Is USMLE Tutoring Right for You?
It is difficult to give broadly applicable advice regarding Step 1 tutoring because tutoring needs are specific to each individual. Some students need the accountability and feel more comfortable if they can frequently check in with their tutor. Others may need someone to help them establish good study habits and test taking strategies. Students who have failed USMLE Step 1 or USMLE Step 2 might also need a USMLE tutor to take a look at their approach and make efficient use of their time before retaking the exam. Each of you reading will fit into a different category. The goal of this post is to discuss the various factors that you need to consider when deciding on Step 1 tutoring, whether that is with Step 101 or another company.
Pros of Private USMLE Tutoring
Tutoring can be very beneficial for students for a multitude of reasons. For students who haven’t done as well in the first couple years of medical school, USMLE tutoring can help establish good habits and emphasize important concepts. For those who have done well but are aiming for a higher score, tutoring may show you high yield areas where some improvement can push you to your goal score. Tutoring can be beneficial for those who lack self-awareness or the ability to diagnose their own mistakes. It’s a tough skill to learn and requires a willingness to admit that not all missed questions are “trick questions”. Tutors can help you see questions from a different perspective and analyze your mistakes in a critical, nonbiased way.
Cons of Private USMLE Tutoring
Cost is the most obvious one. These sessions are expensive, usually ranging from $200-250 per hour. When you consider that it usually takes 2-3 hours at a minimum to really help students in a tangible way, the entry fee appears awfully high. I’m not saying you won’t benefit from an hour or two but a tutor has to learn how you think and what mistakes you are prone to and that takes time.
The other big con with tutoring is there is no guarantee. I think students often fall into a trap when they buy a tutoring package. Students think that because they are spending more money their tutor will give them inside secrets that allow them to put in fewer hours while scoring higher. Students think if their tutor got a 250 and they emulate their tutor, then they will also score a 250. The reality is this: most tutors with high board scores figured out how to take the test but they also worked EXTEMELY HARD. There aren’t too many who are savants that remember every fact they need to know. If a student isn’t as naturally skilled at retaining content as their tutor, then they will have to work even harder to achieve the same score. At the end of the day, it is on the student to implement the strategies and learn the material so don’t get a false sense of security.
Verdict on USMLE Tutoring
Deciding on tutoring for USMLE exams will ultimately come down to where you are in relation to your goal score and how you are progressing. If you feel stuck or have hit a plateau then a tutor may be able to lay a fresh set of eyes on your approach to help you continue progressing.
A tutor can definitely help with learning content by pointing out key concepts and deepening your understanding of a subject. This makes studying more efficient as students can retain the material more easily. As we know, there is a wide array of material to retain. Tutors are likely more beneficial when assisting with strategy on USMLE exams, rather than content. This is because the strategies they teach you can be applied to every question while the content they teach you may only be beneficial on a few questions.
When to get a Step 1 Tutor?
The last component of tutoring to consider is the timing of it. I have found tutors are often useful at the beginning and the end, but less so in the middle. At the beginning, they can help you set up a schedule and map out a plan for how to prepare months ahead of your actual test. Early on they can help you learn to think critically about the structure of questions and how to approach them. The middle stage of your studying is what I think of as the knowledge acquisition phase because you are primarily learning the diseases and pathophysiology that comprise the majority of the questions. During the middle of your studying, most of the work falls on your shoulders. You have to learn enough content and retain the material well enough to be able to benefit from further tutoring.
If you plan to use a tutor, I suggest a couple meetings early in your prededicated studying process, followed by less frequent sessions during the middle of your studying. Then you can utilize more frequent meetings 4-6 weeks from your test date.
Note: For the timeline described above I’m assuming a student is starting to study for Step 1 at least four months prior to when they would sit for the exam.
If you are interested in USMLE tutoring with Step 101, click here to get started with us today!
