USMLE SCHEDULE

Things to do prior to studying for your USMLE:

1. Download the 2007 ECFMG/USMLE Information Booklet at www.ecfmg.org
2. There are two parts in the INTERACTIVE WEB APPLICATION (IWA) Process:
On-Line Part this is the part where youll get your USMLE/ECFMG number
Certification of Identification Part these are the papers youll send to ECFMG
through a courier service

3. You must get an USMLE/ECFMG IDENTIFICATION NUMBER at the ECFMG website.

You must go to their INTERACTIVE WEB APPLICATION (IWA) area
The IWA is the On-line part of the ECFMG
Make sure that before you get your IWA, you must have these with you:
i. Clerkship Rotations and dates (if you dont have these, request from
Maam Liway, it takes more than a week to get it. She says 1 week but in
reality, it takes her more than that)
ii. Official Name on your medical school diploma

4. You must also accomplish these forms:

Certification of Identification (Form 186) signed by Dr. Lopez
EMG Medical Education Submission (Form 3444)
Medical School Release Request Form (Form 345)
IWA Document submission (Form 187)

5. Request at the Registrars Office Main Building Window 5 for a Official Transcript of
Records in White Paper (Fee: P165/copy + P70 for mailing)
6. Photocopy/Reduce your Medical School Diploma into short bond paper and then have it
certified at the Main Building Window 15 or 16
7. Have your passport picture taken white background, in long sleeves
8. Once youve accomplished these, mail your documents to
IWA ECFMG
3624 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685 USA
Phone number: (215) 386-5900

Make sure you have these in the envelope:

i. Certification of Identification (Form 186) signed by Dr. Lopez
ii. ECFMG Medical Education Submission (Form 344)
iii. Medical School Release Request Form (Form 345)
iv. IWA Document submission (Form 187)
v. 2 certified photocopies of your UST Diploma
vi. 2 colored passport photograph

You should mail it through DHL or LBC so it would only take 3 days. Remember
that once you start your on-line application, you have ten days to complete your
2nd part of the application (which are these forms). I personally chose LBC, its
cheaper than DHL. Both takes 3 days. You could also track your documents
through the LBC website, so youll know if it reached ECFMG. Since the mail is
by weight, both Carlo and Marco can send in their applications in a separate
brown envelope and in 1 LBC package.

If youre wondering why you requested for a transcript of records, once ECFMG
receives your documents, they would verify it with UST by sending in your
Medical School Release Request Form (Form 345). UST then would be sending
in your transcript of records (thats why they asked for P70 for mailing).
USMLE SCHEDULE

APPLYING FOR THE EXAMS

After all these Identification/Verification Process, You may now apply for your Step 1 or CK or CS
through the IWA. Remember, you need not take these in chronological order. Some have taken
their CK first before step 1 since theyve just finished internship.

If you intend to take your exam in February 2007, you must choose an Eligibility Period either:
January 1, 2007 March 31, 2007
February 1, 2007 April 30, 2007

Eligibility Period is the period that you could take the exam. You may
schedule/re-schedule your exam as long as youre in that period. Once youre
period has elapsed, you pay a certain fee to have it extended in case youre not
yet ready to take the exam.

When you choose an eligibility period, you should apply before these dates:
ELIGIBILITY PERIOD DEADLINE OF APPLICATION
January 1, 2007 March 31, 2007 November 30, 2006
February 1, 2007 April 30, 2007 December 28, 2006

I would personally choose the Feb-April eligibility period. You have more time to choose. If by
February, youre not yet ready to take the exam, you could reschedule it anytime until April 30,
free of charge.

After 2 weeks or so from application and payment of the exam, youll be getting your ORANGE
PERMIT. Once you get your ORANGE PERMIT, schedule your exam at Prometric.com or call
892-0383 at the Ateneo Professional School in Makati.

I scheduled mine online its faster. You will be asked to choose a specific date within your
eligibility period. You could reschedule your exam endlessly within your eligibility period free of
charge, provided you reschedule it 5 days before the exam.

So, theres the overview of the application process for the Steps. Heres my suggested schedule.
My upper classmen (batch 2003) have advised these as well.

I read the book per chapter and then watched the video equivalent of it. I usually read in the AM,
video in afternoon. Practice Questions at night. (Sorry, I will try to look for the print-out of the
equivalent pages for each part of the video)

Study during the time of the exam the exam is at 8:00 to 4:00 pm You should practice your
mind in being active during this period. No naps in between. (I learned this in the Kaplan
Seminar). It works!!!

KAPLAN QBANK/ USMLE World For practice questions you may enroll on-line at kaptest.com.
I personally enrolled at Kaplan QBANK. My 2 friends and I shared the 1-month subscription fee of
$199. We each had 8 hours to use the QBANK. Only one user at a time. We tried using it
simultaneously, the other one was shut down.

They said that for the USMLE Step 1, use Kaplan QBANK. For USMLE Step 2 CK, use
USMLEWorld.

