purplehaze
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 11
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Hi Guys,
I am an IMG doing my MPH at Harvard.....was working fulltime in my home country and took the step 1 after only 2 months of prep...had done the kaplan material (although i got outdated books from someone-1999 edition)!!! but i realised that the questions were much more penetrating....i must have got about 50% pharma and less than 10% patho on my final test...and pharma was the only subject that i had not prepared well....i gave my test on the 26th of Aug and my scores were reported on the 22nd of Sept....though i have not yet received my official scores i tried registering for the Step 1 again with my previous ECFMG ID and it let me register....so i reckon i must have failed....i am ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED....i don't know what to do really....my MPH program is so hectic that i hardly have time even for sleep right now and don't know how i will manage to study again for the step 1....should i get newer editions of the Kaplan books???? i am even contemplating giving up on my USMLE plans altogather coz i don't think i have the nerve to go through all that pain again....after all i HAVE FAILED ONCE and that just shows how good i must be really 
any advice will be GREATLY APPRECIATED
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| rubensssss
Forum Guru
Topics: 95
Posts: 451
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Man that does not mean that you are not good or bad, this only means that you have to be more preper for the test, study ,study hard, I can not give you advice for how to study because i also fail the test, but believe almost all the people fail the first time but, remmeber this you really6 will fail , if you stop taken the test, perseverancy, this contry is full of opportunities, just wait for yours.
study and study now and tomorrow,one hour 2 or 3 any time that you have the chance, because people that work it is hard to get preper but , try it never stop, think in what this country could give you and what it have give to you already.
What else could I tell you just do not give up. never, man
remmember you have a work to dop and your work is to pass this test any time.
wwish the best with all my heart.
___________________
Ruben sssss
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| mjl1717
Forum Hero
Topics: 956
Posts: 5,452
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Id say:
1)Focus on the 3 p's
2) Do at least 20,000 qs and internalize the explanations
___________________
Smell the coffee! "Is That an Osler move??"
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| Trifudis
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 29
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Purple,
You know better than this. Get up and try again.
After all you are a Doctor, and you have been through tough times before.
Get up and try again.
Regards.
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| jazmine
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 5
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Hello!
There is a positive side to everything. I have heard that it is much better to fail the first time than to barely pass the first time. In other words, it is better that you outright failed than to score a 75...in that case, you would be stuck with the 75 forever and could not better your score. Now you have the chance to SHINE! One of my best girlfriends failed her first time and she was an excellent student when we were in Basic Sciences. She did not have time to prepare, much the same way as you, but her issue was a family one. Don't let this get you down. Rise up and begin by reading through the First Aid. Then move on to other books suggested by the people here at this site. The people on this site are behind you and very supportive. My test was mostly pharm and path. Just keep in mind that you are at HARVARD already! Nobody can deny that in itself is an accomplishment!
Hope this helps! 
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| purplehaze
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 11
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thanks to everyone....i don't know how to react....did not sleep at all last night...had almost made up my mind on returning back to my coutry after my MPH....but maybe i should now think twice about that....i will be starting on the First Aid again....but i don't know if i will ever hav the time to actually sit down and prepare properly for the test...my program hjere is so very hectic that i hardly get any time for myself...even on wekends i am here at the library doing homework or assignments.....but i will still start though....hope i can make it this time
thanks to all for the wonderful messages.....i am so glad that i joined this forum
does anyone know how to help me with Pharma????? i am really scared of that subject and do not any concepts whatsoever....the other subjects are ok though
thanks again....i really really appreciate all ur messages
i won't give up
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| mjl1717
Forum Hero
Topics: 956
Posts: 5,452
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For pharm Id say for starters:
1)Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
2)Know everything about all receptors
3)Do Autonomic nervous system and Central nervous system first.
(This way you're already thru the hardest part andyou have a foundation! )
___________________
Smell the coffee! "Is That an Osler move??"
