GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 817
| | 06/26/07 - 10:31 AM
| #2951 |
Hi Yolanda! I will try to answer your questions one at a time:
1.- UABC has an agreement with Dr. Varon for about 5 years now. One of our peers 2 generations above mine contacted him and he was the pioneer in our school. Since he did such a great job and the UABC was pleased too they bnoth came to an agreement to let interns go there.He is now doing his residency in Anesthesiology at Ann Arbor MI, really smart guy. Dr Varon is the medical chief of our program in Houston and has several friends and we do rotations with them throughout the year. Dr. Varon is also an IMG, he graduated from the UNAM and he is f%$# awesome I tell you he did his residency at stanford, is a pulmonary and critical care, I learned lots from him. The program is associated with UT and Baylor. There were also some students from the UDEM (Monterrey), Tampico and one from Puebla. It was a great opportunity, I even got to publish a couple of papers.
2.- About filling left out from being an IMG, NOT AT ALL!! I thought that it might happen' before going there, I can not talk about the whole state of Texas because I haven't been everywhere but at least Houston is an amazing metropolitan city. In fact, is the place that I know that has the most diverse population (beside LA off course). In the hospital, I met people from all over the world, there were so many people that were not americans: from nurses, to intendents, attendings, that you felt that you weren't in the US!! I swear!! And also my patient population while I was there had a lot of foreigners I'd say even 50%, everytime I went to do an H&P and present myself to the patient I had to ask Espanol or English which do you prefer? since there were so many people that don't even speak english. Seriously, before going there all I knew where people from Mexico and US , now I have friends from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, India, you name it, and everybody is very supportive. The rest of Texas... might be a little racist especially the little towns and the north of Texas because they haven't had a lot of exposure to foreigners. I only know Lubbock Texas because we went there while I was doing my surgery and transplantation rotation, to get a donor. It was an amazing experience I got to ride an helicopter jijijiji Everybody was really nice there. I also have seen that Austin, El Paso, Dallas and San Antonio have a lot of foreigners and are good places for IMG's.
3.- My scores are: 94/233 in step 1 and 99/256 in step 2ck, I just got my score from cs last week and I passed. I did my exams while being in my social service since I got a great place (I only had to go from monday to fridays 8-12 am) jijiji like borat says: nice!! and I'm almost done with it I am on my vacations (which last for a month NICE!! again jijiji) and I'll be back for one more week and sayonara!!
4.- I'm sorry to say my dear Yolanda I am a she and proud of it. I bet you are a really nice girl but that is not my style jajaja just kiddin'
Take care and what are you currently doing?
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Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
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| GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 817
| | 06/26/07 - 10:35 AM
| #2952 |
Ups one more thing: TMC means Texas Medical Center, I'm in love with it, is the biggest medical center in the world has tons of hospitals all connected with each other by bridges above the ground, is like another downtown in Houston but a medical downtown!! is a doctors dream I tell you!!, the first time I was there I couldn't believe that hospitals like that exist (they look like hotels). Working there was by far one of the best experiences I've had in my life.
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| noxar311
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 305
| | 06/26/07 - 04:12 PM
| #2953 |
nice post gloria...somehow im pretty sure they are just waiting for you somewhere at the TMC.....u look in great shape for this next match....are you planning to take s3 soon?....im curious,..where did u get to publish?
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Yarbles, great bolshy yarblokos to you. What you done you had no right. I'll meet you with chain or nozh or britva any time, not having you aiming reasonless tolchocks, it stands to reasonless, I wont have it...
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| GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 817
| | 06/26/07 - 05:51 PM
| #2954 |
Thanks Noxar! that's really sweet of you. I would love to take the step 3 but I can't do it without my medical diploma and I'm not getting it until I finish my social service as you know. In fact I'm very stressed out about it because I want to have it as quick as possible but I hear it takes a lot of time for the paperwork and my university does not allow me to do it by myself. That would be the only reason that I might not make it to this year's match  that really worries me because I studied so hard throughout this year to get all my exams in time and it would be so unfair to wait for a year just because I can't have my diploma in time. Well enough of that, let's be positive. About my publications I did one in resuscitation and one in critical care and emergency medicine. I'm currently doing some research at UCSD, that's what I'm going to do until I match and I'm probably going to push a couple of papers more.
Oh I have a question for you guys that are already in residency I'm currently working on my MSPE (dean's letter) since my university allows me to do it by myself. The thing is that on the clinical clerkship area I don't know what to address since in the US they only have IM, surgery, psych, peds, obgyn and family medicine I think and as you know in Mexico we have it all divided in the different areas say cardiology, pulmonary, nephrology, so I'm all messed up because I have no idea how to address this. In my school they gave me 2 examples of MSPE's that older peers had make in the past and one addressed it separatelly and his letter is 9 pages long!! and the other just did it US style (6 clerkships) but I don't fill it is as complete and he was not able to do it in chronological order or site the places or his grades and this way it will not match my medical school transcripts. What have you guys done? What do you think I should do? I really need help, I hope somebody has an idea because I just don't!!
