Pathway to Success on USMLE Step 1 - Calendar

A U G U S T   E V E N T S
Year Two Re-Orientation Program
Monday, August 6, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Rieke Auditorium
A Guide To Academic Success
Dr. Mark Meyer, Laura Zeiger, Alice Carrott, Brigitte Hofmeister and Jen Dolson
Mandatory attendance

S E P T E M B E R   E V E N T S
Block Summative Exams
Thursday, September 4 and Friday, September 7, 2012
Anatomy Lab Exam
Thursday, September 6, 2012

O C T O B E R   E V E N T S
Block Summative Exams
Friday, October 5, 2012 and Monday, October 8, 2012

N O V E M B E R   E V E N T S
Block Summative Exams
Wednesday, November 7 and Friday, November 9, 2012
Anatomy Lab Exam
Thursday, November 8, 2012

D E C E M B E R   E V E N T S
Block Summative Exams
Tuesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 13, 2012
Board Prep Program Overview
Monday, December 17, 2012- 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m. - Rieke Auditorium and ITV to Salina Campus

• Step 1 Preparation Timeline and Past Performance of our Students on Step 1
• How do I organize my time over Winter break?
• How do I decide what Step 1 preparation process/program is best for me?
• What commercial preparation programs are available?
• What about the KU StepPrep Program?
• Can I obtain Financial Aid to cover the cost of my preparation materials/program?
• Step 1 Board Preparation Agreement form

Required Attendance

Schedule a Conference in December, January or February
Meet with: Alice Carrott X8-4688, Brigitte Hofmeister X8-0164, Jen Dolson X8-4356 or Leave a Message at X8-6580.
Required participation

• Seek guidance in choosing a board prep plan best suited for you
• Assess your academic performance, study and time management skills, your learning style, and how they can impact your prep plan.

Review your board prep plan as outlined on your Board Prep Agreement.

Winter Break
December 24, 2012 - January 4, 2013
Continue review of First Aid and work on the 100 USMLE diseases matrix and 100 Most Common USMLE Diseases.
Deadline for Step 1 registration is Friday, January 11, 2013 (see instructions below)
STEP 1 REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Fill out form online at https://apps.nbme.org/ciw2/prod/jsp/login.jsp (one page).  
• You will not have a USMLE Identification Number until after you register for Step 1.  Please use your Social Security number when registering.  
• Select School: “Kansas- Kansas City Campus”, the first Kansas option.  Do not select the Wichita or Salina campus even if you will be going there for clinics.
• Eligibility Period:  May 1, 2013 - July 31, 2013 or June 1, 2013 – August 31, 2013.  The majority of students test in the first time block.  If you have questions about your time block selection, please contact Dean Zeiger by e-mail lzeiger@kumc.edu. 
• Payment:  You may use a credit card (preferred method) to pay your fee when you register on-line at https://apps.nbme.org/ciw2/prod/jsp/login.jsp.  The other choice is to register online and submit a check with your form for $560.00 made out to the NBME.

PICTURES FOR STEP 1 APPLICATION:
We will use your KUMC ID photo badge picture for the application.  You do not need to attach your own picture we will take care of that for you when you submit your application to our office for certification and submission to the NBME (see below).

AFTER YOU HAVE REGISTERED: 

• Please bring the print out of the Certification of Identification and Authorization form to 3040 Murphy, Student Affairs office along with your check if that is your payment of choice. We will add your picture, put the school seal on the picture, get Laura Zeiger’s signature, and then FED-EX the forms to the NBME.
• PLEASE do not forget to sign your name at the end of the form, date the form, and mark the box stating "I authorize the NBME to accept my NBME online services password and USMLE ID# in lieu of my signature for purposes of processing any future transactions with the NBME..."
• You will be sent an e-mail notification when your registration is complete. Within about one week of the first email you will be notified that your scheduling permit is available; this message will include instructions for accessing the electronic scheduling permit using the registration interactive website.
• If your assigned eligibility period is more than six months away, the scheduling permit will not be available and the second e-mail will not be sent until approximately six months before the beginning of the assigned eligibility period.

