She said that if you’re already in a residency program, relax. Kristen Fuller, MD, a family physician, was in a similar situation. Know your learning styleĬourtney Connelly, MD, a pathology resident at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center, described Step 3 as “horrendously difficult-like, ‘did-not-know-a-single-question’-type difficult.”īut like so many other residents, all she had to do was pass, and pass she did. However, studying will help you understand the nature of the test and how questions are worded. The Step 3 exam mostly covers diagnosis and treatment, which your residency training supports. Both said that if you’ve passed Steps 1 and 2, you can tame this (slightly) milder beast with some deliberate practice. MDLinx interviewed two physicians who‘ve cleared Step 3 to identify effective study and test-taking strategies.
But for those who’ve yet to match, obtaining a competitive score is an anxiety-provoking must.
For those who’ve already matched in a categorical residency program, it’s a box that needs to be checked, and simply passing is sufficient. Step 3 of the USMLE can mean at least two different things to different residents.
