The USMLE step 1 (*JAWS THEME MUSIC PLAYS*)

In less than two weeks, the second year of medical school will be over and studying for the USMLE step 1 board exam will begin. Technically you are supposed to be studying for it all throughout your second year, but medical school keeps you so busy you can guess how much that happens. Step 1 is an 8 hour computer-based test over pretty much everything you should have learned over the first two years of medical school.

According to the USMLE website:

"Step 1 assesses whether you understand and can apply important concepts of the sciences basic to the practice of medicine, with special emphasis on principles and mechanisms underlying health, disease, and modes of therapy. Step 1 ensures mastery of not only the sciences that provide a foundation for the safe and competent practice of medicine in the present, but also the scientific principles required for maintenance of competence through lifelong learning."

'The content areas of the USMLE step 1 include:

• anatomy,
• behavioral sciences,
• biochemistry,
• microbiology,
• pathology,
• pharmacology,
• physiology,
• interdisciplinary topics, such as nutrition, genetics, and aging.

The specific systems covered include:

• hematopoietic/lymphoreticular
• nervous/special senses
• skin/connective tissue
• musculoskeletal
• respiratory
• cardiovascular
• gastrointestinal
• renal/urinary
• reproductive
• endocrine'

http://www.usmle.org/General_Information/bulletin/2009/content.html
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The USMLE step 1 is sort-of scary for three reasons. First, it is really hard. Second, you have to pass it to continue on in medical school. Third, your score is important for applying to residencies and you should really try to do well on the test if you want to be competitive for residencies.


One of the review books for the USMLE step 1 is called "First Aid for USMLE Step 1." It is sort-of a funny pun, but I started thinking about it today. I don't need "First Aid for Step 1," I need, "Emergency Trauma Care with Defibrillator for the USMLE Step 1." I am serious, it is going to be several weeks of not so pretty studying in preparation for this thing.

I decided to give an artistic representation of how I felt about Step 1 right now. Yeah, that is pretty much it, except I probably don't have that good of form when I swim.


Although I might be scared out of my mind by the Step 1 exam, I am going to take a card out of Braveheart's book and give it my best (and yell 'Freedom!' a lot). Well, in the very least I think I might put some blue war paint on my face on the day of the exam so I will feel like Braveheart even if Step 1 does kick my ______.

Here is a chart that they keep showing us medical students about the average USMLE step 1 scores and the specialties you can match in. A score of 185 is usually the minimum passing score for step 1. Here I have circled the specialties that would be most likely for be to end up in at this point (generally not the most competitive, which is nice). Still, it is a very SCARY chart!