I’ve been writing online here for over a decade. While none of the following should be construed as actual “medical advice,” this is a selection of some of the highest-yield posts about approaching medical school, the boards, residency, and young physician finance.
The Basic Sciences
- Best Books for the Basic Sciences
- Thoughts on Studying in Medical School
- Free Online Medical School Learning Resources
- NBME Shelf Exam scores, with a grain of salt
- How NBME Shelf Scores Work
- Studying for the Basic Sciences and (preclinical) NBME Shelf Exams
- Studying for the NBME Pathology Shelf
- The Mini Step 1
Test-taking & USMLE
- How to Approach NBME/USMLE questions
- How I read NBME/USMLE questions
- The Gunner “Methods to Success” Fallacy
- Dealing with Test Anxiety and Demoralization
- Focused Nonchalance
- How to Write (and maybe understand) a USMLE-style Question
USMLE Step 1
- Free USMLE Step 1 Questions
- How to Study for the USMLE Step 1
- Explanations for the 2013 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2014 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2015 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2016 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2017 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2018 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2019 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2020 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2021 Official Step 1 Practice Questions
Third-year and clinical clerkships
- How to Succeed in Your Clinical Clerkships
- Studying for Third Year NBME Shelf Exams
- How/where to Learn to Read EKGs
- Best Books for Electives and Sub-internships
USMLE Step 2
- Free USMLE Step 2 Questions / How to Study for the USMLE Step 2 CK
- Explanations for the 2013-2014 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2014-2015 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2015-2016 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2016-2017 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2017-2018 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2018-2019 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2019-2020 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- Explanations for the 2020-2021 Official Step 2 CK Practice Questions
- How do you fail the USMLE Step 2 CS?
Fourth year and the Match
- Best Books for Electives and Sub-internships
- Quick And Dirty Suggestions for the Match
- The data you should analyze before choosing your specialty
- Do I need to do an away rotation?
- Financial Planning for your Fourth Year
- Obtaining Letters of Recommendation
- Considerations for the Couples Match
- How to write your personal statement for ERAS/residency applications
- Your CV for ERAS and residency
- Your ERAS application photo
- How to Schedule Residency Interviews
- How to Succeed in Your Residency Interviews
- A Curated Collection of Residency Interview Questions
- When Interviewing, Know Your Field
- Post-interview Correspondence Do’s and Don’ts
- Questions to ask yourself (and others) about residency programs
- Rules for Making Your Rank Order List (ROL)
- About Residency Consultants
- Applying to Radiology
- Preliminary Medicine vs Transitional Year Internships
- Refinancing Student Loans Once You Match
- How/Why to Consolidate Federal Student Loans When You Graduate Medical School
Residency
- How to Study for the USMLE Step 3
- Explanations for the Official 2020 Step 3 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the Official 2018 and 2019 Step 3 Practice Questions
- Explanations for the Official 2017 Step 3 Practice Questions
- Paying surveys for doctors
- Studying for the Texas Jurisprudence Exam
- Applying for a Medical License in Texas
- Best Books for Psychiatry Residents
Finance & Student Loans
- My beloved-and-entirely-free student loans books
- How/Why to Consolidate Federal Student Loans When You Graduate Medical School
- Refinancing Your Student Loans as a Resident
- Options for Medical School Student Loan Refinancing
- Medical school loans during residency: IBR or forbearance?
- Switching from IBR to PAYE
- Pros and Cons of REPAYE
- Yes, you can switch back from REPAYE to IBR & PAYE
- PAYE vs REPAYE: interest capitalization cap better than interest subsidy?
- Planning for PSLF (public service loan forgiveness)
- PSLF & Double Part-time Employment
- Saving for Retirement During Residency
- Buying a House During Residency
- What to do with your old employer-sponsored retirement accounts
- Choosing the Best Solo 401(k)
Toys
- What stethoscope should I buy?
- Do I need to buy an otoscope/ophthalmoscope?
- My absolute favorite penlight
- The equipment you need (or don’t) for medical school
Radiology
- Applying to Radiology
- What to look for in a radiology residency program
- Learning radiology for Medical Students and Non-radiologists
- Private Practice vs Academic Radiology (and Residency Choice)
- Approaching the R1 Year
- How to be a First-Year Radiology Resident
- Book recommendations for first-year radiology residents
- Recommended books for radiology residents
- Approaching the Core Exam
- The Core Exam Experience
- Resources for the Core Exam
- Core Exam Qbanks Review
- Everything about the ABR Certifying Exam
- Considerations for Your First Job in Radiology
- The Private Equity Model in Medicine is Flawed
- All About the Neuroradiology CAQ
If you have a question not answered in the above posts, feel free to ask it in the comments of the most relevant page or via email.