We share our stats and advice from Cram Fighter users on how to create an Internal Medicine Shelf study plan.

How do I balance studying for the Shelf with my Internal Medicine rotation?

Falling behind on your study plan becomes even more likely with the added hecticness of rotations. Having a flexible study plan can help you cope with expected or unexpected deviations. Alexandra, a medical student at Rocky Vista University, told us that her study plan has helpful for getting back on track. “Often, I was so busy with my clinical rotations that I was unable to accomplish what I needed to review at the end of the day,” she said. “With Cram Fighter, I was able to rearrange my study schedule automatically if I fell behind and easily get right back on track.”

Pavan, a student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, NY, told us that he chose not to study from a textbook after a stressful day of working at the hospital on rotations. Every student develops their own routine. In Pavan’s case, he used Memorang flashcards. “For me, coming home from work at 5:00, sitting in front the TV and doing flashcards was engaging and relaxing at the same time,” says Pavan.

What resources should I use to prepare?

The most popular lecture series among Cram Fighter users is OnlineMedEd. The most popular textbook is Step-Up to Medicine. Over two-thirds of users who took the Internal Medicine Shelf used UWorld, scheduling an average of 1200 questions total. For flashcards, Anki and Memorang are the most popular.

When should I take my Internal Medicine Shelf and when should I take it?

The average amount of time a Cram Fighter user studies for the Internal Medicine Shelf is 58 days. “Internal Medicine was my last rotation, which was May/June,” says Pavan. “In February/March, I started doing Internal Medicine flashcards and questions.”

The three most popular months for taking the Internal Medicine Shelf are April, February, and June. For a complete list, see our list of the most popular months to take this shelf on our stats page.

For me, coming home from work at 5:00pm, sitting in front the TV and doing flashcards was engaging and relaxing at the same time.

Pavan, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, NY

Pavan told us that many students choose to complete their Internal Medicine rotation (and their Internal Medicine Shelf) first because they view internal medicine as “the core foundation of medicine.” However, in Pavan’s case, Internal Medicine was his last Shelf, which came right before his Step 2 study plan. “Step 2 is definitely internal medicine heavy,” he says. So preparing for his last shelf was helpful in his preparation for Step 2.