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💼 Old IMGs & working
Years out of med school, or studying around a full-time job. 9 guides.
By Dr. Marish Asudani · Published · Updated
How do I study for Step 1 years after med school, or while working?
Start with Step 1 as an Old IMG: Step 1 as an old IMG, years after med school and working: 7 tips to get structure first, then scores, plus old IMGs passing right now. Then The Step 1 Roadmap and How to Study Any Step 1 System in 5 to 7 Days.
Proof
Old IMGs who passed Step 1 with Dr. Marish
Their scores, timelines and pass reports.
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Start here · Method
Step 1 as an Old IMG
Step 1 as an old IMG, years after med school and working: 7 tips to get structure first, then scores, plus old IMGs passing right now
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Full plan
The Step 1 Roadmap
Set your Step 1 exam date from daily hours (6 mo/4 mo/12-14 wk) and first NBME 4 weeks before; system order, revision week, NBME 27
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Method
How to Study Any Step 1 System in 5 to 7 Days
The fixed 5-step order for any Step 1 system in 5-7 days (micro/pharm, active reading, Mehlman, Anki, UWorld) plus every system's days and prerequisites
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Mindset
The Accountability System — How to Actually Stay on Track for Step 1
The accountability system for Step 1: hard target score, hard exam date, ticked daily tasks, community (Vault check-ins, leaderboard, study partner)
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Mindset
How to Study 10 Hours Without Burning Out
How to study 10 hours a day (or all night) without burning out: hour-by-hour checklist and making each hour produce UWorld/First Aid results
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Mindset
How to Actually Stay Consistent
How to stay consistent: structure gives scores gives dopamine; 4 tips including a 6-day renal challenge, plus 10 daily-setup habits
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Full plan · 14 weeks
Step 1 During Internship — 14 Weeks
Marish's 14-week Step 1 plan during a full internship: phone-first setup, 10 habits, 3 phases (Sketchy/pharm, systems + UWorld, rapid review + NBMEs)
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Method
10 IMG Mistakes in Step 1 Prep
10 common IMG Step 1 mistakes in order (content phase and NBME phase), each with its fix and link
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Mindset
Canon Events — and the Fix for Each
10 common IMG prep mistakes (new plan weekly, B&B, UWorld cold, NBME 28 first, online NBMEs, 2 sets of notes, waiting for internship) and the fix for each
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First Aid guide, Anki, NBME booster and assessments, in USMLE Vault.
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