SCHEDULING YOUR EXAM :
Students can then access Prometric (http://www.prometric.com/default.htm) for on-line exam scheduling.  Students will receive an automatic e-mail confirmation and appointment summary.

TEST DAY:
Bring Your Scheduling Permit - Applicants must print a copy of the electronic scheduling permit and bring it to the test center on their exam date. Consistent with current policy, applicants who do not bring their scheduling permit to the test center on their exam date will not be permitted to take the exam.

Special Note from the NBME:
Students often contact the NBME because their registration status is complete but they haven’t received their Scheduling Permits, or because they were advised by fellow students or school officials to request an earlier eligibility period than what they previously selected.

NBME issues USMLE Step 1 Scheduling Permits no more than six months before a selected eligibility period begins. When a student’s registration becomes “Complete,” they are sent an email to notify them of the status and advise them that their Scheduling Permit will be issued within a few business days unless their eligibility period begins more than six months from now or if they have requested test accommodations.

When it comes to selecting an eligibility period, it is recommended in the USMLE application instructions that students select an eligibility period starting with the month in which they wish to test. However, there is a common misconception that selecting an earlier period, such as April 1 – June 30, will enable the student to receive the Scheduling Permit sooner and provide an advantage when scheduling a June test date. In the majority of cases, this is untrue because Prometric Test Centers are only required to open their scheduling calendars six months out from the current date. Therefore, a student who selects April 1 – June 30 and receives his Scheduling Permit as early as October 1st will most likely need to wait until December or January to schedule an appointment for June. By this time, the May 1 – July 31 and June 1 – August 31 Scheduling Permits have been issued; hence, there is no advantage to selecting the earlier period.

J A N U A R Y   E V E N T S
Third Year Clinical Track Selection
Kansas City Clinical Campus Students
Required participation
Date: Friday, January 11, 2013
Time: 12 Noon - 12:30 p.m.
KC clinical campus students meet in Rieke Auditorium regarding Third Year clerkships
Wichita Clinical Campus Students
Required participation
Date: Friday, January 11, 2013
Time: 12 Noon - 1:30 p.m.
W clinical campus students meet in Lied Auditorium regarding Third Year clerkships
Office of Medical Education Information Session - Formal Network site presentation
KC students are required to attend and we strongly encourage W students to attend
Date: Friday, January 11, 2013
Place: Rieke Auditorium
Time:- 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Then go to Stoland Lounge and...
Browse Network Site displays and enjoy Pizza.

• This is your opportunity to explore how students may complete all or part of a third year clerkship at a rural location.
• Presentations and information from the Kansas Regional Network Sites including the numerous clinical experiences available to SOM10 students.
• An opportunity to learn how students can work with rural Kansas physicians who welcome medical students into their communities and their practices for hands-on learning experiences.
• Displays of individual Regional Network Site information in Stoland Lounge (12 Noon to 4:15 p.m.)
• Pizza, cold drinks and snacks courtesy of the Kansas Regional Network Sites - Stoland Lounge

Schedule a Conference in January or February
Meet with: Alice Carrott X8-4688, Brigitte Hofmeister X8-0164, Jen Dolson X8-4356 or Leave a Message at X8-6580..
Required participation

• Seek guidance in choosing a board prep plan best suited for you
• Assess your academic performance, study and time management skills, your learning style, and how they can impact your prep plan.
• Review your board prep plan as outlined on your Board Prep Agreement.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Board Prep Student Panel and Q&A Regarding Board Prep Options
Monday, January 14, 2013 - 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. - Location: Rieke Auditorium (KC) and ITV to Salina Campus

A panel of current third year medical students will discuss their Step 1 board prep plans, how and why they chose the plans they did, positive and negative aspects of their chosen plans, other supplemental tools they used, etc.  Attendance strongly encouraged
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

KC Third Year Clinical Track forms due
KC clinical campus students must submit online third year track preference form no later than 12 Noon on Tuesday, January 22, 2013.
Block Summative Exams
Wednesday, January 23 and Friday, January 25, 2013

F E B R U A R Y   E V E N T S
Mid-term Exams
Friday, February 9 and Monday, February 11, 2013
Schedule a Conference in February
Meet with: Alice Carrott X8-4688, Brigitte Hofmeister X8-0164, Jen Dolson X8-4356 or Leave a Message at X8-6580.
Required participation

• Seek guidance in choosing a board prep plan best suited for you
• Assess your academic performance, study and time management skills, your learning style, and how they can impact your prep plan.
• Review your board prep plan as outlined on your Board Prep Agreement.

