This post is written by one of Dr. Rows’ former students who successfully passed USMLE Step 3 after struggling with it on her first two attempts. Here’s her journey, in her own words:
Finally! I had completed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK and matched into residency. No more hours spent memorizing the brachial plexus, clotting factors, or pediatric milestones. Those days were behind me. I was ready to focus on my specialty and leave the distractions of other fields behind.
Or so I thought.
One day, my co-resident casually asked, “Have you signed up for USMLE Step 3 yet?”
Ugh! I thought I was done with these USMLEs —or at least I could forget about them for a while. After all, everyone around me treated Step 3 like an afterthought. Dr. Mo said he prepared for two weeks and passed. Dr. Patel reviewed it during her nephrology rotation and aced it. My co-resident reassured me:
“Just finish UWorld, and you’ll pass. You don’t even need to complete the whole QBank or buy any books. Everyone passes this exam. Just get it done before PGY1.”
It sounded simple enough. So, I purchased UWorld for Step 3, the resource that had carried me through Step 1 and Step 2 CK. After all, it’s widely considered the “gold standard” for USMLE prep. I thought, “This will be all I need for Step 3, right?”
When I started UWorld for Step 3, I created my first 10-question block, thinking, “Let’s see what all the fuss is about.” But as I worked through the questions, something felt different. “These questions aren’t quite like Step 2 CK… but I can’t put my finger on what’s different,” I thought. “Maybe it’s just me. Let me finish this QBank, and I’ll crush this ‘easy’ exam.”
The Anxiety Begins
Three months later…
The exam date was creeping closer, and I hadn’t finished the QBank. Anxiety began to take over. I nervously turned to Reddit and asked:
“Will I pass Step 3 with a 54% average on UWorld?”
The responses were mixed. Some said UWorld scores underpredict; others claimed the opposite.
Then there was UWSA 1, an assessment exam meant to gauge readiness. My score? A disappointing 199. Should I postpone?
NBME 5 didn’t help much either. It didn’t provide a real score—just bars and percentiles that left me wondering how close I was to passing.
But time was running out, so I decided to take the plunge: “Screw it, I’m taking the exam.”
Exam Day
Day One: A complete disaster. I walked out of the testing center feeling crushed, convinced I’d failed.
Three weeks later:
The rest of us: “I failed by one point. I thought this was supposed to be an easy exam! I’ve never failed an exam in my life. This sucks. I don’t even want my co-residents to know. I’ll pass next time—it’s because I didn’t finish UWorld, right?”
Attempt #2
Four months later…
I finished UWorld twice, added CCSCases.com, and STILL failed by one point. Again.
At this point, I was heartbroken. Everyone around me seemed to be passing Step 3 effortlessly, and here I was, dreading it. “What if I never pass? Do I even need this exam to graduate from residency? What’s the point of this test anyway?”
I turned back to Reddit and PANICALLY posted: “FAILED USMLE STEP 3 TWICE. HELP!”
That’s when someone recommended the course at https://uadviser.us.
A Game-Changer
Through the course, I learned that everything I believed about USMLE Step 3 was wrong. I realized that I already had all the medical knowledge I needed to pass—it wasn’t about learning more facts. It was about learning how to understand the questions and apply my knowledge strategically.
Dr. Rows taught me how to break down complex questions, figure out what they were truly asking, and tackle them step by step. I stopped relying on desperate memorization techniques and started focusing on how to think like the exam. For the first time, I felt like I was in control.
The Final Attempt
Three weeks later…
I passed. Not just barely—but with flying colors. The difference wasn’t in doing more practice questions or adding more resources. It was in learning how to use my existing knowledge effectively.
The Bottom Line
Step 3 is not the afterthought exam people make it out to be. It’s different and requires a different approach. While UWSA 1 and NBME 5 helped gauge readiness, I struggled to interpret the results and understand how they reflected my progress.
I realized that while UWorld gave me the foundation, I needed additional strategies to apply my knowledge effectively.
If you’re feeling stuck despite using popular resources like UWorld, know that you’re not alone.
Sometimes, it’s not about what you know—it’s about how you use it. Dr. Rows’ course at https://uadviser.us helps students unlock the strategies they need to succeed. With the right guidance, you can pass Step 3 and move forward with confidence.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects my personal experience as a former student of Dr. Rows’ course and does not represent the views, policies, or endorsements of UWorld, NBME, or any other third-party resource. These resources remain essential and highly respected tools for USMLE preparation. The strategies described here are designed to complement existing resources, not replace them. The course mentioned is not affiliated with UWorld, NBME, or any other organization.