to take up the USMLE following my one year of internship.

Firstly, is research experience necessary for a residency in the US?

Secondly,

Would I be able to take all the 4 tests from India or how many times will i have to travel to the US before getting a residency?

 Thirdly, If i start preparing from scratch right now, would i be able to manage a good enough score in a year or year and a half?

 Lastly,

What time of the year is the best to start taking the tests?

 can you please tell me the usmle application process from id number till the exam application in brief, i studied ecfmg.org but little confused please help me...

Slaam to everyone,

 I really appreciate brother Umar's efforts and dedication to help thousands of medical students like me,who didn't have any direction before reaching this website.

 Brother,i want to ask you that,if i don't have credit card,what are the other ways of paying to ECFMG for USMLE?

 May Allah Help you achieving your goal

I'm Currently a second year student studying in London. Is it true that it's very hard for British graduates to get residency in the US?

Also, I've heard that the best time to give the USMLE Step 1 is after the 2nd or 3rd year as you have better retention of theoretical knowledge. Is it wise to give the exam this early?

Thank you! 

Hi,

I am so confused about the USMLE..went through your site but still not sure about the timeline.

I finished my MBBS in jan 2011 and am finish my one year of compulosory internship in March 2012.

I have just started preparing for the usmle. I'd like to take my step 1 before completing my internship. Now can you please tell me how long it will take for me to apply for the whole process of step 1 and take the step?

And if I want to do observership in the US, say in December 2012, after completing my step 2 CK from India, should i apply for a visit visa or take up am MPH course to get a student's visa?

Also, should i do step 2 CS before/after observorship? and how long will i need to prepare for step 3? because if i can't finish all this within a period of 6 months, it will be difficult with a visit visa..

Is the time frame i've given - taking step 1 in another 5-6 months, then step 2 ck in india in july 2012, then go to the US in 2012 december where i can take the rest of the steps with observerships - good?

Could you tell me approximately how much it would cost for the whole thing? I know it's around 4500 dollars for the steps alone.. how about the travel, stay, food, visa and observership expenses? also, once into a programme, will i need to pay any tuition fees as well?

Hope you can answer these questions..Thanks!!

  Your site is great to visit and worth a read...Good job...I just completed my m.b.b.s and am planing to go for step 1 by december.But all i am confused about is weather to go for house job/internship first or study and give step 1 and then start house job and meanwhile clear step 2 cs and ck...any advice would be appreciated

thanks

Hello Dr. Umar!

I am very glad to see that you are back on advising students and guiding them on this absolutely amazing website! Thanks Bhai you are tha man :D!

so I am a fifth year medical student ,I decided to take a year off before my sixth year, I got a research grant for 5 months period during it I will participate in 2 research programs in Holland and there is a good chance that I get my name on  pubmed publications as the professor I work with is very active with it, I planned to spend the rest of the year by taking USMLE step one in four months( please tell me if you think its enough time to prepare for it) and then going for clinical electives for 3-4 months so that I can add them to the 2 months of elective in my 6th year curriculum!

please let me know what do u think of my plan and whether it may be worth it to get one year late for my graduation in order to do it!

I also want to ask you about the clinical electives, I already sent so many emails to almost every school and I hope I will be able to secure 3-4 months of  US electives but in case I couldn't get an acceptance in university hospitals for the whole period do u think it will still be good to get accepted in other affiliated american hospitals and institutes( not university hospitals  but affiliated teaching hospitals) ? 

one more thing, I did TOEFL and scored 104/120 R:26 L:26 S :27:W:25 and I want to apply for the NIH for an elective in may or June 2012 so do u think I have good chances If I apply soon with this TOEFL score and since you went to an elective there can you advice me on which elective to go for?

the last thing is that I am interested in internal medicine residency in the states and the total number of elective months I plan to take are 5 months so is it better to spend it all taking internal medicine electives or shall I seek electives in other majors as well!

thank you sooooooooooooo much man may allah reward you with the best things always!

i am studying in final year part II and will be appearing for exams this winter.

when is the appropriate time for appearing Usmle? am i late for this??

i have no idea from where to start and what to do.please help me out in this.

is it necessary to have electiveship? will it help in further steps??

Thank you for the wonderful site. I am a graduate from india and I completed my internship in january 2010. I have come to US for 2 months of externship with private doctors here and have even got a Research with a good university for 1 year period. I was wondering

1. Is it possible to give my steps along with the research I do during 1 year?

2.The research I am getting is on J1 visa. Hope it doesnt create problems in the future.

thank you very much.

hello,

i've currently finished with 3 months of internship and wish to give step 1 by oct-nov. i've started reading kaplan notes along with their videos and hv managed to finish physio and biochem. plz suggest how should i continue studting further in order to be able to give my exam latest by nov 15. plz suggest a timeline and the material that is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to complete. by reading posts on this website, i gathered that kaplan notes hv to b read for all subjects but some students adviced me to do goljan only for patho and skip kaplan patho. plz advice on this too...

Thank you in anticipation.

Cheers :)

Umer Bhai Assalam-u-Alikum!!