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| jazmine
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 5
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You must know all receptors for pharm; also I had alot of kinetics/dynamics...you can get these from Lippincott if you have it. Glad you decided not to give up!
=D>
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| purplehaze
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 11
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thanks guys....i feel a lil better now.....but the sense of hopelessness comes back in surges...could'nt concentrate on class the whole day.....and i have test tomorrow as well....i have ordered for the first aid and will start flipping through the pages again..maybe i shoud take more time this time and not decide in a hurry if i want to give my step1.....coz i hardly studied for 2 months and that too with a full time job with the WHO....i had never failed in any test in my whole life and i got a lil overconfident i guess....thats exactly the reason why i am feeling so much more devasted and shameful....i feel a total bum.....like i'm not good for anything.....me and another friend of mine studied for the GRE 2gather..he got 940 and i got 1400 on it...and now he's got 93% on the Step 1 and i have failed...makes me feel so worthless....anyways...i won't give up though.....will start getting back to my USMLE books again slowly....and maybe i will take the step 1 after i am done with my MPH...thats another 8 months to go.......thanks again for the advice and the encouragement......makes me feel just a tad better  thanks again guys....i am REALLY REALLY grateful to all of u
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| namf
Forum Elite
Topics: 80
Posts: 312
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You are not alone. I failed too, and posted my comeback attempt here under my daily diary this summer. Please do a search under "Namf: Daily Diary".
I hope you don't find it offensive--I am not interested in profiting on your pain--but I am selling my Goljan materials at cost on 2 CDs. Just write me at bookcash@yahoo.com--don't send it to my inbox here please.
Whatever happens, know this: you can do it.
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| purplehaze
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 11
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thanks namf...but i already have the goljan material
i really appreciate ur encouragement
thanks
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| docmama
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 83
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I'm really sorry!! Same thing has happened to me! ECFMG is letting me register. I was wondering...did u get ur score report yet? I wanna believe that its not true...but sadly it probably is right? Dony worry...just gotta get up and keep going...no other go. : :roll:
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| purplehaze
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 11
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Hi docmama,
i haven't yet received my scores and in my dreams i keep seeing that i actually cleared and there was some system glitch but then u wake up in the morning and get that sick realisation that u have actually failed and that u have to start all over again
thats all thats in our hands right now...have to get back to our books and start thinking positive as well...easier said than done though
keep in touch and best of luck
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| namf
Forum Elite
Topics: 80
Posts: 312
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Purplehaze--
just keep going....b/c I know what a misery it is, I wanted to say this to you: add a drop to your bucket--just a drop every day--and with hard work and time you will fill it until it overflows.
And then we will smile together. But also: you can smile now too.
LOOK....once this test is done, you will look back in great relief and know you have achieved something very very hard to do.
Keep going
Love,
Namf
Edited by Tintin on 06/10/05 - 10:33 AM. Reason: profanity!!
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| pinkangel
Forum Elite
Topics: 8
Posts: 272
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Purple Haze,
I know how discouraging it must feel to have failed the USMLE Step 1. Believe me, I know because I have failed it THREE TIMES already. To add insult to injury, I am an AMG with classmates who passed on their first try without blinking. My parents are IMGs practicing in the US after passing on their first attempt over 20 years ago so I am doubly humiliated and feeling like a loser. HOWEVER, DO NOT EVER GIVE UP!
The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to keep a positive attitude. The reason I failed the first time was because of a similar reason as yours - perhaps I was a little bit "overconfident" as you said since I had never failed any of my medical school courses and didn't have any problems throughout my first year of medical school. I assumed with the 95% passing rate for AMGs on their first try, I would easily be one of them. Boy did I learn a lesson in humility. The dean of my medical school advised me to take the exam again in a month and I was so stressed out that I couldn't concentrate or focus. That led to another failure and a horrible experience during my clinical rotations since I had lost my self esteem in all things medical. The only time I can say I tried studying remotely harder was this past January, when I took it for the third time. By then, I had lost my self confidence and all motivation because I didn't think I could ever pass this obnoxious exam. My failure on this attempt cost me my residency slot during the 2004 Match.