Performance Excellence for USMLE Step 1
Time/Date/Location: TBA

Presentors: Dr. Larry Long/Alice Carrott
Attendance strongly encouraged regardless of your study prep plan.

Board Prep Agreement Plan due
Required submission
Completed agreements due by 12 Noon, Friday, February 8, 2013 in 3040 Murphy .

M A R C H   E V E N T S
Advanced Performance Self-Study Enhancements
Time/Date/Location: TBA
Special session for students who plan to self-study for Step 1. You will be provided with strategies to think about as you put together your daily routine.

Advanced Performance Enhancements for Kaplan IntensePrep
Time/Date/Location: TBA
Special session for students who plan to do Kaplan IntensePrep for Step 1. You will be provided with strategies to think about for your days and evenings off so as not to get burned up or out.

Summative Exams
Tuesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 14, 2013
NBME Microbiology Subject Shelf Examination
Date: Friday, March 15, 2013
Check in 8:00 a.m. - Examination: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Computer Testing Center - Dykes Library

SPRING BREAK
March 18– 22, 2013
Continue Reviewing First Aid

USMLEworld Q-Bank

This Q-Bank is strongly recommended as part of your Step 1 preparation plan.  You can obtain a subscription by going to http://www.usmleworld.com/Step1/step1_qbank.aspx.  Subscription rates are $99 for a 1-month, $145 for 2-months, $185 for 3-months or $299 for 6-months.  Special institutional pricing will not be available.

Step 1 test date
Must be scheduled no later than April 1, 2013 but as early as January or February will give you the best selection of test dates. Test date can be rescheduled without financial penalty if requested at least one week prior to test date.

Optimal Mood States and Mental Preparation forTests (Workshop)
Time/Date/Location:

Presentor: Dr. Larry Long

A P R I L   E V E N T S
Summative Exams
Friday, April 12 and Monday, April 15, 2013

NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (CBSE)
Required participation
Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Check in 7:45-8:00 a.m. - Examination: 8:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Location: Computer Testing Center - Dykes Library
(this is a timed, 4 hour examination)
Step 1 CBSE Feedback Session
Attendance strongly encouraged
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Time: 12 Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Rieke Auditorium

• Receive a copy of your results from the CBSE that you took on April 13.
• Find out how to interpret and utilize your test results in preparation for Step 1.
• Have an opportunity to ask questions that will assist you in organizing your Step 1 preparation plan.
• Find out more about the Mock Board examination.

M A Y   E V E N T S
Summative Exams
Monday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NBME Pharmacology Subject Shelf Examination
Date: Friday, May 10, 2013
Check in 8:00 a.m. - Examination: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Computer Testing Center - Dykes Library

KU StepPrep Program begins
Monday, May 13 to Friday, May 31, 2013

Step 1 Mock Board Exam
Kaplan Mock is not a substitute
Required participation – May/June
Online access from home computer or from various locations on KUMC campus to take one NBME CBSSA examinations. Exams should be taken 2 weeks prior to Step 1 test date – has good predictive value.

J U N E   E V E N T S
Q-Bank ends June 30 for all students who registered and paid their fees.  If additional access is required students may purchase additional one month subscriptions directly from USMLEworld.

Required Clinical Orientation
Kansas City clinical campus – June 24, 25, 26 and June 27, 2013
Wichita clinical campus – June 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, 2013
Salina clinical campus  -  June 24, 25 and 26, 2013

Last date to sit for Step 1
All students must sit for Step 1 on or before Saturday, June 22, 2013.
Clinical rotations begin on Monday, July 1, 2013.
Students will not be excused from Clinical Orientation to sit for Step 1.