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Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/26/07 - 06:32 PM
| #2955 |
yes gloria your credentials are just wow, sure youre going to make it wherever you want!!!!
congratulations and keep posting......
hey noxar how are you doing man??? im glad to see you posting.....
hows ny city? hows the hospital? the assistants? the other residents?
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NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| noxar311
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 305
| | 06/26/07 - 07:13 PM
| #2956 |
yes gloria...i completely forgot about the diploma issue......most of us started this usmle thing so late after our graduation that youre the first person i heard that has that problem,lol.......i guess it's a good thing....,i remember getting my diploma by october..so even then u'll be in great shape..if tha happens to be your case....you can even get the s3 cleared by the time u start interviewing.....dont worry...with ur credentials, not having the s3 by the time of the application will have no importante at all....you'll be a 93/99, 2007 graduate!!! that's more pwerful than anything else in the world.....
i remember wrinting my own mspe...since you actually did some clerkships in the US i really dont know what's advisable for you, because the grades can get mixed up...just follow your instinct and whatever you write im sure will be fine..whether you put your mexican rotations ans the core rotations, and the us rotations as USCE, or if u include the US rotations as core clerkships....either way will work perfect.....i did it with the 6 clerkships only... for the rest, you basically have to follow the guide on eras... www.aamc.org/students/eras/resources/downloads/mspeguide.pdf
and you'll be safe...it's a great thing that your school will allow you to write it yourself...that way you can focus on the strenghts you'd like to point out...my mspe was 5 pages long, i added some graphics and charts and all....it was pretty nice, i gptta say....just remember to put EVERY little thing uve done during school....the pd's actually read the thing...so keep that in mind....
hey spit, ..how are ur vacations going?
....it's been great so far....im moving to my apt next saturday, right now im with a friend....the other pgy1's are great, we get along pretty well...the last chief resident was an img from mexico (Ags)...he's done now...he's going for a fellowship here in NY..but he's been 'coaching' me about what to expect and the do's and dont's and all that....so that has been really soothing and helpful.....i'll officially start next monday....cant wait to do this....
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Yarbles, great bolshy yarblokos to you. What you done you had no right. I'll meet you with chain or nozh or britva any time, not having you aiming reasonless tolchocks, it stands to reasonless, I wont have it...
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/26/07 - 08:20 PM
| #2957 |
very good a lot of sleeping and lazing around pretty cool eh 
hey youre so lucky a mexican chief resident to guide you thats awesome
see you soon
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NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| Medusin
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 292
| | 06/26/07 - 10:12 PM
| #2958 |
Very cool Gloria! Thanks for your response.
You set an example for mexican IMG´s, just like many in this forum. Its very good to hear from you. Some of us have not even started this USMLE journey. I havent taken any exam yet, but plan to do so soon jaja. I am a third year medical student at Universidad de Guadalajara.
However I lived in Austin, TX for about 6 months (part of an exchange program) and I really liked it. There is some prejudice but mostly as you mentioned that is seen more in rural areas of Texas. I believe the term for Austin´s community is "pluralism" because there is such a diverse background concerning people from around the world. I had a good friend from Hong Kong while I was there, for example. There are also many, many latinos.
Well keep up the good work Gloria and I am sure everybody is glad with the new info and experiences you have provided thus far.
See ya later!
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What Starts Here Changes The World
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| GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 817
| | 06/27/07 - 12:51 AM
| #2959 |
Oh my God! Noxar I didn't know that you are actually going to start your residency July 1st!!! Oh my God!! I bet you must be very excited!!! Congratulations!! That's everybody's dream and you are doing it!! You are a true inspiration to us all!! Forgive me I'm new and all!! Oh my I have so many questions for you!! First of all where in NY are you going to be working at, and also what specialty. Now that you are over with the match and is recent for you what programs do you recommend to apply.
Thank you very much for your post! it was really helpful now that you mentioned it, I just realized that my internship can be used as my actual clerkships and my application can be much more better, since my core clerkships would be in the US. Thank you so much for the hint!
Spitmetal: Thank you so much, what are you currently doing?
