It’s difficult to maintain balance in medical school. I am on campus most of the day studying for classes and exams. When I do have free time, I’m spending it in bed watching Netflix, or hanging out with friends. When is a good time to incorporate studying for USMLE?
I spoke with several students about this and heard various answers. Some said that studying for class is also like studying for USMLE, so they didn’t dedicate any extra time for additional studies as of yet. Others said they tried to incorporate 10-20 USMLE MCQ questions every night from a question bank to review older material, in addition to general class studies. A few others said they weren’t going to start studying until after basic sciences, with the help of a review course and preparation before the exam.
What is the “right” answer for this type of studying balance? I make a strong effort to work on MCQs, not only in my spare time but to correlate with my class material. I find that I learn a lot more from reviewing the material and then quizzing myself with MCQs. I have apps on my phone for my question bank subscriptions, so I can quiz myself and review at any time. I also like the exposure to MCQs because I know it will benefit me in the long run – both in classes and the USMLE. However, I need to make a more conscious effort with time management and going back to review my older course material, so I can be ready to take Step 1.
What are some of your methods to balance both Step 1 studying and class studying?
Hi there! I am currently using a mix of Kaplan question bank and USMLE-Rx question bank!
Hey Ashleigh, which qbank do you make use of ? I’ve been trying to incorporate doing questions into my study plan, but I have no idea which qbook/qbank to use.