The Med School Tutors Podcast

Senior medical tutor Dr. Michael Stephens breaks down the coming changes for the Comprehensive Basic Science Exam and Comprehensive Basic Science Self Assessment exams in the light of the USMLE Step 1 going Pass/Fail next month. He reviews how the NBMEs will help you assess your probability of passing the USMLE Step 1, how your performance insights will be shared, and goes over some proven tips for how to optimize your Step 1 studies using your NBMEs. Want to talk through your plan of attack for Step 1? Schedule your free phone consult: https://www.medschooltutors.com/book-a-consult

0:00 Intro 2:50 What is the supplemental ERAS application? 4:19 The supplemental ERAS application timeline 5:32 Section 1: Five Meaningful Experiences 10:55 Section 2: Geographic Preferences 16:18 Section 3: Preference Signal 18:51 Last Tips 20:24 How We Help You Match 21:31 Live Q&A Schedule your consult to work with Dr. Majid, Godfrey or one of their expert residency consultant peers: https://www.medschooltutors.com/book-a-consult

In this interview, Dr. Emma Husain — a senior MST medical tutor with thousands of USMLE tutoring hours of experience — breaks down how you can responsibly assess whether you should take your exam or postpone. Topics and times below: 0:00 Intro 1:29 Scores — NBMEs, data, the goal scores to aim for & more 5:54 What to do if you've already completed all available assessments 10:40 A quantitative benchmark to aim for if you're retaking assessments 11:20 The risks and consequences involved of taking an exam too soon 23:15 A recap of the main takeaways from this talk + a mindset tip if you find out you've failed a USMLE

Overview of who we are & what we'll cover 2:58 An overview of learning styles 5:23 Assessing your learning style (free VARK assessment) 8:22 Visual learner keys and tips 10:38 Auditory/aural learner keys and tips 14:53 Reading/writing learner keys and tips 17:39 Tactile learner keys and tips 22:46 How to learn how to experiment 28:04 Learn how to review 34:46 Learn how to cross organ systems 39:02 Putting testing anxiety into perspective for the USMLEs & COMLEX 43:19 Tips for managing testing anxiety 51:01 Powerful anxiety-busting tool 54:45 How Med School Tutors can help you crush your exam and anxiety 58:03 Live Q&A - Why do they omit key info on the exams? 58:54 What tips do you have for reducing anxiety on the day of? 1:01:05 Any recommendations for when you talk yourself out of the right answer? 1:03:58 When you answer a question incorrectly in UWorld, is it better to write the educational objective or the main point of why the question wasn't answered correctly only?

Intro 3:43 Ground rules for med school applications 6:13 Activities & expanding your relevant experiences list 11:07 Selecting experiences to include 16:06 Using active language 22:21 Formatting your CV for letters of recommendation 30:48 How Med School Tutors can help you succeed 33:33 Live Q&A - What would a passion project or invisible activity fall under? 35:21 Any advice for non-traditional students or career changers in terms of what activities to include? 37:10 How long is too long for a resume or CV? 39:43 So it sounds like it sounds more like highlighting the skills within the activity rather than the activity itself?

Intro 4:25 Why you don't need to know multi-layered treatment modalities for patients on the USMLE 6:32 Screening diagnostic studies & choosing the best test 9:45 How triage tests you on risk-stratifying a patient 12:29 When does treating the patient supersede everything else on Step 2 CK? 19:38 Practice questions dissection with enhanced question difficulty 52:00 Live Q&A — Book guideline recommendations RE treating a patient with hypertension 53:00 Are there any books we should use for Step 2 CK? 53:58 How do you learn medicine if you're not a strong reader? 54:28 Do you recommend any other Qbank or resource for Step 3 beyond UWorld? 54:45 Are there any resources you'd recommend for practice with Drug Ads? 55:48 How many statistics questions are on Step 3? 56:20 Best source to solidify statistics knowledge? 57:07 What is the best approach to prepare for drug ad questions?

Intro 4:12 When to take Step 1 — especially in light of the pass/fail change 7:13 What makes a USMLE question tricky 12:18 Practice Question #1: What exactly is being asked? 23:12 Practice Question #2: Up/down arrow questions 39:59 Practice Question #3: You know it or you don't 53:43 Practice Question #4: Testing content "outside of scope" 1:10:28 How Med School Tutors can help you get your best results Live Q&A 1:12:12 How do you stay focused during really long blocks? 1:13:32 Can you clarify the different types of reactions you can have with blood products? 1:14:33 Is it advisable to read the last line first before reading the question stem? 1:16:05 Can you summarize the FeNa, urine Na, and urine osm differences for each of the 3 types of renal issues?

