^^ Very good. All medical students are not the same. As just one example, there is a big difference in the stress levels between students heading for a competitive pyramidal residency and those who go into something…else.
Well, considering that most are taking Step 1 before clinical rotations and many at this point have not idea what they want to pursue, is it wise to shoot yourself in a foot while not aiming at the highest score possible. How one knows what she end up liking? Many rule out something that was their option for several years, it just did not click very well during rotation. It has happened to one of D’s options, she did not like certain aspect of this specialty, while her superiors kept saying that she definitely has a talent for it. I would suggest (again, only my opinion) to aim at the hieghest score possible that early in a game so that you have more options opened for you. And aiming at the highest score possible will require enourmous effort (from the non-genius regular person, I do not rule out genius level in memorization, brain stamina and test taking skills)
All I was trying to say is that it’s a lot easier to study for a standardized exam when there are literally hundreds of test prep resources available than when you have to study for a completely unstandardized exam which thus has absolutely no test prep resources. Go ask your daughter what studying for step 1 would have felt like if UWorld/First Aid or any other QBank/review book didn’t exist. Similarly that it’s easier to memorize a list of knowledge given to you than to create new knowledge.
^This has no relevance, it is not easy to study for Step 1, unless you are genius, most people are not. There were cases of shingles in D’s class, caused by stress among those who were preparing for Step 1. Several cases among students in their 20s. This pretty much shows the level of extreme push that they were experiencing. What else I can add?
I think Brown’s point is that there is a lot of direction for studying for step 1. Students can choose between First Aid, UWorld question banks, Kaplan question banks, Doctors in Training (wearing a tshirt of theirs right now LOL), Goljan, etc etc. So while it is a huge/stressful/time-consuming undertaking to prepare for step 1, at least there are available materials that you “just” have to get through in order to have a reasonable shot at doing well. On the other hand, PhD exams are difficult because it is impossible to predict what will be on them, because their content relies on which person is asking you those difficult questions on that day, and revising questions to ask next based on the replies you give.
Of course it makes sense for students to push themselves to get the best score they can get. However, students who are pretty sure they’re not interested in highly competitive fields (myself included) often set goals that are not as lofty as those who are sure they’re interested in highly competitive fields. My pals going into ortho put forth considerable more time and effort into studying for step 1 than I did–and their higher score shows it! However, my score is appropriate and competitive for the field I’m going into, so in the end…it worked out for all of us! (So far at least)
exactly kristin. Availability of review materials is completely relevant. If the first aid and UWorld people had made materials for my general knowledge exam then it would have been way easier (less material to learn than USMLE1 - only needed about 2 weeks of those 14 hour days) but those sources don’t exist. Rather than studying from resources carefully and meticulously designed by professionals to enhance my chances of doing well on the exam I’m preparing for, I’m studying from textbooks and review articles - neither of which are written with any sort of exam in mind let alone the one that’s going to be administered to me (and is an oral exam no less, not a multiple choice exam in front of a computer) that can change focus in an instant based on whatever comes out of my mouth. It’s like the difference between self teaching an instrument when all you have is sheet music vs. having an instructor who guides you with exercises and lesson plans and practice and such.
So again - less stressful (since it was pass/fail and less material) but much more difficult.
All of this really was just to address the fact that med students (myself included to some extent) are whiners. We make everything sound a million times worse than it is and make it sound like no other training program could possibly be as hard as medicine. Everyone knows they’re all difficult and rigorous (except MBAs 
)
Exactly, Kristin. However, I expressed my point before. Many many do not know what specialty they want ot pursue. Krisitn , you happen to be lucky to know for sure right from the start, but many are not so lucky. So, the best is to study the hardest. If one is so sure about specialty no matter what happen during rotation, then go ahead, slack…but, please, do not be sorry at the end!!! It may happen, it has happen for many, you cannot predict what is involve, you may not like protocol, you may be bothered by social environment of certain specialty, your own set of skills and talents and preferences may not be enough to choose at the end. So, what I am saying, do not limit yourself with lower score, shoot for the sky, not into your foot, and yes, 245 may simply not be enough for the option that suits you the best at the end. So, you will say to yourself, Oh, I am so so sorry, or you can say, I did what I could, I could have not done better. Again, it is up to a person what answer you prefer. But arguably many choose to be able to answer with the second.
