Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
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I know most of you are either young medical students or are fresh graduates from med school.I am an old old med graduate (13 years)  I had been busy raising my kids  .Never took or studied for USMLE.Now I can spare about 5-6 hrs/ day..I have to start all over again,meaing starting from a good book before going to the short ones.I am planning to studt for step 2 first.
Do you guys think I can do it.
how long would it take for me to be ready to take the test.
can you suggest a good stretegy to study for the exam.(getting most out of my time)
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| 123
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
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Hello Hamidi,
It's never too late to start and anybody who study well gets good results.
It may be a good option to start with step 2 considering that you have clinical experience and graduated 13 years ago. For step 1, the preclinical fileds may be more difficult to master esp because there were couple of changes in the last years (genetics, cell biology, pharmacology...)
A good strategy has been posted by prep4usmle here and I found it truly useful. Use first aid to guide you choices regarding the prep material. If money is not a problem you may also consider to enroll in special classes to prepare the exams esp kaplan. Read as many review questions as you can.
:icon_study: All the best for you !
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| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
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Thankx for the reply :lol: Could you tell me where I can find the strategy posted by prep4usmle that you mentioned in your posting?
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| prep4usmle
Administrator
Topics: 288
Posts: 1,184
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Hello Hamidi and welcome to the forum.
I think the post 123 mentioned is here.
There are also some strategies posted on the website in the strategies page.
All the best for you!
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| Hamidi
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 471
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thanx for your help.Infact I just realized that I should have posted in step2 forum as I am planning to take step 2 first.I'll keep this stategy in mind.Any posting like that for step 2 there? :roll:
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| prep4usmle
Administrator
Topics: 288
Posts: 1,184
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OK, no problem I moved your post in this forum.
As for strategies for step 2 ... not yet, maybe in the near future somebody who took the step 2 will share some thoughts with us.
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Hello Hamidi,
I definitely can relate to you. I graduated even further back than you did. Yes, you can do it - we can do it! A 70 year old man recently conquered Mt Everest. We have more in us humans than we will ever know.
I never thought I would get around to doing the USMLE exams. Since I graduated, I have been involved in many things far removed from medicine. Only recently, I came to the realization that I was passionate about medicine. I feel as though she is a girl I didn't get married to at age 23, and I only just realized that my life would never be complete without her. So, here we go.
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| jaynura
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I am having a difficult time myself. I have graduated many years ago and the rules have change dramatically.Just keep going with your studies. Do a massive amount of questions and answers and eventually thing will start to cklick.
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my dear old graduate,
u r not alone in this. and i think most of the medicine basics are still same as u may have read, and thru my personal experience i can say its difficult in the beginning (u have already lost ur habit to sit and read) but then u get the hang of it again, old habits-----
if u have just started may be u will find
Cecil-essentials of medicine (this is not the big cecil textbook, but concised little one)
or
may be start with one material, like kaplan, add onto it where u need a reference, gather some mcqs, start doing them side by side 20-25 perday, u might not score good but develop the habit and get the idea too of what would be asked in exam.
and most important, read daily, no holidays
u can do it!
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Thanks for ur reply.Yeah it is hard but I am gradually getting used to studying ans so is my family :wink: Thanks
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| jadugorr
Forum Junior
Topics: 16
Posts: 26
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honestly i think taking step 1 maybe be more time consuming but worth it because i have friends who tried taking step 2 and then went back to take step1 ....they said it is better to do step 1 then step 2 as expected......i did the same ....but again u can sit for step 2 also and pass as long as u study...i studied for step 1 from first aid..and the books listed on it and i score 96.....good luck to u.
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| Logician Guru
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Hey! I am also a 8 old graduate and was diverted away from Medicine for a while but now I am back with even more confidence and determination. Recently passed my Step 1 with 86 score. Now I am focussing on Step 2 and hoping best for it.
I don't think that you need to read BIG BOOKS again if you even remember 20% of what you read in your med school. Aiming on step 1 first is more important than step 2.
Don't worry and don't expect results in 2 months. Since you are an old grad you have to be patient and might need to study for several months even an year to pass your exams. Don't worry Be happy. Atleast you have made a good decision and you will get there sooner or later.
Best Luck
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