Prep4USMLE Forum » IMG World   Mexican IMGs

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arciniega Forum Senior Topics: 1 Posts: 74	02/23/06 - 10:33 AM             #601 HI MxShink ! Thanks for your post, I guess you are right about there could be too much information for 6 months of preparation... and also it could be expensive, that's why I wanted to make sure that with the stuffs I got it's more that enought or I need an extra couple of books that are a must for the test. I really apreciate all of you here in the forum and I always have tought that chemma was a genius on creating this space for all of us mexican that could get together in this hard process of the medical certification. I also want to be helpful for those to come and also for those who are already in the forum. ___________________ 100% Mexican IMG - Dra.Arciniega - UAG
chemamr Moderator and PGY1 Topics: 703 Posts: 4,441	02/23/06 - 10:35 AM             #602 thanks Mxshrink hi Susie, it´s nice to see you again, , i think the only women are lorena and you and it´s really nice to have the feminine touch in our forum. i think you got confused about Lorena, she is applying to IM but she is waiting for the match results (mid-march), like most of us (except for those few who have signed a prematch). But i agree in something, she will get a position in IM ! ___________________ Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
arciniega Forum Senior Topics: 1 Posts: 74	02/23/06 - 11:07 AM             #603 Thanks for the warming welcome everybody ! Well chemamr I guess that I missunderstod about Lore ... but anyway like you said.. probably she's gonna get a great position in IM ! yahooo (I'm Lore's cheerleader jejeje) I gotta go now But I'll try to check the forum out tomorrow morning.. bye bye to you all Edited by arciniega on 02/24/06 - 07:56 AM. Reason: spelling ___________________ 100% Mexican IMG - Dra.Arciniega - UAG
Lorena Forum Elite Topics: 9 Posts: 237	02/23/06 - 11:14 AM             #604 Susie, It is nice to have you back and congratulations for your new house!!! yes, you got confused and I am not yet in IM. I will find out if i made it or not on march 13 but thank you for your "porras" and nice wishes. Thank you chema for the moral support The only difference between the kaplan material you have and web preparation is that wepprep you have access to some lectures on line but the books are the same. I think you have excellent material to get a great score!!! I will send you some files to complement what you have.
noxar311 Forum Elite Topics: 3 Posts: 305	02/23/06 - 01:12 PM             #605 hi ppl....I finally got a date set for the CK..i´ts March 20...i guess gax and i are going at pretty much the same pace....I saw the lecture dvd´s, read FAx2,did a bunch of UCV´s, did the K qbank and qbook and right know im doin´ UW qbank..so i think im in decent shape....the NBME´s test "says" I passed...(according to their little correlation there)..so i guess this is it.....just wanted to say hi.... wish me luck.. I find laloblum´s posts on visa issues very interesting, (of course is not the case for those of u who have no vissa issues) but right now Im tackling "one issue at a time"...besides, i think i have enough time before match 2007 to take step 3 and try to go for the H1b visa.... ___________________ 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...
