shirish_sss
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 134
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HI GUYS.............MEMBERS OF THIS GR8 FORUM.......
I FINALLY TOOK MY STEP-2 TODAY..............
IT WAS NOT AS TOUGH AS MY STEP-1.......AND I M QUITE SATISFIED WITH WHAT I HAVE DONE.......
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I FEEL ABOUT MY EXAM........THIS IS ABOUT MY OWN EXAM....OTHER CANDIDATES MAY GET A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE EXAM.......
WELL THE BASIC THING IS THAT THEY ASKED ME THE MOST BASIC THINGS.....
YES GUYS....THEY ASKED THE MOST COMMON THINGS IN THE MOST UNCOMMON MANNER THAT IS POSSIBLE.....
SMITHA WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE DESCRIBED HER EXAM EXPERIENCE.....I TOOK NOTICE OF HER ADVISE.....
I GOT QUESTIONS FROM ALL SECTIONS.......
THERE WAS A MAJOR PORTION OF IM........A SIGNIFICANT SECTION OF PSYCHIATRY.....A LARGE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY....AND NOT TOO MUCH OF PEDS OR OB-GY.......THOUGH THERE WAS SOME......
PSYCHIATRY WAS HEAVILY TESTED....PROBABLY EACH AND EVERY DISORDER AND PERSONALITY TRAIT.......AND ALSO CHILD PSYCHIATRY WAS HEAVILY TESTED TOO........A LOT NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THERE TOO........I PROBABLY SAW ADHD AND CONDUCT DISORDER MANY TIMES ON MY SCREEN....
SIMILARLT SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS WERE ASKED IN MANY QUESTIONS....
AND VERY IMPORTANT....I GOT MANY QUESTIONS FROM PSYCHIATRY PHARMACOLOGY TOO.....SO IF U HAVEN'T DONE THAT PROPERLY IN STEP-1 THEN MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ALL OF THEM.....BEFORE YOUR STEP-2.........
I GOT FEW EKG .....MAY BE THREE OR FOUR..........LIKE ANTERIOR WALL MI, SVT, AF AND THE FOURTH ONE I DON'T REMEMBER
GUYS MAKE SURE THAT IN INTERNAL MEDICINE YOU KNOW THE COMPLICATION OF ALL THE DISORDERS AND THE TREATMENT OF THESE COMPLICATIONS VERY WELL....CUZ THEY DON'T SIMPLY ASK ABOUT ANY DISEASE......MOST OF THE TIMES IN MY QUESTIONS IT WAS COMPLICATIONS OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT.....
FOR EG...I GOT A CASE OF CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE.....AND THEY DESCRIBED CVS EXAMINATION OF CARDIAC TAMPONADE......SO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT IT'S PERICARDIAL EFFUSION.....AND IT'S MANAGEMENT....THAT IS PERICARDIOCENTESIS....
I GOT ONLY ONE CT-SCAN .......THAT WAS PSEUDOCYST OF PANCREAS.....
I GOT FEW X-RAYS........NOT MUCH IMPORTANT CUZ I WAS ABLE TO MAKE DIAGNOSIS FROM THE CASE HISTORY ITSELF......AND THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURES AND X-RAYS IN USMLE EXAMS....YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT IT SO I DON'T NEED TO TELL U THAT......
I GOT TWO SLIDES OF PERIPHERAL SMEAR....BUT THAT TOO USELESS CUZ DIAGNOSIS IS OBVIOUS FROM THE HISTORY ITSELF.....THEY GAVE ME BITE CELLS...AND HISTORY OF FLANK PAIN AND BLACK URINE IN AN ARMENIAN JEW AFTER UPPER RESP INFECTION TREATED WITH BACTRIM....I GUESS IT WAS G6PD DEFICIENCY.......HOPE I M RIGHT.....
I GOT MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT INFECTIOS DISEASES TOO....LIKE LYME'S....SECONDARY SYPHILIS.....RMSF......MALARIA......AMEBIASIS IN MEXICAN IMMIGRANT......ETC.....
I GOT LOL MANY ON PREVENTIVE MEDICINE....VACCINES.....SCREENING TESTS.....ADVICE REGARDING STOP SMOKING.....ALCOHOLISM.....
I GOT FEW ON STATS TOO....ONE Q ASKED ME TO CALCULATE SPECIFICITY OF THE TEST AND GIVEN THE DATA.....
THERE WERE FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT COHORT....CASE CONTROL...AND TWO OR THREE ON VARIOUS FLAWS IN THE TEST EXPERIMENT....I M PROBABLY NOT SURE OF THIS SECTION....CUZ THAT IS MY WEAKEST PORTION......
