Monday, October 15, 2007

No More Tests

Well, I guess it has been almost a month. USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills seemed to go ok. I still think it is a cash grab by NBME or USMLE. The test alone costs about $1000. That probably generates some 15 million for whoever is organizing it. On top of that, you must travel to one of the five locations in the US that it is offered. I was fortunate enought to take it in Houston, so I didn't have to get a flight but I still had to drive four hours each way and get a hotel room in Houston.

Today, I took the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, a 9 hour computerized exam. No matter how you do it, sitting in a chair and reading off the screen for 9 hours will make you crazy. I just about lost my mind in the first hour when they seated me next to someone who was taking a typing exam. Anyway, it is done with and I couldn't be more thrilled. As far as I know, that was my last exam of medical school. I still have a few more clinical rotations, but nothing too major.

The past three weeks, in addition to studying for this exam, I have been rotating in family practice. It has been a lot of fun. My preceptor is a great. His office is really like a military and war museum. There are newspaper clippings from WW2, cross sections of bombs, airplane props, and a multitude of other stuff to distract you. He is also an avid pilot. I am hoping to get up flying with him in the next few weeks. If things work out with scheduling, I think I will also get a chance to work on the sidelines of one of the local high school football games as one of the "team docs."

Next week starts the interview season. My first one is in Akron, Ohio. I am looking forward to it. By the end of January, I am going to have lots of frequent flier miles. Any of you other meds students started interviewing yet?

4 comments:

Bethany said...

Congratulations! It must feel wonderful to have those done.

Stuart said...

Haven't started interviewing yet, though I have quite a few lined up. Going to Houston in 2 weeks for the first interview. Good luck with everything!

Unknown said...

Oh no! YOu got stuck next to another typist! hahaha! It's only you Trevor. Good luck on interviews.

Leslie Hutchins said...

Congrats on the interviews! Good luck!! Let me know how they go.

Leslie