retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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Finally, after taking this silly and expensive test in the end of September in Houston, my results are out and I have passed. I can start residency now and don't have to worry about losing my prematch. I am still highly annoyed with the ECFMG for making me wait SOOOOO long. But at least in the end I did pass. Just to recap what I did to study, studied only for 1 week from Kaplan's CS book. I also saw cases in a US hospital for practice. I think Kaplan's book was good just to get me to see what I was supposed to do to keep the patient's happy. Otherwise, the best prep was working in the hospital. The cases are easy, and the patients nice. In my opinion, just a big waste of time unless they are screening for English ability. If they are, I think the TOEFL was a cheaper way to do that. Good luck every body!
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| alice8
Forum Guru
Topics: 37
Posts: 643
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Congrats and good luck with the rest. You are almost there :wink:
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Dream on 'til your dream comes true.
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| bims
Forum Senior
Topics: 26
Posts: 118
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congrats retrov,i passed too finally.took in houston and had the same fears as you.but i thank God the long wait is over.are you preping for step 3?
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BIMBOLA
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| sar
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 639
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Congratulations to retroviridae and bims on passing CS!
Are uw cases enuf, or should i study more from kap book or osce??
Do i need to study some theory for the cases too, as i forgot many things.
Good luck for your residencies,
Sar.
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| cookie22003
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 44
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hi..congrads retro.finally youre done..just had a doubt..how much time do u get to examine the patient and how much time to write down your notes...
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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Hi Bims, No I am not studying for step III. Don't need the visa, so I will just wait until after internship for that.
Sar, I didn't do UW cases. Just read Kaplan CS book. Cases are easy. You just need to know what they expect you to do. I think either would help you. Just do the cheapest one. Don't worry about theory. The medicine part of the test is easy.
cookie, you get 15 min for the patient and 10 min for the note. I kept running out of time at the end to counsel the patient, so be careful of that.
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| sar
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 639
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Thanks retroviridae!
Time management is my problem too 
Did you write or type the pt notes?
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| rhonda
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 122
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Congratulations retroviridae and bims! You both did great!  Keep it up and good luck with ur residency.
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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sar, I did both, type and write. I was faster writing, so that's what I did mostly.
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| cookie22003
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 44
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hi retro,
thanks and goodluck with your residency.
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| sar
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 639
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Hi retroviridae,
I heard that if you choose typing for one first case, you have to do the same for all cases and that you cant do both (typing and writing) in exam, you have to choose one. Is that correct???
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| alice8
Forum Guru
Topics: 37
Posts: 643
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I heard that if you choose typing for one first case, you have to do the same for all cases and that you cant do both (typing and writing) in exam, you have to choose one. Is that correct???
No it is not, you can start whicever you want and than switch the other one if you want to. I started with typing, used keyboard for my first two cases, than switched to handwriting for the rest.
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Dream on 'til your dream comes true.
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| sar
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 639
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Thanks Alice8, I didnt know that. I now can change the method whenvever I need.
Thank you,
Sar.
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| Jay Leno
Forum Newbie
Topics: 9
Posts: 25
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congrats retroviridae for passing the exam, I fully agree with you about this exam being silly and exapensive, and just imagine about IMG;s cry. I also took the exam at Houston on 3 dec, do you think I will get the result before the deadline for match? best of luck for your match
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| bugsbunny
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 54
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congrats retro n bims for passing CS..good luck for match... ru sure u can type n write coz it says in usmle CD that if u start writing pt. notes then u have to stick with that, although i wrote all my pt. notes...good luck for match
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| screwit27
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 62
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Hi Retro,
I was wondering what your opinion is regarding the time frame needed to prepare for CS. You did mention that you spent about a week preparing for it, but would you say that is adequate, considering someone like me , who graduated 3 years ago ?
Thanks.
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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Jay Leno, I think you should get results in time. That is what they are saying anyway. I am still mad that they didn't tell us that Houston would be so much later than all the other sites.
bugsbunny, what the CD means is that once you start using one method, writing or typing for that patient's note, you can't change. But from patient to patient you can. I typed my first note and then wrote the rest. In fact, for the last case of the day, the computers went down and we all had to write the note.
Screwit, I too graduated three years ago. Yes, 1 week is enough if you are still pretty good at your history taking. The test is really not that hard, as long as you can speak English and know how to treat US patients (that is in the books). I spent a week in the clinic/wards of a doctor at a med school. That was the best prepartaion for me since I had been away from patients for so long.
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| oggn
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 169
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"retroviridae" wrote:
Finally, after taking this silly and expensive test in the end of September in Houston, my results are out and I have passed. I can start residency now and don't have to worry about losing my prematch. I am still highly annoyed with the ECFMG for making me wait SOOOOO long. But at least in the end I did pass. Just to recap what I did to study, studied only for 1 week from Kaplan's CS book. I also saw cases in a US hospital for practice. I think Kaplan's book was good just to get me to see what I was supposed to do to keep the patient's happy. Otherwise, the best prep was working in the hospital. The cases are easy, and the patients nice. In my opinion, just a big waste of time unless they are screening for English ability. If they are, I think the TOEFL was a cheaper way to do that. Good luck every body!
hi retro!
ur advises had really helped me a lot whenever i felt depressed.......i just need a suggestion from u.......i am not so good at english speaking.....but not so bbad either.....i have finished all my praparation 4 cs....am confident...can talk to patient very well in simple english..but not the way american talk.....coz in school my medium was different........otherwise i am ok.....can i pass the cs....planning to take in feb.....or s/d i wait just bcoz of english.........reply me soon ...pleeeeeeeeeeeeeese
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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well, since you are probably trying for 2006 match, you have time to wait, but what would you do to improve your spoken English? I can tell you the patients all speak slowly and clearly. No hard accents in the exam. As long as they can understand you, you will score fine. In fact, they like simple English on the test. I don't know if they score you negatively for bad grammar though. Sorry, I don't really know what to tell you.
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| git_it_dun
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 36
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Hi retroviridae ,
I wanted to know how was your exam experience in Houston center , i would be taking the exam soon , there. U mentioned in your posts that the results are delayed if u take there, how long does it take to be reported ?
Thanks in advance
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| renu
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 43
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congrats .could u pl. tell whether u examined all systems or only the relevant one(complaint related)i also want to ask the same for history ur advice would b greatly appreciated.
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