I didnt know I had a copy of the KAPLAN Qbank, I found after I took the exam. I can lend you my
CD. :D

I didnt enroll at the USMLE World anymore, I got copy of the questions as well on DVD :D
USMLE SCHEDULE

SEPTEMBER 06 Rest / PARTY / Rest :D (We all need to rest and be energized!!!!)
Accomplish your forms and get your ECFMG/USMLE #
Apply for your USMLE Step 1 Exam $ 815
Gather all you materials for the Step 1 exam
OCTOBER 06
WEEK 1 Read your USMLE First Aid for the USMLE: cover to cover to get an
overview
WEEK 2 Anatomy, Histology, Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience
WEEK 3 Physiology
WEEK 4 Biochemistry and Genetics
NOVEMBER 06
WEEK 1 Pharmacology
WEEK 2 Behavioral Science
WEEK 3 Pathology
WEEK 4 Microbiology and Immunology

DECEMBER 06
WEEK 1 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid Anatomy
WEEK 2 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid Physiology
WEEK 3 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid Biochemistry
Apply and Pay for your USMLE Step 2 CK
Exam ($850)
If you intend to take it in June, your eligibility period could either be:
May 1, 2007 July 31, 2007 or June 1, 2006 August 31,2006
You may also apply and pay for your USMLE Step 2
CS Exam if you want. ($1200)
WEEK 4 CHRISTMAS BREAK
JANUARY 07
WEEK 1 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid Pharmacology
WEEK 2 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid Micro / Beh sci
WEEK 3 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid Pathology
WEEK 4 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS
Answer the Questions in the CD they will be sending you to be
familiar with the format of the FRED (format of the computer based
exam)
FEBRUARY 07
WEEK 1 USMLE STEP 1 EXAM
Days before the exam: go to the test site in Ateneo, HV Dela Costa
Know how far it is Makati is traffic (my friend was 15 minutes
late, he wasnt allowed to take the exam anymore)

On the EXAM:
I was there around 7:30 AM
I started my exam at 8:00 AM
Bring snacks you may take a break after answering a block
(which is 50 questions). You have a total of 1 hour break which you
will budget in between the 7 blocks.
Do maximize your break. Its very tiring. The USMLE is not just a
USMLE SCHEDULE
test of your knowledge base, its also a test of STRENGTH
Bring Eye drops eye straining to look at the computer the whole
time.
No jackets, jewelry, cellphone in the area. Empty your pockets of
anything they will check everything :D
I wore long sleeves, just in case it got cold in the room.
You will be provided with a locker to put in your things.
Do NOT bring reading materials, its futile to do so. REST in
between blocks. I did a 10 minute rest in between blocks
Bathroom break, sandwich/candy, caffeine blast!!!

Block 1Blk 210min restBlk 310 min restBlk 410 min

rest Blk 510min restBlk 610 min restBlk 7Survey
PARTY!!!!!

WEEK 2 REST / Gather materials for the USMLE Step 2

WEEK 3 REST
WEEK 4 Internal Medicine First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK 1st reading
MARCH 07
WEEK 1 Internal Medicine
WEEK 2 Internal Medicine
WEEK 3 Pediatrics
WEEK 4 Pediatrics
APRIL 07
WEEK 1 Surgery
WEEK 2 Surgery
WEEK 3 OB-Gyne
WEEK 4 Psychiatry
MAY 07
WEEK 1 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid / Clinical Vignettes
WEEK 2 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid / Clinical Vignettes
WEEK 3 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid / Clinical Vignettes
WEEK 4 Qbank / Qbook / Practice Exams / First Aid / Clinical Vignettes
JUNE 07
WEEK 1 FIRST AID FOR THE USMLE STEP 2 CK ---- more than 5 times if you
can
WEEK 2 USMLE STEP 2 CK EXAM
WEEK 3 PRACTICE / PRACTICE / PRACTICE
WEEK 4 PRACTICE / PRACTICE / PRACTICE
JULY 07
WEEK 1 USMLE STEP 2 CS EXAM in the US
WEEK 2 US Tour :D
WEEK 3 US Tour :D
WEEK 4 US Tour :D
AUGUST 07
Get your AAMC ID by getting a token at the ERAS
Go back to Manila and get your papers ready for the Electronic Residency Application
Service (ERAS):
Heres your TO GET IN UST LIST:
Clerkship of Grades c/o Maam Liway (P20/copy) took her 2 weeks to do this
Class Ranking (P20/copy)
Deans Letter of Recommendation c/o Maam Aida (P20/copy)
Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE) compose this and have it signed by Dr.
Lopez Give it to Maam Gigette in a diskette and print-out (P20/copy)
USMLE SCHEDULE
Transcript of Records in White Paper (P165/copy) takes 1 week
Letters of Recommendation (LOR) from Consultants

While waiting, search for the programs you wish to join. You may search through Freida
Online (freida). I have some files and their requirements esp USMLE grades that I can send.

