wombat
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 304
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Hi everyone,
What a relief!!  First of all let me thank all my buddies in the diary world for their constant encouragement which certainly helped a lot. The exam is not as twisted/difficult as I expected. I feel I did ok, of course there are always stuff I don't know the answers. Over all I think the level of difficulty is similar to NBME exam.
I was able to finish each block within 50 minutes or so. I was more prudent than usual in that I make sure I selected the choice I did want to. I took break after each block, but very brief, only for restroom/water/chocolate. I only ate half of the sandwich as I did't feel too hungry. The staff at the center were nice too, which helped me to relax.
My exam was mostly patholgy. There are slides from time to time but I didn't really need to look at it. (I wouldn't have known what the pathology is anyway :lol: ) Microbiology, anatomy and pharmacology were not hard. I was really stressed over anatomy before the exam since I feel it's my worst subject. Behavioral science is my worst subject in terms of score of practice Qs, so as usual I did make a choice but no idea if they are right or not. Several statistics and epidemiology Qs, only 2 required calculation but easy ones. Physiology Qs showed up from time to time, 3 required calculation, all covered by kaplan notes. Not many Qs about metabolism of biochemistry, I was afraid of this part too. Molecular Qs were tested in the form of experimental animal. I just made my best guess if I don't quite understand.
Goljan audio is absolutely a pearl. There are a few questions I would never have figured out the answers if not for listening to his audio. Do listen to it again and again.
I used FA and kaplan notes other than goljan audio. I did follow the trend and bought all kinds of books, HY, BRS... you name it. But never touched them.
I am IMG, graduated in 1998, leaned medicine in a totally different language. Working full time in a lab and studied after work and on weekends. It's been almost 1 year and 2 months since I first opened kaplan notes. Spent first 3 month just looking up in the dictionary and put translation in the books. By this I was able to make connections of things I know and things in the review books. 3 months of Kaplan center prep definitely helped a lot. It's hard to study but I am glad to see my progress. You can find details of my recent 3 months study in my diary of Daily Journal section.
Good luck everyone.
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| Angeles
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 144
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Good luck to you..I think just taking the exam is an achievement hope u will get a great score...what do u think is the best source for Pharma? Kaplan is vague, Lippincott's is bulky and i am choosing between HY and Rediculously simple!! what do u think?
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ALLAH IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME, NONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE WORSHIPPED EXCEPT HIM, UPON HIM I RELY AND HE IS LORD OF THE EXALTED THRONE.
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| wombat
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 304
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I only read kaplan notes and FA. I don't know what's on other books. The qestions I got are quite direct, can all be found in kaplan. Then again everyone has a different test... I've seen people score high with all kinds of combinations of books. So I guess perhaps you can do well with any of them. Good luck. 
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| niti
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 499
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Hi wombat,
Thanks for such a wonderful exam experience.It really helped me to reduce my stress level which I was having since past wk. 8)
Best wishes for coming score report (which I know ..will be excellent )..
Time to relax now.. D
With Wishes..
niti
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| PJL
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
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Hi, wombat:
Thanks a lot for sharing the experience! Good luck on the score! It is a good sign you managed the time well, and finish them ahead. Wishing you a very high score!
I graduated a few years earlier than you, so I found it quite tough. My worst subjects are also anatomy and behavioral science, also week in pharmacology. Are there very detailed anatomy questions like naming where the muscle attaches?
How difficult are the x-ray or CT pictures? Are the genetics and antineoplasmic pharmacology questions tough?
Thanks a lot!
PJ
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| urmee
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 4
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hi everyone, i'm new in this forum . I am a medical graduate from Bangladesh and currently doing my internship. Planning to take the step 1 at the end of 2005
I was curious whether i could come over to delhi and take the kaplan course as we dont have any kaplan branch out here in Bd.
Is it possible for a non-indian on a tourist visa to register fo a kaplan course ?
I'm really very interested. If not, could u please provide me with a list of necessary books or study-materials that i could buy while my visit to india. appearing at usmle is not very common at here and i have managed to get only kaplan 2oo2 step 1 books and goljan high yielding notes 2000.
I'd appreciate any kind of help. it'll be a great help .my mail add is urmee_dmc@yahoo.com
thanx
:?
