I am currently studying for USMLE Step 2 CK – the last big standardized test you take before you apply for residency. Pretty much your last shot at making up for any deficiencies in your application. I allotted 28 days. I made a schedule (well actually I used my friend’s schedule) – an incredibly ambitious schedule. Actually, it’s an impossible schedule. I am currently on day 6 of the schedule but day 24 of the 28 days I allotted to study. I guess I will only get through the QBank and Secrets 1.5 times each instead of 2. Now, back to the title and maybe the reason why I completely botched my schedule: dating.
So I have a two different experiences to draw from: the guy I was dating during my Step 1 studying and the guy I dated during my Step 2 studying. One good and one bad. Guess which was which? ☹
First off, in both cases I tried extremely hard to bring my dating life to a halt before launching into study mode, but, as we all know, “When you stop looking, they come.”
Step 1 studying relationship: I met someone 2 weeks before starting my arduous 6 week Step 1 study routine. He was a non-med student who had no idea what he was getting himself into. I told him how busy I was about to be and how this test determined my life. But… a girl’s gotta eat, right? So I said he could bring me dinner or yogurt anytime. He did. A few encouraging texts every day, some great take-out dinners, and many TCBY treats later – I walked out of my exam and settled into a great, but short-lived relationship. He was exactly what I needed during that time. I laid the ground rules early on and he stuck around. When I knew he was coming by that evening, I would make sure to study harder during the day so that I would be able to relax later. Oh, and I did well on the exam, too. ☺
Step 2 Studying Relationship: This one was a little bit different because I didn’t really lay the ground rules well. We both wanted to spend every second together and I was supposed to be studying! He sat next to me while I studied. I even bought him a copy of Step 2 Secrets so he could quiz me. This worked… sort of. It was definitely motivating having someone sit next to you until you finished your next set of 44 questions, but it was way too distracting. My eyes would skim through the explanations, but nothing solidified well because I could not wait to close the computer. I have one week until my test and, well, the relationship has failed. After the 1.5 days I wasted thinking about it, I got my act together. The last 2 days I have spent studying in the library have been the most productive days so far and, looking back, I probably should have never starting the Step 2 dating thing.
Moral: These are the 2 most important tests in medical school and it is definitely not worth it to start dating someone new during this time. Please learn from my mistake and, if you are going to date during Step studying, lay the ground rules and lay them hard. Don’t feel guilty about saying no. Don’t forfeit all of your hard work in medical school for a few useless dates. If they are right, they will wait for you! At least that’s what my mom says. I should have listened.
