Can I prepare for the USMLE while being a medical student?
Anyone who realizes the great opportunity to validate their degree in the USA while still a medical student is privileged. First, because the exam subjects are fresh in their mind and the student is able to create synergy between studying for medical school and studying for the validation exams. Since the USMLE Steps are in-depth and have a lot of clinical applicability, the student ends up acquiring a solid medical foundation, which naturally leads them to stand out in medical school.
USMLE Step 1: A Solid Foundation
The USMLE Step 1 is an exam in basic medical sciences. This means it covers the basic-science medical cycle and is intended to level all physicians in the USA, whether trained in the country or elsewhere. It is important to highlight that Americans take the same medical exams that we do in order to graduate and practice medicine here. In other words, the Steps are general prerequisites for practicing medicine in the USA.
Planning and Organization
We recommend that the Brazilian medical student use USMLE materials, such as RD Medicine's bilingual materials, to study medical school subjects during the first three years, without such a rigid study schedule for Step 1. This way, the student already masters the USMLE study style, also learning the most recurring content on the exam. This is an immense benefit of being a student: you are not racing against time, you do things calmly. In addition, you do not need to reconcile a demanding work routine and, sometimes, caring for family and children, as is the reality of many Brazilians who validate their degree.
Study Routine Starting in the Fourth Year
When the student enters the fourth year of medical school, they will have a more rigid schedule, set up to take Step 1 between the fourth and fifth year. This way, the student enters the clinical clerkship with Step 1 completed. The alignment between the Step 1 materials and the medical school subjects may not be perfect, but modern evidence-based study techniques help consolidate knowledge. With a Pass on Step 1 at the beginning of the fifth year, the student can begin looking for clerkship positions, which are clerkships in the USA carried out during the sixth year of medical school.
Clerkships in the USA
Clerkships in the USA done as a medical student are literally part of the clinical clerkship in the USA, where you will see patients, write notes, and present cases. It is an incredibly enriching experience. Since the application must be made 6-12 months in advance, by applying at the beginning of the fifth year you have plenty of time to search and apply for the best options. RD Medicine's clerkships department helps with this search, shapes the résumé, and writes the application emails for the student.
Step 2CK and Completion of the Steps
During the fifth year of medical school, already with a solid foundation of knowledge, we recommend studying for Step 2CK. This way, between the fifth and sixth year, the student takes the exam and begins the sixth year with the Steps completed.
Decision to Validate the Degree
You may ask yourself: how do I know if I am fully committed to being a physician in the USA in order to start early on this journey? The big point is that you do not need to be fully committed to living in the USA in order to validate your degree here. See this as the most sound investment of your medical career, one that will internationalize it, make you bilingual, and take you to another level of knowledge. Having your degree validated will open doors to temporary opportunities in the USA, in case you want to live as a physician in Brazil. In that case, you will be a distinguished physician amid the growing crowd of physicians in the country. Should you decide to move permanently to the USA in the future, your degree will already be validated.
Conclusion
Take advantage of the excellent mindset that brought you to the RD Medicine portal and begin building a solid and outstanding medical career. Preparing for the USMLE while being a medical student is not only possible but highly recommended for anyone who wishes to stand out in the competitive field of medicine.