USMLE for Indian medical students

What is the best time to start preparing?
As soon as you have the slightest gut feeling that you might wanna go to the US. It's better to start preparing early and then change your mind than to start late.
I started in March of my third year. Ideally, you should start in your early second year.
It's never "too late" to start. I have a friend who started in internship and nailed the exam within a few months. Preparation time varies.

When do I give the exam / what is the best time to give the exam?
The best time to give the exam is - Anytime you feel prepared.
If you started early, you can give it in the beginning or end of third minor.  I gave it in the month of June of third major. Do what suits you. Study and make your own dead line.
If you started late, frankly, you have no choice - Give it in internship or after internship.
I have a lot of people asking me in the comments - I am in this year. When should I give the exam? I can not tell you when should you give the exam. I don't know how much you have you prepared and how ready you are. Study hard. Give it as soon as possible because Step 1 helps you get better electives. Preferably, give it before internship so you can apply for electives on time. That's all I can say. You have to make the decision based on how many months you are free / how urgently you want to give the exam / how much are you scoring on your self-assessments.

Budget?
The most restraining part of going to the US. You'll need 15-20 hundred thousand (lakhs) till you get residency. For Step 1, you just need a budget of around 70,000 Indian rupees.
I don't think you should quit on your dream based on you finances alone. I believe that if you really want something, you'll find a way to accomplish it somehow.

How do I decide whether I want to give the USMLE or not?

Your decision will be (mostly) based on these factors -

I won't get my desired field of study in India:
PG CET is super competitive and after multiple attempts, people don't get the field they want. USMLE is an option for those who don't wanna risk their future based on scores alone.

I want to see foreign countries and have a passion for travelling:
That's me. I want to pack my bags and see new places. USMLE will license me to practice in multiple countries, so that's a plus point for my wanderlust soul. 

Social factor:
Most people don't want to shift to the US because there is no social life out there, as in, relatives and all. Vice versa, those who have their family out there would love to shift to the US.
Better quality of life:
You get what I am saying ;)

How will I manage second year - third year - final year?
USMLE is the toughest exam you'll give. Compared to it, all your MBBS exams will be really easy. Yes, you'll be anxious about it at first but once you gain the knowledge, you'll feel more confident about your Indian syllabus.

Lemme know if you have any more questions, I'll keep updating accordingly.

Questions asked by readers:

Will USMLE preps be very different from the Indian PG exam preparation? 

Yes, it'll be different from PG CET. You can undoubtedly still crack it. But by that time, you'll have invested so much in USMLE that there will be no point in PG CET even if you get the necessary score. 

You mean monetary investment, right?

Yes. You also invest your soul but no one can measure and tell you that :P

(With respect to a conversation on studying pathology) 

USMLE helps for the college stuff as in terms and university exams too, right? I mean, it's pathology after all... How much could it differ?

It's not exactly Pathology. More of Medicine from final year. You'll get it when you study.

It does help but the Indian syllabus is very different in terms of infectious diseases like malaria which aren't a big deal in foreign countries.

And in theory exams, you need bulk matter to write which USMLE can't provide you with. If you've studied USMLE properly, MBBS doesn't seem like a big deal.

Updated on 17th February, 2018: This post was written in 2014 when I gave my Step 1 exam. Things have changed since then, especially, my perspective about things.

Why should you consider USMLE?
For the journey. Your personality will develop significantly after going through the USMLE journey. The kind of experiences you will have are amazing - writing a 7 hour exam, going to a different country, meeting people from all over the world and the opportunity to train in an environment where all of your skills are respected and polished. That, my friends, is not offered in India. You will grow into a different person, a better person. I don't even recognize the girl 4 years ago who wrote this post - she has changed so much. She is looking forward to research, to teaching as a resident, to becoming an artist and an academician. She wants to work in the under served areas and make patients better.

How long does it take?
If you have not graduated, you can take Step 1 in final year, go for electives during internship, finish off Step 2 CS and CK and apply the year you graduate.
If you have graduated - Step 1 takes 4-9 months, Step 2 CK 2-4 months and Step 2 CS 1-2 months with electives. You should be ready for applications in August/September.

Can I extend my internship so that I have time to do electives?
Yes, most people do!!!

I have a government bond. What should I do? 

The government rural service bond (applicable in some states such as Maharashtra) delays you by a year or two. You can either break the bond by paying it off or do the rural service. Regardless, Program Directors are aware that the bond is compulsory so it's okay if you apply late (a year after graduation) as long as you explain what you were doing since you've graduated.

I am taking questions till July 1st 2018, so if you have doubts, do not hesitate to comment below or email me at medicowesome@gmail.com

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