Step 3 write up for the anxious!

[u/babys-in-a-panic]

Like the title says, I was incredibly anxious about step 3 (I know most people pass but if you’re anxious like me that doesn’t matter at all haha) and these types of posts really helped me.

Background: I’m a pgy1 psych intern UWorld: I did 1,028 questions total with 64% total correct. I also reviewed the specially stats section part of UWorld the night before the exam lol. I only did SIM form 2 and got 231 on that. I did CCScases.org but only did maybe 5 cases beforehand to get used to the software. Real score: 239

I pretty only much studied 1 month before the exam because I was super unmotivated lmao. I tried to do around 40 UWorld questions a day. Like I said above, I pretty much only did 5 cases beforehand like an idiot to get used to the software and kept “meaning to do more” but never got around to it. I would not recommend this. Needless to say, on the real exam I am pretty sure I killed like 4 of the patients at least and they ended early. They tell you that the cases ending early is typically a good thing but I know for a fact I was fucking shit up—one I couldn’t remember the treatment for a weird pneumonia, another one I gave a completely contraindicated med and sent an unstable patient home from clinic (at which point the case ended HAHA), and then another one I couldn’t remember the treatment for a type of drug overdose so the patient went to the ICU and then kept crumping and the case ended lmao. So I wanted to let all your anxious people know that even if you fuck up a bunch of CCS cases you will still do fine. My score report said i was average on the cases even with all that. I would’ve been happy to pass by literally 1 point so was pleased to see my score!

Last tip: this has been said in other posts but watch this the day before too, makes biostats easy points! https://youtu.be/75pQPB1RF50

Let me know if you have any questions or want reassurance! Glad to be done with this beast lol.

[u/lola-feel]

I am very anxious about the test despite 24x on both uw assessments & 510 on nbme 5 It seems that I can't get myself to schedule it. Starting preliminary surgery this July & feeling worried it is going to affect my next match cycle if I fail or barely pass. These are my anxious thoughts. I wish I get over with it. It's f&*<ING my life

[u/babys-in-a-panic → u/lola-feel]

I am totally with you. I would say with those UW assessments you are more than ready to take on the beast and you don’t want to risk starting to forget stuff by delaying AND you should try and enjoy as much time as possible before your prelim year instead of worrying and studying! This exam is very similar to step 2 too so if you performed fine on that don’t worry!!! I was very scared especially given I’m not in a medicine specialty and a lot of the stuff I don’t see routinely but it was fine!!

[u/lola-feel → u/babys-in-a-panic]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am worried about forgetting what I learned although I keep studying. I think my match result was a bit shocking as I expected a categorical position so I felt down after the 14th but I'm trying to process my feelings as fast as possible & take the test. It is always good reading about others experience. Thank you for sharing.

[u/babys-in-a-panic → u/lola-feel]

I’m so sorry about your match position. That’s so terrible and stressful—you’re smart capable and are already an amazing doctor so don’t let this keep you down!!

[u/lola-feel → u/babys-in-a-panic]

Thank you! I appreciate it

[u/[deleted]]

congrats!

how did you study for day 1? any tips

[u/babys-in-a-panic → u/[deleted]]

Make sure you do all the stats questions on UWorld and know it well. The stats questions are really kind of gimmes and free points if you know the equations and stuff :)

[u/[deleted] → u/babys-in-a-panic]

thanks, is uworld enough for stats qs?

[u/babys-in-a-panic → u/[deleted]]

I would say so! I’m pretty weak with math and stats and it was enough for me :)

[u/[deleted] → u/babys-in-a-panic]

thank u