Medusin: Thanks! Is good that you know what you want to do this early in the game. I always kind of thought that I wanted to do the USMLE's but I saw it very far down the road, when I heard that there was a possibility to go to the US to do my internship I though it was a good opportunity to explore a different point of view in medicine and I thought it would broaden my view. It actually did! plus I opened a door to new opportunities I never thought in my life there were possible. I took a shot with the MLE's after I got back to Mexico and it went well so I ended up deciding to do everything I can to get my residency in the US. I bet you are going to do the same thing. My advice for you at this moment is to enjoy your studies because medical school goes so fast and you actually miss it a lot once you are done with it. I also recommend to get the kaplan books and the first aid (if you don't have them yet) and study from them for your basic science and clerkships. I wish I knew they existed before. Take your time with the USMLE's and I think is a good idea to do them after you finish everything because for example eventhough step 1 is supposed to be a basic science exam you will find out that a lot of the questions are based on clinical scenarios so having a broader vision (that only passing through clinical clerkships gives you) will help you get a better score. And also if your school doesn't have an agreement with a hospital in the US for the internship try with all your strenght to open that door because almost everysingle program I've seen asks for some US clinical experience and LOR's from US doctors so it would help you in ways you can not even think of to do your internship in the US. If your school does not have that look for it, nothing is impossible, my school did not have it either and thanks to a brave encouraged student I had the opportunity of a lifetime and I actually owe this to him (and God offcourse) because my life gave a 180 degree spin thanks to this. Oh well Medusin good luck with medical school I bet you are a wonderful student and you will do more then great. How's Guadalajara by the way? I love GD!! Hospicio cabanas is the most beautiful amazing place I've seen... those Orozco murals are awesome!! I think GD is one ot the most beautiful, historical cities our country has to offer. Oh well take care I bet you are on vacations right? enjoy and don't study because vacations are ment to have fun... there will be plenty of time to study later on. Take care and I'll see you around.
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Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/27/07 - 12:33 PM
| #2960 |
nothing at all gloria haha i'm on vacation until august  I am a 5th year medical student at the University of Chihuahua (UACh) im done with step 1 and thats it, i have not US clinical nor research experience but I'am looking forward to.
so let us know what happens with your med school diploma and how long does the ECFMG verification of papers takes? because medusin and me will be in your position in a couple of years, so keep posting is really cool to read your experiences.... TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK
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NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/27/07 - 12:35 PM
| #2961 |
i have a stupid grammar question:
how do you say, well write, medusin and I or medusin and me
THANKS IN ADVANCE for answerind guys
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NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/27/07 - 12:55 PM
| #2962 |
oops I almost forgot hey noxar did you wait for your medical diploma or you did the paperwork directly because someone of your generation told me that she did the paperwork by herself and she got the diploma by the first week of September....
Also she told me that she finished her community service (aka servicio social) the June 30th, did you finished the same day, maybe this date has something to do or am I wrong? Because I’m just inferring things you know.
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NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| Torontonian
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 91
| | 06/27/07 - 03:53 PM
| #2963 |
Hi guys,
My experience with the ECFMG certificate is that it takes a while, specialy if your university does not deal with that type of paperwork, consider for it at least a couple of months; as you know the sooner, the better. In Tamaulipas to obtain your diploma is a long wait as well but you can speed it up but going directly to the source and avoiding all the bureaucracy. Finaly, I think it is, grmmatically correct, "medusin and I" (noun and pronoun) but in real life you can use whatever (I, me, or myself).
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/27/07 - 03:54 PM
| #2964 |
Hey guys what’s the difference between baylor college of medicine and baylor university medical center?? I thought they were the same but in different place but I just realize that they are two different companies (hospitals)......
___________________
NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| Torontonian
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 91
| | 06/27/07 - 03:59 PM
| #2965 |
medical center is the hospital; the college is the university
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| egomez2001
Forum Guru
Topics: 51
Posts: 930
| | 06/27/07 - 05:30 PM
| #2966 |
GLO MD, you are way ahead in the usmle journey...., congrats...., and welcome to the forum...
Maybe I´ll be with Dr. Varon in Sept...., good to read good comments from you about your experience with him
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/27/07 - 05:48 PM
| #2967 |
THANKS TORONTONIAN
wow so i guess Dr. varon is very popular, i think he is the one that once apears in the tv because he frozen a drowned guy and saved him am i wrong????
___________________
NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 817
| | 06/27/07 - 08:04 PM
| #2968 |
jijiji yes he is the guy !!! in fact my article is about the history of hypothermia, he is one of the pioneers in bringing hypothermia back!! jajaja egomez where are you from? are you from tampico? spitmetal both are perfectly ok just the write part of your message is not grammatically ok it is "written". Good luck to all of you guys too, this is a long long hourney but I think is worthed. And I agree with torontonian.
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Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
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| GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 817
| | 06/27/07 - 08:05 PM
| #2969 |
jijiji journey guys I ment journey I guess I might be a little too overworked  just kiddin I guess I have to go visit my boyfriend more often jajajaja
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Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
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| Karime
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 368
| | 06/27/07 - 08:33 PM
| #2970 |
Hi people!
How are you!
I hope your getting a pretty good time, with your business and everything, I'm fine too.
