Second-year started with my favorite course: genitourinary! Second-year also means getting ready for boards which will be coming up the beginning of June. As an osteopathic student, we have to take COMLEX Level 1 and have the option of taking USMLE Step 1. The two exams are very similar in content except for the osteopathic material that is also included in the COMLEX. It’s definitely a personal decision as many other osteopathic students have mentioned in their posts, but it does keep options open when it comes to applying for residencies. To prepare for these two exams I decided to set up goals for myself this year to prevent last minute cramming. My goal is to get through the material at least three times. During my first pass which will be from August until December, I will focus more on content review because let’s be real..
To prepare for these two exams I decided to set up goals for myself this year to prevent last minute cramming. My goal is to get through the material at least three times. During my first pass which will be from August until December, I will focus more on content review because let’s be real…the brachial plexus is a far away memory as of now. I am also going to be using a Qbank to reinforce the material, but sticking to 10 questions/day. After this first pass, I am going to take a practice exam to see where my weak points lie. My second pass will be from January until April right before my dedicated study period. During this time I am going to increase my questions and review content that I am weak in. My final review will be from April until June (my dedicated study period) where I will be focusing on only questions. Throughout these study periods, I plan to take practice exams and of course, incorporate osteopathic material. So far I have been able to manage my coursework and board review but I will keep you all updated as the year goes on!
Who else is studying for boards during year II?
