The imperative to reduce and redistribute the basic sciences curriculum in undergraduate medical education is fraught with challenges. Schools engage in reduction of their basic sciences curriculum for different reasons, but in all instances schools must confront the question of whether students are adequately prepared for their new curriculum and whether they are adequately prepared for what follows. We will explore the challenges and opportunities of student preparation for USMLE Step 1, clerkships, and lifelong learning in reduced basic sciences curricula and present practical examples of approaches to identifying opportunities to support students from the moment they enter the preclerkship curriculum.