Tag Archive for: practice tests

Make Your Residency Application POP

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hands filling out residency application on computer, smart phone, and paper

Matching a residency program is a stressful and time consuming process. Everyone that applies for a medical license has to undergo at least one year of residency in their medical specialty. And with about 40,000 applicants swarming the 35,000 open positions each year, the competition can be intense.

What’s more, the process can take upward of a YEAR to complete. Sound overwhelming? You’re not alone. We’ve compiled some information here to help you get organized and ready to match with your dream residency in 2024. Because, yes although Matching Day is right around the corner and the process is done for one cohort of students, it’s not too soon for you seniors to start thinking about next year!

Matching Timeline

First off, most people want to know exactly what timeframe they’re working with. Based on the current matching year (calendar from NMRP found here!), the process begins with registration opening in mid-September the year prior. So it makes sense to think, “Ok, that’s when I start applying!” and you wouldn’t be -totally- wrong. This blog post from matcharesident.com has a really great breakdown of when and how to start your application process.

You should really start about 3 to 4 months before registration even opens. This is because you want to take the time to research your programs of choice. You have to apply for and buy your ERAS token through ECFMG. Make sure you’ve taken and gotten your results back from the USMLE Step 2, CK (need a practice question bank? We know a guy 😉

Application Process

Next, you need to actually fill out your application. This can take as long as you need. Just BE SURE NOT TO CERTIFY your application until you are 100% finished with it, have proof read it 20 times, and have made sure it is completely and totally filled in. Ok, maybe not 20 times. You do you, boo.

You need to gather letters of recommendation and write personal statements (one statement for each specialty if you have more than one!). You need to request your USMLE transcript, your medical school transcript, and MSPE. Finally, once you have all your documents and letters uploaded, you’ve got a cute professional picture, and all your applications clean and shiny, you can start submitting them to programs. Lots and lots and lots of programs.

What makes your application special?

What we all want to know: what makes us stand out in a crowd? In this case, it’s a blend of extracurricular activity that aligns with your specialty interests along with an attitude to match. You need to have built a portfolio of volunteer basis work that shows your interest in helping others. But if you have a long list of volunteer work that has no apparent connection to wanting to be a physician or psychiatrist, the committees may see it as someone who doesn’t know what they want to do. It’s all about balance

Another aspect that can make or break an application process is your impression. Going into an interview with a positive, helpful, and caring attitude can be really difficult when you’re sweating bullets and terrified of messing up your opportunity. Be authentic, be open, and let your optimistic little light shine!

And then you wait

Yes. That is the unfortunate truth. You fill out miles of applications and pull together all the documents you need. Then you go sit for interviews (and send Thank You notes afterwards!). And then you rank the programs. Then you wait. Matching is released mid- March (the third Friday) and you will be notified either via email or R3 system.

We want the best match possible for you. We want to see you succeed in your specialty. Give yourself time, start thinking about programs now, and let us help you build your academic experience to be ready to apply. You’ve got this!

Preparing for your Board Exams: How to make the MOST of your time!

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Life can be incredibly hectic AND it can be seemingly impossible to fit in studying for your Board Exams but with the right planning & priorities, anything is possible.

Think of it in straightforward terms…Each day we’re 86,400 seconds the same as before, and the same as the subsequent day. But as you add tasks, activities, and other daily necessities that number shrinks and it can feel like there’s no time left to study or even eat (oof).

“So what do I do?!” you may question.

Well, it’s simple, zoom out and take a glance at your days and weeks ahead. What do you have planned that’s truly paramount? Well, we know at base level eating and studying are essential, one you need to live, and the other you need to pass your Board Exams.

What else is paramount & essential?

  • Is it taking the proper amount of time or is it a waste?
  • Can you be doing some of the essential tasks together OR around the same time so you make the most of your downtime? 
  • What’s NOT paramount? (That’s the most important question you need to ask yourself.)

Your time comes down to prioritizing your days. While at first sitting down and laying it all out can seem like just another task added to your already packed day but if you sit and plan it once, you’re going to end up being less stressed when it comes down to it. Then, when you’re studying and feeling stressed change your mindset!

*REMEMBER: As you study and go through each question remember that for every second spent studying you are one step closer to being fully prepared AND one step closer to passing your Board Exams.