 My name is Dr. Irtsam Shahid. i am a graduate from AIMC lhr and have recently completed my house job.

the thing is that the name on my degrees, id card and other official documents is Irtsam Shahid. but its M.Irtsam shahid in my house job certificates and attempt certificate etc.

 is it necessary for me to get my name changed on all my documents or shall i just leave it be.

regards

Irtsam

Hi Umar,

Congratulations for all your efforts.All ur replies reflect your level of commitment.Hats off..

I am medica graduate with post graduation in Radiology(2010) in India.Though I had plans of USMLE during my graduation,it didnt materialise due to various reasons,But I am keen to get certified by the American Board.Now that I have gained quite some experience and also a valid US visa.I wish to prepare for USMLE now.

I just wanted to know if this is going to be a wise decision and probability of residency either in oncology and radiology.

I have some international exposure as I am into teleradiology as well as in radiology application development and travelled almost all around the world.

Looking forward for your suggestion

thankyouu soo muchh in advance

and May Allah bless u for ur efforts...

Dear Dr.Umar,

i have recently applied for step 1 and step 2 cs but my application has been rejected due to some small error.i have to resubmit it again.in item 5 of application form they are asking if i had previously submitted an application to NBME and if so they are asking for nbme or usmle application identification number.what exactly do they mean by this number??and also , they said my form 186 is valid..so do i have to resubmit it along with the application form or is it not needed??please help me...reply needed asap....

    This website has amazing information for all med students. MashAllah, a great job done Dr. Umar.

 My dilemma is that I'm now entering the Final year of MBBS studies in Pindi. And as my Pakistani colleagues would know that it's a hectic academic year with lots of ward rounds and study hours. 

I am seriously considering, however, to start prep for step 1, as I've covered all the basic sciences subjects.(although haven't done any formal prep from USMLE books) Ideally I would like to prep for 6-7 months and take the exam in the mid of final year. 

We hear "myths" not to risk it during medical school, that it requires studies when you're totally free from everything else. 

Is it realistically possible to consider taking the step 1 with hardly 3-4 hours of daily dedicated prep for this time duration?

Esp. when one has to balance med school with it. I would love to hear from anyone who's taken it during med school, esp in final year MBBS...

I'm in dire need of help... to start or to focus on final year, or prep for step 2?

Bro i am just garduated and did my internship in pakistan.  and i heared if some one doing step 2 directly before step 1 so by that if score is above to 80 u will get job in global countries very easily. is that true????

and sir what is the fee structure for atep 1, step 2, and step 3??????

       i will be waiting 4 ur reply thanks 

       May ALLAH alwayz bless you..

Salam Umer Bhai!

I am preparing for step1 and i want to know that which book should be used for Behavioral sciences?

What you think which book is the best for behavioral sciences?

Plz do reply

 Looking frward to your kind reply.

May ALLAH Help you and us all. Amin

Thankyou

salam aliekum Mr Umar

i have failed attempt at step1 and now i am prereparing  to retake it

i haven't done step2 or cs yet

i want to ask you how that affecting in match?

and what can i do to increas my chances?

I am from India, I recently received my step 1 scores..i scored 191 and m terribly disappointed..i donno wat to do next..is der any point in taking step 2 or am i done wid the USMLE?? i gave my step 1 after oct 1st 2011..so they don have percentile scores now..

pls reply asap..

hi Dr. Umar.i appreciate your help by means of this forum.

i am student of 2nd year student.i have read almost all info about usmle in your forum and that really worked for me to  make up my mind to appear in usmle.

1-what is the ideal time for me to appear in step-1 (month & year ) i think in 2014 whn i will be n 4th year.....correct me if wrong

2-is it really very difficult to get residensy in surgery....if no then what should i do i my medical life to get in surgery.

3-which subject should i select for research elective in 2nd year.........is there any other institute other than AKU for research elective?

4-do you have any info regardng yer exchange programme?

5-which books i must read at this time for step-1 ,as i m reading kaplan notes.

6-then what is  ideal time for  step 2 ,cs,ck,csa(what is csa i dnt know about)and step 3.

 i have been following your site since i started preparing for my step 1 exam. this is a wonderful site  i must add, u r doing perfect job.

i failed in usmle step 1 , never thought about it in my wildest dreams.

now can u suggest me whether i should give further steps and repeat this exam  , do i have any chances of getting residency there?

i would like to know this from you,an advice is reqd.so that i can forget about US and concentrate on other options available. pls help???

salams DR umar,.....i wanted to ask is there any advantage to a us ist citizen in usmle exams.....i have done my mbbs from pakistan...will i be preferred ????...

1. i have applied for ecfmg and also got my id, i want to apply for usmle next year probably july what should i do further?

2. is it necessary to give step 3 as i have green card?

3 what is the best way to prepare for usmle?  what do u suggest as i am a final year student right now.

4.i visit usa ever year so i want to do electives here how can i apply?

                                 thanks

can u plz answer few of my qs?

1 i have got my ecfmg id, i am planning to give usmle by july next year wat should i do now to apply?

2. do i have to give step 3 since i have got green card? how does a green card help u in scoring?