I GOT MANY QUESTIONS ON SICKLE CELL........RANGING FROM PRENATAL SCREENING...PREVENTION......TO COMPLICATIONS....
BOTTOMLINE IS THAT GUYS....KNOW THE MOST BASIC THINGS VERY WELL....KNOW EACH AND EVERY THING ABOUT TOPICS LIKE SICKLE CELL....AND YA I GOT FEW ONE'S ON CYSTIC FIBROSIS TOO.....
THERE WERE MANY TYPICAL QUESTIONS LIKE THE ONE GIVEN IN KAPLAN Q-BANK..........I WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS NEAREST TO THE ACTUAL EXAM IN SIMULATION....BUT NOT EXACT......
BOOK THAT I RECOMMEND FOR STEP-2.............
1) CMDT FOR MEDICINE...
2) KAPLAN SURGERY IS THE BEST BOOK ON THE EARTH....DON'T RUN HERE AND THERE FOR SURGERY....
3) OB-GY IS EXCELLENT IN KAPLAN
4) KAPLAN PEDS IS LENGTHY....YOU NEED TO CUT IT SHORT FOR EXAM PURPOSE CUZ IN PEDS AND OB-GY THEY DON'T TEST YOU HARDLY....IT'S BASIC QUESTIONS........
5) KAPLAN Q-BANK.........AND I ALSO DID HARRISON'S PRETEST BEFORE GOING FOR EXAM.......
I DID NOT FIND CRUSH THE BOARDS VERY USEFUL....CUZ EVERYTHING IS COVERED IN KAPLAN NOTES VERY NICELY.......
ANY QUERIES ARE WELCOME AND I WILL TRY TO GIVE REPLIES AS SOON AS I GET ON NET.......
GOOD LUCK TO U ALL............
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| guest
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hi, guess who is this.
ur buddy. well i m posting my reply for first time.
i want to tell all others my exp.
it is diff from others.
im is tested heavily.
little of surgery.
and rest in order paeds; psyche;ob;
negigible stats.
ethicsmay be 1 or 2 in each block.
skin was unexpectedly low in amt .
the problem with exam is less time.
i was able to barely complete each block with 2or 3 min remainig.in step 1 there was 10- 15 min of extra time at my disposal.
on an avg q were around 8 -9 sentences long.
not much of big q and 2 liners were only 2.
all queries are welcome as they dont allow me to write further, i m done with space.
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| shirish_sss
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 134
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hi davinder.....
i guess it's u.......i was expecting your post ..........
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| shirish_sss
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 134
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HI GUYS......
THE ABOVE GUEST IS MY CLOSEST FREIND AND STUDY PARTNER TOO......
HE'S HAD 99 IN STEP-1 AND.......
HAT'S OFF TO HIM IN ADVENCE FOR 99 IN STEP-2 ALSO......I KNOW HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT THIS TIME ALSO......
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| Yulia
Forum Elite
Topics: 19
Posts: 240
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Thank you so very much for sharing your experience shirish. It is invaluable for us.
Let me wish you all the best for all steps ahead and I am sure you did exceptionally well on this step.
I have a question, do they ever ask about pathophysiological mechanisms of disease?
another one : some people say it takes less time to prepare for step 2 then for step 1, what do you think?
and one more, what is your suggestion for psychiatry book?
did you also have barely enough time to finish blocks?
Thanks a lot in advance  Enjoy your study-free time
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| shirish_sss
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 134
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HI YULIA.....THNX FOR GOOD WISHES.....
ABOUT PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISM.....YES THEY DO ASK....BUT NOT HEAVILY......I GOT FEW MANY ON IT....
PARTICULARLY THE CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS ARE FAVOURITE FOR PATHOLOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS...
BUT NOT TOO DIFFICULT QUESTIONS.....I THINK U CAN FIGURE OUT THAT WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE....
IN SHORT NO NEED TO READ THE STEP-1 BOOKS BEFORE GOING FOR YOUR STEP-2..........
ABOUT PSYCHIATRY......I DID IT FROM KAPLAN NOTES........OF STEP-2......IT WAS GOOD......SINCE I ALSO DID LIVE KAPLAN AND I TOOK NOTES IN THE MARGINS....AND ON THE LAST WEEK I DID HAVE TIME TO REFER TO ONLY THOSE NOTES......BUT IT WAS VERY USEFUL....THOSE NOTES TAKEN ON SIDE MARGINS.....
