Footnotes - Fall 2023 - 10

My Boards Experience
By Lauren Stevens, BUSPM Class of 2025
Thomas Edison is quoted as saying, " There is no substitute
for hard work. " After spending countless espresso-fueled
mornings and late nights preparing for the NBPME Part
I, I can attest that the wise words of Mr. Edison ring
especially true. The sheet of paper with " passed " written
across the top serves as a tangible reminder that I am one
step closer to becoming a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.
My exam preparation began in March, using the weekends
to wake up early and watch Sketchy Medicine microbiology
and pharmacology videos. For those reading this article
who have not yet taken the NBPME Part I, I highly
recommend watching these videos and going through the
corresponding flashcards for additional reinforcement.
I started my exam preparation fairly early as my sister's
bridal shower was scheduled for a month before exam day.
Knowing I would have a quick weekend spent with family
and friends gave me something to look forward to during
this time.
Flash forward to May; at this time, my classmates and I
made a daily study schedule blocking out specific times
to review each of the seven subjects covered by the board
exam. I used the USMLE First Aid book for content review
alongside the Sketchy Medicine videos, flashcard decks, a
boards preparation course offered by Barry University, and
Board Vitals. I was grateful that my school included a lower
extremity course review that ran until a few weeks before
the exam. Having the material freshly reviewed come exam
day proved to be incredibly useful. My school and the exam
proctoring site offered two free practice tests that I took in
increments before the board exam to gauge where I should
direct my focus in the weeks before exam day.
One underestimated element of my study routine was how
10
critical time management was in the months leading up to
July 7, 2023. The school I attend held classes until a week
before the exam, so it was imperative to have laser focus
and to be intentional with my time each day. Exercise and a
quality night's sleep also assisted in calming my nerves and
jitters during the study process, especially on exam day.
On the morning of the exam, I woke up about two hours
early, had a quick breakfast, picked out my favorite testing
outfit, and dashed out the door. Once I arrived at the
testing center, my nerves kicked in, and I decided I would
rather run a marathon at that time than keep waiting to
take the biggest exam of my career so far. After check-in,
my classmates and I were seated by the proctors at our
respective cubicles, and the exam began. At first, I began
taking the exam as if it were any other exam administered
at school. I took a couple of deep breaths every few
questions; so far, so good. Midway through the exam, the
realization finally hit me: " I'm really doing this; I'm halfway
through Boards Part 1. "
Initially, once I pressed the " end exam " button, I felt a
sigh of relief. Then, the nerves returned for the next few
weeks. Then, for an extended week, once my classmates
and I received word that we would learn of our fate eight
days later than expected. This meant the results would be
released during the rehearsal dinner the night before my
sister's wedding, so the waiting game and the greatest test of
my patience continued.
However, reflecting on this entire process, one of my
favorite memories was the excitement of my friends
and classmates texting, calling, and posting pictures to
their social media accounts when they learned they had
conquered one of the biggest hurdles of our education to
FALL 2023
Footnotes - Fall 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Footnotes - Fall 2023
