Non-Traditional Med Student 101: SMASH the Boards!

HOLD UP!🍋SMASH the Boards! Had to channel my inner Beyoncé to tell y’all allll about the tools I used to pass both parts of my STEP 2 board exam on the FIRST try! Now, passing on my first attempt is Absolutely a huge deal to me! I was told by an entire committee I’d never pass. I had extreme difficulty with STEP1. So to be here, in this space sharing how I conquered this thing…I’ve been celebrating. I am Celebrating. I will continue CELEBRATING! With that being said, my advice is coming from the perspective of a student who has struggled. What I did may be helpful for all med students, but it will likely be even more so for the non-trads and for those who have had academic difficulty. SO, let’s get started!

I took my time! I had to retake multiple shelf exams from 3^rdYear. I had stopped doing what my test-taking strategist taught me because of time constraints and other goings-on throughout 3^rdYear. These failed exams actually worked out to my benefit. I was forced to sit down for an Extended period of time and really ensure I knew my stuff. Why? Because failing a shelf exam for a 2^nd time means repeating an entire rotation and ya girl was not having that! I ended up studying for my retakes and, thereby, studying for STEP 2 for a total of 13 weeks. Yes, 13. In doing so, I reviewed EVERYTHING on the boards in depth instead of completing a more general review that likely would not have served me well. I pushed my date back 4 times until December 17th, yielding a total of 15 weeks study time. The average med student generally takes 4 weeks to study and sits for the exam in July or August. But as you’ve probably noticed, I’m nothing close to average 💁🏾‍♀️Sure, it would have been nice to have my passing score back earlier for all the pretty, shiny Residency programs to see, BUT chess not checkers! I wanted to be 1 and Done, passing the first time and setting myself up for future success!

I used the tools my test-taking strategist gave me! Certain faculty at my school have told me before to “take more time” to prep for exams or to complete coursework. It was only after meeting my test-taking strategist that I learned it’s not only time that’s needed. It’s what you do with the time! The right tools and methods are so important and without them, spending more time is irrelevant. The basis of what I learned is to shoot for 70% and over with each practice question set I completed. For each question I got right, I skimmed to make sure I understood and moved on. For each question I got wrong, I pulled out the hefty textbooks (not review aids) and read up on the subject matter (not the entire section, but whichever part was relevant: diagnosis, treatment, management, etc.). I used UWorld throughout my studying and ensured I kept doing practice questions until I met the 70% mark and higher consistently. I also completed a worksheet as I went through question sets. Will see if I can get permission to share. Simple methodology, I know, but it works! My test-taking strategist said it’s all about seeing allll the questions you can because there’s only so many ways they can ask you a question about a particular subject matter. That’s how you beat the test! Keep taking practice tests (UWorld questions and NBMEs). I heard UWorld is best for STEP2 and Kaplan is best for STEP1. I’m not sure how true that is, but it was definitely true for me!

For STEP 2 CS, I used the First Aid CS book to review all the cases. I read through them and reviewed to ensure I had an understanding of how to complete a physical exam and work up for all the cases. I studied approximately 1.5 weeks for that exam (I took it before CK) because I knew I needed to focuses the majority of my efforts on CK.

I met with Internal Medicine faculty members to study! Leading up to the exam, I met with Internal Medicine faculty once a week for approximately 4 weeks. Internal Medicine because that is the specialty that comprises the majority of the exam and because Internists know some of everything! We reviewed UWorld and NBME questions. They ensured my line of thinking was right and corrected me when it wasn’t. Talking through the questions aloud really helps solidify information and gain understanding on matters I didn’t know well or thought I knew…but didn’t.

I took all the NBME STEP2 practice tests! Yep, all 3…with 4 sections of 50 questions each😅These tests were really helpful in building my stamina, exposing me to more (and sometimes new! keeping it real) information, and preparing me for the real thing. AND there are definitely REPEAT questions from the NBMEs on the real exam. I saw at least 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Free points for Anya! I highly recommend taking all subject NBMEs throughout 3^rd Year rotations too so you can start preparing yourself, do well on the shelf exams, and have the questions to reference during dedicated STEP study time.

I maintained Surgery And The City! Being creative fuels me. I told a faculty member I’d give up my blog for the months I studied, but 2 months turned into 4 and I just couldn’t do it. Heck, I barely made it a day without posting. I started receiving more brand partnerships and I just could not say no. BEST decision I made. My blog gives me balance. I am not the type of person who can focus on just one thing all the time. I am not one dimensional. Don’t get me wrong, I still spent at least 6 hours per day studying and my exam scores flourished because I was happy, I had balance, and I had an outlet.

iPrayed. I fasted and prayed. My Mama prayed and fasted. My family and everybody and they Mama prayed. And we Won! I read a 17 day devotional on the Bible App as I awaited my scores: When You’re Hoping for a Miracle. The study plan gave me so much comfort.  If you read it, some of the lessons in that series may seem off topic, but they really do correlate with the grand scheme of getting your miracle. I also SPOKE LIFE! The exam was hard. Very hard! I did not feel confident while taking it. I knew a lot. I just wasn’t sure if my knowledge was enough. STILL, every time I had a negative thought of failing, I would say aloud, “PASS!” And surely, it came to PASS. I scored 24 points higher than I did on each of my failing (but still helpful because I saw so many test questions!) practice NBMEs. And my score was 3 points higher than what I asked God for. I scored all High Marks on my CS exam…the one that started at 3:30pm and ended at 10:30pm. I had forgotten I’d signed up for the 2^nd shift of the exam day. When I tell you my eyes were almost falling out after that 12^th patient!! Sheesh! But God!

I really hope this information helps! I am still in awe of what God has done. Literally I wake up and can genuinely smile because this 14 year journey (since high school graduation babaaaay!) to and through med school is coming to an end and I am finally free. I have finally accomplished what I set out to and I no longer have to be fearful of bad news in my inbox. Do you know what kind of anxiety that yields especially when bad news is the majority of all you’ve gotten? This is the year of Double Favor and I’m already walking in it. This is my year and I hope it’s yours too! Let me know if you have questions! Rooting for you!

*p.s. these tips are what got me through STEP1 too!

xoxo,

Anya

Photos by Tina Smith