Intro 3:12 What does your first assessment score mean? 6:30 The Level 1 prioritization checklist 9:16 Primary and secondary resources, Qbanks & integrating them into your study schedule 19:56 Developing your study plan for dedicated 37:40 Alternate Qbank & tips to reach your best score 41:48 Critical things to keep in mind when using UWorld 47:33 Dissecting a USMLE-style question 51:26 OMM-specific tips, resource recommendations & practice questions 1:05:43 Live Q&A - What flashcard decks do you recommend for Step and Level 1? 1:07:15 Parting thoughts

Intro 1:40 Reviewing the timeline for Match Week 2021 2:42 Changes to SOAP rounds & ECFMG pathways for this year 3:23 What to do and expect from Match Week, starting Friday, March 12th, 2021 4:15 What to do if you did NOT match, plus the SOAP offer round breakdown 11:41 Friday of Match Week Answering Your Questions: 13:29 Can I enter the SOAP if I did not enter the main Match or if I didn't get any interviews in the main Match? 14:35 How do you optimize your chances to match in the SOAP? 15:51 Can you make changes to your application when you reapply for SOAP? 18:38 If I have to enter the SOAP, how hard is it to apply to a different specialty? 19:35 What does partially matched mean? 22:15 Should you apply to programs in the SOAP that you already applied to in the main Match? 24:13 Can you clarify what it means that we can apply to 45 programs? When do we apply to the rounds? Plus a reminder about a SOAP violation. 26:38 What recommendations do you have for finding open positions post-SOAP? What are my options if I don't match in the main Match or the SOAP? 29:28 Are you still in the SOAP if you accept an offer? 29:52 Can you clarify where I can find the list of programs that have open spots? 32:17 Can we change our application after Monday at 3p ET?  32:40 Can you submit if you don't have USMLE transcripts, etc? Can you do a separate personal statement for each program?

Intro 1:56 Making your plan for the home stretch 3:41 Assessing your study plan for feasibility 5:12 Big mistakes to avoid 8:32 Optimizing your resources in your final weeks 21:06 Pros & cons of other Qbanks 25:12 What about flashcards and notes? 28:50 Defining depth: Ideal vs reality 32:04 Practice tests/assessments in your final weeks of study 42:45 Should I push my test back? 47:18 What's actually crammable 52:28 What to expect on test day 57:23 How you can get your head and body in the game for test day in advance 58:30 Key takeaways from this webinar (Jump to this if you're short on time!) Live Q&A 1:04:06 How much time is too much time for reviewing UWorld questions? 1:05:44 Clarification about how to be judicious about topics you don't link 1:06:13 What is your advice for reviewing NBMEs since they don't provide explanations? 1:07:34 YouTube Biostats channel recommendation 1:07:57 When should we take the Free 120 NBME? 1:09:34 What do you recommend to those who are stuck in chronic Step 1 pathways? 1:10:40 Do you recommend doing multiple smaller blocks of 10 until I reach 100-120 or should I use the max 40 per block until I reach that? 1:13:45 Reviewing flashcards, what time in the day?

Introduction 2:13 What it's like to take Step 3 |  5:16 How to set yourself up for success on Step 3. Don't write it off! |  9:08 Figuring out your timeline & Step 3 study schedule |  14:39 Tips for CCS Cases & Resources |  20:14 Practice CCS Case: Question Breakdown & Strategies |  26:06 Second Practice CCS Case: Question Breakdown & Testing Strategies |  36:39 Critical CCS Case Takeaways — how the USMLE will test you, the best way to prepare, picking your exam days |  38:50 Mistakes we often see students make for Step 3 |  43:21 Live Q&A How much in depth does one need to revise Step 1 First Aid? Additional thoughts on what to prioritize in terms of studying. When should I take Step 3? Am I at a disadvantage if I take Step 3 without being in residency or without much clinical training yet? Book recommendations for Step 3? Is there an advantage to doing UWorld x 1 prior to residency and re-doing during residency + practice test before sitting for the exam? Anki cards, Sketchy Pharm & Micro -- Making your own flashcards vs using pre-made How many drug ads will we encounter on Step 3? How should I work through UWorld — study/tutor mode or exam/random-timed mode? How predictive are Step 3 practice tests?

