usmlerock
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 93
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hey all the best !!the discussion schedule u mentioned seems interesting,do write more abt it ....in need of some boosting
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| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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the kaplan immuno is such a great read. And although it looks long, you can def. finish it in 2 days including all the Qs! When you revise immuno, you shouldn't have to spend more than 1 day on it!
berk
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PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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| galiana
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 22
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2 days i find it a little bit tight for first time reading immuno, but of course is not recommended to linger either. Thanks for the advice and i have a question: from my experience with immuno at school is a very vast subject, how high rated is at usmle exam?
Didnt start reading immuno, or even thumb through kaplan pages, though i kinda doubt it will take only 2 days ...
Any other advice is very welcomed ... we all thank you
Good Luck Studying
Ana
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| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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I thought I had a fair amount of immuno on my test but it was very theoretical and conceptual. If I remember correctly, I thought I had about 20-30 micro Qs and maybe 20 immuno Qs. It wasn't like which interluekin does this? It was very conceptual....you will be fine using kaplan immuno. That was actually my favorite of the kaplan books. very well written, concise, and well organized. The immuno exam Qs are harder than Qbank. I ripped thru the 50 immuno Qbank Qs in like 25 minutes and scored like 90%. The actual exam has you draw from your conceptual understanding of material.
I can't really think of any examples right now cuz I'm pretty hung over.
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PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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| laila
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 86
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7:35 a.m.
Could not or rather did not write my diary for so many days. For one thing I was running short on motivation. And then there were some family problems t otake care of. Well I hope I have taken care of them. Or if not I don't know and don't really care how they get taken care of. I mean we are only supposed to d othe best we can.
And that goes for my studies too. U know guys it (and I should write IT, in capitols and bold - the step 1, does seem like a monster from outer space.  ) sometimes seems so much larger than life. And when I start getting that image of step 1 I say to my self wel lal lu have to d ois make sure u r today is well spent. U can't lick it all in one go, so need t odo it in small installments. Wel lthat is like making an easier version of step 1 but it is relaistic. Right? We just need to take care of our NOW. our TODAY regards the studying. And that is all.
So I am just starting my day viz-aviz my studying now, and will hopefully report at the end of the day how it all went.
I remeber usmlerock had asked me some days earlier about the discussions Ana and I are palnnig to have. Well we had one on micro - on MSN. And we both plan to have more. It is really good. It keeps me on my toes, otherwise I might slack off. And it is good as a revision.
Should have been Micro and Immuno long time ago. I am behind in mychedule and it really makes me mad but I know I could n't have helped it. By the way Ana u r a very good team player. Good luck to u.
Regarding Micro I had this freaking longing ( yeah it was like an obsession ) to start all over again from KAPLAN Micro. I had done Micro from Micro made ridiculously simple before. And I really enjoyed reading that books. No offense to any one but I had this nagging feeling that I need to do it from Kaplan. That MMRS is not working for me. And I am glad that I did. I personally find Kaplan Micro to be a lot better than MMRS. Just my opinion.
Any way being unable to study for the past few days now does give me the feeling of trying to get back on a fast moving marry-go -ound while it is still moving.But I need to get back on track. Or die trying
So let's do it.
And good luck to me.
And to every one else on this forum.
Happy Studying
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"A ship in harbour is safe......but that is not what ships are made for."
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hi laila
good to see you after a long time!!!!
just wanted say goodluck with your studies and have aproductive day!!!
and my HAPPY STUDYING!!!!(actually i saw this in the forum i dontknow who started it but i liked it made a habit to write it at the end....) :lol: :lol:
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| laila
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 86
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7:08 a.m.
I were reading Kiran's diary and was really moved and motivated by berkeleyboy's post in it:
There's truly no excuse for laziness. Hard work and perseverence is the only thing I have going for me. You know what? If i had f***ed up this exam, the only thing I know that would get me over it would be the fact that I tried my damn hardest I ever had in my entire life and did all I could do to prepare for this test. If its not meant to be than its not meant to be, but Do NOT sell yourself short and NOT put in the effort and time when it really matters.
So do I have any excuse for not studying hard? Not giving it my 100%? Does anybody?
Lessons learned from past 2 weeks:
1. I switched from MMRS to Kaplan after doing it . I can't make a habit of it. Just need t obe careful on this aspect. I thnik for all of the rest of subjects I will stick to Kaplan and Goljan. No more switching of review books.
2. My speed is too slow. By my schedule I have to do 50 pages a day, but I do so many readings or get in to so many trifle details which is just useless and senseless for the usmle. Infact it is downright suicidal to indulge in that habit. So from now on I will stick to my schedule and not get wayward in my reading.