Medusin Forum Elite Topics: 17 Posts: 279	02/23/06 - 01:24 PM             #606 Hello Susie (arciniega), I am also preparing to take my step 1. I am in my second year of med school (tengo 20 años) in Universidad de Guadalajara. Could you tell me which are the kaplan book you got and where can I get them? The books and materials I have are: Pathophysiology for the Boards and Wards BRS Physiology BRS Pathology First Aid Goljan Audio and notes (thanks to Lorena ) When are you taking STEP 1? Maybe we can help each other since we are both in the same situation. Most of the others here are well advanced and have provided a lot of help and I sure hope erveryone gets into what they want. It is really very exciting to see how our fellow ¨paisanos¨ have passed these hard tests. They are really role models for us to follow. Good luck to you and keep in touch. Amado ___________________ What Starts Here Changes The World
Medusin Forum Elite Topics: 17 Posts: 279	02/23/06 - 01:26 PM             #607 Hey is that ball thing on our name mean we are online? That is great! Now we can chat with other people in the forum and make things a bit more dynamic. ___________________ What Starts Here Changes The World
general malaise Forum Guru Topics: 14 Posts: 433	02/23/06 - 03:10 PM             #608 medusin & arciniega: when are you planning on taking step 1? i will also be taking it some time in august. i need to schedule a date already, i'm thinking around the 15. arciniega, make sure you have the kaplan lecture notes, since the organ system books have not gotten many good reviews. good luck to us all!! ___________________ "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Benito Juarez
Medusin Forum Elite Topics: 17 Posts: 279	02/23/06 - 03:59 PM             #609 Oh Im sorry general malaise. I was not aware you were preparing for STEP 1. I am not sure when I am taking my STEP 1 since after many discussions it appears to be that it is best to take it after you finish your 4th year. Sometime between 8th semester and the clerkship (internado) What do you think about this general malaise (or anyone else) and how are you preparing for step 1? Any tips or comments will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. ___________________ What Starts Here Changes The World
general malaise Forum Guru Topics: 14 Posts: 433	02/23/06 - 06:24 PM             #610 i think its a good idea that you've decided to postpone step 1 until after your 4th year. as you are going thru your different courses make sure you review FA and annotate it. do the same with the BRS books. it will make things a lot easier when the time comes when u actually begin studying for the exam. i made the mistake of getting these right before starting my prep and had to struggle to become familiar with them. besides these i'm using kaplan lecture notes plus MMRS, Lippincotts biochem & pharma. microcards are also great, i carry them everywhere. i try to listen to goljan anytime i'm in the car or jogging. i plan on purchasing qbank closer to the actual exam. ___________________ "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Benito Juarez
euroboy98 Forum Junior Topics: 1 Posts: 59	02/23/06 - 06:42 PM             #611 Hi Susie, it´s great to hear you are also interested in Rehab, I think it´s a great and exciting up and coming field. Thanks for offering your help. Likewise, if there is anything I can help you out with throughout the process, don´t hesitate in asking, ok? I agree with everyone else, try to keep your book list for step 1 not that big, otherwise you´ll go crazy. Regardless of where you study from, I think that it is key to do some sort of practice questions (lots of them, for example qbank before taking the test). I think I studied a lot but if I hadn´t done practice questions, I would have not passed; this exams are very different than the ones we take in medical school (ie. longer and harder). So, to what specialties are we applying to this match: Lorena = IM, chemamr = surgery, mxshrink = ?, me = rehab; anyone else? I think it´s cool that there´s diversity in the fields we are applying to!
Medusin Forum Elite Topics: 17 Posts: 279	02/23/06 - 08:20 PM             #612 Thanks general malaise. I will try and follow your advice. Now I have an interesting topic to discuss. You have probably discussed this before but I would really like to hear everybodys opinion. Why practice medicine in the US? Is it the money? Is it the country? Is is for the glory and prestige? Is it to work with the best physicians in the world? Why go to all this trouble to get certified and pass the boards? I know why I am doing this but I would really like to hear what everybody has to say. ___________________ What Starts Here Changes The World
Mxshrink Forum Elite Topics: 13 Posts: 171	02/23/06 - 09:51 PM             #613 Euroboy98, Hi, I'm going to psych!. Medusin, I dont know about your rotation in psych in Mexico, but I can say that my rotation on psych at the seguro social in Montrrey was patetic, and at least from what I know of, there is no private sector residency on psych in Mexico. Other aspect is research, there is not much research going on on psych in Mexico, so people there are just waiting to see what the hospitals from here and europe tell them to do, while here, we are involved in research and making our own criteria and treatment regime. and of corse, for my ego.
euroboy98 Forum Junior Topics: 1 Posts: 59	02/23/06 - 10:37 PM             #614 Hey Mxshrink, really cool that you are going into psych, good luck with everything. Did you get a lot of interviews? About Medusin´s question I think that there´s many reasons: to experience living in a different culture, environment, language both inside and outside a hospital. I think work ethic is very important and unfortunately many government workers are just very, very lazy here in Mexico and it is often to get things done in mexican hospitals. Research is very important too for me and in the US a lot of opportunities are available. I did some observerships in good programs in the US and had the chance to work with and/or at least to get to know some of the top names in Rehab (article and chapter writers). It never hurts that as a resident you get paid x3 or x4 times than in Mexico. At least in Rehab, there are things that are currently been done in the US that are not available in Mexico; to be able to learn new skills and bring them back to our own country and grow scientifically would also be very rewarding and a privilege! Prestige? Why not! There are some top-notch schools availabe out there; imagine doing a residency and/or a fellowship at a super school. Why not dream, the sky is the limit!
