Learn things well the first time (i.e., not cramming).

In fact, the keys to success for Step 1 and clerkships are the same: I couldn’t disagree more with those who say Step 1 is unrelated to clinical practice.

They told me none of the things I’d supposedly memorize would matter in clinical practice.

Many students told me that Step 1 was nothing like clerkships. Take it with a grain of salt and take away the bits and pieces that resonate with you. Here are some pieces of practical advice for preparing and taking Step 1. Thus, to get a high Step 1 score, I needed to be efficient, both before and during dedicated studying. (I ultimately matched into a top dermatology residency, without taking extra time). Plus, my goal was always to match into dermatology. I scored 258 on Step 1, despite having less dedicated time than most students. Unlike other top scorers, he also shares his missteps along the way, so you can build on his success. (Disclaimer: I tutored Daniel from early in his first year of medical school, and he was part of the Yousmle Online Course.) He gives his advice on not only how to score well on Step 1, but also how it fits in your overall medical training. In this article, Daniel reflects on his journey that will take him to a top dermatology residency in the midwest. When someone does it, it’s always impressive. It’s even harder when you have a limited dedicated study and want to match into a super competitive specialty. Scoring 250+ on Step 1 is a huge challenge.

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