Blueprint Med School Blog (formerly Cram Fighter & Med School Tutors)

The blog for Blueprint Medical, supporting your MedEd journey with our exam study planner, tutoring, residency consulting, and advanced boards.

How to Use Blueprint’s Med School Study Planner to Prep for All Your Med School Exams

Finally, you’re done! You spent hours on Excel creating a study plan, and you’re letting out a sigh of relief. But your joy is short-lived: your professor adds another suggested book to your reviewing list, a friend insists a lecture series is a must-have based on their experiences prepping for Step, or you get an

Aug 24, 2023

Staying Professional on Social Media as a Medical Student

The Internet has created unprecedented avenues for medical students and physicians to communicate rapidly, share information, and connect with countless individuals via a few clicks and keystrokes. Engaging on social media platforms not only supports personal expression, it empowers individuals to establish a professional online presence. Social media can be used to foster camaraderie within

Aug 17, 2023

Maximizing Your Dedicated Step 2 CK Study Period

Wait, so Step 2 CK matters? Yes, yes it does! I think by now, most medical students know USMLE Step 1 is a pass/fail exam. Thus, the primary objective measure on our application for residency is the USMLE Step 2 CK score. It wasn’t always this way, of course. I remember many of my attendings

Jul 20, 2023

Mentorship in Medicine: Finding and Nurturing Supportive Relationships as a Medical Student

As medical students, we strive not only to acquire knowledge and clinical skills but also to become compassionate and competent physicians. A great resource that can help us navigate this diverse set of challenges is mentorship. Mentors play a pivotal role in medical education by offering guidance, support, and career advice. They are an invaluable

Jul 13, 2023

How to Stay Motivated While Studying for Medical Board Exams

As medical students, we’ve all been there—buried under piles of books, drowning in information, and questioning our sanity. (Trust me, I’ve been through it, too.) Of course, staying motivated during this grueling process is the key to success. But how can you do this, given how much there is to know, and how much you

Jul 11, 2023

How to Succeed & Prevent Burnout in Your Second Year of Medical School

The second year of medical school (MS2) is an exciting time. Most students will have completed the more basic science courses like biochemistry and physiology and move on to more clinical material such as pathology and pharmacology. For this reason, the second year of medical school can be a time for immense academic growth. However,

Jun 27, 2023

(Med) School’s Out: What To Do In Your Summer Between M1 & M2

The summer between the first (M1) and second (M2) years of medical school are important. It is most likely a medical student’s last true summer vacation, making it an ideal time to relax and have fun. However, it is also a great potential time for personal growth and exploring career options, research, volunteering, or unique

Jun 22, 2023

Common Pitfalls to Avoid on Medical Board Exams

As a med school tutor, I often hear: “I perform well in clinics, but don’t do so great on exams.” “I’m just a bad test taker.” “I’ve never been good at standardized exams—they’re not for me.” “I get so nervous, I change my choice to the wrong answer.” And finally, “If I read too fast,

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