Insights about my USMLE Step 1 preparation, study strategy, and the importance of having a community.

Dr. Avelin, “the watch party girl”, within the Jornada team and the Scrubs Community, I go by many names: all are welcome! I love answering your questions and getting to know each of you, and I’m also one of the tutors in the Step 1:1 program.

Sounds nice when you say it like that, right? It almost makes it seem like it was all easy for us who are part of the team, like we know everything and you (the reader) know nothing…

But I’m here to bust that myth and share a bit of my own journey through the USMLE world and how I did everything people say not to do.

It was a path full of mistakes, dead ends, restarts, and a few tears (and it’s not over yet)…

As a child, I lived in the U.S., and ever since then, I dreamed of going back. Choosing medicine was a no-brainer for me, with a father who had already done residency in the U.S., my plan was to follow in his footsteps. I started med school in 2017 already talking about revalidation.

My First Aid is the 2018 edition, just so you get the picture (and I’m writing this in 2024).

Everything I learned about the process was in the most old-school way possible (think Incas and Mayans): Googling things, reading the ECFMG booklet, going through every single post in the “USMLE Brasil” Facebook group. Throughout med school, my classmates got used to seeing me with that huge book in my hand, reading alone in the library (yes, reading First Aid). I was the only one studying for the USMLE, I didn’t know about online resources, so I bought one textbook for each subject listed in the back of the First Aid (you can go check — it’s really there, you just never noticed).

Somewhere along the way I discovered Anki, started making my own cards, watched tons of tutorials to figure out how to use the app, discovered Physeo videos, and that totally changed my study game. I finally felt like I was “moving” forward with the material. In my head, I had created my perfect plan: study all the theory first, watch all 100+ Physeo videos, and only then do the questions, I didn’t want to “waste” the precious UWorld.

Anyone relate? Think I’m nuts? Feel sorry for me? All of the above?

Meanwhile, I managed to arrange an observership because I had read how important it was. I didn’t know anything, and to this day, I regret “wasting” that opportunity. And then the pandemic hit. Since I was already in the second half of med school, I had tons of free time at home. That’s when I decided to really dive into studying.

By then I had already watched so many videos that I figured it was time to start UWorld, right? And of course — since I was starting the questions, why not go ahead and book the exam? Having a deadline makes you more motivated, right?

The answer: No. Don’t book your exam without taking practice tests.

You think I skipped the NBMEs in the middle of all this chaos? Of course not! I did tons of them, died on each one, but always found a way to justify it: “Well, I haven’t finished studying all the content yet…”

With the test booked, I was sweating bullets trying to get through UWorld questions, keep up with med school, and do my Anki reviews.

I had to reschedule the test, miss it altogether, and finally realize I’d need to start studying all over again.

Who knew that the quality of review was more important than the quantity of questions?

Who knew I wouldn’t remember ANYTHING from the hundreds of hours of videos I had watched?

Who knew my 2018 First Aid would end up 100% marked-up and unreadable?

Then someone told me about a girl from UFMG who was sharing lots of tips. She was the first person I’d seen breaking things down like that (I followed several Americans, but none were that clear). That’s how I found Leti’s profile (@leticiapretti).

I was gifted the Jornada Médica USA course, reworked my Anki, and started to rethink my entire approach, I finally gave in to active learning.

These were just some of the stumbles I had along the way.

Once I started studying the right way, with guidance from André and Letícia, and with support from my friends at Jornada, I passed Step 1 in 9 months.

After that, I committed to helping new students avoid the mistakes I made (and since I made ALL of them, it’s pretty easy to show what not to do). I was over the moon when I was invited to be part of the Scrubs Community!

I’m here to show you that the only ones who don’t make it are the ones who quit. If you stay consistent and persevere, the results will come. You have to trust the process and honor the promise you made to yourself.

All the USMLE clichés are true and I’m living proof.

I’ll keep making mistakes, and I’ll keep sharing them with you, because mistakes are just that: learning opportunities.

We’ll keep failing, learning, restarting, and pushing forward and soon we’ll be celebrating together, too.

You can always count on me and on our whole community, whether you need a shoulder to lean on, some advice, or even a bit of tough love.

Need a study buddy? I’m always in the Study Room!

And most importantly: remember that we are always the result of our efforts.

Don’t give up!

With lots of love,

Iza