So the takeaway?

Prioritize your days & get your mind right! Plan plan plan… create a plan, and attack it! Next thing you know you’ll be in the groove and ready to pass your Board Exams with ease, and hey, we’re here every step of the way to help YOU!

Ready to dive in? Utilize our expert-curated Question Banks and maximize your studying today! 

Need more guidance? 

Contact us today! We’ll help YOU pass your Boards with ease!

Introducing: Observership Programs powered by My Psych Board

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I bet you didn’t know we offered Observership programs right here at My Psych Board!

Yes, that’s right… we are your one-stop-shop place for all your studying needs, prep, and learning (and that’s not going to change)… We’re much more than your average Board Exam prep Q-Banks. But wait, we have much more to offer you. 

We can help get YOU into an Observership program which is an essential part of your career journey.

So what is an Observership & Why do residents need this?

Imagine an Observership as a Medical Internship that can be done both in person and via Telehealth to give residents practical, hands-on experience.

As part of this experience, you will be required to watch and listen to patient histories, physical examinations, procedures, surgeries, outpatient appointments, teaching rounds, and educational conferences. The entire experience is generally longer than a day, but no longer than 4 weeks!

The importance of this can not be overlooked. 

Most students will need to cover Observership hours to complete their residency.

Now of course this may not be required in your field so if you’re unsure if you need this (or just want to be safe) just send us a DM via our Instagram (@MyPsychBoard), Email, or drop us a call so we can point YOU in the right direction.

Ready to get started? Contact us today! We can’t wait to travel with you along your journey to passing your Psychiatric Board Exams!

Our Top Tips: How to Survive Your Psychiatric Residency!

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Our Top Tips - How to Survive Your Psychiatric Residency!

Ok, hear us out for a minute…⁠ Surviving your residency is easier than you think.⁠ ⁠ 

YES, of course, that’s a loaded statement… NO, we aren’t saying it’s not incredibly challenging (because it is…) but we promise you’re overthinking it. You CAN do this. You may have heard horror stories or that it was the worst moment of someone’s life but let’s be real. 

It shouldn’t be.⁠

 Thousands before you have done it and thousands after you will do it too.

How you handle it makes all the difference in what you’ll get out of your residency.⁠ Here are 5 TIPS on how to survive:

#1 HAVE A POSITIVE MINDSET…

Before you begin anything, you should always go in with the correct mindset. If you think things are going to be horrible…then they will be! But if you go in understanding that there will be both highs and lows, you’ll be better prepared to face them.

#2 HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM…

This goes with most things in life. The company you keep will help get you through hard moments. That’s what friends are for. But this support system should also be those around you too! Other residents know what you’re going through, so be sure to include them. It helps so much! ⁠

#3 DON’T NEGLECT YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH…

We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again: Take care of your mind AND body! Don’t bottle things up, talk to your support system, and get further help if you need it. It’s a challenging time. Outside of this, being active works WONDERS. Your body will thank you.

#4 IT’S OK TO SAY “I DON’T KNOW” (DO IT MORE!)…

You don’t know everything (that’s why you’re here). Don’t be a “know it all”, it can come back to hurt you. If you’re asked something and you’re really unsure, say that! Saying I don’t know will help you get the answers you need. Don’t feel silly. You’re learning!

#5 IT GETS BETTER…

It will get better!!! The start can be overwhelming and a lot to take in, but use that support system. Once you get in the groove, you’ll start to feel much more relaxed. Give it time. It’s long, draining, and emotional but there are perks. They may not last long but the amount of information and experiences you’ll take away from it, in the end, is all worth it. 

You got this, you can survive… you can thrive! ⁠

Still, feeling overwhelmed?

Contact us and let’s talk through it together.

Getting the facts straight: Truth and LIES about the USMLE Exam

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When preparing for the USMLE Exam it’s important to get the facts right.

Getting the facts straight: Truth and LIES about the USMLE Exam

First, Let’s sort out the USMLE LIES…

❌ The more you put off your test and study, the better your score is going to be.

Studies show that cramming can actually be hurtful. Med school is a full-time job and you need to manage your time wisely. You should study alongside your course work AND practice practice practice… But if you take too long and say you’re not ready, you may lose info that you focused on months or weeks back.

