Medical School Life &amp; USMLE/COMLEX Exams

How Much Should You Read Up on Patients Outside of Question Banks?

Practical framework for patient reading: pick 1–3 patients, 20–40 minutes/day to boost clinical reasoning without sacrificing question banks.

Your Final Month of Med School: Skills to Sharpen Before Internship

Master essential intern skills in your final month of med school: pick targeted rotations, build quick-reference guides, rehearse admissions, notes, and focused exams.

Is Research During Clerkships Worth It, or a Distraction from Shelves?

Learn when clerkship research helps versus harms shelf scores, with strategic advice for med students targeting competitive specialties and efficient research.

Commuter Med Student: Making Long Travel Time Study-Efficient

Turn long commutes into high-yield study time. Practical tips for commuter med students using Anki, audio review, and commute-specific routines for Step prep.

Managing Long-Distance Relationships During Busy Clerkship Months

Practical tips for medical students to sustain long-distance relationships during clerkship months—set realistic schedules and communication systems.

90-Day Countdown to Step 2 CK: A Detailed Study and Practice Map

Surviving First Year

94 articles

How Many Hours Should a First‑Year Med Student Actually Study Daily?

Realistic study hours for first-year med students: focused daily targets, efficient Anki/spaced-repetition strategies, and exam-crunch tips to avoid burnout.

How Do I Know If My Stress in Med School Needs Professional Help?

How Much Exercise Is Realistic in Med School Without Hurting Grades?

Should I See a Therapist During First Year or Wait Until It’s Bad?

Handling Chronic Illness in M1: Accommodations, Disclosure, and Stamina

Is It Okay to Say No to Research or Clubs in My First Med School Year?

Is It Normal to Feel Constantly Behind in M1? What’s Truly Typical?

Should I Tell My Dean About My Mental Health Diagnosis in M1?

How Many All‑Nighters Are ‘Too Many’ in Medical School?

If You’re the First Doctor in Your Family: Coping Without a Roadmap

Why Being the Smartest in Class Won’t Protect You From Burnout

Clinical Rotations

95 articles

Latest

How to Turn a Malignant Rotation Into a Neutral or Positive Eval

Your First Week on a New Rotation: Exact Actions for Each Day

Last Week of a Rotation: Checklist to Lock In Honors and Letters

Honors on Every Rotation: Does It Actually Help Your Residency Match?

Subtle Behaviors on Rounds That Make Attendings Not Trust You

Shelf Scores vs. Rotation Grades: What Faculty Truly Value

Four-Week Rotation Roadmap: When to Ask for Feedback and Letters

Myth of the “Gun-Gunner”: How True Team Players Really Stand Out

Feeling Invisible on Service? Step-by-Step Strategy to Get Included

What’s the Right Way to Decline a Procedure You’re Not Comfortable With?

Anxious About Being Compared to ‘Star’ Students: How to Cope

How to Navigate Rotations When You’re Quiet or Introverted

Choosing a Specialty

95 articles

Loving Kids and Procedures but Not Parents: Tailoring Your Pediatric Path

Find pediatrics career paths that focus on kids and procedures while minimizing parent management—tailor your specialty choice for better fit.

Can I Realistically Keep Two Specialty Options Open Through MS3?

Keep two specialty options open through MS3 with a practical plan: prioritize a primary, build a viable backup, and schedule rotations strategically. Now.

Common Research Strategy Errors That Limit Your Specialty Options

Avoid research strategy errors that limit specialty options - learn to align medical student research with competitive specialties to boost residency match.

Does Your Personality Dictate Your Specialty? The Evidence Says Otherwise

Discover why personality predicts only ~20% of specialty choice and what truly matters—lifestyle, mentors, exams—for medical students making career decisions.

Changing Your Specialty Goal After MS3: A Practical Recovery Roadmap

Practical roadmap for MS3s changing specialty: recover fast, assess scores and CV, pick realistic targets, and build a focused residency application now.

Already Invested in One Specialty’s Research but Want to Switch Fields

Clinic Pace and Panel Size: How Different Specialties Actually See Patients

Do All Hospitalists Come from Internal Medicine? Training Paths Explained

How Different Specialties Use Ultrasound, Imaging, and Procedures Daily

Step 1 Preparation

95 articles

If Your School Delays Step 1 Eligibility: Using the Extra Time Wisely

Delayed Step 1 eligibility? Use extra time to rebuild basics, fix Anki habits, and plan a focused dedicated period to boost your USMLE Step 1 score.

What If My Friends Are Far Ahead in Step 1 Prep? Handling Comparison

If You’re Switching from COMLEX-Only to Adding USMLE Step 1

Afraid of Burnout Before Step 1: How Much Rest Can I Actually Take?

Step 1 Study Time Allocation: Percentages Top Performers Report

Immunology for Step 1: The Pathways and Cytokines They Love to Test

Genetics on Step 1: Pedigree Patterns and Association Traps Explained

Daily Time-Blocked Schedule Templates for Step 1 Dedicated Period

Endocrine Pathology Clusters: How Step 1 Builds Multi-System Stems

Biostatistics on Step 1: The Core Calculations You Must Master

How Many NBMEs Should You Take Before Step 1? A Clear Framework

Step 2 Preparation

94 articles

Latest

Which Step 2 CK Qbank Should You Start With First and Why?

