Here are the benefits of a yearlong study plan to get you ready for the boards.

Over the course of the year, we see some interesting fluctuations in the types of Cram Fighter subscriptions our customers buy. We offer a wide variety of plans to choose from – including a $29/month plan that you can cancel anytime, or a 12-month plan that you pay for once and can use for a full year.

In the spring, we see many second-year med students purchase Cram Fighter on the Monthly plan ($29/month) because it gives them flexibility – they may buy it in May to prepare for a late June Step 1 exam and so therefore they only need it for 2 months. It may feel like less of a ‘commitment’!

While this is a perfectly fine strategy, we think that students may want to approach their study planning with a more long-term mindset. As you probably well know, USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 isn’t the only exam you’ll face during your med school career. And in case you weren’t aware, Cram Fighter also supports resources for all the other board exams you’ll take as you progress past your second year of medical school.

We think that students may want to approach their study planning with a more long-term mindset. As you probably well know, USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 isn’t the only exam you’ll face during your med school career.

With this in mind, we recommend that second-year med students consider purchasing the 12-month Cram Fighter plan (regularly priced at $99.) This way, you can use it to build a study schedule for your Step 1 or COMLEX Level 1 exam in your second year, then line it up to build custom study plans for your Shelf exams such as Internal Medicine, Neurology, and Surgery during 3rd year clerkships. Finally, depending on your schedule, near the end of your 3rd year you can then build out your Step 2 CK study schedule or your COMLEX Level 2 study plan using the resources we support. You’ll be fully prepared to ace your Step 2 or Level 2 exams as well!

We know that money may be tight for you as a medical student. But consider this – although a $99 upfront payment may seem like a big outlay all at once, this plan is actually the most cost-effective at just $8.25 per month. Some students use a yearlong plan to tackle both Step 1 and Step 2. Other choose a short plan for Step 1, and then a yearlong plan when they prepare for Step 2 and Shelf exams. With so many rotations in your third year, a one-time purchase allows you to prepare for multiple exams on your way to Step 2. So looking at your medical board exams study strategy for that long term period actually makes a lot of sense.