❌ Using as many resources as you can leads to a better score.

This will just flood your brain with info. The most ideal way to study is by using practice question banks that imitate real-life tests. While everyone had various study methods, research shows that the Practice Q-Banks hold higher retention than lectures or reading combined.

❌ Practice Question Banks are all the same!

NOPE. You want to ensure you’re not just getting the information correct but that it matches the real-life test. Many question banks are NOT formatted properly and will only just feed you endless information… Thankfully, our USMLE question bank is formatted to get the most out of your learning experience. Studies have proven members who use formatted practice q-banks have a much higher score/pass rate.

NOW, Let’s get the TRUTH right so you can pass your USMLE With Ease!

✅ The more practice questions you study with, the higher your USMLE Score will be.

As we covered before about the Pract. Q-Banks, you want to ensure you’re studying with resources that will benefit you. They say practice makes perfect and this is 100% true!

✅ There is no “one perfect way” to prepare for the USMLE Exam.

Find a study plan and create one that works for YOU. Everyone is different so don’t listen to the noise others spew about how YOU should be studying.

✅ With the right study plan, you will pass!

This goes with any test and we’ve covered it before, put in the work, create a plan, and dive in. If you’re prepared it’s almost impossible to fail.

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We hope this helps! What other lies or statements have you heard? DM or Contact Us to let us know. We love hearing your feedback!

Group Studying VS Self Studying (Which is better?)

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an illustration of Students sitting around a table studying together. A text bubble reads "ok next chapter"

Studying alone vs with a group is just a personal choice right? Well not exactly… 🤔⁠ It turns out that studying can actually be MORE effective than when alone & have other pros!

🥰 When in a group…⁠
– You’re held more accountable to study.⁠
– You can feel more motivated as the topics will seem less mundane.⁠
– Human interactions can lower your stress and anxiety levels.⁠
– You get an extra rewarding feeling when answering questions correct (since others are there to praise you)⁠
– Share various techniques (you might find something NEW that works better for you!)⁠
– You can test each other so it’s not just constant question review.⁠
– You will ensure you’re not missing any subjects.⁠
– You will have a higher chance of staying more organized.⁠
– You won’t be the only one providing info, others can take the load off of you.⁠
– Best of all, you may build and create new long lasting friendships! You’re all going through the same things…it will bring you closer together!⁠
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Now of course with any positive comes the negative so be careful… studying with others can lead to more distractions, side conversations, and procrastination ❌ If at any point the studying isn’t working make sure you make adjustments as needed.⁠
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But hey…If you’ve never tried a group setting give it a shot!…it can be the great start of fun times after you study!⁠

Did you know we offer a FREE trial for our question banks? Just head over to our website (exams.mypsychboard.com) to get started today risk-free (with no Credit Card required!)

Feeling like you need a bit of extra help?

Contact us OR sign up for our tutoring!

My Psych Board vs. Them: Competition broken down and compared!

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My Psych Board vs. “The Others…” who do you choose?

There are a lot of brands you can choose from, but we’re here to help ensure you pick the right one!

We’ve taken time this past week to dive deep into our competitors and give an unbiased opinion on what separates us from the rest… Now we know that it may seem we would only want to toot our own horn but after looking into everyone the choice is night and day…

So..why choose us?

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1️⃣ Leading Customer Service
Our customer service is unmatched. We operate a much smaller team which provides a more custom and personalized experience while still offering your essential services. “The Others” are no match for us. They charge extra for your time.

With us you can ->
• Schedule a call with a Medical Expert
• Access phone & email support options
• Get assistance with an on-site or Telehealth Observership or Preceptorship
• Additional Tutoring is available

We are here to provide you with the exact services and content you need!

2️⃣ Top Quality Question Banks

When it comes down to our question banks they’re truly groundbreaking and outstanding! You would be surprised how many other brands either limit their coverage, content, or video vignettes.

Some features our Question Banks include are…
• Content curated by industry professionals
• Video & Clinical Vignettes Included
• Tests Customized by Subject
• Times & Practice Modes!
• Up-To-Date Questions
• Detailed Explanations
• FREE trials available!
& MUCH more!