Yolanda, Im from Cuernavaca Morelos, I'm 23, I'm finishing my Internado (IMSS) just right now, You know, My last rotation is on June 29th to 30th. SO, Saturday morning I'll be out, wow! with the speed of time ah! I star my community service (servicio social) August 2007. I hope to be ready for Step 1 on December 2007, because the new ECFMG reporter says that they are gonna include some media questions, clips and don't ask me what else for 2008 exams( S1, 2, 3) even on Step 1!! But Right now the new modality questions are gonna be include in S2 CK On august 2007.
Very nice experience Gloria, I hope my University had an agreement with USA! And Like you, I didn't know about US medical options since I realize that unfortunately here in Mexico things are getting worse. But.......we can contribute to make a difference don´t you think!.......but ok.......
Well, let me ask again:
1. A friend of mine told me that his cousin is a Neurosurgery PGY-3 at Michigan University, and, he talked with her, about doing his residency over there, And told me theres a way which introduce you easily in the match, I don't know if it's true or not, but if a Resident recommends you to the hospital seniors, they'll consider you and it's better than if you try by your self, I suppoused, it happens in many hospitals, or if she is a brilliant element in her hospital, even though, She can (as my friend told me) help me no matter we aren`t relatives. What do you know about it?
2. I don't understand yet the score thing........ , the highest, minimium neccesary to be accepted in a program, the 99/234, 94/220 etc....oops!
3. About the study material, Kaplan has a home study version (2000 pages), what do you think about it? Which one is better, the classical lecture notes (3000 pages) or the home version.
Thak you, keep in touch.
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Eterea
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
| | 06/27/07 - 09:05 PM
| #2971 |
yes gloria my english sucks,
I knew a guy that used the home version books, and he told me to stay away from them because they were very expensive and very extensive, so when I was starting my preparation for step 1 I realized that he was correct because I asked in some forums and all the responses where negative, not high-yield information, not crammable, hard to read and VERY EXPENSIVE.
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NEVER REGRET IF U DID YOUR BEST--"THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO SOMETHING WILL KEEP SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.....BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN DO IT!!" by Dr. Luck a member of this forum
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| Torontonian
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 91
| | 06/27/07 - 09:35 PM
| #2972 |
Hi guys,
Regarding one of your notes Karime, people that I met during my medical school and during my social service that have been accepted into residency positions in US, all obtained them by STRONG recommendations from staff. Specificaly I can mention 5 cases. Two of them went with Dr Varon (supose doing their internship and social service but they spent their days at Kaplan center) and obtained letters from him. Tey were accepted, one in internal medicine and the other in surgery. If you ask me about marks the first one he was around 80´s but the surgeon he mastered the exam (couple 99). The other three cases, all of them obtained higher 80s. One was directly recommended to a surgery program and was accepted after his social service. The other two went to Harvad for a M.Ph., being one of them accepted in emergency and the other spent another year kissing a....s and (supose, is only gossiping) he received a strong letter from all the residents and was accepted for surgery at Harvard (a Harvad guy with only 80´s in the exam....there should be something else, don,t you think?). However, not all is like that, as now that I am in Canada I have met people who has been accepted without that but sadly, it is important who recommend you. My suggestion is do not worry about that until you pass your exams with excellent marks; after that, you can work in your reference letters.
GLO MD, i am from Tampico.
Spitmetal, thank for you comment about the home version material. Guys, I am still working in my "first round" using the Kaplan notes and videos but for the next I am planning to add a second book. any suggestions??? any of you know the differences between the Qbank and the integrated vignettes qbank of Kaplan? and are the questions in the physiology q bank in the general qbank as well?
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| Medusin
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 292
| | 06/27/07 - 09:48 PM
| #2973 |
What??? Can anydoby comment on these "new modalities" conerning clips and other stuff on Step 1 and 2 Ck? I had no idea!!!
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What Starts Here Changes The World
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| Medusin
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 292
| | 06/27/07 - 09:53 PM
| #2974 |
A small number of multiple-choice items in the 2007 USMLE Orientation Materials contain exhibits involving audio and/or video clips. Instructions for practicing with items with associated media clips on Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 are provided in the Tutorials for each Step examination in the orientation materials.
Multiple-choice items with associated media clips will be introduced in USMLE examinations no earlier than Summer 2007. An announcement will be posted to the USMLE website approximately 2 months before any items with associated media clips appear on an actual USMLE examination. Additional information will be posted to the USMLE website as it becomes available.
http://www.usmle.org/news/mediaclips.htm
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What Starts Here Changes The World
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| Torontonian
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 91
| | 06/27/07 - 09:56 PM
| #2975 |
Mmmm,
It sounds similar to changes made to TOEFL a year ago. I should worry about it too much. Probably it will be an US, or a CT, or cardiac murmurs and it should not be too many in the exam.
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