Two of our senior residency consultants walk you through Match Week, Rank Lists and how to prepare for SOAP in this episode. Below are the topics covered: Intro 1:17 - Agenda 1:54 - Application Timeline Review 2:46 - Impact from COVID-19 on the Match 3:40 - How does ranking work? 6:13 - Preparing for SOAP, Match Week breakdown 8:00 - Match Week - What if I didn't match? 11:08 - SOAP offer rounds 15:05 - Friday of Match Week 15:37 - Your SOAP questions 19:19 - Live Q&A

Figuring out how to use your holiday break? Whether you're in med school or residency, this episode is dedicated to helping you navigate your holiday break, especially if you're trying to find a balance between relaxing and looming study deadlines. Topics and times covered below: Intro 1:55 — Tips for pre-clinical students, especially if you're starting to think about the USMLE Step 1 5:03 — Overview of potential Step 1 resources — UWorld, First Aid, Anki flashcards, etc. 5:57 — Tips for third years, including resources for USMLE Step 2 CK, such as UWorld, Step Up to Medicine, Master the Boards, IM Essentials 9:01 — Supplementary resources for third years, e.g. Pestana's Surgery Notes, First Aid for Step 2 CK, AMBOSS, Sketchy, Anki 10:15 — Tips for fourth years 12:09 — Tips for residents, whether you just need rest or if you're feeling ambitious 14:01 — Best general practice for everyone to avoid burnout 15:55 — How Med School Tutors can assist you in achieving your best results Live Q&A: 16:40 — I will take Step 1 in April, currently studying First Aid and Qbanks? What should I do to keep going and convince myself that it's going to be enough? 18:30 — Should I save my Qbank for dedicated? 19:45 — How do I figure out what topics to prioritize when studying?

In our first Pediatrics Masterclass episode, Dr. Eli Freiman provides a high-yield approach to diagnosing pediatric respiratory distress. We'll go through major infectious and non-infectious causes using an anatomical approach that's guaranteed to boost your diagnostic acumen!

Dr. Michael Trainer walks you through how to be successful in your Neurology clerkship, on your Shelf exam and on Step 2 CK. He covers neurologic exam pearls, diseases to know, some additional resources you might not know about, and more! You can also see the original webinar recording on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/6nl_QQXpRV0

Studying Multiple Myeloma? Here's a clinical tip from our recent webinar regarding proteins, immunoglobulins and the “M-spike.”

Dr. Eli Freiman — a Fellow in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital and Senior USMLE Tutor with Med School Tutors — is here to help set you up to excel in your Pediatrics clerkship and on your Shelf exam. He covers interacting with children during COVID, apps and other tools the pros use, tips for what NOT to do, and more. 

If you find yourself suddenly looking at taking the USMLE Step 1 in third year rather than at the end of second year, this brief episode is for you. You'll hear from one of our senior USMLE tutors who took his Step 1 after his clerkships, and has worked with many students who have successfully done the same. He shares his perspective and a few tips for how to set yourself up for success.

Considering taking a gap year prior to beginning medical school? You're in good company. In this episode, one of our medical school admissions advisors takes you through the different types of gap years, how to decide what kind of work is the best fit for you, and how to optimize your experiences on your medical school application and in your interviews.

One of our senior USMLE tutors, Dr. Michael Stephens, breaks down how best to set yourself up for success when studying for Step 2 CK. He reviews recommended resource, tips for creating your plan of attack, and common mistakes to avoid.

One of our senior USMLE tutors, Dr. Sana Majid, breaks down how best to tackle the USMLE Step 3 and balance your residency demands. She covers topics such as: the overall structure of the exam; what to focus on in your preparations; the best resources to use; the topics to focus on in your studies; common mistakes students make (and how to avoid them); and general, big picture tips and tricks.

In today's episode, you'll hear from Drs. Leila Javidi and Sana Majid, two of our most experienced USMLE tutors as they break down how to go about creating your dedicated Step 1 study schedule, and discuss the different factors to consider, such as: How many passes through the material to aim for and how to optimize each pass How to utilize UWorld and First Aid How many questions to aim to do each day Common mistakes to avoid How to judge if you're being realistic When to integrate assessments/NBMEs And more.

In this episode, we walk you through the anatomy of Match Week and SOAP, and answer students' questions such as: "What if I don't match?" "How does SOAP work?" "What if you don't match into a prelim spot?" 

The Med School Tutors team and our exceptional tutors are here to share practical tools, tips & insights — from pre-med through residency. In this episode, we're saying hello and are looking forward to the episodes to come!