lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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hi
course is going pretty good.
funny, that after I posted on here and did a quiz on qbank, my avg jumped up above 70%.
Course is going pretty well. A lot more people here than I expected. Lecturers have been pretty good overall.
Seems the big contrast is here they try to make sure you got you're basics covered where as, at least from what my friends have told me, is that Kaplan gives you a lot of HY scenarios that they've heard about.
Found the tutoring times here to be of real help.
Spend extra time going over subjects that i never quite got before.
Time now is the biggest issue. I'd like to extend my test to the 2nd or 3rd week of March so I can review everything in the manner they're telling us too. But My school is coming down pretty strict on those asking for an extension.
So I'm debating on what I should be doing when I get home. As much as I would like to do goljan right now, I find that I dont have the time.
I think the last week I'll spend listening to goljan (when I'm home) and try going through FA pharm, path, and biochem (brute memorization).
any advice or suggestions welcome.
As for the bss, body systems review - search for that on amazon or bn.com or any other bookstore.
Questions are good, but not board style.
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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evening everyone.
well this past week was very long and diffucult.
We did physiology. Great lectures over Cardio and Endocrine. Renal and Pulmonary were sufficient, could have been a bit better, but not horrible. GI physio was absolutely horrible. Normal lecturer didn't lecture and the replacement was completly worthless.
But GI physio isn't a high yield area though.
Still trying to catch up on my work for the week ....
Doing qbank. Last 3 random blocks - 65% avg.
20 days left and something like 1200 questions left .....
we start biochem this week. I started going through the HY mol and cell bio book.
Not much else. Dawned on me today that my test is rapidly approaching. I have no finger nails left now (not that I had very much to begin with ...)
friend got his score back and kicked as* Hoping I can do 90% as good as him.
Anyways, sorry I haven't been able to keep up with everyone else's diary, I don't get a lot of free time in my day with the lectures and the studying afterwards...
Hope all is well with everyone.
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| Moctopod
Forum Elite
Topics: 14
Posts: 422
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Hi Imbebo
Good to get an update from you again. It sounds like you're working hard and learning a lot. Would you recommend the course overall? When is your exam?
All the best,
Moc
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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hi
thanks for the reply, learning a lot.
I take the exam in about a month (feb 26)
overall, I've been pleased with the course.
I don't like the exammaster questions though or the setup of exammaster. So I've stuck with my kaplan qbank.
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| niti
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 499
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Hi Imbebeo..
First a Q..which book r u using for cell bio.?
Now,u seem doing pretty well...still considering postponing your exam date...its scary if I think about myself...bec. I think I am not prepared at all..there is no method which can give u a gurantee that u r fully prepared to ace this step1 ?
With Best Wishes...
niti
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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as much as I would like too, school won't allow me too.
cell bio? We just started biochem this week and so far I'm using their notes.
I'm trying to read the HY mol and cell bio book along with class this week though.
Wondering what I should be doing my week before the exam though.
A. Re-listen to the tapes I've made of my notes
B. Listen to Goljan
C. Go over FA
It would be from the 19th till the 25th.
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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evening all!
Another hard week behind me and 3 more of the big players.
We had biochem and genetics this week. Didn't think they were taught all that great. genetics started off slow, but the topic is awful to begin with,
we start micro next week. Looking forward to it. I really enjoy it.
I've begun reading BRS path, a chapter a day. I hope to have read my problem and big chapters at least once through before I get into the path section here.
I'm 65% done with qbank. Switched to timed exams. I initially took a hit in my exam scores, but its slowly climbing back up.
Freaking out a bit now with my exam being less than a month away.
I was hanging out downstairs in the hotel when we started chatting to someone who was studying. Made me feel guilty for going out. My anxiety level is getting very high.
I did some questions just now.
Wondering if I should even bother taking the kaplan simulated exam. I've got it with my qreview, but I really haven't even studied Pharm and my knowledge from goljan is quickly seeping away.
I've decided that in my final week I'll prob relistin to my physio, pharm and biochem? tapes I've made. And do Goljan (as much as I can).
I dont think I've mentioned that I've signed up for the practice exam at the prometric center either. I want to get a feel for the center and the procedure, etc.
Bad news: I think I'm getting sick again. The weather swings here are geting some poeple sick.
Good news: I pigged out tonight at www.fogodechao.com
Bad news: I'm now broke.
Good news: Damn happy about it 
Not much else to write. Hope everyone is doing well.
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| Moctopod
Forum Elite
Topics: 14
Posts: 422
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Lol. What a good summary of final month exam feelings! :P
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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hi
its been about a week since my last post.
We went through micro and immuno this past week. Wasn't all that great in terms of teaching or materials.
But it was a refresher for me. Still got to learn the silly things though like if a virus is single or double standed, rna vs dna, etc.
And the differences between the different strep series. And hopefully get the diarhheas right in my head for once.
Test anxiety is getting high. Everyone around me is not taking the exam till at least mid march and I'm taking mine here at the end of the month. So everyone is calmly doing there thing, I'm trying to prioritize(I know I spelled this wrong), what I must be doing at this point. I've got like 88% of qbank done.
I think I'm up to a 63% overall. I got a phone call during a timed test and closed the window with the block of questions. When I got back I had 40 questions to do in 5 mins .... so it hurt my percentage some.
but aside from that, I've manage to get qbank scores in the high 60s to mid 70s and once an 84 (only a 25q block during lunch though).
I still don't feel very confident though because I'm seeing my scores dropping in the subjects I covered about a month ago now.
we start pharm this week. Its my problem subject. Notes are huge. 1000+ pages..... a lot of redundency though.
plan on taking the 2nd nbme exam this upcoming friday. Hoping I can pull around a 520+ Which I guess would put me on target for my hopeful score of around a 220+. I don't know how close or far I am from ataining that score.
