USMLE Step 2 (CK and CS)
I am not going to go into details here, as I believe that once you are done with Step 1, you will find your ways when it comes to the other steps.
Random thoughts (Step 2 CK):
Preparing for this exam is more relaxed compared to Step 1, but the exam itself is much harder.
On average, people score higher on CK than on Step 1, but I have seen many examples of the opposite. One of the main reasons is due to people giving the CK significantly less studying time than Step 1 (which is normal, but don’t expect much if you’re planning to finish CK in 2-3 months when you spent 10-12 months on Step 1). Personally, CK took me around 6 months preparation during internship.
UW is the most important reference for this exam (I did it more than 2 times). Studying well for your clerkships and building your clinical decision-making ability also helps (one way to do that is by solving more and more questions).
Random thoughts (Step 2 CS):
First Aid for CS is an excellent resource and practicing the cases with a friend is the best way to prepare.
Read about the exam and know what you’re being examined on (so that you understand what to focus on, i.e. the three separate subcomponents: Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS), Spoken English Proficiency (SEP), and Integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE), which you need to pass separately to pass the exam).
Timeline is usually around 4 weeks of not-so-intense studying and must be done in the States.