Inefficient Experience with USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Studying

Having navigated the demanding terrain of Step 1 and Step 2 examinations back in 2017 and 2018, I was left with a lingering thought - there simply has to be a better way to master this content. I yearned for better study approaches, more effective learning techniques, and improved retention strategies. As a medical student, my method of preparing for these exams was synonymous with studying everything and anything. I lacked a clear guiding principle on what areas to focus on or how to do it effectively. My pursuit was simply to absorb as much information as I could - a grueling study routine that had me hitting the books from 7:00 AM till 12:00 AM daily for 2 consecutive months. That's 17 hours daily, 119 hours weekly, 476 each month, or 28,560 minutes each month. But hey, who's counting?

My resource arsenal at the time was expansive. From First Aid, UWorld, Firecracker, Pathoma, Kaplan to Princeton Review, Anki cards, Quizlet, and numerous audiobooks – I tried it all. My choice of resource on any given day was highly influenced by a wide array of suggestions: the thoughts and recommendations of fellow classmates, Reddit posts, advice from my medical school, and even the late-night library janitor whose path I invariably crossed around 10:00 PM nightly. Even with this scattered approach, luckily, I fared relatively well in both Step 1 and Step 2 exams. However, I was decidedly aware that my method was a far cry from efficiency.

USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Tutoring Experience

During my third year, I leaned into my passion for teaching and joined a top-tier online medical student tutoring service. The subsequent two years of tutoring fostered my development of a streamlined, effective study system. The efficacy of this strategy was such that I commenced solo tutoring for medical students nationwide. The testament of these five years in tutoring? A consistent score increase of 20-40 points on Steps 1 and 2 and a flawless pass rate since Step 1 turned pass/fail. However, as word spread about the success of my methods, my ability to help each student was hindered by the intense time constraints of my residency.

MD Boost Creation, Passion, and Story

Fueled by my desire to optimize medical student education on a broader scale, I merged my tutoring prowess with my brother’s expertise in software engineering to introduce MD Boost. Our offering is a unique meld of software solution and human-led tutoring designed to create a holistic, continuously evolving resource powered by AI technology. Our intention is to convey medical knowledge clinically, striving to nurture the finest physicians in the world for our patients.

MD Boost is a direct product of medical student experiences – for our students, by our students. We aspire to revert learning to its fun-phase, elevating efficiency in the process and evolving our platform to align with the changing needs and trends. Hence, whether it involves incorporating a new AI feature, integrating more questions to scrutinize knowledge, or developing innovative interactive methodologies, MD Boost has its roots firmly planted in the future of medical education. I earnestly hope that the fusion of my passion for teaching and the dynamic technology landscape can pave the way for a more streamlined and enjoyable learning platform accessible to all in the medical field.