It took me a while to pick myself up off the floor and get back in gear but I realized thats the only thing that will get me out of this mess. I enrolled in 6 months of Kaplan video lectures and 3 months of Q bank with a plan to take the exam in December. I plan to participate in the 2005 Match and am praying that things will work out for the best. I already passed the Step 2 exam and have my application ready - I refuse to let this one exam get in the way of my dreams of becoming a full fledged physician. If I'm not giving up, don't you give up. Where there's a will, there's a way. Hang in there my friend! :wink:
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| BC
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 36
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WOW.
it amazes me how in such a very competitive world, that is medicine and USMLE, there are always nice people ready to give words of encouragement and ready to share experiences.
to all those who replied to purplehaze, you all have my respect and admiration.
as for you purplehaze, like everyone else said, DON'T GIVE UP.
It's just an exam. It doesn't define who you are.
___________________
The threshold between right and wrong is pain.
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| nikoy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
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hi guys,, i am new here and i am glad i found this page, i think i am like purple haze coz i did the oasis trick, and they let me register should i apply again? does this entail me having my picture taken and going to my college , i am to leave to for the USA and was wondering if i should apply now for step 1 or await my scores??? thanks so much... purple haze.. dont give up
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| gbono2
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 71
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Purplehaze
It might be that you have too much on your plate. I mean that w/the the Harvard program there just isn't enough time left for you to devote to studying for step 1. Why not complete the Harvard program & then start studying for step 1. At times, it's like eating an elephant - 1 bite at a time. This approach will help you avoid the negative head trip associated w/step 1 failure. This exam is really not something to blow off & you by your own words state the current program is hectic. You are young so wait & do each 1 step at a time. We sometimes try to take on too many tasks concurrently & don't have adequate time to devote to either. So by doing 1 at a time you have the time to do each task w/complete devotion & immerse yourself in the material. Good luck
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| reet
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 152
Posts: 1,411
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PURPLE HAZE
was step1 hard for u ???or u couldnt reply all questions.what do u think wht could be reason??anyways you try to take some 4-5 months period to go through whole material.coz i think u didnot take long time to prepare..some guys took 6 months for step 1 and for step2 its easy in 4months...
hope it will help u
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Live as u were to die tommorow. Learn as if u were to live forever.
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| s_braga
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 53
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Hi, I'm totally frustrated... was scoring 67.7% in QBANK and had taken NBME 1 with 400/192. Took my exam today and it was a disaster... Only 2 out of 7 blocks I could read and go through the 50 questions. The last 5 questions of each of the remaining 5 blocks I had to simply check "c" in the last 4-6 questions.... it sucks.. I never expected this to happen and am totally frustrated... I feel like I will never passa this exam...
has this happened to anyone and thereafter got surprising results? I mean, I feel like I will not pass at all... and feel absolutely discouraged.
Sashi.
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| NJones
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 18
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Hi everybody,
I also just failed the step1 and it totally change my plan to apply this year. I believe that I don't have time. I feel more calm, not 2 weeks ago. I sincerely consider that I subestimated the exam and not remind that my memory is in spanish and is totally differente try to have all your memories with you in 60seconds to choose the correct answer.
Well, it's good to know that there are enthusiastic and optimistic people in this forum. I'm thinking to take it again, learning of you and trying to not repeat the same mistakes of the first time. But I am really concerned about how a failed test registered in your USMLE trancript (because I confirm with the ECFMG that all the attempts are registered in the USMLE transcript)could decrease the success of my application. Does anybody have an idea about it?
Thanks and good luck for us!
NJones
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| unfortunate
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 56
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i failed in step 1 ...help me please... i m totally devastated....
evryone in this forum getting 99/245 but i scored 142 ...please help please help...cry
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