etcknight
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 10
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Hi everyone,
This is a follow-up to my original topic.
etcknight - "Advice? - Failed Step2 x3, Reapplying Match"
http://www.prep4usmle.com/community/topic10426.ht...
You guys have been so supportive and helpful, I just wanted to let everyone know my good news. After 3 failures [avg 177], I crunched down and finally received a passing score of 206/84. While not quite the stupendous achievement of PM&R_dude, I'm just happy to have passed.
PM&R_dude - "Passed 245/99"
http://www.prep4usmle.com/community/topic14402.ht...
My original residency has agreed to re-extend their offer of a position, and I will start residency in June at my original #1 match choice!! Yeah! There is hope at the end of the tunnel.
I still have to pass Step 3 though, so if you have any advice for that, I'd appreciate it. For those of you still trying, I wish you the best of luck. PM&R_dude is completely correct when he says you should practice "Questions, Questions, Questions." Here's my list of "hits and misses" for studying:
In summary: Questions, Questions, Questions (I would have loved to do more if I had the time)
1) focus on your weaker subjects & do more questions & studying for that (mine was IM)[ie. Pre-test, Blue-prints, A&L, etc]
2) Pick a review book and add notes to it as you study
Originally:
1) Kaplan Q-bank
2) Blueprint series (average)
Next step:
1) USMLEasy Q-bank (not recommended - too easy) - but if you need more questions, go ahead.
2) Appleton & Lange Q-books (not subject specific - hard to focus on specific subjects/topics)
Recently: (I was weak on IM so tried to focus on that, and it helped)
1) USMLEworld - I know it's been said a ton of times, but I really recommend these. The questions are totally like Step 2 CK. The answer choices are a lot harder to decide, but the vignettes are very respective of what you can expect to find. I think answers are a little easier to figure out on the real Step 2 in general.
2) Internal medicine Pre-test (for more questions)
3) Boards & Wards
4) Swanson's Family Practice (I didn't find this to be very helpful. Reviews say there are a lot of mistakes in the older version. The newer version may be more helpful, but I'm not sure.)
5) Crush the Boards / Secrets [same book, different formats](personally, I didn't like the "Secrets" format, and they certainly don't give enough information to feel comfortable taking the test.)
6) NMS Q-book (for more questions)
Personally, I think Kaplan is a hit or miss. From my understanding, it's basically a self-motivated review course. If you've already got review materials, I don't think Kaplan will help you more. Focus on doing questions and identifying the "key concepts" & "clues" for each questions.
Good luck to everyone. And, please if you have any advice for Step 3 or how to further improve my scores on the multiple-choice portions, please let me know. Thanks!!
etcknight
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| ELM
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 936
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Thank you for your experience.
Congratulations on passing,
and of course good luck on your step 3 and more.
Good job!
___________________
ELM
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| monica76
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 151
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and thanks for advice.... one small Q ... u mentioned that secrets and crush the boards .. ..same books in different format.... then is it ok to do just secrets if i do not have crush the boards or do u think crush the boards is a better format?
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| msashraf
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 156
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congratulations!!!! see persevrence is the key to success
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| etcknight
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 10
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"monica76" wrote:
and thanks for advice.... one small Q ... u mentioned that secrets and crush the boards .. ..same books in different format.... then is it ok to do just secrets if i do not have crush the boards or do u think crush the boards is a better format?
Hey Monica76,
From what I've been told, either one is fine. You are correct that they both have about the same information. The format you choose depends on what you study better from. Personally, I liked the "Boards & Wards" format better, and b/c there was enough space for me to add my own notes. Hope this helps. Good luck! =)
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| polkos
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 88
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Congatulations on passing out step 2.
I've one que... can u pls tell me what's the difference between the formtas of those 2 books CTB & boards and wards???
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| lucky
Forum Guru
Topics: 23
Posts: 505
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congratulations and best of luck for step 3.
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| msashraf
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 156
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i dont have much idea about step 3 but most of the people recommend doin kaplan + usmel world.
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| r753_2000
Forum Elite
Topics: 59
Posts: 255
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I remembered when I took STEP 2 CK, about 40% were STEP 1 material... straight memorization (which of course I didn't bother reviewing again). They were very specific. Did you find this in your exam as well?
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