I WOULD PROBABLY SUGGEST THAT U CAN READ KAPLAN NOTES FOR NOW....AND WRITE DOWN IN BREIF ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PAGE IN THE MARGINS....IMEAN THE HIGHYIELD STUFF....AND DURING THE LAST WEEK U WILL BE FINE WITH READING THAT HIGHYIELD STUFF.....
YES I DO BELIEVE THAT STEP-2 TAKES LESS TIME THAN STEP-1......IT TOOK ME ONLY 2 MONTHS.........INCLUDING THE LIVE KAPLAN LECTURES.......
PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE DONE STEP-1 WELL AND RECENTLY....THEN STEP-2 SHOULD NOT TAKE MUCH TIME.....I WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND 3-4 MONTHS.....BUT IT'S STILL VARIABLE FOR EVERYBODY.....
AND TIME FACTOR IS REAL ONE....THE CRUCIAL ONE......
YES DAVINDER IS RIGHT....
IN MY STEP-1 I HAD TIME TO REVIEW ALL THE MARKED ITEMS....BUT IN STEP-2 I HAD THAT PRIVILEGE IN ONLY ONE BLOCK....AND THAT TOO NOT MANY MARKED ITEMS....
I CHANGED A LOT MANY ANSWERS IN STEP-1....PROBABLY ROUND BOUT
2 TO 3 IN EVERY BLOCK....
BUT IN STEP-2 I HAD THE TIME TO CHANGE ONLY 2 TO 3 IN THE ENTIRE EXAM.....
IT WILL BE HARD TIME COMPLETING THE BLOCKS IN STEP-2 BEFORE THE SCHEDULE.....SINCE THE CONTENT OF THE QUESTIONS IS SO MUCH...LIKE THE LAB FINDINGS ETC....AND YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO EACH AND EVERY OF THAT...SINCE MISSING ANY CRUCIAL OR VITAL INFORMATION CAN BE DEADLY.....SO OVERALL AHRD TIME COMPLETING THE BOLCKS WITHIN ONE HOUR.....
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY DURING THE VERY FIRST TIME AND MAKE UP U R MIND ABOUT THE ANSWER....DON'T LEAVE IT FOR LATER REVIEW...BECAUSE THAT TIME MAY NEVE4R ARRIVE.......
I WOULD ADVISE TO PRACTICE THE KAPLAN SIMULATED IN THE EXAM CONDITIONS.....
AND IF POSSIBLE Q-BANK ALSO THAT WAY....SINCE THEN YOU GET ADAPTED TO THE EXAM ENVIRONMENT......
THAT'S ABOUT YOUR QUERIES......YULIA....GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR EXAM TO U AND ALL MEMBERS OF THIS FORUM....
THIS FORUM WAS A GREAT PLACE TO PREPARE FOR CRUCIAL EXAMS LIKE USMLE......
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PREP4USMLE...THE MODERATOR OF THIS FORUM....ON BEHALF OF ALL THE MEMBERS....SINCE HE'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB...MANAGING THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE FORUM...APART FROM PREPARING FOR HIS OWN EXAM.....SO THAT REST OF THE MEMBERS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE....
HAT'S OFF TO PREP4USMLE.......FOR HIS GREAT WORK......
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| Yulia
Forum Elite
Topics: 19
Posts: 240
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I thank you very much Shirish. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Again, all the best for all the steps in the future!!!
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| prep4usmle
Administrator
Topics: 288
Posts: 1,193
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Thank you shirish_sss for the good words!
Regards!
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| guest
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well yes it was me.
i totally agree to what u have said in ur last mail.
all those who are taking the exam. the key thing is reading speed and grasping power at first go.
it takes less time for step2 for preparation.
dont make me feel i m on cloud 9.
i have done good.
result depends on the no . of guesses i get correct.
u will get better score than me and i m sure.
lets hope we both get good scores and so do all the deserving ppl out there.
all questions are welcome.
davinder
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| no more a loser
Forum Guru
Topics: 140
Posts: 580
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thanks for sharing your experience, its great to get such feedbacks from ppl who take the exam n analyze it for others, thanks
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| usmledoctor1
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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thanks sirish . i m taking step 2 next week . i came across this site just 2 week before my exam and i found it good but i m time pressed. i just wish i could have known this site when i started preparing. i wanna ask forum members , is passing step 2 and getting 80 score easy. i m just apprehensive about passing. i dont have really high goals. please tell me.
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usmledoctor2@yahoo.com message me on my yahoo messenger anytime.
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