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I have a light load before graduation. With all this free time on my hands, I am contemplating taking Step III. How common is this? Anyone else planning to do this? Pros and cons?
Bob Loblaw said:I have a light load before graduation. With all this free time on my hands, I am contemplating taking Step III. How common is this? Anyone else planning to do this? Pros and cons?
Bob Loblaw said:I have a light load before graduation. With all this free time on my hands, I am contemplating taking Step III. How common is this? Anyone else planning to do this? Pros and cons?
Bob Loblaw said:Thanks for the sardonic response.
The guidelines are actually different for different states. Besides, I graduate in early May, which means I could study for the test before graduation and then take the test before internship starts. I've talked to some people that are doing this.
Bob Loblaw said:Thanks for the sardonic response.
The guidelines are actually different for different states. Besides, I graduate in early May, which means I could study for the test before graduation and then take the test before internship starts. I've talked to some people that are doing this.
psychedoc2b said:Hi,
Also, you don't get to choose the time frame that you can take it. The FMSB chooses for you.
psychedoc2b
KidDr said:This may be a state-to-state thing too. When I took step 3 I picked an eligibility period (3 months I think) in which I could schedule the exam, just like step 2.
that is awesome! so you're just going to chill for 2 months until graduation in may?CANES2006 said:This is not a bad idea. I've been contemplating doing this for some time, since I finish all of my rotations/requirements on March 10. Let's see if I can somehow pull off taking Step 3 before residency. It would be sweet to get it over with.
Aubrey said:Once you register with FSMB, there is about a 2 week processing lag before they verify your eligibility and mail you your ticket.. you have a 3 month window period from the time they mail your ticket to schedule and take the exam at Prometric. You can also get an extension to this 3 month period if you have unanticipated developments but it will cost you a bit of $.
trotter said:Taking step 3 before internship might be ideal for me as well.
Does anyone know how difficult the exam is? How much practical clinical knowledge is tested (writing orders, etc)? Would you be at a disadvantage by not having had any internship experience under your belt? I've heard that some of the exam is similar to Step 2, is that accurate?
Just trying to gauge how much preparation would be necessary (if any) to make sure that the exam is passed the first time around(despite not having started internship).
thanks in advance...
trotter
Arsenic810 said:that is awesome! so you're just going to chill for 2 months until graduation in may?
CANES2006 said:Yup. 8 more weeks of required rotations and I am then done with medical school.
12R34Y said:I've got you beat
My last day of medical school is in 7 days!!
i've got feb, march, april, may june off!!!! can't wait......!!!!!!!!!!!!
you ask how?
We have the ability to take numerous electives during the summer after first year and DURING your third year. ie. toxicology, advanced pharm, ethics, medical spanish etc.....Each counts as a month off elective time during fourth year.
Needless to say i'm done. baby!!
whooo hoooo.
later
sweetCANES2006 said:I'm so jealous. That's really awesome. Well, 7 more weeks till March 10 and the end of medical school.
Arsenic810 said:sweet
so you didnt take any of your vacation time except what was required?
Arsenic810 said:sweet
so you didnt take any of your vacation time except what was required?
NoSz said:I am learning for Step 3 right now (IMG). [So whatever I write- I have not passed yet .]
It seems a bit pickier than Step 2, but I am glad I won't have to learn for it during internship. You will need to learn for at least some weeks, don't believe in the two-day-rule.
Don't spend too much time on the CCS, those cases are easy. Just make sure you know how to handle the software. The software is not that complicated either, just not very realistic. For reassurance I bought the Blueprints CCS Review (77 small pages, easy read) and like it.
I have quite some clinical experience and it does not really help, so I am sure you won't lose anything by taking it now- just multiple choice again.
Just having taken Step 2 is what will help a lot!
You can take it now IN any state via Prometric. You just need to apply in one of the states that allow Step 3 without clinical experience. Read the FSMB information for that.
