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School of Medicine

Pathway to Success on USMLE Step 1

and entry into the clinical phase of your medical education

Focus and do well in your 2nd year courses – this is a priority!

Board Preparation (Official Sites)

http://www.usmle.org/
http://www.nbme.org/

Free Study Help Sites

http://www.kumc.edu/AMA-MSS/study/boards_review.htm
http://medicine.creighton.edu/USMLE

http://www.bumc.bu.edu
http://www.boardsprep.com/

Practice Questions

Commercial Board Preparation Programs

Board Prep Plan - What should be included?

Sample #1 Board Prep Plan (.pdf)

Sample #2 Board Prep Plan (.pdf)

Sample #3 Board Prep Plan (.pdf)

Guidelines for Forming Study Groups (.pdf)

Genetic Disorders (.pdf)


A U G U S T    E V E N T S

Year Two Re-Orientation Program
Monday, August 6, 2007 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Rieke Auditorium

USMLE Step 1 Board Prep and Study Skills
Dr. Mark Meyer, Laura Zeiger, Gwen Swoope, Alice Carrott, Connie Hesler and Ray Elliott
Mandatory attendance


S E P T E M B E R   E V E N T S


O C T O B E R   E V E N T S


N O V E M B E R   E V E N T S

Board Prep Program Overview
Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m. - Rieke Auditorium

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

Required Attendance


DECEMBER   E V E N T S

Block Summative Exams and Final Exams – GOOD LUCK!
December 12 and 14, 2007

Winter Break
December 15, 2007 - January 6, 2008
Continue review of First Aid and work on the 100 USMLE diseases matrix and 100 Most Common USMLE Diseases.


J A N U A R Y   E V E N T S

Board Prep Student Panel, Board Prep Agreement forms and Q&A Regarding Board Prep Options
Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m. - Rieke Auditorium

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


Third Year Clinical Track Selection

Kansas City Clinical Campus Students
Required participation
Date: Friday, January 11, 2008
Time: 12 Noon - 12:45 p.m.

KC clinical campus students meet in Rieke Auditorium regarding Third Year clerkships
Pictures will be taken of KC clinical campus students for USMLE Step 1 applications (11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) in Stoland Lounge

Wichita Clinical Campus Students
Required participation
Date: Friday, January 11, 2008
Time: 12 Noon - 1:30 p.m.

W clinical campus students meet in Wahl West Auditorium regarding Third Year clerkships
Pictures will be taken of W clinical campus students for USMLE Step 1 applications (12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.) in Stoland Lounge


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, 2008
Place: Rieke Auditorium
Time:- 12:45 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: Gwen Swoope X8-1547, Alice Carrott X8-4688 or 8-6580, Connie Hesler X8-0164 or 8-6580, or Ray Ellliott X8-4356 or 8-6580

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.


F E B R U A R Y   E V E N T S

Schedule a Conference in February

Meet with: Gwen Swoope X8-1547, Alice Carrott X8-4688 or 8-6580, Connie Hesler X8-0164 or 8-6580, or Ray Ellliott X8-4356 or 8-6580

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.

Register for USMLE Step 1 Examination
Deadline for registration is Friday, February 8, 2008
Step 1 Registration Instructions

  • Fill out form online at https://external1.nbme.org/interactive/ (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 campus even if you will be going there for clinics.
  • Eligibility Period:  May 1, 2008 to July 31, 2008 or June 1, 2008 - August 31, 2008.  If you have questions about that time block, please contact Laura by e-mail lzeiger@kumc.edu. 
  • Payment:  You may use a credit card to pay your fee when you register on-line at https://external1.nbme.org/interactive/.  The other choice is to register online and submit a check with your form for $480.00 made out to the NBME.

AFTER YOU HAVE REGISTERED: 

  • Please bring the print out of the Certification/Authorization  Form along with your Payment Form and your Check, or if you paid online by credit card please submit your Certification/Authorization form and  payment receipt form to 3040 Murphy Student Affairs office. We will add your picture, put the school seal on the picture, get Laura Zeigers’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.
  • 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's 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.


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 Friday, February 15, 2008.


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.


NBME Microbiology Subject Shelf Examination

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 9 a.m. to 12 Noon - Battenfeld Auditorium

Mandatory Participation


M A R C H   E V E N T S

Board Prep Agreement Plan due
Required submission
Completed agreements due by 12 Noon, Monday, March 10, 2008 in 3040 Murphy
Copies distributed during January 10th class meeting.  Additional copies available in 3040 Murphy.


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.


SPRING BREAK

March 24– 28, 2008
Continue Reviewing First Aid


Q-Bank begins
Q-Bank begins on March 24 and ends June 15 for all students who registered and paid their fees.


A P R I L   E V E N T S

Step 1 test date
Must be scheduled by April 1, 2008
Test date can be rescheduled without financial penalty if requested at least one week prior to test date.\


NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (CBSE)
Required participation
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Time: 8:30 a.m. report to testing room - exam begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Battenfeld Auditorium
(this is a timed, 4 hour examination)


Optimal Mood States and Mental Preparation for Final Exams and Step 1

Time/Date/Location: TBA

Presentor: Dr. Larry Long


M A Y   E V E N T S

Step 1 CBSE Feedback Session

Attendance strongly encouraged

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008
Time: 12 Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Rieke Auditorium

  • Receive a copy of your results from the CBSE that you took on April 16.
  • 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.

NBME Pharmacology Subject Shelf Examination

Date: Friday, May 16, 2008
Time: 8 a.m. to 12 Noon
Location: Battenfeld Auditorium


KU StepPrep Program begins

Monday, May 19 - June 13, 2008


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 two 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 16 for all students who registered and paid their fees.


Required Clinical Orientation
Kansas City clinical campus – June 24, 25 and June 26, 2008 (tentative)
Wichita clinical campus – June 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2008 (tentative)


Last date to sit for Step 1
All students must sit for Step 1 on or before Friday, June 20, 2008.
Clinical rotations begin on Monday, June 30, 2008.
Students will not be excused from Clinical Orientation on either campus to sit for Step 1.

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