Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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Hi friends,
First and foremost I would like to thank alot of you for your posts.....I learnt alot of things from you and was an important factor in clearing my exam.I would like to thank:GOD,my family and friends for being so supportive,the folks who run this website particularly bbb,Users:retroviridae,mani,shawky,bactitech,meghna Jadhav,mjl,Mars_aris,Ria,MLF and numerous others which I can't recall at the moment.
Just wanted to let you know I graduated last year from a university from India.I was just an average hard working student(just like the most of you).OK the sore I received stated 222/90.It may not be an earth shattering score but I'm nevertheless thankful as it could have been lower.Preparation for the exam is far far tougher than actually sitting and giving the exam.Since I am familiar with the medical background involved in Asia and also what British Medicine says(in Malaysia British Medical books are preffered)it was quite tough to reorientate myself to the language and style of the USMLE.While the disease are the same but there is alot of difference between this side of the world and whats seen in the US.I studied for over 6months to prepare for the exam.Despite the last minute jitters(I was crying before the exam as I couldn't remember a thing the evening before the exam.....(I guess I was just stressed out)I stuck to my 1st of december to give the exam.
OK my preparations:
Pathology:Webprep and BRS
Anatomy:High Yield gross anatomy and Webprep
Embryology:High Yield and webprep
Neuroanatomy:Webprep
Biochem:webprep+kaplan notes
Genetics:High Yield.webprep,Kaplan notes
Immunology:Kaplan notes
Micobio.:Kaplan notes and webprep
Pahrmacology:First Aid,webprep and also gold standard
Physiology:Kaplan notes and BRS
Behavioural science:High Yield and Kaplan notes
I am a slow reader and to go through 1 cycle of reading it took 3months.
I also heard Goljan lectures and even went through his notes........I stopped reading his lenghten notes(approx.400pages with general+systemic Pathology)mainly because it was all point form and I don't really like this format.I just went through some of his High Yield one(about 20dd pages).The lectures are informative but not enough to pass the exam.After the exam I went through his High Yield and found it would not have been much beneficial as nothing from those notes was even close to being tested on my exam.
I can't remember facts if they are in point form and that why I had to look for alternative reading materials.......this is one of the disadvantages I found with Kaplan as some of them are in point form.My weakest subject is/was pharmacology hence the different materials used to prepare for it.I could not understand a word of neuroanatomy and so only relied on the webprep lectures for it.
I think it is pointless to discuss the type of questions and their distribtutions however I feel all subjects had an equal say.First aid is adequate for Microbio. and Pharmacology.But then I didn't really use First Aid apart for Pharmacology and a quick revision for Physiology mainly because First Aid is just too compact
My Qbank scores ranged from 70-80% with an average of 74%......I found the questions on the exam nothing like Qbank.Closest was the USMLE CDs......for which I scored 34,38,35.NMBE didnt do.
I also did alot of BSS.......though its not similar to the actual exam but for some reason the phrases and facts mentioned in the explanations are the exact stuff what Dr. Goljan mentions on his audio lectures.
The questions on the exam were very basic and the language used too very simple
however the concepts tested on the exam were so,so basic it seemed hard to determine what the question was even asking at times!
Though I slept early the night before the exam(as mentioned I broke down and from that point despite I couldn't remember a thing I decided it was enough and time to close the book as I was just making myself more stessed)however throughout t
he night I kept on waking up because some irresponsible people were playing firecrackers all the way till 4am!!
I wasn't as fresh on the morning of the exam but still I manged to pull through the 7odd hours.I even realised I made some stupid mistakes but only when the block time was over.Time is ofthe essence and I was basically finishing my blocks with just 3-4min. to spare.Most questions were moderate inlenght and lots of figures....the pharmac. figures were not clear at all and the worst.
I just hope my performance for step 2 doesn't slip.I'm interested in only Internal Medicine or Pathology.....don't really have any interest in the surgical fields or any other field for that matter
.How do you think I stand so far??
If there are any queries I will try to answer them as honestly as possible.All the best to those awaiting results and preparing for the step 1.
I will seriously start my USMLE step 2 in February and though I will be frequenting the step 2 forums on this website frequently it will be under a different username as I want to start everything fresh.
Bye.
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| Ahab
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
Posts: 228
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Congratulations
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| meghana jadhav
Forum Elite
Topics: 80
Posts: 304
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congratulations malaysian :icon_king: :icon_king: :icon_king:
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megha
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| drshabs
Forum Elite
Topics: 61
Posts: 205
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congrats!!! =D> i always read ur and meghana's post bcoz u guys really worked up question parts.moreover i found u guys quiet similar to me.im too waiting for my results.
goodluck for step2.
