Jefferson Medical College Alpha Omega Alpha
Guide to USMLE Step II: Clinical Skills and the OSCE
Introduction
Step 2 CS and the OSCE often feel like the bane of your 3rd and 4th year time at Jefferson. However, you're a Jefferson student! You can do it! By the end of third year, you will be well prepared for both examinations. Moreover, the exams are PASS/FAIL.
Both exams are designed to test medical student skills in history taking, physical examination, communication, English language, and the integration of subsequent findings to formulate a differntial diagnosis and plan. The exam tests material from the core clinical clerkships of medical school -- internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and ob/gyn. The exam use standardized patients to test your knowledge of common chief complaints that may present in an outpatient setting. In fact, many students say the test day feels like a day during the family medicine, outpatient sub-i, or ER rotations.
Because the OSCE is your best way to prepare for Step 2 CS, both are discussed together. Most Jefferson students agree that the OSCE was almost identical to Step 2 in the content and format.
Additional information about Step 2 CS can be found at:
Last updated: January 2007
