Second-year medical students are counting down the days until they wrap up preclinical courses. After completing nine medical science courses and two longitudinal courses in just 18 months, this milestone is worth celebrating, but it also signals what’s next: the dedicated study period.
Dedicated, as it’s commonly called, is the 6-week block where medical students focus entirely on preparing for the USMLE Step 1 exam, the requirement before beginning clinical clerkships and the next stage of their journey toward becoming physicians.
“Dedicated is the time to consolidate 18 months of material in a focused and efficient way,” said Ben Shirley, medical education learning specialist in the Office of Academic Excellence. “That task can be very daunting for many students because they may not know where to start or how to do it effectively.”
To help students build a strong foundation for success, UNC School of Medicine’s OAE hosted a half-day Step 1 workshop on Friday, December 5.
“The workshop helped provide students with the foundation on how to build a study schedule, study strategically, take care of themselves, and get a sense of the common challenges faced during dedicated,” Shirley added.
The event featured presentations by third- and fourth-year medical students who have successfully navigated dedicated and the Step 1 exam. Second-year students had the chance to ask questions and hear firsthand about their peers’ experiences.
“Last year, I remember feeling reassured that there were many different approaches that worked for each of the panelists,” said Madison Dunk, third-year student and panelist during this year’s workshop. “I was able to borrow tips and ideas from different people to create an individualized process that worked well for me. Now, I’d advise the current MS2’s to build a schedule, stick with it, trust the work they’re putting in, and don’t forget to take at least an hour every day to do something that brings you joy!”
The workshop also included insights from Student Wellness and Taking Care Of Our Own.
Now in its second year, the workshop reflects the School of Medicine’s continued commitment to supporting students through this critical period. It followed two information sessions hosted by OAE and complemented Curricular Affairs’ newly launched Step 1 review week back in October.
“We designed this workshop with the Curriculum team’s review week in mind,” said Shirley. “Our workshop focused less on the content itself and more on the skills students need to effectively approach and manage that content during dedicated. The goal is to lessen students’ cognitive load and give them a clear framework to help them have a successful dedicated season.”
When dedicated officially begins, students won’t face it alone. With support from OAE and the School of Medicine, they have a clear, proven path forward.