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| 1ip1l1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 22
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Hi Imbebo,
I have gone through your diary.Its awsome ! You will definitely ace the test !
GL
I know you must be very busy,but please let me know that do you recommend "USMLE Step 1 Secrets" book ?
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| krushna
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 175
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all the best lmbebo!
:icon_thumb:
keep going!
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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step 1 secretes - looks like a good book, never found time to read it ....
thanks all
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| 1ip1l1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 22
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Thanks Imbebo,I decided to go for FA ONLY D
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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quick update
I'm a bit disheartened at the moment because I've gone through a few weeks of this review course and my score hasn't changed. We're half way through pharm and will do path next week.
My exam is just around the corner. Would appreciate any advice how about how to work on my problem areas.
thanks
NBME #1
NBME #2
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| niti
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 499
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Hi Imbebo,
Your lower performences r in few subjects...maybe I can give some suggestions...& hopefully it will help u ( I don't have any exam exp. but, still I feel these r good sources & worth if u revise accordingly..)
arrow For Behav. Sc..
Ethics Qs r tough...revise quickly these areas..
http//eduserv.hscer.washington.edu/bioethics/topics/index.html
arrow For Hemato. & Lympho..
Goljan's Chart...
arrow For Renal/Uri & Repro/Endo...
Kaplan's Notes r good and not too much ...so, u can revise those quickly..& if possible do QBANK...from these topics..
I am confident...just a little more work..u will come out soon in flying colors...
With Wishes..
niti
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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thanks for the site.
I'm trying to get into the 220-230 range
Thans for the advice. Looks like I'll be spending a bit of extra time in these areas over the weekend and over the next week and a half.
Hopefully it will get me over the hump.
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| niti
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 499
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you are welcome & GOOD LUCK for the exam..
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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hi
well, I take my exam at the of this upcoming week. Don't feel like I've prepared correctly (or at all). I felt like I was doing more and learning more before I took the review course and taking the review course only side tracked me and made me lose steam and time.
Aside from that.
I did the USMLE cd today, just finished. Scores of 37/32/40 which is about 72.67 percent.
Going over past experiences, it doesn't lead me to believe that I will reach my goal with those kinds of scores ....
I would like to extend my window period, but my school will not grant that request to anyone. If I do it without my school's permission I will be kicked out (most likely reinstated), but will have a mark on my record saying that I was academically withdrawn from school, and I think that might hurt me more than a lower step 1 score come residency time.
I'm trying to work qbook and do FA this week only.
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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we'll, I've noticed that the amount of journals has dramatically increased since I kept up with mine on a daily basis....
I was able to complete FA for anatomy/neuroanat/et al.
Did about 1/3 of the questions out of A&L in anatomy and did the 2nd block of behav questions from the kaplan qbook.
as well as doing the usmle cd yesterday (see post above for results :| )
I've got till friday to finish my studies. My friends have said doing questions the last week is very important.
Plan for the week:
Monday -
2nd qbook anatomy block
Biochem FA + questions, start on Physio (want to spend more time Endo Physio and parts of renal and cardiac) + FA + A&L questions.
Tuesday -
Continue with Physio till lunch, start Micro after lunch. Do associated questions.
Wednesday -
Finish Micro and do Pharm
Thursday -
Path, with empahsis on Renal, Heme, WBC, Female and bone tumors, and neoplasia
Friday -
possibly continue with some path. Rapid review list at the back of FA, questions (pathophys questions from qbook?)
I dunno. Just doesn't seem like there is a lot of time to do what I feel like I must do in my mind.
Saturday -
8am test
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| Moctopod
Forum Elite
Topics: 14
Posts: 422
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Hi Imbebo
Good to see you back. And don't worry about the NBME I and II marks. I've heard that marks go up quite a few points in the final week.
Hoping you stay focused and hard-working.
Moc
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| Roxanita
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 108
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Hi Imbebo,
I just saw your report from nbme test and I found this correlation, what I know is that your performance on NBME should pass 400 and you are in  but personally I think that you are the one who will be sitting there, so you define Imbebo, as Niti said work on your weakest areas and do lots of qs; I wish you very very good luck in your exam
I just re-joined the diaryland one week ago and you guys are all set :oops: well I had a delay that I have to catch up now :x
Have a nice time studying Imbebo :icon_study: Best of luck in your exam :icon_thumb:
Roxy
___________________
"We all basically have 2 choices in life: Let things stay the way they are or work to make them better"
-Julia Havey
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| pinkangel
Forum Elite
Topics: 8
Posts: 272
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Dear Imbebo,
I know your exam is coming up very soon and I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck. We all know you've been studying hard for this thing and I just wanted to tell you that you've got people here wishing you well. You'll be in my prayers. Just a few more days and the agony will be over. Keep up the great work.
All the best,
pinkangel
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hi imbebo
i heard that your exam is on saturday.....
goodluck my friend!!!!
you are in my prayers...
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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thanks, it is 
covered most of micro yesterday, as well as renal and pul physio. I also went quickly over EKGs and some heart sounds/murmurs.
Ran out of time to really address cardiac phys (but I did go over it more recently than the other subjects).
plan today:
Immuno out of FA
Read corresponding portion of the Ig out of Mol cell.
Then hit up pharm.
Thursday - hopefully do the following
Female Path, Kidney, CNS path, Heart Path +/- GIT path + FA (all that possible?)
Friday - Kidney and Female path, RBC/WBC path, rapid review. I dunno what else.
Feels like too much to cover at once!
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| wombat
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 304
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Keep it and good luck!!!
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