How was MS3?

MS3 is known as the first year of clinical sciences, while MS1 and MS2 are 2 years of basic sciences. Medical school consists of 4 years (the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree). 

Between MS2 and MS3, I had a break for about 7 months. This is because after completing my coursework on the island, I wanted to take time out to study for the USMLE Step 1. In order to be eligible for Step 1, we have to take an exam called Comprehensive Basic Sciences Exam (CBSE) a.k.a. 'Comp'. If you would like to know how I studied for both, Comp and Step 1, please see my stories under the 'Medical School' highlight on my Instagram page. 

After sitting for Step 1, we are required to complete a 6-week clinical 'training' session that primes us for third and fourth year clinical rotations in hospitals in the U.S. of A. This 'training' is called Internal Medicine Foundations (I.M.F.), and is held in Miramar, Florida. I lived about 10 minutes from campus and about 1 hour from the clinic I was assigned to(I lived in a house with 2 other roommates. I would not recommend this house, though). I had driven down from New Jersey to Florida (split the trip in two halves - 10 hours each and stayed in South Carolina -- both ways). Having my car was very convenient. For class and clinic, the dress code was business casual, and for simulations, the dress-code were scrubs. 

After completing I.M.F., I was assigned to St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, Queens for my core rotations. Living in New York for 1 year was a great experience. If you want to know where I lived, I lived at WaveCrest Gardens Apartments, which was a 10 minute walk to the hospital. 

For rotations, I completed rotations in the following order: 

- Surgery (12 weeks)

- Internal Medicine (12 weeks)

- Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks) 

- Psychiatry (6 weeks)

- Pediatrics (6 weeks)

- Family Medicine (6 weeks)

After 48 weeks, I completed the MS3. Dress-code again was business casual or scrubs. The only rotation we were given scrubs was in Surgery, and we were given paper scrubs (so I would recommend wearing your own underneath). Also, I know many people like to wear heels, remember: if you really want to get the most out of your rotation, you will be running around a lot, so therefore, invest in more comfortable shoes - I wore flats or booties. For each of the rotations, we had a shelf exam. This exam tested our knowledge in each of these subjects. If you would like to know how I studied for all of the shelf exams, please see my stories under the 'Medical School' highlight on my Instagram page. 

Between MS3 and MS4 is when you study and sit for USMLE Step 2 CK and USMLE Step 2 CS. I took a little longer, and I took it in the tail end of my 4th year, because I wanted to prepare well for the exam. If you would like to know how I studied for Steps CK and CS, please see my stories under the 'Medical School' highlight on my Instagram page.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!


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