Mxshrink Forum Elite Topics: 13 Posts: 171	02/23/06 - 11:28 PM             #615 Thanks Euroboy!, I didnt get that much interviews (7), but I did a fellowship (research oriented)working directly with the PD in my 3d choice program, so I gues, its only the first 3 options that count, because I am sure that if I dont match at my first 2 options Ill end up here. How about you?
chemamr Moderator and PGY1 Topics: 703 Posts: 4,441	02/24/06 - 04:09 AM             #616 Hi Medusin, my reasons to go to the USA are basically 2: 1) become an excellent specialist to give a quality service to all my patients (this implies theory, practice, publications, prestige, self-realization, evidence-based medicine, etc.); 2) quality of life in the USA as a physician (more good job oportunities, salary, etc.). But the main reason for me is number 1, i mean, i will try to stay in the USA to work to have a better quality of life but if i can´t and i finish working in a mexican town or city, it´s ok with me, the most important is to be really well prepared and be an excellent specialist to give a good service to my patients. ___________________ Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
arciniega Forum Senior Topics: 1 Posts: 74	02/24/06 - 08:30 AM             #617 Lore ! Thanks for the congrats about my house I'm happy for that But there's still one more goal to go and that's my personal one.. to get certificate (like we all want to) So, here I am ready to beging this journey and cheer it with all of you guys. I really wish you the best on march 13th !! how excite it you must be !!! Don't forget to tell us how did you go (that I bet you'll do just fine ) ok? About the material you nicely offer me to send; I just sent you a PM with my email account. By the way, do you think that I need to get the Kaplan lectures notes? or are the same as the books I got? Well, take care and once again thanks for all Lore, hope to see you writing around soon. Susie ___________________ 100% Mexican IMG - Dra.Arciniega - UAG
arciniega Forum Senior Topics: 1 Posts: 74	02/24/06 - 08:32 AM             #618 Hey Noxar ! Good luck with your CK test !! ___________________ 100% Mexican IMG - Dra.Arciniega - UAG
arciniega Forum Senior Topics: 1 Posts: 74	02/24/06 - 08:59 AM             #619 Hi Medusin ! It's so great that you already are preparing yourself for the steps since now that you are still on the med school. Congratulations ! Keep the guard up like you are doing it and study all you can! So you are ar GDL right now !! cool I really miss my city anyway... I'm 25 and I'm a UAG (tecos) med school graduate since 2005; I decided to get seattle in the US first and then after one year of my social service I'm gonna take the first Step for my cetification. I'm taking the test on august-september 2006. I haven't sent my application yet, In my med school they told me to wait a couple of months before the date I want to take it and then submit it, and I want to take it on the finals days of august probably the last week. Right now the only things that I have for study are the Kaplan books, K QBank, Goljan Audio, First Aid and the books on spanish from my medical school (that I really don't want to use much). I also want to buy the BRS of physiology, phatology and mycro and I guess that would be it . Besides that I want to take a lot of question like the ones I have been hearing from a lot of people of the forum... So, I'll try to take the NBME when I'm ready and I'll take free online questions as well. You ask me how did I get the Kaplan books right? I bought them online at www.ebay.com because it's cheaper that the oficial site ( http://www.kaptest.com/catalog/templates/category... ) At ebay.com you have to make an account there and other one at paypal for the payment (it's very simple and safe) ; this site works with bits (subastas) and if you win what you want you be available to buy it. Once you are at ebay logged simply search for " Kaplan USMLE Step 1" and you'll see all the items for sale, place a bit and wait until it's over to see if you won, make the payment and wait until arrives to your place. At first I was afraid to use this method of online shopping but it's symple, safe and the best of all.. it's CHEAPER ! I save like 150 bucks on my purchased. But if you feel more comfortable in the oficial site (even if it's more expensive) go ahead and do it so, if you have any questions just ask me... ok? Here I leave you the picture of the books, there are 4 volumes of them. Hope this could help you out. Susie ___________________ 100% Mexican IMG - Dra.Arciniega - UAG
