Becoming MD

How to Pass Step 1 (Even If You Feel Behind) with Jarrod Shuck

Caitlin Calland, M2 Medical Student Episode 9

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In this episode of Becoming MD, I sit down with a TikTok-famous Emergency Medicine resident Jarrod Shuck to break down what Step 1 really demands — and how to navigate it without losing yourself in the pressure.

This conversation isn’t about cramming harder. It’s about becoming process-oriented. It’s about eliminating emotional studying. It’s about trusting UWorld when you’re scoring 30% and feeling behind. It’s about building systems that work — long before dedicated.

We break down:
 • Why “just passing” is the wrong mindset
 • How to map out your timeline strategically
 • When and how to start practice questions (hint: earlier than you think)
 • How to use multiple resources without drowning in them
 • Why thousands of questions = confidence
 • And why getting things wrong is exactly the point

If you’re in pre-clinical, approaching dedicated, or somewhere in the messy middle of boards prep — this episode will reset how you think about Step 1.

Because the goal isn’t to survive the test. The goal is to become the kind of student who can’t be shaken by it.

Trust the process. It’s supposed to feel hard.


Connect with Jarrod Shuck:

Connect with Caitlin: