USMLE-Rx Blog Posts

Proven strategies, expert advice, and resources to help you excel in medical school, the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and beyond!

Mastering Renal Pathology: Highlights from the Rx Question Lab

By Jeff Downing | January 15, 2025 |

Mastering Renal Pathology: Highlights from USMLE-Rx Question Lab In this week’s Question Lab session, Dr. Abraham Titus led an engaging review of renal pathology, tackling four challenging cases that tested our understanding of essential kidney concepts for USMLE Step 1. A Strategic Approach to Board Questions The session emphasized USMLE-Rx’s proven approach to tackling board-style…

VINDICATE Mnemonic – The Universal Mnemonic for Differential Diagnosis

By Jeff Downing | January 12, 2025 |

The VINDICATE Mnemonic for Differential Diagnosis by Michael Spinner As a third-year medical student on the wards, one of the most important skills to develop is learning how to generate a thorough differential diagnosis for a wide variety of clinical problems. The correct diagnosis is not always clear-cut, and it is thus essential to consider…

OMM Bricks: A New Era of Osteopathic Learning

By Kathryn Kleist | December 30, 2024 |
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine image for the ScholarRx OMM Bricks

Elevate Your Learning with OMM Bricks Are you ready to take your osteopathic medical education to the next level? We’re excited to introduce our new OMM Bricks collection, designed to enhance your understanding of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) through interactive and engaging learning experiences. Why Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Bricks? Our Bricks are more than just…

Should You Retake the USMLE Step 1? Insights and Advice from Real Test-Takers

By Alex Hawker | December 19, 2024 |
Should You Retake the USMLE Step 1? Insights and Advice from Real Test-Takers

Deciding whether to retake the USMLE Step 1 after a failed attempt is tough. The stakes feel high, and the self-doubt can creep in. But guess what? You’re not alone. Many others have faced this decision; their stories may help you find clarity. Here’s what people who’ve been in your shoes have to say from…

The Journey to Passing the Exam: One Reddit User’s Inspiring Story

By Alex Hawker | December 17, 2024 |
They studied like this for 5.5 months and crushed Step 1. Here's exactly how they did it!

Passing a challenging exam is no small feat, and an anonymous test-taker’s recent post on Reddit is a goldmine of advice. Packed with tips on study strategies, resources, and practical exam-day hacks, their write-up resonated deeply with the online community. Here’s a closer look at the highlights, paired with insights from fellow commenters. Building a Study…

Why Real USMLE Exams Feel Harder Than Practice Tests

By Alex Hawker | November 19, 2024 |

Ever notice how actual USMLE exams hit differently compared to practice tests? You spend months going through your Qmax questions, sitting through endless practice exams, and yet, when you finally take the real thing, it just feels… harder. But why? You’re not imagining it. Let’s break it down. Exam Structure Can Feel Like a Marathon…

Medical Students Guess Life-Threatening Newborn Condition in 60 Seconds

By Alex Hawker | November 19, 2024 |

In a fast-paced clinical challenge, popular medical content creator Medschoolbro took to the postpartum floor with his latest case: diagnosing a newborn with a serious condition in under 60 seconds. With an audience of aspiring doctors hanging on every word, the pressure was on. “The baby looks a bit yellow.” The case began with a…

The Long Road: How Many Exams Does it Take to Become a Doctor?

By Alex Hawker | November 5, 2024 |

Med school life is a lot, even before all the exams. The Journey to Becoming a Doctor: Key Exams Becoming a doctor is like running a marathon. Instead of just running, you’ve got exams thrown at you along the way. These tests are designed to push your brain, patience, and sometimes sanity. But they’re also…

How to Stay Conscious During Medical School: Dealing with Overload and Blackouts

By Alex Hawker | November 5, 2024 |

How do you stay conscious—both literally and figuratively—during this whirlwind of a journey called medical school? The Reality of Medical School Stress Let’s be honest—medical school stress is no joke. You’re balancing sheer exhaustion and trying to keep it all together. Studies show that anywhere from 20-90% of med students experience stress, and between 27-75%…

Differential Diagnoses: What Goes Through a Doctor’s Mind?

By Alex Hawker | November 1, 2024 |

What is a Differential Diagnosis? Let’s get to it: Differential diagnosis (DDx) is a tool that every healthcare provider, including you one day, will use to narrow down what’s going on with a patient when there could be several possibilities. It’s like a detective game where you’re Sherlock, but instead of finding the culprit, you’re…