nuts & bolts: policy, registration, study schedules & support services october 19, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
USMLE Step 1Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study
Schedules & Support Services
October 19, 2015
Review UC Davis SOM policy related to Step 1
Provide information related to registration, scheduling and testing accommodations for Step 1
Describe support available as you prepare for Step 1
Identify essential study resources for Step 1 Provide an outline of deadlines and events
related to Step 1 preparation
Goals
You must take and complete the exam by the Friday prior to the beginning of Transition to Clerkship◦Friday, April 22
Exceptions to this date can only be granted by the Committee on Student Promotions◦ http://
www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mdprogram/medicalstudentpolicies/csp/step1policy.html
UC Davis School of Medicine Policy
Karin Nilsson, Ph.D., (Student Health and Counseling Services) Mondays and Thursdays
Stephen Simonson, Psy.D. (SOM/ASAP) Wednesdays & Fridays
Both of us are reached for initial appointment requests through [email protected]
Hour-long strategy session for emotionally/mentally preparing for study period offered January 2016 (noon time)
Karin & Stephen
Set your plan, then follow it—prevent avoidance/perfectionism from getting in the way◦ Small steps add up. Returning to your plan is more
important than being perfect at it.
Practicing Mindful Presence/Breathing• Learning happens in the present• Diaphragmatic Breathing supports being present
Let’s Practice!
Emotional Success Strategies
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!
Registration
What is an eligibility period?◦ 90 day window in which you may schedule/take
your exam
You can not test outside of your eligibility period unless you:◦ File for a one time extension
$70 fee, no new scheduling permit until original eligibility expires
Re-register for the exam (i.e. pay another $600)
Selecting Your Eligibility Period
The first month of your eligibility period should be the month in which you are going to test.◦ Last course ends February 26, 2016. ◦ Boards study typically lasts ~6 weeks.
Eligibility period: April-May-June
Selecting Your Eligibility Period
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
NBME Accommodations/Requests for Personal Item Exceptions
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.
Scheduling Your Exam
Think about how short/long you want you study period to be◦ Optimal is somewhere around six weeks
All successful study plans include:◦ Scheduled days off◦ Scheduled days for practice tests/question based
review ◦ Scheduled days for final review
Plans may need to include:◦ “special days off” – Weddings, birthdays, poster
presentations, etc.
Before you schedule your exam…
March 2016
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
29 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
April 2016
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
25 study days3 question bank “practice tests” 2 NBME practice tests3.5 days of cumulative review
Q
Q R R R RREST
NBME
NBME
Q
TEST!!
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. All are variations on a theme
◦ Different curricula, different goals, different exams
Be informed!!!
Once you have scheduled your exam…
Ok, I’m ready for a schedule. What’s next? 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?
First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – 2016 edition Plus One
◦ ONE additional reference per discipline Anatomy/Histology Biochemistry Physiology Immunology/Microbiology Pathology Pharmacology Embryology
Question Bank◦ USMLE World
What resources do I need?
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
What support does OSLER offer?
Six week guided study Focused on approach, strategy
◦ NOT a content based review Designed to provide structure,
accountability and additional support for those who need it
Informational meeting on December 16 at 11 am
Boards Review Class
December 2 – noon◦ Reviewing Behavioral Science & Psychiatry
December 7 – 1-5 pm◦ BSX Exam (required!)
December 16 – 11 am◦ Information session for students interested in
Boards Review class On-going November-February
◦ Individual appointments to create a Step 1 study plan
Upcoming Events
October-December◦ Complete registration◦ Select and schedule test day◦ Meet with OSLER to create/review study schedule◦ Take BSX exam – December 7
January-February◦ Review results of BSX◦ Revise study schedule (if necessary)
March-April◦ Activate Question bank◦ Purchase NBME practice exams◦ Study!◦ Take Step 1
Fall-Winter-Spring Timeline
Be informed Be systematic Be reflective Know yourself and what works for you Ask questions now Help is available
The Bottom Line
Accountability Buddy◦ Discuss what you plan to do, and check in about
whether you have met your plan. Not about how well you are doing; not about how much you are learning.
◦Let’s practice again.
Karin & Stephen
Step 1and Residency◦ Dr. Jones◦ [email protected]
Study Support, Testing Accommodations & Personal Item Exceptions◦ Joanna Arnold
[email protected]◦ Richard Moses
[email protected] Emotional Well-being and Support
Questions?