dma
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 2
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Hi Guys,
My first time I got a 173/71 and now I found out I got a 170/70. I reviewed for about 2 months this 2nd time around. I reviewed FA and the Kaplan notes, did Qbank and Rapid Review. I was scoring about 70-90% on Qbank. Took NBME assessment and got a 400. When I took my exam, I felt really good coming out but now I feel so discouraged and am wondering what I'm doing wrong. I would appreciate any advice to those of you that have gone what I've gone through. What did you do the 3rd time around and how long did you prep for your 3rd exam? What are the best books, resources, questions banks? Please, I am so discouraged--I'd like to hear from others if there is a good side to this. Thanks. 
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| drworm
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 137
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I took step 1 in sept and failed. After moping around and feeling discouraged for sometime I'm trying to get it back together. I can understand how depressing it must be to have tried and still not made it. But I really admire your resolution in coming back and wanting to try with renewed strength. That's the spirit. When I failed I realized that I had two options-one was to feel sorry for myself and give up trying, and the other was to prove to myself that I am good too. The way I look at it is that failing means you can try again and that in itself is a gift.
Since I am just starting to try again I do not feel qualified to give you any good advise. But I'd say, keep the spirits high, even if you feel discouraged....success is sweeter when attained the hard way.
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| pinkangel
Forum Elite
Topics: 8
Posts: 272
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dma,
I know failure stinks but what is better is not letting it conquer you. I failed Step 1 THREE TIMES and lost my residency position at a great program this year because of it. I am planning on retaking this exam in December after 5 1/2 months of study at the Kaplan center so I can conquer this exam for good. Failure is depressing but you must not lose faith in yourself. After the third time, I felt like giving up and changing careers for several weeks until I decided that I wouldn't let 1 stupid exam ruin my dreams of becoming a full fledged physician. I am an AMG who graduated in 2003 so I am especially embarassed and humiliated since the majority of my classmates passed on their first try. No one knows how grateful I will be once I pass this exam except for those who have had trouble jumping over this hurdle. I've already passed Step 2 so I keep telling myself that this is just one final hurdle before I can continue my medical training. This forum has helped me with emotional support. Knowing that there are plenty of other MDs out there who are facing the same thing is comforting.
As I think back to what I did wrong on my previous attempts, a common theme is inefficient preparation. Either I didn't have enough of a knowledge base to answer the questions and/or I didn't know how to integrate my knowledge of all 7 subjects to come up with the correct answer. Another mistake was taking the exam before I was fully prepared. DO NOT TAKE THE EXAM UNTIL YOU ARE READY! With each successive failure, your self esteem takes a beating. This was one of my biggest mistakes. After my first failure, I retook the exam 1 month later as advised by my medical school dean. I was no where near prepared when I took it the second time. The third time, I had to take it in order to be considered for ranking in the 2003 match. I hadn't finished Pharmacology, Immunology, or reviewed my pathology. No wonder I failed. This time, I'm determined not to take this obnoxious exam until I've fully studied all the subjects and have practiced integrating all disciplines with as many questions as I can. Don't let time determine when you take it, let yourself be the judge of when you are ready. That doesn't mean you have the luxury of sitting on your behind all day without studying, but I don't encourage you to take it because of a certain deadline is approaching and you're obviously not ready. Make sure you take another look at your score report and study the areas you were weakest on.
After reading some tips from other people on the forum, I went to www.coolgoose.com and downloaded Dr. Edward Goljan's pathology lectures and put them on my MP3 player. He has been so helpful with integrating material I've learned from pathology, physiology, microbiology, immunology, and pharmacology. If you haven't done so already, I suggest going to the site and downloading all 37 of his lectures. You need to go under search and type in "papi" for the artist's name in order to see all the files. The key to passing this exam is knowing your pathophysiology cold. Spend time on cardiac, renal, and endocrine systems when you study. Make sure you know how to integrate your knowledge from the other subjects, especially pharm and micro with each organ system. What I learned from my classmates in med school is to master your 3 P's - Pathology, Physiology, Pharmacology and your Microbiology before you take the exam. Another book that will help you with this is Step Up by Samir Mehta. I'm sure you already have First Aid for the boards - use this as a tool to make sure you've covered all the topics asked on the exam. Go section by section and highlight those topics that are considered high yield, then go to your review books (I'm using Kaplan and BRS) and make sure you learn it well. Do not use First aid as the sole means for your preparation. That was my mistake the first time I took the exam and I paid dearly for it. :x
I've never studied for Step 1 for more than 3 months but my repeated failures have taught me to see my mistakes (studying the wrong thing, not knowing how the question writers think, integrating all the subjects, and most importantly, doing as many questions as you can). I started studying in June and am determined not to let this exam conquer me when I face it in December. Keep your spirits up my friend! A positive attitude and faith in your self is key!
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| dma
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 2
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drworm & pinkangel,
Thank you for your advice and words of encouragement. I really appreciate it! I just need to formulate my plan to get back on track. I wish the both of you luck and by your words of determinaiton, I'm sure you will do well and pass the next time you take your exam. Again, thanks so much and hang in there!
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| indiandoc
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 95
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hi dma
ok im sorry to hear tht
but ask urself did u study th eright way just knowing stuff wont really help u till u know how to apply it
ok dont worry first be cool and belive in yourself and time doesnt matter
ok people get 99 in 1 month also
its tht u should know ur subject
ok
now get started
only u can make it happen
___________________
PLEASE MESSAGE ME
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| indiandoc
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 95
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hi dma
ok im sorry to hear tht
but ask urself did u study th eright way just knowing stuff wont really help u till u know how to apply it
ok dont worry first be cool and belive in yourself and time doesnt matter
ok people get 99 in 1 month also
its tht u should know ur subject
ok
now get started
only u can make it happen
___________________
PLEASE MESSAGE ME
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| bluegene
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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hi there,
can you please tell me how to download those mp3 lectures by Dr. Edward Goljan. Appreciate your help. I could not find that on www.coolgoose.com
Thank you very much.
bluegene
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| VM
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 65
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search for papi on that site and you will find them 37 of them
good luck
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| mjl1717
Forum Hero
Topics: 956
Posts: 5,452
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Dont give up, stick with it! Remember a score of 500 on that nbme assesment shows significant strength. Id say earn that by internalizing answers and explanations of thousands of questions from this forum, Appleton and Lange, NMS, and BSS + whatever else you can get your hands on!
___________________
Smell the coffee! "Is That an Osler move??"
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| spookysoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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This is the first time I'm posting anything, I just joined today. I took Step 1 for the second time as well and failed, the first time I got 159 and now 172. Due to the program that I am in I have one more chance to take it and it has to be by June. I am at a total loss right now because I don't know how to approach this yet another time. I seriously thought I did everything I could the second time. I live in Queens, NYC and maybe there is a chance that I can form some sort of study group, it's really hard to do this alone.
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| FreshDebu
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 21
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Yeah im in the same boat guys. Just got my results today and i failed a second time. I really wish there was a study group I could go to.
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