3. I still need to be strict about my time spent on internet. The problem is I have to be in front of my computer for I listen to web prep lectures and in b/w it is rather hard not to surf the net. But I have to really tru and discipline myself on this issue too.
OK I am off for the day.
Good day to u all and happy studying.
___________________
"A ship in harbour is safe......but that is not what ships are made for."
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| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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"My speed is too slow. By my schedule I have to do 50 pages a day, but I do so many readings or get in to so many trifle details which is just useless and senseless for the usmle. Infact it is downright suicidal to indulge in that habit. So from now on I will stick to my schedule and not get wayward in my reading."
Don't worry, the usmle tests details as well. Its not all big picture. Make sure you go at a pace that you can retain as well as regurg. possibly days and most likely weeks later on your exam. You're more likely to remember something when you went thru it slowly than if you breezed thru it. Trust me, really learning the material is more important that going thru it quickly.
Keep up the good work.
bErk
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PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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| laila
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 86
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8:20 a.m.
Thanks Kiran, and Niti and berkeleyboy for ur good wishes and/or advice. As before I found u guys' advice to be really helpful and beneficial. And motivating God bless u.
Last week I was really stressing out so much because I found many of the questions at the forum's microbiology section to be sooooooooooooo difficult. I were freaking out like what the hell, I did study micro and I am able to do all of the Kaplan end of chapter questions correct, then why do I find many of the forum's Qs so out of this world. If it had not been for icecool and md2besoon I might still be stressing out over this. They both alleviated my anxiety and assured me regarding my prep and as before gave me good , sound advice. May God bless them both.
I did not feel like writing my diary today. My slow progress can often make me antsy. So I a mkind of forcing my self t okeep this habit of mainitaining my diary, even if I don't feel like doing it and try to hide behind the excuse of 'oh wel l it is just a waste of time.' or 'well I am doing it for myself and whether or not I write my diary I would KNOW my daily progress or lack of it, so what is the point in writing my diary.'
I know all these excuses are really just that- excuses. I do fee lmore accountable when I write my diary, so it helps me a lot in my studying. So I will just keep doing what I had charted out in the more rational and sane moments whether I want to or not.
I just need to take care of my TODAY. Of my NOW in the matter of usmle step 1. And not worry about any thing else. And to keep my self focused.
My plan for today:
Do as much of immuno with kaplan webprep and kaplan lecture notes as I can. The minimum is 50 pages of lectur notes. Any thing below this would not be acceptable. So let's see. I will post my progress at the end of the day. And it better be progress.
Happy studying to u all!
And to me!
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"A ship in harbour is safe......but that is not what ships are made for."
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| laila
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 86
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8:34 in the morning
Just a quick note. Don't have time for any detailed conversation to/ in the diary.
Did immuno yesterday but got sidetracked big time when some visitors came home unexpectedely.Hopefully I will make up for that today. Did 50 Qs. from the Kaplan lecture book before starting my studies to see where I stand. Got 60% but this can be so misleading,the end of the chapter questions are so simple for the most part. So I just need to remember that I have to go a long way in immuno. I would hate to be lulled by a false sense of security.
Ok off to studies now. I might report at the end of the day how much I covered.
But before that some golden words of wisdom :wink: :
"Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue."
:lol: :lol:
oh and happy studying ya all
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"A ship in harbour is safe......but that is not what ships are made for."
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| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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should not be the Qs at the end of the kaplan notes. Those are truly just for learning and have no real correlation whatsover.....
happy studying!
berk
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PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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| rubyedward
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 197
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i'm just wondering, if u have stopped writing yr diary.......
anyway, u r doing yr exam in DEC right?? so u have lots of time. i'm sure u must be studying....
well.....i'm just here to say hi and good luck with yr studies and exam.
ruby.
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| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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and tho our accquantance has been brief, I want to tell you to work your hardest for this exam. Its def. worth all your hard work and perspiration. Best of luck to you,
Berk
___________________
PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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| laila
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 86
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Thursday, May, 05,2005
so did not write my diary yesterday. and this is one of the danger zones I need to avoid in my journey.
I can't find an effective way to deal with this feeling of reaching a platuae and of monotony. Why can't I remember that for now I just have to be slow and steady, and at times fast and steady. But the emphasis is on steady. Consistency. I am finiding it so hard to stick to my schedule for this very habit of mine and for this very reason I had started keeping my diary. So I could avoid this prolbem as much as possible. Well I have tohught about it and for now all I can come up with is to stick to the day's schedule no matter what ( and mine is a pretty realistic every day schedule, notihng outo of this world ). Because once I slip I keep on slipping.
I am feeling so down because of this lack of consistency, lack of motivation, lack of honest hard work that I don't even feel like writing my diary. After all I had promised my self that I would be brutally honest with me about my studies. And the brutal honesty is that I am sick of my laziness, of my getting distracted.