Re: MSPE
It is a Medical School Performance Evaluation where youll describe yourself during the first 3
years of medical school and in each rotation of your clerkship. Its supposed to be done by
the Clerkship Program Head of each department, but in UST, we compose it ourselves and
have it checked and signed by the dean. It takes one week to get one.

I can email you my MSPE and some samples I got from my friends.

Re: LOR Letter of Recommendation

We also compose our own LOR. Have the consultant read and edit it. They will then ask us to
revise it and theyll sign it in BLUE PEN. There are consultants whod be willing to do it for
you.

The advise they said in getting LORs is get from US-trained MDs who know you well since
the US Program Director may contact them.

Get as many LORs you can. Then choose. You only get to send 4 LORs to the ERAS. I
personally had as many as 12 and chose 4 from them, mainly from Department Chairs
Dr.Go, Dr. deSagun and your dad. Most of the ones Ill be submitting had US training.

Last week of August: Mail all requirements of the ERAS to the ERAS. (Sorry, I know little of
this part since Im still preparing for it). :D

SEPTEMBER 07
WEEK 1 September 1, 2007 ERAS opens
September 3, 2007 You could choose all the hospitals you wish to
apply to. Check ERAS website for details.
WEEK 2 Moonlight
WEEK 3 Moonlight
WEEK 4 Moonlight
OCTOBER TO
DECEMBER 07 INTERVIEW SEASON
(You need to go to the US at this time)
MARCH 08
MATCH SEASON
March 15, 2008 Results of the 2008 MATCH is
released at NRMP website

March 16, 2008 If you dont get matched, you

get to SCRAMBLE (meaning, you could fill in
the slots of those who didnt get the program
slots get filled within MINUTES when the
scramble starts.
JUNE 2008 Fix your J-1 Visa (WorkingVisa) in Manila
Apartment Hunt in the US
USMLE SCHEDULE
JULY 2008
FIRST YEAR RESIDENCY
IN THE US !!! :D

The advantage of your schedule is that:

You are ECFMG-CERTIFIED (meaning youve passed Step 1, CK and CS) by the time ERAS
opens in September 2007 . When you are ECFMG-CERTIFIED, you get more interviews,
more programs, a good fight against those who only have Step 1 scores.
If you change your mind in pursuing your residency in the US and opt to take your residency
in Manila, youll be on time for the Pre-residency in September 2007. Dont worry, your efforts
for the 3 exams wont be futile. Your ECFMG Certification will be valid for SEVEN YEARS
and you can use it to apply for Fellowship in the US.
Lets say you wish to take this route:
September to October 2007 Pre-Residency in Manila
2008 1st year resident
2009 2nd year resident
2010 3rd year resident
2011 Fellowship

your ECFMG Certification remains valid even if you intend to take the 5year Surgery
Residency.

Visa Issues for your CS

o Once you apply and pay for the Step 2 CS, they will ask you if they need to send a
letter that you can show to the embassy here. My friends have been given a VISA
Business Visa (3 months)
o If you have a tourist visa like mine, you dont have to worry about anything :D

Another option/schedule you could do is:

OCTOBER 07 USMLE STEP 2 CS
OCTOBER TO
DECEMBER 07 INTERVIEW SEASON
(You need to go to the US at this time)
MARCH 08
MATCH SEASON
March 15, 2008 Results of the 2008 MATCH is
released at NRMP website

March 16, 2008 If you dont get matched, you

get to SCRAMBLE (meaning, you could fill in
the slots of those who didnt get the program
slots get filled within MINUTES when the
scramble starts.
JULY 2008
FIRST YEAR RESIDENCY
USMLE SCHEDULE

IN THE US !!! :D

Advantage of taking your CS in October:

You go to the US for 2 purposes: CS and interviews
You get to save a trip to the US ($800).
You must take it 1st week of October to get your results by November during the interview
season
If both Step 1 and CK scores are 90 and above, this would be a good schedule. Saves you
money :D

Disadvantage:
Most programs want that you are ECFMG-Certified during the screening process
(September).
Its like this, THEY CHOOSE:
PARAMETER THEY CHOOSE
USMLE scores 90 and above vs low scores High scores 90 and above
ECFMG-certified vs 2 scores below 90 ECFMG certified

It really depends on the program director. Its not a guarantee that if you get 90 and above, youll
be matched. I have a lot of friends who got 99 but were not matched. I have friends who had an
80 in both his exams and was matched. ITS ALL A GAME OF LUCK. Have a good interview. The
interview would be the deciding factor. Credentials speak for itself. Res ipsa loquitur as they say.

Moonlighting during your USMLE REVIEW ????

I personally would not advise you to do so STUDY HARD have breaks during weekends
and youll get good scores.

We may depend on our parents for awhile, but this will all work out eventually. All right, if you
have questions, just email me or call me at home.

Good luck!!!! Enjoy your break. :D