3️⃣ Web & Exam Experience

When we dove into each brand we looked at several areas: Web content, navigation, accessibility, speed, and the actual question bank roll out.

“The Others”
When it comes to speed, the others average performance score of 22/100..oof… The pages are cluttered, finding the specific question banks to purchased are confusing, and the mobile experience was incredibly poor. We also utilized Googles “Core Web Vital Assessment” feature and found that most brands FAILED this on mobile.. how can you trust them to help you pass the boards if they can’t pass their own assessments…

With us, you’ll find an average performance score of 93/100, passed Core Assement, and great content. Each section of content is is to the point, easy to navigate, and gives you a streamlined experience. If you ever have questions or need a hand, you can always reach out to us!

4️⃣ Additional Content (Blogs, Social, and More!)
We’re the only brand that also focuses on other areas of content! Our social media focuses on studying tips, studying experiences, practice questions, real life uses and much MUCH more. With our blog you can dive deep into various learning areas and expand on topics seen on our socials!

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Did you know we offer a FREE trial for our question banks? Just head over to our website (exams.mypsychboard.com) to get started today risk-free (with no Credit Card required!)

Feeling like you need a bit of extra help?

Contact us OR sign up for our tutoring!

Our Multi Modal Psychiatric Question Banks: Perfect on the go!

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a mac, iphone, and ipad are laid out on a blue background. On each of the screens are a section of the "My Psych Baord" website and question banks.

Life can be fast paced and it can seem like finding the right time and place to study is impossible.

Not everyone has the luxury of sitting down in front of a desktop or laptop for hours every day.⁠ We understand that we need to keep up with your hectic schedule and find ways to make that time FOR you.

We have created a means of doing that by offering our Question Banks either at home OR on the go! Our website can be accessed and used from desktops to mobile smartphones to tablets. With user-friendly interface, we want to create the perfect studying tool that you can use- wherever you are.
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With our ✨ Multi Modal Question Banks ✨ you can study with ease no matter where you are! Whether you’re at home on your laptop, on the go with your phone, or kicking back on your tablet you can access all our Question Banks unrestricted. You should be able to access materials to study for your exams in the way that is easiest for you, whether that’s sitting at a desktop or cramming a few questions in between rotations. Our goal is to make our products accessible no matter what the situation is.
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All you need to do is go to our website, sign in, and start testing! 🥳 Want to try it out RISK FREE? Give our Free Trial a whirl and see how we can help you!

⁠Did you know we offer a FREE trial for our question banks? Just head over to our website (exams.mypsychboard.com) to get started today risk-free (with no Credit Card required!)

Feeling like you need a bit of extra help?

Contact us OR sign up for our tutoring!


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A Closer Look at Top Quality Questions and Video Vignettes

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A Closer Look at Top Quality Questions and Video Vignettes

My Psych Board Video Vignettes and Questions are top quality and created by experts in the field!

Did you know each and every question listed on My Psych Board goes through an extensive vetting process?

FIRST we work with experts who are in the field to curate top notch question content that matches the difficulty, style, and modality of questions you can expect to see on your exams.

NEXT the questions are reviewed individually by Dr. Abdel himself along with other team members to fact check, proof, and make clarifying modifications to ensure each question is readable, understandable, and each explanation thoroughly covers the content it features.

FINALLY every question is reviewed a final time to double check (and triple check!) everything is accurate and ready to go, then it’s delivered right to your device with new content being uploaded regularly.

Oh, and did we mention…🎥 FEATURING: VIDEO VIGNETTES

Our video vignettes introduce dynamic characters with real-life issues. With high quality scripting, these scenarios will draw you in and feel like you’re meeting with an actual client and discussing their case. Our videos involve complex diagnoses with thought provoking questions to lead you through helping over 20 different individuals. No cheesy lines or stereotypical characters- these videos are made by experts to help you!

Each vignette is accompanied by multiple choice questions that follow the cases in a scene-by-scene flow. Don’t get stuck on vignettes when it comes to testing time, we have the materials you need to ace them all!

Make sure you are receiving the best product for your education by trying our high yield and challenging question banks (like ours!).

Still need additional help OR have other question? Contact Us today!