About the reimbursement- the 9 programs I interviewed with will give me the money for Step 3 cash like they do for everybody else regardless when you took it. You might lose some taxes, though.
Good luck!
bulldog said:if u mean this site: http://www.fsmb.org/usmle_eliinitial.html
then it seems as though all programs require 1 year of residency first, even for US students. am i missing something here? please post the state(s) that don't require 1 year of residency. thanks.
CANES2006 said:No, that's the site for initial medical licensure. Try the following web address: http://www.fsmb.org/usmle_requirementschart.html
I'm going to apply through Connecticut because it requires absolutely no postgraduate training. Just have to wait till after May 13 (graduation date) to apply since my stupid school won't write a letter saying that I have been done with graduation requirements since March 10.
bulldog said:awesome! thanks! hypotheically, can you register for Connecticut now, but end up getting into a residency program in Florida, would it still work? i.e. u don't do residency in state u registered for.
12R34Y said:it appears that maryland, texas, louisiana, arkansas, virginia etc... don't require any postgrad training either. Am I reading this right? surely this is not a loop hole.
have you confirmed that if I'm in school in another state and graduate and do residency in another state and have already taken step 3 in between my graduation and start of residency that it will still work?
this doesn't seem possible.
if it IS possible I'm all over it and will begin studying immediately.
later
CANES2006 said:I haven't called the FSMB myself, however I've read numerous posts on SDN in which people have done this. Besides, the Florida medical board no longer sponsors Step 3, so if I stay in Florida for residency, which I most likely will, I will have to register through another state no matter what. Thus, I will be attending residency in a state that isn't the one I selected for the Step 3 registration. Everyone who attends residency in Florida will have to do this.
12R34Y said:After reading virtually every work on the FSMB site and on the USMLE step3 site. I have determined that you CAN do this.
It specifically says in an FAQ section that you can take step 3 at any prometric testing center in the country (not just in your state).
It also says in the FAQ that you DO NOT have apply through the licensing agency in which you reside. ie if you live in oklahoma you can apply to take step 3 in texas etc....
awesome! i may consider this.
it does say though that you CANNOT apply for step 3 unless you are eligible at the time of application (ie until the day after graduation, b/c one of the requirements is graduation from med school).
later
Smurfette said:If you don't apply until mid-May, by the time you get your eligibility form and stuff it is unlikely you will be able to pick the TWO (yes, 2) consecutive days that are needed to take step 3 before you have to start residency. Most dates are gone a month in advance, plus you have to remember there is a good chance you will be moving and having training/stuff going on for your program prior to July 1. Many programs start in mid-to-late June with orientation and stuff.
12R34Y said:2 consecutive days are not a problem. I'm off.
none of the residencies I ranked start before jun 26th.
will long since be moved prior to starting residency (if I move). again i finished medical school last friday.
thanks for the cautions though.
later
CANES2006 said:Ditto. I don't care if I have to take this exam the day before residency even. When I start residency, I only want to focus on my area of specialty. It will be great to have all USMLE exams behind me.
12R34Y said:hey PM me if you want the scoop. talked to connecticut dept of health and FSMB today.
its good news.
Idiopathic said:Does anyone know if this applies to COMLEX as well? Also, someone somewhere mentioned that DO's may take either USMLE or COMLEX Step 3 for licensure. Anyone know if this is true? I would probably rather take USMLE if I could.
edit: I may have answered the second question, since the USMLE site says that you must have passed USMLE 1 and 2 to sit for 3 (in other words, you cant take COMLEX 1 and 2 and then USMLE 3...anyone know?)
Idiopathic said:Does anyone know if this applies to COMLEX as well? Also, someone somewhere mentioned that DO's may take either USMLE or COMLEX Step 3 for licensure. Anyone know if this is true? I would probably rather take USMLE if I could.
edit: I may have answered the second question, since the USMLE site says that you must have passed USMLE 1 and 2 to sit for 3 (in other words, you cant take COMLEX 1 and 2 and then USMLE 3...anyone know?)