One thing 100% correct, MBA is a piece of cake, no kidding, I have it and my H. has it. We did not even need it. Got it simply because of Why not if employers are paying. It was simply fun after work, really no biggy, many do it while working, many companies are still paying.
So can any of you explain the step one and step two thing to me? I don;t really know what it is?
A junior in high school should fully enjoy being junior in high school and should not try to understand something that is beyond horizon of junior in high school. Do not make this mistake. Spend more time with your friends instead of asking about Med. School. My D’s comments while she was interviewing the applicants to her Med. School: “Poor things, they do not know what is ahead”. Do you really want to hear this now? Why? Your high school time is absolutely precious, your college time will also be absolutely precious, why to spoil it?
@MiamiDAP Thanks for the suggestion, but it’s already kind of too late. My junior year and senior year are combined since I’m home schooled and I’m just trying to figure out a little bit more about medical schools and which one I want to go to so I can decide on an undergraduate school for this coming fall semester that would best suit my needs. And either way, I don’t feel like I’m spoiling anything or reaching for things beyond my horizon. I’m just trying to plan my academic career so I’m not rushing to figure it out between each semester in college. Thanks anyway though. If you have any other advice or concerns or something please let me know. 
I don’t follow. What undergraduate school best suits your needs is pretty much independent of which medical school you desire (especially since it’s overwhelmingly unlikely you’ll end up at that school anyway).
@iwannabe_Brown Not necessarily. There are so many different pre-med programs with different courses and academic opportunities at different colleges. I’m looking at these things in addition to pre-requisites and standard admission criteria at graduate schools to find out which ones are compatible and seem reasonable. I’m not obsessed with searching for colleges, but every once in a while I think of a question and look something up. Over time, one question leads to another until I know what I want to know. I’m enjoying my high school career, but I’m also looking into the future possibilities.
You’re right. There are many different biology programs with different course offerings and such. Med school is far less varied and that is my point. The best undergraduate program for you is almost certainly going to be the best undergraduate program for you regardless of what medical school you attend. No one in my med school class would say “Now that I’m at [my medical school] instead of [other medical school] I really wish I had gone to [undergraduate school] over [other undergraduate school].”
@iwannabe_Brown I’m just curious yo
"So can any of you explain the step one and step two thing to me? I don;t really know what it is? "
-Unexplainable.
-“Thanks for the suggestion, but it’s already kind of too late.”
-Too late for what? Forget about Med. School for a bit, enjoy your time now and choose the UG where you would be able to personally grow in addition to everything else.
Can you not?
…and you will NOT be able to figure out ANYTHING about Med. School untill you are medical student. In addition, in the first year of Med. School you will have no idea what is ahead in the 3rd year, not even close. So, do not waste your time, spend it with you friends, you need it much more social interactions at this stage of your life, do not underestimate it. Posting here is does not count as social interaction.
I don’t confine my life to this web site. Like I said before, I just think of a few questions every once in a while so I’ll get on and ask. Maybe while I’m on I’ll help another kid for a few minutes with an SAT thing. It isn’t like I’m on here 24/7 at all.On the social side of things, I am, as a matter of fact, home schooled, so I’m not left with many options for socializing. Connecting with my friends through Facebook sometimes or seeing them primarily on Sundays at youth group is usually what I have to settle for. I’m home almost all week, so of course it would make sense for to check in on this website once or twice a day just like I would any other social media website. I don’t feel as if I am wasting time here.
If you are a junior/senior at the same time, have you applied to colleges yet?