Disclaimer: The below article discusses the ideal timeline that is recommended by the author for a 1st or 2nd year medical student. If you are already an intern or have graduated from MBBS, do not worry, the author’s upcoming posts will provide you with an easily followable timeline, until then we request that you use this post to better understand the steps in the journey.
The USMLE journey is challenging. In fact, one of its biggest challenges is determining your own timeline. Unlike the NEET, AIIMS entrance or even our own MBBS final exams that occur on fixed dates, the USMLE exams take place almost every single day of the year and it is up to the candidate, i.e. you, to determine the day on which you will sit for each of the exams. If used properly, this aspect of the USMLE process can become one of your biggest assets. That being said, if not used properly, this power to work at your own pace can very easily act as the source of your own downfall.
Below you will find a schematic representation of what the ideal USMLE timeline looks like:
In an ideal scenario, an MBBS student should start preparing for their USMLE Step 1 Exam during their 2nd year, and sit for the exam during their 3rd year of MBBS. Theoretically, this makes sense as the Step 1 is designed to test the information that is taught during the first 2 years of MBBS but in reality, this can be challenging as numerous students are still mastering the concepts that they have been taught earlier. Nevertheless, this is what I recommend especially if you have made up your mind about doing your residency in the United States. The duration of preparation for Step 1 is 6-8 months with the bulk of the preparation revolving around the UWorld question bank, First Aid and Pathoma.
Once Step 1 is out of the way, take a small break and spend some time appreciating your effort. Believe me, it will be these small bursts of self appreciation and rejuvenation that will ensure that you do not burn out and tackle the next hurdle with a clear head! After a week or two of vacation, step right back into your rhythm, and start preparing for the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Exam (USMLE Step 2 CK). Your preparation should primarily be focused on UWorld, and UWorld alone. There are some additional resources that I personally recommend, like a website by the name of OnlineMedEd.org but these are by no means required so let’s leave those for a different time. The recommended duration of preparation is luckily shorter with 3-6 months being the average time spent among students. Try to give your Step 2 CK during your final year or maybe even during the start of your internship.
By this time in the process, most medical students are exhausted, it's time to change things up a little bit and get some first hand exposure of what it feels like to work in a hospital in the US. During internship, I recommend doing rotations or “electives” (as they are commonly referred to) at academic hospitals in the United States. An elective is a great way to learn more about what it means to live and work as a doctor in the US. It will essentially broaden your vision and provide you with plenty of opportunities to learn and adapt to the US system as well as sharpen your networking and communication skills. And although you will likely not be giving an exam during this time, this is one aspect of your USMLE journey that is crucial. The purpose of the rotations is to help the applicant secure letters of recommendation from registered doctors in the United States. Each rotation lasts for roughly a month, and I recommend doing at least three such rotations- in the field of your interest.
There is one other exam that is required before you can apply for residency and that is the OET. The OET or Occupational English Test is an exam used to determine a candidate’s mastery of the English language. The duration of preparation is highly subjective with candidates spending anywhere between 2 days to 2 months to prepare for the exam. Exactly when an MBBS student should sit for the exam is also highly variable. I recommend that MBBS students sit down for this exam anytime after Step 1.
With all the examinations completed the next step is to focus on your application. The most time consuming and important portions of your application are the Personal statement and the CV. I recommend spending about as much time as possible preparing and developing these two documents. Like with everything else during the USMLE process, consistency and dedication coupled with a personal touch in this part of your application is key to success.
In an ideal scenario, you will have all of this completed by September of the year in which you want to apply. Once your applications are in, you will be invited for interviews that may extend into the month of January of the next calendar year. If all goes well, you will then start your residency in July of the next calendar year.
As I am sure you have realized by now, the key to succeeding in this journey is not just planning ahead, but also sticking to the plan that you have decided for yourself. And although everything above is, in my opinion, ideal, it is ridiculously hard to achieve. Dont let all this information overwhelm you, reach out and ask for help whenever you need.
P.S. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about Step 3, check into PeerConnect’s blog soon to see more information about when you can give Step 3 and how to prepare for it within 3-4 months.
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