sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
| | 06/23/05 - 11:18 AM
1 of 1 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
I have finally decided to fill out the application i guess that will be the only way i can be serious. Thinking about taking step 1 in nov05.
My biggest dillemma is i like reading alot but thats about it....i dont memorize or rather Cant memorize....i get good understanding of the subject but i know that wouldn't cut it...anyway i think the best way for people like me who cant memorize stuff is do MCQ's .Mcq's reinforces teh concepts...
|
| kaira
Forum Senior
Topics: 1
Posts: 128
|
hi sarika
WELCOME TO THE DIARY LAND
its good tht u filled the form unlike me im still gathering my guts to fill it....u doo sound soo much like me....i too just cnt memorize stuff ...do understnd the concept bt after somedays it just vapourises ......Bt u hav found the answer to ur problem.....mcqs mcqs and more mcqs...........thts wht will make ur reading more sticky to ur brain and the concepts more clearer
and yes dnt forgt revision along wth it 2.......
all the very best wth ur preparation
kaira
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi ya'll.
thanks kaira for ur nice words...after whole week of dissappointing mcqs today i did well on cardio path...so i am feeling ok ....last few days i was doing physio/path like one day respiration physio then next day path respiration....i gotta tell u i used to be very good at physio but now these graphs they just drive me nuts....pA02 pa02 stuff like that...whew...well i will keep trying...also i amtrying to limit myself from reading too much stuff rather i will read kaplan n fa only....then try to do brs review and read only the topics i couldn't answer..i dunno...well goodluck to all of u...bubye
|
| used2Bdoc
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 42
|
Yes....That's the way I use to force myself to study too...Apply first, make me see my goal.
|
| worriedin2005
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 3
|
hi guys ,
today i am just chillin' out
well actually i wanted to reschedule my study plan. basically i took the chat schedule posted by niti few months ago....and rearranged the subjects according to my own preferences...the whole process will take 54 days and time will depend on how many weekends i will take off...
i am thinking abt studying in the morning and try to complete a days task by 4 o clock after that i will do q& a...i have kaplan q book...A & L review questions, nms review questions...after finihsing reading these subjects once i will probably get online access of q bank by kaplan....(btw do u guys think its necessary i mean its 179 dollars for one month...any suggestions!)...
so what u guys think i am thinking abt nov 1st to take the test.....Any Advices
|
| dharjma
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 182
|
theres ample time i guess frm now to november. you can definitely score very well if you keep at it consistently, no matter what baseline you start from now. i dontthink theres any alternatives to qbank. it is really the gold standard. i know i definitely wont walk into an exam without it. the other alternative about using qbank is to share it with someone. i know many of my friends who've done it. but i dont know how it works though, does kaplan allow two different computers to be logged into one account?? has anyone done this before? are there some disadvantages of sharing?
|
| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
|
hey sarika....a some what delayed welcome! ...i completely agree with dharjma regarding q bank....no alternatives what so ever...hope studyign is coming along fine...good luck!
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hey guys tahnkyou very much for welcoming me...u guys r gr888888
whats up with this histology....last week when iw as doing physio n patho...i was like on a roll...but today i started histo and i just cant study....dont know what to do....i cant even read kaplan notes..i am thinking abt skipping the general topics and read only systemic histology nad probably see the sldes online.... histologyyyy ehhhhh
|
| dharjma
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 182
|
hey sarika. i havent done anything for histology and dont have resources to study from. is there an online slide website or something? and i know its probably a really basic question but what are these kaplan notes about? ive heard it all over the place and have never come in contact with them. granted im in malaysia and students in my medschool in ireland only used HY and FA but still, im curious. thanks!
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi dharjma,
http://www.kumc.edu/instruction/medicine/anatomy/...
this is the websites where you can see alot of histology slides and a little bit notes too. About kaplan, its an institution which prepares med students and graduates for usmle in sua. They have their notes which can be found all around the world (atleast in southeast asia they are very common and can be bought from any med book store). I dont know if its legel to sell old kaplan notes on the internet or not but i think i saw some on ebay. They are good and most of the people read them as their major source of preparation for usmle. Goodluck finding them in malaysia.
BYe
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi everyone,
its been 3 months since i started studying for step one. took a few breaks here n there so probably i am studying for 2 n half months atleast...i just finished my first reading of kaplan notes (for path physio i used brs)...scoring just abt 60 - 65% in qbook n A & L...thinking abt moving my exam further frm dec 15 to probably feb 15...and i will have to restrategize everything now...problems i have noted is that i actually know what they are asking but since i am not memorizing things....i am making mistakes....second thing is i am not reading the questions thoroughly (i dunno why)....other thing that i did was i dint include FA in my first reading and did not add anything in it...the first time (although people sugggested doing that)...now with my next reading i will do that after adding evrything i will just have to memorize that book which will be challenge but atleast i will be assured that i can answer most of the questions...i am done with the kaplan lectures too....so now just have to memorize things...hopefully that will change everything....pray for me...
everyone who reads n advices ...ya'll r great help n inspiration...Thankyou N goodluck!