arciniega Forum Senior Topics: 1 Posts: 74	02/24/06 - 09:10 AM             #620 Hi malaise!!! I see you are online... so you are taking the first step also uh? good ! that makes more of us hehe Like I already told to medusin, I'm planning to take the exam on the finals of august. Have you submit your application already? or you're just about to do it? Today I'm gonna fill out my application and I was thinking of sending it in may what do you think about that? is it to late? By the way, I don't really know the difference between the kaplan lecture notes and the kaplan organ systems... is it that the lectures notes are from the kaplan live course? I tought it was almost like the same.. Do you think that I really have read the K lectures notes as a must??? Well even if I want to buy them right now, I think that I'm gonna stick to the organ books and after that I'll try to get the lectures notes because there's no money for a live course right now for me (soy poibre y de family numerosa) jeje ___________________ 100% Mexican IMG - Dra.Arciniega - UAG
general malaise Forum Guru Topics: 14 Posts: 433	02/24/06 - 09:37 AM             #621 arciniega, i am still in medical school but decided to take the exam before graduating. i also plan on taking it in august. i've sent in my application and everything is set i only need to pick a test date which i'm afraid to do. i'm thinking around the 15. i will be taking it in mcallen texas which is a small town on the border with mex. there are never many people taking the exam here so i don't have to worry about scheduling so much but if you are in a big city it would probably be a good idea to schedule it early. about the kaplan lecture notes, they are seven books for each discipline plus the qbook. the come included in the live lectures or centerprep but they can also be purchased on ebay, along with the lecture dvd's. i've never seen the four volume organ system review books but most people say there are difficult to get thru. try them out and if they work for u stick to them. like mxshrink said keep ur sources to a minimum. around january i almost had a nervous breakdown trying to decide what to use for what from the vast amount of resources but i've "narrowed" it down to: path: brs+goljan physio: kaplan+brs biochem: kaplan, high yield cell & mol. pharm: kaplan micro: MMRS+ microcards immuno: kaplan beh. sci.: kaplan + brs anato: high-yields plus neuroscience section from kaplan comprehensive: FA ___________________ "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Benito Juarez
chemamr Moderator and PGY1 Topics: 703 Posts: 4,441	02/24/06 - 09:39 AM             #622 it looks like this thing of the online marker is doing more dynamic the forum. , that´s good!! ___________________ Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
drgaxmac Forum Senior Topics: 7 Posts: 186	02/24/06 - 09:50 AM             #623 Hi to all of you taking step 1, hers my two cents: Use kaplan LECTURE notes, first aid, Kaplan q bank and Goljan for pathology. Remeber the less books you use the better. So i think the core for step 1 prep are those mentioned above. Specially goljan , listen to this guy three times. He's good. My two cents. Feel free to ask any qs. about step 1, I say this because i just cleared it in Nov 2005, so it a recent experience. GL to all. ___________________ Sometimes i sit down and think... sometimes i just sit down.
general malaise Forum Guru Topics: 14 Posts: 433	02/24/06 - 10:16 AM             #624 drgaxmac....what would u say are the absolute-must-do kaplan lecture notes. i've decided on not reading the path, micro section, gross anatomy. please tell me what u think of this. ___________________ "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Benito Juarez
drgaxmac Forum Senior Topics: 7 Posts: 186	02/24/06 - 01:08 PM             #625 Well general malaise hi first of all. from my step 1 experience, i think physio is important from kaplan, not so much micro, but immuno (very high yield, it helped me a lot). To me pharma and patho are a waste of time in k notes. Anatomy i liked, specially neuro, wich is like half of the notes. Mircro you can do from first aid, as wel as pharma. Patho of course: goljan and first aid. So i agree with you on micro and patho and even pharma, but as for anatomy and immuno(wich is part of micro notes). I recommend you to read those. Hope it helps Slaudos, y perdon por el trabalenguas jeje. ___________________ Sometimes i sit down and think... sometimes i just sit down.

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