kc
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 43
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Took Step 2 CK on 11/10, took Step 2 CS 11/23.
Prepared just under 1 week for Step 2 CS because of recovery time from Step 2 CK.
Read- First Aid only
Girlfriend read USMLEWorld and acted as patient over the phone (we live in different cities), and we practiced several cases over 1 day. Did about 12 live cases from USMLEWorld. Practiced writing note 2-3 times.
Lodging - Hacienda is noisy. Had a family with kids above me. Was hoping to review things the day before exam, but was distracted by hotel noise.
The Exam
Was one of three IMG's, everyone else was AMG. Afternoon session coming in seemed to be all IMG's.
Patients were reasonable.
Very nervous - forgot handwashing in first 4 patients.
Totally messed up diagnosis/counseling in one case.
Had a fight with a blood pressure cuff in another case.
Was so nervous my normally bad handwriting was worse than ever, but I don't know how to type.
Didn't know abbreviations for notes, so note was very cluttered/crammed.
Overall, calmed down by last 7 cases which went quite smoothly.
Spoken english - definite accent, but no one asked me to repeat.
Suggestions:
First Aid is a great book - just about all you need. Practicing USMLEWorld cases also helps.
You absolutely have to practice cases with someone. especially if you haven't been in clinic for a long time (2.5 yrs here). Practice so that you have a standard line when you first enter. Make sure you know how to ask everything in easy to understand terms and practice saying it so it comes naturally.
Practice really washing hands even if you're practicing in your living room so you don't forget during the real thing. It doesn't seem to be a fatal error, but it's nice to pick up every point possible.
Take at least two weeks to prepare (much longer if there are language issues). One week isn't enough, and the wait for the result was extremely stressful.
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| dani9
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 13
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Hi, Could you tell me, if you did attend Kaplan Cs course? There are so expensive- I don't think I can affort it.
Didi you got the exam in LA?
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| kc
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 43
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Yup, took the exam in LA.
No. Didn't take any course.
Girlfriend is a non-IMG practicing physician, though, so she gave me some pointers when we went through cases.
How important it is to take the Kaplan CS course - look at the experience on this forum, usmleforum.com, and usmle.net. Depends how much clinical experience you've had here, how good your english is. The idealized physician-patient interaction in the US is quite different from the interaction in other parts of the world.
Good luck.
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| dani9
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 13
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Thank you very much! Good luck to you also!
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| mitra
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 7
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do you have any idea as which centre is good for cs.. LA or phili
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| vas
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 49
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Hi kc,
I will be giving my CS in June in LA.I would be very grateful if you could advise on the travel and lodging logistics:How far from the airport is the center and the best hotel to stay in thats near to it?.
Thanks in advance and good luck in the match.
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