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi,
these r just the worst days for preparation.....cannot concentrate...still stuck with path second reading n adding everything new to FA...all day i did only endo....I am so slow...its killing me....hope tomorrow is a new day bcuz these past few days have just been waste!
|
| reet
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 152
Posts: 1,411
|
hey sarika
is this your second read.? well!!! its good if u have DONE your question bank ..now you will add more memory in ur second read along with FA.
HOPE U DOING GOOD
GOOD LUCK
___________________
Live as u were to die tommorow. Learn as if u were to live forever.
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi friends,
I am still not sure about when to take the exam...just finished second reading of physio patho immuno microbiology n anatomy...n i did QBOOK subject wise scoring approx 60-65% in each subject...(new questions)....scored well in A&L though around 80-85%...did 3 to 4 Qbank (each of 50%questions per set) randomly scoring around 60-65%...i dunno whats the problem....most of the time i know the diagnoses...but as u all know..they go 3 steps beyond that asking abt pharma or something else!..i was thinking abt taking the exam on dec 15 but now am not sure..i have to decide now..because if i am not taking exam in dec...then i 'll study each subject again in detail....or if i decide to take it in dec than I HAVE TO MEMORIZE FA which is like the most difficult part...Plz guide me any advice suggestions..
Also abt the match...if i take step 1 in dec ...step 2 july 1st..CS september 1st...is there enough time make it for the match....my problem is i dont have any USCE, old graduate of 2001,..no research ....Only thing going for me is the citizenship...Thats why All my bets r on a good score like in 90's...(sigh!)...so is it better to prepare good without rushing for dec to make the interview season of sept 2006 just in time....or just forget abt next yr..and complete everything like step3 and apply in Aug 2007 ...?So confused
Edited by sarika on 10/16/05 - 12:32 AM
|
| guntur
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 19
|
Hi sarika,
Are u taking your test on nov5th.Are u interested in discussing some
imp stuff.my test is in nov 1st week.Let me know.good luck.
kavita
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi guntur actually i was thinking abt dec 15 but now i dont think i will make it even in dec may b in jan06
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hey ya'll,
i dont know whats wrong...but i am not studying for the past 1 week...just surfing thenet and reading the forums but not studying....i just hate myself i know people get tired and go thru this phase...but this happens to me ALOT!...i am kinda worried ...its not that i have studied too much...havent even finished sec reading...i am doomed
|
| Shakeels
Forum Guru
Topics: 26
Posts: 468
|
Well sarika, I think you are doing quiet good, but you need some stimulation a very good push for your self. The game of usmle is do or die. The main thing is you are doing good in q bank, thas is the positive and even q book, and A&L questions. I can say that this is amazing, believe me I'm not making any story, its the performance that you are showing.
I know many people that they were doing 50%- 55% in first few blocks but they work hard and they were scoring above 70% when they were half done with their q bank and they did above 90 in the real exam.They did their exam after 20 days finishing the q bank. what I suggest for you that don't waste a lot of your time on the internet or any where else.Don't put your study aside even for one week, it will make your already prepared subjects worst, please don't do that, you can say that you will not forget but people do forget quiet most of the thing when they take a LONG break
what I use to do is get 6 days a good study in week like 10 hrs or might be more per day and one day off totally and relax, and do what ever makes your self calm, so that you can make your self ready for the next 6 days for a good shot.
while submitting the papers you will feel little bit scared and little bit happy for me and my friends its just like SWEET PAIN, but what I think go for it and believe in your self and God and pray a lot.
I hope it will work for you.
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
something is seriously wrong with me...after that last post i started studying again studied for 20 days straight made major gains in scores and then i took a trip for two days (which was inevitable because of family) and its a week since my coming back and i still cant get back to study.