Well the lament above was something I could not help guys. It sucks. really. but this is the bitter pill i have to take.
Berkeleyboy: these end of chapter questions , or any other questions that I do at this point in time are just for my own learning. I don't do them for any correlation with the real score. I would be a fool if I did. right?
Oh and have a nice time in the big apple
rubyedward: hi and welcome to diary world. It is nice to have u here. I am very much here. and studying. Thanks a lot for ur good wishes. All the best to u too
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"A ship in harbour is safe......but that is not what ships are made for."
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| Moctopod
Forum Elite
Topics: 14
Posts: 422
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Hi Laila
I find I do the same thing too. Every time I don't feel I've accomplished all that I could and should do, I stay away from the forum. This site really helps to get us back on track though. If you post regularly, regardless of how much (or how little) you've achieved each day, supprt from forum friends will help you to do even more! Keep going.
All the best,
Moc
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| usmlerock
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 93
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how r u?all the best and dnt worry abt yr speed ....smotimes its slow the other time its real fast
i hav faith in u
happy studying!
:icon_study: :icon_study: :icon_study:
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| rubyedward
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 197
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hi laila,
how r u?? yr descriptive writing is v. sweet, i must say.
oh how's yr immuno reading going on??
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| rubyedward
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 197
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hi laila,
how r u? how's yr immuno reading??
take care.
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| laila
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 86
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Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Been ages since I wrote my diary.
A close relative needed my time and attention.
Well I am back now
Sure did miss the forum guys. And it is really great to see so many new journals on the forum.
Hey Moctopod, niti, usmlerock and rubyedward, thank u guys for boosting my morale up. Since my last vent about not putting in as much effort as I can or should I had mended my ways considerably.
Still there is a lot of room for improvement.
But guys I just want to say ur support meant so much to me. I hope u all r doing really swell in ur studies.
OK these days I am doing beh. sciences. Started yesterday. I need to do a lot of practice with p-value,confidence intervals, and sensitivity , and specificty, and difernt kinds of biases. The only way I can feel comfrotable with these and other terms is to solve questions.
Also I have 2 add-on(s)to my daily study schedule.
First: daily regimen of Goljan audio and Rapid Review Pathology for one hour every day.I consider that my recreation hour. Really 
Second: daily dose of biochemistry/ molecular biology/ genetics from Kaplan Web prep + Kaplan Lecture notes for one hour every day. These days I am doing biochemistry from Kaplan. Again started only two days ago.
why these add-ons? : Well I hate molecular biolgy/ biochemistry/ genetics and figured that a 2 week intensive study will probably wear me out thin and I would still not be able to master them for my exam, so spreading these thin over the next several weeks in small daily doses is my way of dealing with this issue. I hope it will work. So far it is working very nicely indeed, in small daily dose I can not only get the concepts clear and understood but I even like the stuff. 
And for daily patho, well every body knows how important pathology is for usmle, so again I thought I would keep it my daily routine till the last month or so.
OK off to my studies.
Bye every one.
Happy studying all 
Laila
___________________
"A ship in harbour is safe......but that is not what ships are made for."
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| tanisha
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 121
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hi ..how r u?where r u?
Just came to say hi...Goodluck with your studies!
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| usmlerock
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 93
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hey laila
wazzup?how r yr studies goin...best of luck!!
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| 99doc
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 370
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hi,
not writing diary.busy studying or what?
best wishes
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| laila
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 86
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Saturday, May 14, 2005
Hi All,
Weekeends r not good study wise, for me it is the chores time. Even though my husband is so sweet that he helps me with cooking and other household chores but still I do have to spend quite a bit of my time in these chores. What is more I got the cold and sore throat, so am not feeling well.
So today I have not done my daily pathology or molecular biology. Just did 4 chapters of behavior sciences. I am using Kaplan for behavior sciences, though I had bought Fadem too, but since I listen to web prep lectures so I think that following Kaplan lecture notes would be better for me.
It is still only 6:00 p.m. but I am still have one more dish to cook for the coming week. I will try to do some more chapters of behavior sciencs. I wanted to finish it today but that seems so unlikely.
99DOC, USMLEROCK, TANISHA, all the best to u and thanks a lot for dropping by.
All the best to u all.
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"A ship in harbour is safe......but that is not what ships are made for."
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| 99doc
Forum Elite
Topics: 52
Posts: 370
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Hi,
Take Care of ur health.never mind there is always a bad part of road on every journey&this is our special step 1 journey.
Good Luck with studies&get well soon
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| kaira
Forum Senior
Topics: 1
Posts: 128
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hi laila
ur soo right weekends r the least productive days!!but dnt u worry as the day starts approching u will see the change in the pattern of ur studies .till thn keep on studying
work hard and take care of ur health
kaira
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