Plan B After a Borderline Step 2 Score: Adjusting Your Residency Strategy

One-Year Outlook: Planning Step 2 Around Away Rotations and Interview Season

How Many Full-Length Practice Exams Do You Really Need for Step 2 CK?

Should You Take Step 2 CK Before or After Your Sub-Internship Rotation?

Studying for Step 2 CK After Switching Specialties: Refocusing Your Prep

Final 72 Hours Before Step 2 CK: A Hour-by-Hour Game Plan

How Long Should Dedicated Step 2 CK Study Be? 4, 6, or 8 Weeks Explained

Post-Exam Timeline: When Scores Release and How to Plan ERAS Submission

Terrified of Standardized Patients: How to Face Step 2 CS Anxiety

Clerkship Year Timeline: Integrating Shelf Prep with Future Step 2 CK Plans

Afraid Your Friends Are Way Ahead in Step 2 Prep? Reality Check and Next Steps

Step 3 Preparation

104 articles

Do I Really Need a Separate Q-Bank for COMLEX Level 3?

Unsure about a COMLEX Level 3 Q-bank? Learn when USMLE Step 3 banks suffice, when to add COMLEX-style questions, and how to prep efficiently.

Which Rotations Help the Most with Step 3 Preparation?

Learn which rotations best support Step 3 preparation: inpatient IM, primary care, EM, OB/Gyn, pediatrics, plus practical tips to maximize clinical learning.

How Important Is CCS Compared to MCQs on Step 3?

Learn how CCS and MCQs weigh on USMLE Step 3, exact prep time priorities, and practical tips to boost your score—maximize CCS without sacrificing MCQ prep.

How Many Questions Should I Complete Before Taking Step 3?

Aim for 1,500-2,000 UWorld MCQs and 40-60 CCS cases for Step 3; tailor volume by Step 2 CK, timeline, and focused review to maximize score.

Scared to Take Step 3 Before Residency: Is It Risky or Smart?

Deciding whether to take USMLE Step 3 before residency? Learn risks, who benefits, and prep tips to avoid failure and extra stress.

Managing Step 3 Prep After Burnout or Medical Leave in Residency

Preparing for Step 3 During Pregnancy or Postpartum Residency

Step 3 Strategy for IM Residents with Heavy Inpatient Loads

COMLEX Level 3 for DOs in ACGME Programs with Little OMM Support

Exam Prep Resources

125 articles

What If My Classmates Have Way More Review Books Than I Do?

Feel behind because classmates own more review books? Learn how focused study, one good resource and Qbanks beat volume — reclaim confidence and improve scores.

Fear of Changing Resources Mid-Dedicated: Will It Hurt My Score?

Already Matched but Weak Scores: Strategic Resources Before Residency

Is a Premium Board Prep Course Necessary If I Have Good Q-Banks?

Should I Start Q-Banks Early in MS1 or Wait Until Dedicated?

If English Is Not Your First Language: Choosing Clear, Concise Resources

Switching from DO-Only to Dual USMLE/COMLEX Prep: Resource Overhaul

On a Tight Budget: Building a Minimalist but Effective Resource Set

Are Subject-Specific Q-Banks Better Than Comprehensive Ones?

What If I Hate Reading Dense Review Books? Am I At a Disadvantage?

I Failed Boards Using Popular Resources: Are Any Tools I Can Trust?

Test Anxiety Management

115 articles

Latest

Do Program Directors Care If Test Anxiety Lowered My Step Scores?

What If One Bad Exam From Anxiety Follows Me Forever?

Should I Take Medications for Test Anxiety Before High-Stakes Exams?

My Practice Tests Trigger Panic: Am I Burning Out Already?

Is It Worth Getting a Formal Evaluation for Test Anxiety in Med School?

Scared to Tell My School About Test Anxiety: Could It Backfire?

What to Do When Test Anxiety Hits Mid-Exam in the Prometric Center

If Your Test Anxiety Spikes After a Prior Exam Failure: Next Steps

Should I Disclose Test Anxiety in My Dean’s Letter or Personal Statement?

Afraid to Reschedule Because of Anxiety: Is Pushing the Date Safer?

Handling Test Anxiety as a First-Generation Med Student

Terrified of Failing Again After an Anxiety-Driven Fail: Now What?

Medical School Mental Health

134 articles

A Daily Time-Block Template to Balance Study, Sleep, and Recovery

Use a simple daily time-block template to balance study, sleep, and recovery — a practical study schedule for medical students to boost focus and rest today.

Is It Better to Take an LOA or Push Through a Terrible Semester?

Building a Resilient Routine in the First 14 Days of Each Rotation

When You Can’t Go Home for Support: Building a Local Mental Safety Net

MS4 Interview Season: Guardrails to Prevent Emotional Exhaustion