Why do i get distracted so much? why cant i realize that i am not single and the same carefree person anymore...i will have to study with all these distractions..i cant avoid them and i cant waste time like this...i am so messed up so depressed...first i had decided to take step 1 in dec but then i moved it to feb 01 ....next mon in dec i have another big family distraction coming up that i cant avoid at all...(that thing is for a week) Normal people come back and get on with their lives and routine why cant i.....i have worked so hard for this exam with a toddler to take of..it was so difficult but i studied made progress but gaps like these just erase everything.....i am so mad at myself at life at evrything!
|
| nivy63
|
hi sarika, i'm also an img from india planning to giv the exam in mid-jan in india
don't worry i'm in the same position as u are. i took 2 trips and returned 2days back and i'm sitting at my study table without any progress at my studies.i hope u know how it is for middleclass indian girls immediately after their studies r finished
its quite difficult for me to properly concentrate now. i'm just unable to clear my mind off all the distractions
I BELIEVE THIS EXAM ISN'T JUST A TEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, BUT OF OUR PATIENCE AND MATURITY .
WE JUST HAV TO KEEP MOTIVATING EACH OTHER.
still trying to start anat seriously
i had written almost the same feelings as urs in my journal in this forum just yesterday
my aim for today is to do gross anat.
SO FORGET EVERYTHING AND JUST KEEP GOING
|
| Believe
Forum Senior
Topics: 36
Posts: 93
|
Sarika you were doing great, don't punish yourself so hard, I find myself many times like you do now and there is only one thing we can do about it and it's what you just did, recognize what the heck is wrong within us and try harder to move forward. what are you studying today, set it and do it. good luck.
___________________
Focus on the one step you can take right now. Let go all regrets and resentment about what has already happened.
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
Thankyou very much all you guys for your support...its really something else when people take time out of their busy schedule to help others and support in these stressful times.
you all are right theres nothing else to do or say or think except to study . today i started with BS again...statistics is tough but i am trying...could not study like i usually do (which is all the time i have, when i dont have to do anything else) .
Wish you all the very best.
And thankyou again
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi guys,
After abt 1 and half months of intensive preparation..i am only 1 week away from my exam. This is the last month in my eligibility period. I took nbme 15 days ago and scored 470. Was not too happy abt it..so i postponed my exam till 23...but now i am still confused i want to delay it but i cant...i am on prometric website searching for 27th feb ...but everything is booked...I dont know what i am gonna accomplish by 4 more days...but i wasted this whole day in this search...i strongly believe something is wrong with me. I was to take another NBME today but i didnt...now i am thinking whats the point if i cant delay my exam why take nbme? what if i score low?....That will shatter my confidence (if i have any)...i am so confused worried...seems like i am loosing it....i have to revise soooo soo many things i dont how will i ever b able to do that in 6 days ...FA, my notes.. and also goljan 100 pages...i could only go thru half of the Qbank...What can i do now....i am afraid i have ran out of options now....I cant believe how come they dont let us cancel or reschedule within 5 business days...i can go on and on...or i should better go sleep its already 4 am here...i dont know...Cant study...feeling too down...bye everyone hope tomorrow brings hope n happiness for everybody.
Also one question..i have never read goljan 100 pages before...is it worth reading it now like e.g i read FA 3 days..1 day for pathphysiology from some big book to clear concepts and then two days goljan..? is it worth it?
|
| malinda
Forum Guru
Topics: 162
Posts: 654
|
Hi sarika
I am may be not the right person to advise on anything unless I have the experience of passing this monster.I have 21 days to go for the test.I scored way below what u have scored on nbme..just a 440.which was a month ago and I dont know where I stand right now as nbme closest to the exam is the most accurate.I am planning on taking form 3 on 18th of this month and trying to revise.I am soooooooo tempted to delay my exam and I have been doing this for a long time now.But one thing I have realised so badly is that the more u delay,the more u forget.Right now I am at a point where I am all saturated and I know I cannot do any better.I may fall in my scores witn the delay bcz I will lose concentration but I will never work more harder than I am doing right now.Its like u keep on adding hard work and then u reach a threshold.U can do things after that...either explode or go back to base line.SO i really dont want to go back to the baseline.
about the goljan HY,I am nt doing them bcz I think revising FA or listening to goljan is more important than reading 100 pages for the first time...I have heard,dont do any thing new in the last weeks.
My suggestion is to take one more nbme form and if satisfied go for the test.but U are the decision maker obviously.If I score more than 440 on from 3,I am goin for the exam..If less then I will delay.But I AM TOTALLY EXHAUSETD NOW.Good luck.
___________________
I CAN DO IT.
|
| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
|
hi malinda seems like we r in the same boat...only difference is if i can get the same motivation....i dont know why am i wasting time like the way i am....i am my own enemy...i want to reschedule i know they dont have dates and still this morning too i am on the internet and forums after forums....God help me....this is the 7th day to my exam..i should b in my books...but well!...
u r right abt new things mayb i should skip goljan 100 pages... Goodluck to u malinda...
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
