Comparison

Thalamus vs USMLE Step 3 Practice Test

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Thalamus

This app offers a real-time system for scheduling interviews and coordinating travel for medical residency and fellowship applicants. It streamlines communication and allows applicants to self-schedule, manage confirmations, cancellations, and waitlists, giving them control over their interview dates.

Highlights
  • Real-time interview scheduling
  • Travel coordination
  • Self-scheduling for applicants
  • Automated confirmations and cancellations
  • Waitlist management
  • Streamlined communication
Features
Read full description

Thalamus is developed through a collaboration of trainees, administrators, coordinators, directors and GME leadership to provide comprehensive online interview scheduling and travel coordination via a real-time scheduling system – online and mobile. Thalamus streamlines communication and interview scheduling for medical residency and fellowship applicants by facilitating self-scheduling, thereby eliminating unnecessary phone calls and emails. The software manages all confirmations, cancellations, rescheduling, and wait lists, so that applicants can instantaneously confirm interview dates and take full control of their schedules. Now featured nationally at 125+ institutions and used by >75% of applicants, Thalamus is the most comprehensive and preferred interview management solution in GME.

About

USMLE Step 3 Practice Test

Prepare for the USMLE Step 3 exam with over 600 practice questions. This app utilizes a proprietary "chunking" learning technique to aid memorization and understanding. It offers a limited number of free questions daily, with an option to upgrade for full access.

Highlights
  • Over 600 practice questions
  • Proprietary ELS™ learning technique
  • Chunking method for memorization
  • Daily free questions
  • Question of the day
  • Upgrade for full features
Features
Read full description

Your new best friend in learning an USMLE Practice Test Step 3 takes test preparation to a new level. Studying and passing your USMLE Test will never be easier. WE PROMISE! In fact, our amazing apps are developed by educators and utilize our proprietary learning technique ELS™ or Effective Learning Strategy. Learning, studying and memorizing requires you to use your short term memory! ELS uses a technique called “chunking.” In cognitive psychology, chunking is a process by which individual pieces of information are bound together. It is believed that individuals create higher order cognitive representations of the items on the list that are more easily remembered as a group than as individual items themselves. The bottom line… It works! USMLE Practice Test Step 3 comes with over 600 questions. Download the app and try it. We give you 10 free questions a day for 5 days, plus question of day is always free. You will have to upgrade to enjoy its full features. If you like it, you can upgrade to a paid version. Get started now and take advantage of our PASS OR ITS FREE GUARANTEE.

Screenshots

Thalamus4 screens
USMLE Step 3 Practice Test4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Thalamus at 3.8 against USMLE Step 3 Practice Test's 2.5. Thalamus also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (492 vs 2). USMLE Step 3 Practice Test's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.1). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. USMLE Step 3 Practice Test sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Thalamus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thalamus holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Thalamus has 492 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 6% of Thalamus's written reviews are positive against 0% of USMLE Step 3 Practice Test's.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Thalamus versus USMLE Step 3 Practice Test: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThalamusUSMLE Step 3 Practice Test
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (492 ratings) — better2.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews6.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings492 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.19.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size122 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSJ MedConnect, Inc.MOON MOUNTAIN INC

Customer experience

Thalamus

All ratings492 ratings
Positive69.5%
Neutral1.2%
Negative29.3%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive6.0%
Neutral2.4%
Negative91.7%

USMLE Step 3 Practice Test

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Thalamus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App won't load or open
  • Frequent logout issues
  • Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
  • Unreliable notification system

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow access via mobile browser
  • Improve login persistence
  • Add more calendar and scheduling features
  • Provide better visibility into interview details

USMLE Step 3 Practice Test

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Thalamus

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

USMLE Step 3 Practice Test

One-time1
  • USMLE Practice Test Step 3$9.99

Questions

Is Thalamus free?
Thalamus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is USMLE Step 3 Practice Test free?
USMLE Step 3 Practice Test is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Thalamus or USMLE Step 3 Practice Test?
Thalamus is rated higher. Thalamus averages 3.8 out of 5 from 492 ratings, while USMLE Step 3 Practice Test averages 2.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Thalamus or USMLE Step 3 Practice Test have ads?
Neither Thalamus nor USMLE Step 3 Practice Test shows ads.

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