SUCCESSFUL MATCH!
Congratulations on a successful match! …. now what? Take some time off, relax and do something non-medical! You’ll need a breather since in less than 4 months you are going to be a busy surgical intern. If you want some light reading to prepare for ENT, start with a good basic general ENT book such as Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Rapid Clinical and Board Review, Current Diagnosis & Treatment Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, or Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Clinical Reference Guide.
WHEN SHOULD I TAKE USMLE STEP 3?
There is some truth to the adage “2 months, 2 weeks, a #2 pencil” for test preparation before Steps 1-3. After finishing medical school and having already completed Steps 1 & 2, most people feel that Step 3 is not a hard test. Since you (hopefully) have already matched, your score is not as important. Having said that, make sure that you do not fail it, as it is a little embarrassing to explain a “fail” to your new program director.
Most people prefer taking the test sooner rather than later. Nearly everything that is tested on Step 3 is medicine related, and very little, if any, surgically oriented questions are asked. Therefore, the farther out you are from medical school, the worse you will likely do. This is particularly true in our field, since everyone has a surgical intern year.
There are some basic requirements (see individual state requirements) you must meet before you are eligible to apply:
Obtain an MD or DO degree (you may apply only after the date of graduation on your diploma).
Pass both USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (CK and CS).
Meet the requirements for taking Step 3 imposed by the individual licensing authority for which you are applying to sit for Step 3.
There is often some confusion about the third listed requirement. The state that you register for does not have to be the state you are from or moving to. Registering for a particular state is a technicality. If you pass in any state, it is recognized nationally. In order to be eligible for the test in most states you must have a minimum of 1-3 years post-graduate training. If you live in a state that has a higher post-graduate requirement, you can get around it by registering in a state with less of a wait period.