Studying for the USMLE from the US?

Step 1 · In the US · 4 weeks

Dr. K: stuck in the 60s on every NBME, passed 4 weeks later

Doing research in the US, he came to Dr. Marish on August 20 after a full year on his own, having done every NBME without getting past the mid-60s. So we didn't throw more questions at him. We rebuilt his foundation, with a daily accountability partner.

1. 67%August 27: Vault Assessment 1After a week of FA Foundation Anki with the First Aid Guide
2. 73%September 8: Mehlman self-assessmentHis first time ever above 70%
3. 81%September 15: Free 1202 days before the exam
4. PASSSeptember 17, 20264 weeks after joining

Step 1 · US MD student · 34 days

Eli: 59% on his baseline NBME, a Step 1 pass 34 days later

An MS2 at a US MD school, now an MS3. He took his baseline NBME on August 25 and scored 59.5%. He didn't add more resources. He got a plan for every single day, and someone checking in on him every single day. In his words: "You can just shut your brain off and trust someone."

1. 59.5%August 25: Baseline NBME31, 27, 24 and 37 out of 50 on the 4 blocks
2. 74.5%September 611 days later
3. 78%September 14: NBME 3218 days after the baseline
4. PASSSeptember 28, 202634 days after his first NBME

Dr. Marish posted every one of these scores on X while it was happening, and predicted the pass before the result came out.

Step 1 · In the US · Old graduate

Dr. Rana: 2 years stuck alone, then a pass

She had practised as a physician in Iraq, then spent 2 years trying to get through Step 1 on her own. She joined in March 2026 and passed on her exam date, October 2. Her words after the exam: "I can't believe I wasted 2 years on this. It was much easier than I thought."

1. 2 yearsstudying alone before joining
2. Daily calls"talking to you pushed me"
3. PASSOctober 2, 2026

Step 1 · In the US · MPH student · 8 weeks

Dr. Sahil: years after medical school, a pass in 8 weeks

Years after medical school, he was doing his MPH in the US, with a green card interview right in the middle of his preparation. He almost didn't do the USMLE at all.

1. 50% → 75%UWorld, within 2 weeks
2. 75.5%his first NBME, week 4
3. 85%his last block
4. PASSMarch 26, 2026

Step 3 · PGY-2, New York · Previous attempt · 16 weeks

Dr. Esra: failed Step 3 once, passed with a 219 while 8 months pregnant

An internal medicine resident in New York. She failed Step 3 as an intern, then spoke to 10 to 15 mentors who had no real plan. We built hers around her weak topics and her residency hours. Her exam got cancelled 3 times, and she passed 16 weeks later, more than 20 points higher.

1. 10–15mentors she spoke to first
2. 3 timesher exam got cancelled
3. 219Step 3, January 2026