Dage
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
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Hi, thanx to the people in this forum, it was very useful for me.
I took the Step 1 yesterday and would like to give my opinion.It is very frustrating to do it w/o knowing the results but I will try.
Info for me:IMG, studied 8 mo,while working full time.read 50-100p every day + 50-100q w explanations.Do NOT recommend it, very difficult.
Books:FA,BRS Patho and Physio.HY Anat and Embrio,BS.Lange Micro and Pharma(Katzung).Cracking the Boards.Pretest for Clinical Vign and Behav.q-bank,Web prep, USMLE easy.read the books 4-5 times.
Did 72 % on q-bank the first time,the 2nd 76%, at the end I was getting 94-96% correct.
First o NOt Panic.However, I found out that the actual exam is more dif. than q-bank or any other test.why? coz some qs are simply made to be confusing and too detailed.I think they want to see how we perform when we do not know the answer, are very bored and tired and running out of time(to prepare us for the future).well, it is a killer combination.
Do not want to scare you guys, but you should know that no matter how and what you read there are going to be 5-8q from every block that you will have NO idea which the right answer is.
Some people say "It is doable" i always wandered what it means.Now you can say it is(only have to click 500 times with the mouse),but prepare for a very unpleasant experience.
The sylvan people were friendly,give you earphones, the breaks are OK.just it is too long and overwhelming.
A lot of q give you the long and detailed stem of the q and them ask somethin that has no connection w this data.So read the last sentence and the answers first, this will save you time and energy.
I knew perfectly the Brachial pl.,Embryo- arch/pouches/grooves/clefts, the Antibodies ass. w deseases, biochem, Behav- NPV, PPV etc, Pharmacology- guess what? I did not get any q from these areas.
guessed 5-10q on every block, just try to minimize the answers to 2 and than is 50% chance.sounds bad, you will see what I mean.
Some q when you read the stem you think"I know it, it is easy " and them they ask you about a very smal detail , and most often you have no idea.
I think- there is no way to prepare for this test.They want to see how you think in a stressful situation.It is not like the q bank where verything is logical and smart.q nbank is the closest one though.
Do not torture you self to postpone the dates, you wont be able to know all these small details that they ask even if you study more.
Now is the 6 weeks waiting,Idon't know if i passed or not.It is a part of their plan to make us feel miserable, I guess.what is taking so long?
Hope it was useful,
GOOD LUCK(you will need all of it)
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| tasneembanu
Forum Guru
Topics: 96
Posts: 545
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thanks for sharing ur experience,all the best for ur score,i have mine in 3 days,hope i do well.
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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If you were getting so high on Qbank, I really think you will break all records on the test score! Exactly right about postponing. The questions you are going to miss and guess on, well, really, you would never have known them anyway. I wonder what the question writers were thinking sometimes.....
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| bm
Forum Elite
Topics: 37
Posts: 421
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congratulations! i think you'll get a fabulous score!
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| namf
Forum Elite
Topics: 80
Posts: 312
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Dage!
Good luck my friend--I really appreciate hearing your experience and I go on August 3 to face the firing squad (...again!!!)
By the way, what do you people think is the answer to that q:
"muslim patient eating only during nite is not passive -agressive but is following religion, and what is better- to talk to the patient sitting or standing)"???
I guess I would sit down to be on eye-level with the patient if they are sitting. But if they are sitting on the floor??? Was that the way it was asked, Dage??
Thanks everyone!
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| Dage
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
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hope it works better the second time namf.
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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Hey, please be careful posting actual questions and choices and answers. Supposedly the USMLE cruises sites looking for that and it does count as malpractice for the test.
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| namf
Forum Elite
Topics: 80
Posts: 312
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Thanks so much, Dage! I'll do what I can with this test...
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| Dage
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
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Thanx retroviridae!
I am in the same boat as you(hope to do the 2005 Match),but will wait for the score and then I will apply for Step2 and CS.
Don't know if there is going to be enough time to prepare though.I hear it is easy after you have studied for the first step, but will see.
It is so painful to wait for this score and think of what could happen; patience is a great if you have it.
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| saria23
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 46
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hi , about the muslim patient i believe if he is eatting only during the night because of a religious reason then its a normal behavior and if the patient is sitting on the floor , you might have to sit with him on the floor,,, i think that because the in the BS section of kaplan leacture, the doctor tells you even if you dont believe in God, and the patient asks you to pray to God with him/her, you get down on your knees and do it,,, patient is what comes first, not your believes..... that what i think, im not sure but sounds correct to me,,, i mean would you lose anything from sitting on the floor with a patient? no, actually you will make him more comfortable....
and during the month of Ramadan, muslims only eat at night so its a normal behavior, nothing to do with passive agressive personality.....
i hope that can be helpfull...
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