How to Pass USMLE STEP1 in 8 weeks

There's no shortcut to studying for STEP1 - but having a plan surely makes it easier! In this video, I go over 12 pieces of advice I wish someone told me before embarking on the brutal journey to taking the USMLE STEP1 exam. I cover the specifics of my experience as well as explain my 8-week plan to pass the exam.

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Below are some helpful links:

Dirty Medicine Biochem Playlist:

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Hey! ~ My name is Alex and I'm an M3 at Tulane University. I vlog for fun sometimes, even when my days aren't that interesting (lol enjoy). If you're new to this channel (or a prospective Tulane student), SUBSCRIBE for more content on my college experience!

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Current Subscriber Count: 6,324

[BlotchyScrawls]

Well done, and thank you for being transparent. THAT is what is going to help others - the truth! Congratulations 🎉 you deserve all the accolades! Well done 🙏 🙏 🙏

[cristalm]

Thank you for sharing and being transparent. I really appreciate that, and it has helped me a lot to stay encouraged and keep pushing even if my first few scores are not what I was expecting. Thanks again

[saramohsen]

I am so thankful for this video
Thank you so much and I hope you grow to become the most fulfilled and skillful doctor out there

[alisonschultz]

Currently studying for Step1 and I keep watching this video over and over again. Your plan really helped me get on track and study efficiently. Thank you so much for being so transparent and realistic, you really helped me feel like I can do this!

[yazminjavier]

I just want to say thank you ! This is very helpful. Very realistic!

[claudiaalonso]

Amazing video!! Thank you so much for sharing all of this, definitely super helpful and very encouraging. I just started my preparation and I'm getting very similar scores, thank you for the motivation to keep going!! Congratulations!!!

[bush]

1. Take a diagnostic exam
2. Dont compare
3. Take diagnostic every week or at least every 10 days
4. Start early
5. Ditch Anki
6. Keep pushing forward, build endurance
7. Forgetting curve, review
8. Take breaks
9. Study by systems
10. 70% goal
11. Day before, dont study
12. 7 blocks 40 questions per day

[thepersonaofgrace]

Great video! Thank you so much for al the info, definitely very helpful

[DUNNIIv]

You have got a new subscriber
Love from Nigeria❤

[rajmathew]

Love the transparency here, it goes beyond any other video of this nature. Hope it goes viral. Can you share the anatomy HY deck you mentioned?

[egogoloba]

I passed step 1. I unnecessarily freaked out after UWSA1 and I think the problem was that I took it a little bit earlier than I was ready for it and I was not familiar with UWorld as I didn’t use it for my prep. After that fluke UWSA1, I studied for two weeks and scored 72% on NBME CBSSA 28 and subsequently scored a 78% on the new free 120 about 10 days before my test which skyrocketed my confidence! Review the free 120 but don’t expect to get more than 2 exact questions from it, I got one verbatim question on my test.

Your video helped me calm down and just focus on high yield stuff. All that said I think the only true representation of step 1 is free 120. In my opinion free 120 should be taken as close to your test day as possible like a week or two weeks before to give you clear insight of whether you are ready or not especially in terms of speed and time management. If you fail free 120 = you are not ready and need more preparation.
The NBME practice is a representation of step 1 too in terms of covering the highest yield testable concepts but the difference is that the actual step 1 questions stem are way longer (a lot of the questions were essentially SOAP note) with a lot of information that a time are not needed to answer the question. My advice for those currently studying for this exam is to focus on NBME CBSSA practice exams. If you’re are passing and thoroughly understand the NBME concepts from those practices exams there’s no way you will fail step 1. Only make sure that your speed and time are fine because as I said the actual test has way longer stem than any practice test out there.

[atefmd]

I rarely fo comments but thnx for that experience wish u a great career ahead
Bro, the shirt in 1min, 34sec is the eyptian football shirt 🔥❤️

[egogoloba]

Your video is the most therapeutic I’ve seen after scoring 54% on UWSA1 and exam is in 4 weeks. I was freaking out and didn’t know if that meant that I needed more time beyond the 4 weeks left.

[Lelouch]

My Fav is Staph Aureus (The one that started it all 💪)

[parveenqureshi]

I watch your video everytime I loose motivation and I get a little bit of confidence back. Thank you so very much for sharing. I go through this emotions everyday. This is very very very helpful. The plan seems very realistic. The only thing that I am still having confusion with is how did you manage to get 59% in your 2nd NBME exam when you weren’t done with studying all the systems by then ?

[honeyaashraf]

I’m looking for the sketchy pharma video link .I can’t afford it I’ll be grateful if anyone will share it with me TIA

[charachinwendu]

Thanks for this piece! What videos do you recommend

[manbirsingh]

Hi Alex, did you use a digital version (PDF) of First Aid or the paperback edition. Thanks for the amazing video...

[kcarter]

your excel says Anki. How many Anki cards did you do and were they cards for the material you covered for that week?

[williamsanthony]

I just failed the USMLE exam. 😔🥺 I cannot begin to articulate the level of embarrassment and heartache I'm feeling. This is so heartbreaking 💔