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| pray4md
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 124
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wombat,
im sure you did very well. hang in there, buddy and enjoy your time away from the books. i have 2 weeks left, so im doing first aid, questions and will sneak in goljan!!! ahh!! congrats again!
p4md
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hey wombat
thanks a lot for your experience.
i'm sure for 100%that you will ace this exam....its really inspiring to know that you studied this exam by translating all the subjects into english.
that must bea tough job.
goodluck!!!!
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| pray4md
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 124
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wombat, that is hardcore. so do you think the questions resemble more the NBME in style or content? how do the questions compare to kaplan qbank?
congrats again
p4md
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| cell
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 7
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Hi wombat
i am sure you did well. Thanks for the sharing of your experience. I found that everybody is talking about Kaplan notes and Goljan audio. what are they?
Are they the same every year? I am very new for the USMLE, not starting yet. If it is possible, could you please sell the note and the audio to me?
my E-mail is davidwang70@yahoo.com
many thanks
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| wombat
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 304
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Niti,thanks for the wishes. Life is good without study, but waiting is kind of torture too. Good luck to you!!
PJL, I didn't get that many anatomy questions in the first place. There are hard ones that I don't know the answer. But I was mentally well prepared before the exam that I will see questions I don't know what it's talking about. I am not supposed to know every single Q, and I found it doesn't really affect people getting a good score, as long as they know the basics. So yes 2 of them are perhaps quite detailed, but they do have clinical relavance. I don't think it's worth the time to know every nerve muscle just to fish for possible 2 Qs for your exam. Invest the limited time in other subjects you may get higher return. This is just my own opinion, I don't know my score so I myself am not convinced yet. Just something you may want to know, you will be the one that make the final decision about strategy. X-ray and CT are ok. When I had problem with those Qs, usually not that I don't know how to identify the structure, but rather what is the structure they are refering to. I didn't review any additional radiology slides before the exam, just no time for that. Only one question on anti cancer drug's side effect. A well known one. One calculation on genetics. I don't feel like I had a lot genetics Qs.
urmee, I am not sure if your post was meant for me. Anyway when I was taking kaplan center prep course, a guy sat beside me is from Bangladesh. He came to US on kaplan student visa and will study in kaplan for 2 years or so for the exam. This is all I know, hope it helps.
prep4md, thanks for your wishes. Good luck!! Yeh I do think Qs resemble NBME very much, style for sure. As for content, I don't remember the Qs I did in NBME. Exam was balanced between subjects with pathology being the majority.
kiran, thanks for your message. I hope things are going well with your study. Keep it up and you will get there soon.
cell, sorry I am not going to sell the notes. Because these are the only English material I have, I want to keep them for reference. However you can find both the notes and goljan audio in ebay.com The most current edition for kaplan notes were released in July 2004. It's similar to the previous edition except immunology part is totally different. Either one is fine for you. They have 7 books plus 1 Qbook.
Thank everyone for your vote of confidence. Good luck to your study.
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| PJL
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
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Hi wombat:
Thank you so much for the detailed message! It helps a lot. I appreciate it.
All my best wishes on the score and future, I am sure you will do great!
PJ
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| KEROCHI
Forum Guru
Topics: 60
Posts: 971
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good luck on your result wombat!!
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| JS
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 95
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Hi wombat,
Your exam experience is very helpful.What do you advice 2 wks before exam? Is FA enough ?
Thanks
JS
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| wombat
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 304
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Tried oasis trick and I found I passed.
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hey wombat
congratulations!!!!
goodluck for a good score and step 2.
i know you have done VERY well.hope to hear another 99 soon.....
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| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
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of course you passed! There was no doubt in my mind about that. We're all just waiting to see how high of a 99 you actually get!
Berk
___________________
PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
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| wombat
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 304
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Thanks everyone for your vote of confidence. Actually now I feel more anxious, waiting for the final word. Once Imbebo said the oasis doesn't get updated till 3am or 4am on Thursday, I think it's quite true. It was updated early morning, I wonder if oasis system maintenance is also outsourced to India... :lol: Anyway knowing I passed means I am over with this thing. Good luck to everyone.
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| drpranavkansara
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 47
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hi friends
i am in a confusion
should i go for kaplan dvds
180 hrs lectures
is it worth
please show me a way
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| wombat
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 304
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Too excited right now, will write more later.
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