MS2 Class Information Oct 10 2024

In this issue:

  • Update about the ISA Survey
  • How to register for Step 1
  • Information about student tutoring for Step 1
  • Tip of the Month: How to meet and learn from alumni

Update on the ISA survey

Here is a message from ISA Committee Co-Leads Nicholas Popp (MS4), Sarah Busch (MS4), Ben Henderson (MS3), Matt Lumsden (MS2) and Lila Faulhaber (MS2):

We thank so many of you for completing the Independent Student Analysis (ISA) survey, which serves as the backbone data for the medical school accreditation. Your cohort has reached a total response rate of 26%. As shown in the graph below, Alaska students have recorded the highest rate of 54%, followed by Idaho (43%), Wyoming (25%), Montana (23%), Spokane (22%), and Seattle (16%). Our goal is to reach 80% with your help.

Your campus has scheduled some time for you to complete the survey with snacks. Please refer to the date and time in the table below.  Lastly, there are many opportunities to win a gift card as specified in the table below.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

Date/Time Set Aside for Survey Completion

  • Seattle: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 (RM T733)
  • Spokane: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15
  • Idaho: Noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14
  • Sessions were already held in Wyoming, Alaska and Montana

Gift Card Incentives: Please see the breakdown below. There will be one $500 gift card for drawing from all four cohorts. 

Campus # of Gift Cards ($10) if Campus Response Rates Reach 60% # of Gift Cards ($50) if Campus Response Rates Reach 60% Additional # of Gift Cards ($30) if Campus Response Rates Reach 80% Total # of Gift Cards
Seattle 3 1 3 7
Spokane 2 1 3 6
Wyoming 1 1 2 4
Alaska 1 1 2 4
Montana 2 1 2 5
Idaho 3 1 2 6
Total 12 6 14 32

*According to the UW policy, student employees (e.g., tutors, research assistants, hourly workers, etc.0 cannot receive a gift card. If you win the raffle as a student employee, we will send alternative items of the same value from Amazon.


How to register for Step 1

You should have received an email on Tuesday, Oct. 8, from somlearn@uw.edu with detailed instructions on how to register for Step 1. Once the application is completed, students must wait for NBME to review and approve the application, which has an estimated wait time of 3-4 weeks. Once approved, you’ll receive a scheduling permit which will allow you to choose a test date.

Some of you may have questions about your Certification of Identification form (CID) or status verification, so feel free to reach out via email at somreg@uw.edu or join the Registration Team’s drop in session on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at 5 p.m. AK, 6 p.m. PT, 7 p.m. MT.

Zoom Link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/95304174356

If you have questions after reading through the registration instructions, feel free to reach out to your learning specialist or to somlearn@uw.edu.


Information about USMLE Step 1 group sessions

This is a message from Bailey Stuart, an MS4 from the Laramie cohort:

For this week: 

  • Monday, Oct. 14: Group at 5:30 p.m. AK, 6:30 p.m. PT, 7:30 p.m. MT

Hello UWSOM MS2s! I am your lead tutor for the USMLE Step 1 group sessions. As you begin to formulate your Step 1 study plans, please keep us in mind as a powerful resource! See below for the different tutoring options we offer:

Group Sessions

  • These are interactive sessions that include multiple tutors and multiple students. Tutors prepare a PowerPoint presentation, which includes content review and practice questions. These sessions are a great way to get a broad, quick refresher on high-yield topics, maybe even learn something new!
  • You can sign up to attend live via Zoom. The best learning happens live, but these sessions are also recorded. You can view links to past recordings.
  • These sessions last one hour on Tuesdays starting at 5:30 p.m. AK, 6:30 p.m. PT, 7:30 p.m. MT
    • 10/14/24: General Approach to Step 1 Studying
    • 10/21/24: Cardio/Pulm
    • 10/28/24: Renal
    • 11/4/24: Biochemistry/Metabolism
    • 11/18/24: Microbiology/Immunology
    • 12/2/24: Endocrine/GI
    • 12/9/24: MSK/Skin

Drop-in Tutoring

  • 1 or 2 tutors will be available over zoom for one hour on Monday nights starting at 5:30 p.m. AK, 6:30 p.m. PT, 7:30 p.m. MT starting Jan. 6, 2025. This is your time to “drop in” and ask/review specific questions and topics with the tutors.
  • You can stop in at any time during the hour, and you can stay anywhere from a few minutes up to the whole hour.
  • No content is pre-prepared for these sessions. There is no need to sign up ahead of time, and the sessions are not recorded. You can sign up if you would like to be reminded about the drop-in sessions.

Individual Appointments

  • Meet 1:1 with a Step 1 tutor by making an appointment. These appointments are a great time to pick 1-2 in-depth topics to discuss/draw/brainstorm/explore together. Please let your tutor know what you’d like to discuss ahead of time.
  • It is preferred that you try to attend group and drop-in sessions first before scheduling 1:1 appointments.
  • Timing varies depending on tutor availability, but each session lasts one hour. These sessions are not recorded.

Good luck with your Step 1 studies, and please feel free to reach out with any questions!


Peer to Peer: Tip of the Month from Career Advising

This month, we want to share an opportunity for career exploration and mentorship! Join the Student-Alumni Informational Discussions (SAID) run by UWSOM’s Alumni Association to connect with alumni and a small group of fellow students over Zoom or in person. There’s a range of specialties and career topics to choose from. SAID gatherings are often noted as a highlight for students during Foundations. Our alums are pretty awesome!

  • Reviewed by BIPOC student Abraham Correa-Medina. Originally written by BIPOC alum Shanelle Briggs, MD.

Here is a link to the most recent newsletter for MS2s.

Have a terrific week!