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| mash
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,326
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congrats!
gud luck fr step 2!
___________________
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
--Confucius
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| MLF
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 386
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Very happy to hear your score, all the best with step 2!!!!
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"Support bacteria, its the only culture some people got."
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| Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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Thanks guys....wish you all the best for your results.
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| jigi
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 12
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I just started to prepare the step 1 exam. I am not very clear what the webprep means? Also, I am wondering how long it took you to prepare the whole thing? thanks.
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jigi
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| katzung
Forum Guru
Topics: 74
Posts: 624
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 Congrats Malaysian on a very good score,i am sure you will do well on step -2 90 on two digit is a very good score well done.
Two questions:
1> When i gave my step-1 few days back i thought working in a medical job would help immensly because the themes tested were so much based on clinical stuff, well this was my experience what do you feel about it
and 2> the scores on usmle cd of 34,38 and 35, were they before you started preparing or after you finished preparing?
All the best for your step-2 prep.you will do well be confident
take care my friend
___________________
Hari Om,Lokaha Samasthaha Sukhino Bhavanthu
(Let All Beings Everywhere Be Happy And Content)
Proud to be an Indian.
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| Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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The USMLE CD scores were 3weeks prior to the exam.
I have worked in a molecular biology lab. before.......I used to learn how to do PCR,Southern blot and hybridization,electrophoresis and had to clean the lab. stuffs via autoclaving and hot oven.
To an extent it does help but only in getting familiar with the terminology and the principal behind the procedure but in answering the questions it didn't much....for example while in the lab. I knew PCR is to amplify small DNA fragments....but PCR is tested to detect HIV,Hep. B,myco. TB etc....was not stressed.The lab. based questions I got for the USMLE were very confusing......and most of the time I was looking for answers 'it doesn't make any sense' but didn't quite see them!Since you're working against time and have only those few precious minutes at the end of the block you don't time to analyze compltely and just have to go with your instincts......plus your heart is racing away at the end of the block trying to go through all the questions you marked but all you see is words and your brain freezes!
To jigi......it took me over 6months to prepare there are people who take 3-4months and some 9-12months.I guess the time difference is mainly depends on how familiar are you with the USMLE syllabus and how much time you can dedicate a day to sit down and study....its a very subjective thing.....however NMBE conducts tests to let you know how well prepared you actually are....you have to pay US45 and its something I didn't do.
Webprep is Kaplan preparation where notes/audio lectures are given via the internet.In malaysia they don't conduct any Kaplan courses and so this was my only option.
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| kaash110
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 57
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hi
malayisian
if u can send us goljan 100pages
i'll be grateful
thanx
huma110jaf@yahoo.com
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kaash
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| Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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I will send it to you kaash......because I learnt from your posts while preparing for my exam.So its the least I can do.However I'm sorry this is first and last person so no more requests pls. from anyone else!!!
When are you giving the exam by the way??
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| kaash110
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 57
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hi malaysian
thanx
actually i am a graduate of 1992
and now very much interested in mle
but i am not feeling good bcoz i am working in middle east and no material of mle is with me exept first aid and some kaplan books
and 2nd disappointment is that i am an old graduate and
chances to get residency are not good
but i'll try my best
regards
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kaash
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| Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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Pls. check your e-mail as you're writing this.....most of the material has been tranferred.....I knew I was helping a good man/woman.
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| Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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OK....I can't send anymore notes because I think your inbox is full!!!!I'm also confused which notes have gone and which haven't.......can you tell me the missing pages between 1-22 which you need?????Also can you let me know once your inbox is emptied??
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| Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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OK......I have finished sending it(somehow!).If you notice its not really 100pages......but its nevertheless the High Yield notes/supplement notes...closer to 60pages don't you think so???
I'm unable to send the long version of Goljan notes as the files are just too huge to be sent via e-mail.But if you hear his lectures it should suffice.
In the mean time you already have the Kaplan books and First Aid.....you can't go wrong with them.Plus this forum.
Wishing you all the best.....for the future.
I would also like to wish everyone else all the best.....I wish I could help you all the same way I did with Kaash but its a very tedious process I hope everyone can understand.I could have put up the notes in the 'Downloads' section but that will be breeching copyrights law.Bye then.....I won't be returning to step 1 forum now.
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| kaash110
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 57
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hi
thanx malaysian
u send me pages 1 and 2 and 11-22
but 3-10 are missing
i already have goljan 36 pages which u send
thanx
if possible send me the missing one too
regards
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kaash
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| anatomy
Forum Guru
Topics: 101
Posts: 423
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could u pls send me those files which Malaysian send to u.i send u a email also.
thanx and good luck.
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