bahbah
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 50
|
Hi all, how are you doing? wish you the best of luck in your exams and in the residencies later on  ...
I have a question:
is it really better to take step 2 before step1 ?
I asked some of my friends and some said yes, step2 first is better because:
-it's relatively easier and less material to study , so it's better to start with an easy step and train yourself to usmle then go for the tough one.
-i am intern now , have just finished the clinical years , so i still remember the clinical knowlage from my med school so it'll be easier to study step2 ck now as i do remember that stuff.
-as an intern , one will need to read a lot of clinical for the hospital work , so studying for step2 will help in usmle exam and in the internship work.
while others said that step1 first is better because:
- i am going to have a residency in my country here and will need to do post graduate studies , because i don't wanna stay in usa forever , wanna come back after residency or fellowship(i know that all change their minds once they start work in usa , but i have my reasons and i think they are strong ones ). well, so after internship , i'll have a residency and a lot of studies beside usmle , so some friends suggest that step1 will be very tough if it's done during residency.
-some say that step2 depends on step1 , i mean the basic knowlage is essential for the clinical ... so better finish step1 first.
WELL, I AM NOT SURE YET WHAT WILL I DO, I STILL HAVE TILL NEXT MONTH TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO
AND REALLY I NEED YOUR ADVICES , I NOTICED THAT MOST PEOPLE HERE IN THIS FORUM ARE GREAT, THEY HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND THEY ARE HELPFUL ...
SO PLEASE I WANNA READ YOUR ADVICES, ANYONE THAT HAS ANY ADVICE ABOUT MY QUESTION PLEASE POST IT , IT WILL REALLY HELP, AND I'LL BE VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU...
I KNOW THIS IS A REALLY STUPID QUESTION BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME.... THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK 
|
| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
|
I think for a young person like u any way should be fine .If ur clinical is fresh u can go ahead and take step 2 first.But do not think it is easy.In my case i studied for step 2 for couple of months and then switched to step 1.But I am a very old grad, evrything seemed new to me, I was more comfortable with step 2.Now looking back I am glad that Itook S1 first.it is helping me understand S2 better.Also if I did not do S1 first kaplan S2 book wud not be enough for me cz I did not have that basic knowlwdge.
This was my story but i beleive if I as fresh out of med school I cud have picked either step and doo it.Both step comliment each other.Sorry I think i confused u even more ,I guess :oops:
Good luck
P.S .This is not a stupid question,I think everone has this qs at the beginning of prep.
|
| bahbah
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 50
|
really thanks for this fast reply it was in like 4 hours ....
why do you think you confused me more ? really you helped me a lot & thanks again for this... you are completely right , the basic science is important for the clinical one ( i read in one of this forum messages that step 1 contains about 40% of what's in step2 !!, don't know if it's accurate or not but i just read it )
yes, i am a recent graduate , but i have studied basic science about 4 years ago, in my country , we study medicine in 6.5 years and only the first 3 years are basic, so i don't think i remember a lot ...
well, thanks again and I hope you do well in your exams or in your residency ( i don't know if you have finished both steps or not yet) GOOD LUCK
|
| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
|
Well ,I said I am confusing u cz I am advising u to go ahead and take Sk first but I did not do tthe same myself,.I hope u understand wat my point is.Yeah S1 is very clinically oriented and ur clinical knowledge wud help u in taking S1,if u decide to take S1 first.As I said earlier both steps complement each other.Unless u realy realy want to take S2 first I wud advice u to take S1 first.But being fresh u'll be fine either way.Good luck
I have passed S1 and now I am studying for Sk.
|
| bahbah
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 50
|
thank you , I understand your point, and congratulations for passing step1 and good luck I hope you can get the residency you want or even a better one ...
|
| noelle
Forum Elite
Topics: 59
Posts: 226
|
step1 : helps in step 2, builds yre stamina up too.
step2 dont say its easy , its pretty challenging ! i toook it 3 days ago!!
NEVER GO TO A WAR THINKIN ENEMY IS WEAK!! PREPARE FOR THE WORSE N THEN U SE YRESELF STRIDIN TOWARDS THE BEST!!
___________________
only strong survive......
|
| bahbah
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 50
|
hi noelle , thanks for reply and good luck with the results, I am sure you'll do well , you know why? because you never go to the war thinking the enemy is week and you prepare for the worse you are right ...
well, so you recommend that i start with step1 because it gives a base for step2 .... hamidi said this too .... good point
but actually my point is that if i studied step2 during internship , it'll give me a clinical base for work in the hospital... i am not sure yet what will I do, i think I'll keep gathering opinions till the end of March then decide and start studying.
thanks again for replying and BEST OF LUCK
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | |
