Changes Coming to the MCAT

For those of you considering applying to medical school, the MCAT is about to be revised for the first time in 25 years. Per the Wall Street Journal:

The 8,200 aspiring doctors expected to take the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, this week will find a very different exam than their predecessors took. 

The new test, the first major revision in 25 years, is longer (by 3 hours), broader (covering four more subjects), and more interdisciplinary than past versions. Throughout, students will need to demonstrate not just what they know, but how well they can apply it, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, which develops and administers the MCAT. 

The changes are designed in part to mirror the evolution of health-care delivery and even the nature of illness, the AAMC says.

 Regardless of the changes, the same keys to succeeding as an applicant will apply: strong grades, competitive MCAT scores, well-rounded extracurriculars, outstanding recommendation letters, and a promising interview. Speaking of scoring well:

 

Additionally, the QBanks are essential for practicing test questions, because you will perform as you practice. Want to know how you might perform? Check out Kaplan's FREE MCAT practice test today! - Good luck!

USMLE Step 1 Study Schedule

While I have previously posted about USMLE Step 1 study techniques, tips, and strategies before, I think many people have concerns about how to study for the test, specifically what study schedule they should use. How many hours per day? Days per week? Weeks before the exam? While it would be nice if there were a one-size-fits-all answer, the reality is that everyone studies in a different manner. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful if I focused a bit more on different types of study schedules out there. Many of these schedules are pulled from various sites around the web (see References below) but I thought it would be useful to collect them in one post about USMLE Step 1 study schedules.

Before getting to the schedules themselves, the main tools these schedules rely on are:

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1

Kaplan USMLE Step 1 Qbank (or USMLE World, etc)

 

Subject-Specific Books as needed


The Four Week USMLE Step 1 Study Schedule
This schedule is a bit aggressive, but if you are in a bind, at least it gives you some framework for how you could study for the exam.

	Morning (9-12 AM)	Afternoon (1-4 PM)	Evening (7-11 PM)
Day 1: Mon	Biochem/Genetics	QBank
Day 2: Tues	Pulm:Embryo, Anat, Phys	Pulm: Path, Pharm	Pulm: Micro
Day 3: Wed	Cardio: Embryo, Anat	Cardio: Phys	Cardio: Micro
Day 4: Thurs	Cardio: Path	Cardio: Pharm	QBank
Day 5: Fri	GI: Embryo, Anat, Histo	GI: Phys	GI: Micro
Day 6: Sat	GI: Path	GI: Pharm	QBank
Day 7: Sun	Catch up/Review/Break
Day 8: Mon	GU: Embryo, Anat	Male repro: Phys, Path	GU: Micro
Day 9: Tues	Endocrine & Female Repro: Phys	QBank
Day 10: Wed	Endocrine & Female Repro: Path, Pharm	QBank
Day 11: Thurs	Renal: Embryo, Anat	Renal: Phys	QBank
Day 12: Fri	Renal: Path	Renal: Pharm	QBank
Day 13: Sat	Early embryology, branchial arches, basic histo	QBank
Day 14: Sun	Catch up/Review/Break
Day 15: Mon	Path: apoptosis, neoplasia	Oncology: Path, Pharm	QBank
Day 16: Tues	Heme: Histo/Phys	Heme: Path	QBank
Day 17: Wed	Immunology	Immuno Pharm	HIV: Micro, Pharm
Day 18: Thurs	Rheumatology: Path	MSK/Derm: Path	MSK/Derm: Micro
Day 19: Fri	Behavioral Science
Day 20: Sat	Practice Exam, Kaplan	Break
Day 21: Sun	Catch up/Review/Break
Day 22: Mon	Neuro: Embryo, Anat	Neuro: Phys	Neuro: Micro
Day 23: Tues	Neuro: Path	Neuro: Pharm	QBank
Day 24: Wed	Micro Review
Day 25: Thurs	Pharm Review
Day 26: Fri	Review First Aid/QBank & QBook Practice Questions
Day 27: Sat	Review First Aid/QBank & QBook Practice Questions
Day 28: Sun	Review First Aid/QBank & QBook Practice Questions
Day 29: Mon	USMLE Released Items	Break
Day 30: Tues	Take the boards	Celebrate!

The Six Week USMLE Step 1 Study Schedule

This schedule is more manageable. I imagine most medical students will conform to a schedule of roughly this length. Although, given how some schools cram MS2 finals very near Step 1 exams, you may want to consider the 4 week schedule if needed. 

	Morning (9-12 AM)	Afternoon (1-4 PM)	Evening (7- PM)
Day 1: Mon	First Aid Introduction + NBME Exam	Anatomy	Behavioral Sciences
Day 2: Tues	First Aid Microbio	First Aid Microbio	First Aid Physiology
Day 3: Wed	First Aid Pharm	First Aid Pharm	First Aid Pharm
Day 4: Thurs	Lippincott Biochemistry	Lippincott Biochemistry	Lippincott Biochemistry
Day 5: Fri	Lippincott Biochemistry: Metabolism	Lippincott Metabolism	Lippincott Reviews
Day 6: Sat	Anatomy: Spinal Cord, Pelvis	Anatomy	Kaplan Qbank
Day 7: Sun	Catch up/Review/Break
Day 8: Mon	Anat: Extremities	Anat: Head & Neck	GU: Micro
Day 9: Tues	Endocrine & Female Repro: Phys	Kaplan Qbank
Day 10: Wed	Endocrine & Female Repro: Path, Pharm	Kaplan Qbank
Day 11: Thurs	Renal: Embryo, Anat	Renal: Phys	Kaplan Qbank
Day 12: Fri	Renal: Path	Renal: Pharm	Kaplan Qbank
Day 13: Sat	Early embryology, branchial arches, basic histo	Kaplan Qbank
Day 14: Sun	Catch up/Review/Break
Day 15: Mon	Path: apoptosis, neoplasia	Oncology: Path, Pharm	Kaplan Qbank
Day 16: Tues	Heme: Histo/Phys	Heme: Path	Kaplan Qbank
Day 17: Wed	Immunology	Immuno Pharm	HIV: Micro, Pharm
Day 18: Thurs	Rheumatology: Path	MSK/Derm: Path	MSK/Derm: Micro
Day 19: Fri	Behavioral Science
Day 20: Sat	Practice Exam, Kaplan Qbank	Break
Day 21: Sun	Catch up/Review/Break
Day 22: Mon	Neuro: Embryo, Anat	Neuro: Phys	Neuro: Micro
Day 23: Tues	Neuro: Path	Neuro: Pharm	Kaplan Qbank
Day 24: Wed	Micro Review
Day 25: Thurs	Pharm Review
Day 26: Fri	Review First Aid/Kaplan Qbank & QBook Practice Questions
Day 27: Sat	Review First Aid/Kaplan Qbank & QBook Practice Questions
Day 28: Sun	Review First Aid/Kaplan Qbank & QBook Practice Questions
Day 29: Mon	USMLE Released Items	Break
Day 30: Tues	Take the boards	Celebrate!

There are eight week schedules floating around out there as well, but essentially the two above comprise the major approaches. If you have more time, simply do more practice questions. However, realize that there are diminishing returns if you extend your study period too long: by the end, you start to forget what you learned at the beginning! Plus, study fatigue starts to set in. Anyway, if you are taking the USMLE this year, good luck!



References:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=108020
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/attachment.php?s=282accf7bef0af86f814357dfea27d12&attachmentid=4810&d=1112967292
http://www.cramfighter.com/