general malaise
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arciniega, the only big difference in FA2006 is the organization into general concepts and organ systems. i have the 2004 and 2006 and all the info is basically the same, but let me tell you that having everything organized into two basic sections instead of seven makes it very easy to go thru. it serves very well to integrate the different subjects thru the organ systems. when i started studying from the 2004 the amount of information seemed to me overwhelming. i mean seven subjects in one little book!! but with the new edition i can pretty much fly thru it right now. i think its mostly psychological. hope this helps in your decision.
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| drgaxmac
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Dear Arciniega, i have the same first aid 2003, loved it, and it was enough for me, but as general malaise says, maybe the new division of subjects makes 2006 a better option.
But i would not change my 2003, i am sentimental about the book lol. Hope it helps.
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| SilatK
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Yes Lore, you are a great person. La verdad is an honor knowing you.
Hello to the "new" people in this forum. Arriba los Centro y sudamericanos!!!
Show those stupid senators that they will be very stupid if they aprove the measure. I am going to write my state senators and federal representative about it.
Where about is Ruidoso? Sounds like a good place to get lost a bit Hahahhaa!
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| noxar311
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Hi...for those who have been askinī about ruidoso....is a Small town about 130miles north of El Paso, TX....right between elpaso and albuquerque....a lot of ppl from chihuahua, juarez and el paso frequently go to ruidoso when the skiing season begins (on thanksgiving weekend)...from all the towns that are well-known for their skiing amenities and resorts and all that, (like vail,taos,tahoe) ruidoso, NM is the closest (and the cheapest) from all us chihuahuitas and elpasoans.....last year they opened (or renewed) one of the biggest hotels in town and they did a grat job..the hotel is really nice and the casino has grown bigger and bigger....obviously last week was not skiing season, but I got my fix off poker...played more than 40h in 3 days...
it is now 1 week since i took the ck...i guess that makes it about 3 to go (for the result to be sent)..... this wait feels like forever...im gonna send and application tomorrow for an observership in miami=)...u actually have to postal-mail a bunch of papers, i didnt imagine it would work like that, but then i always imagine the wrong things......oh..how nice would it be to spend a month in miami....
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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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| arciniega
Forum Senior
Topics: 1
Posts: 74
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Hi General Malaise !
Thank you for the advice about the FA, actually was I was worry about the information wasn't the same on the different editions of the books but knowing that is the same but just in another order makes me feel much better. 
I think I'm gonna stay with my old 2003 edition because is not also cheaper for me but is an attached feeling I have of my little book just like drgaxmac 
Take care all and see you soon. 
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100% Mexican IMG - Dra.Arciniega - UAG
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| Karla
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 47
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Hi Everybody!! Well, Now I realized how much money costed me to cancel the exam!!! this was a lot money, but I think that everybody was right about this. NOw, I am studying very relax (well, not to relax), I am planning to take the exam now around August . Susi, I think we can support each other with this exam. You know what!! WE HAVE TO PASS AT THE FIRST ATTEMP , OK!!!! Is very good that you got the kaplan kit for only 50 d. I think I am going to check in e-bay too. I have been study in the medical collegue here in Syracuse , NY because I did not want to expent to much money in books but I think I need to have the books at home and check again an again. One , question for you guys what is the best and easy book for Anatomy, Yesterday I realized that I forgot everythink about anatomy , OHHH MY GOD I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING!!!! Well, thank you for your advice. And good luck for everybody!!!!::
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| Karla
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 47
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Hi Everybody!! Well, Now I realized how much money costed me to cancel the exam!!! this was a lot money, but I think that everybody was right about this. NOw, I am studying very relax (well, not to relax), I am planning to take the exam now around August . Susi, I think we can support each other with this exam. You know what!! WE HAVE TO PASS AT THE FIRST ATTEMP , OK!!!! Is very good that you got the kaplan kit for only 50 d. I think I am going to check in e-bay too. I have been study in the medical collegue here in Syracuse , NY because I did not want to expent to much money in books but I think I need to have the books at home and check again an again. One , question for you guys what is the best and easy book for Anatomy, Yesterday I realized that I forgot everythink about anatomy , OHHH MY GOD I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING!!!! Well, thank you for your advice. And good luck to everybody!!!!::
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| drgaxmac
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 186
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HI Karla, a good source for anatomy for step 1 is Kaplan notes, along with first aid, its a good combo.
Hope it helps. GL
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| euroboy98
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 59
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Totally agree with Drgaxmax about the books to use for anatomy; great combo!
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| Mxshrink
Forum Elite
Topics: 13
Posts: 171
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Hi people, I took a time out, all of this with USMLE's, application, inteviews, match consumes a lot of energy . But Im back and I am preparing for step 3, hope to take it at the end of may!. Have I missed anything?. Chema, how are you??. Anyway, I wont be able to check everyday, but just wanted to say hallo to everyone and keep on working on it!. Good luck!
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| chemamr
Forum Hero
Topics: 703
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hi Mxshrink, iīm ok, planning my year until the next september when the applications start, 6 months only, itīs not that much. Study hard for your step 3. Iīll let you know my score as soon as i know it.
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| Medusin
Forum Elite
Topics: 19
Posts: 296
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Hey everybody, I have also been kinda busy but wanted to say hi to all of you. I hope that Lorena and all the others who matched will still write about their experiences in this forum.
Chema how are you doing? What are your plans before the next match?
I also had a question. I heard a rumor that UAG has over 90% passing rates in the USMLE Step 1. How true is this? I also heard that some students actually take a semester off to prepare for it (before going on to their third year or 5th semester). Is this advisable? I dont know about the U de G rates because my guess is not a lot of people take the exam.
Well hope everyones is doing great.
Sincerely,
Medusin
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| chemamr
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Topics: 703
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maybe laloblum knows about that (UAG).
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| laloblum
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The actual passing rate for students that are on 6th semester is 82%... this means that 82% of the students have passed the step 1. This info doesn't mean that is on the first or 2nd attempt... is just passing. Rememeber that this only applies to the International Program.
Many students have different ways to approach the Step 1... many do thousand of q-banks, others take a semester off to focus and study, other take review courses besides the one the UAG provides (kaplan). So it is really an array of estrategies done to pass the step 1.. The advantages is that the international program bases their curriculum in the USMLE step 1...
Hope this helps!~
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| Medusin
Forum Elite
Topics: 19
Posts: 296
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So can students from U de G take this Kaplan course at UAG?
I heard the Princeton Review has a course but only in Mexico City and Monterrey but not in Guadalajara. In your opinion how advisable is it to take a semester off, maybe after 4th semester, to really study for Step 1. Will this affect applications, interviews, etc. later on?
Thank you laloblum for your anwers.
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| Lorena
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
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hello my people!
I just want to say hi and cheer up everyone who is studying hard!!
Medusin, let me give you my point of view to your question. I think it is a great idea to take a semester off to prepare for step 1, asuming you will study super hard and pass with a good score. I dont think it will affect your application/selection later on for interviews because usually IMG , after graduation they study for 1, 2 or more years for the steps; if in contrast you take semesters off to take the steps , you wont really have gaps in your education if you pass them. For all that time you will be in close contact with medicine -you will be either studying for the steps, or in med school- so actually I think it is a very good approach.
And the reason I am almost certain it wont affect your application is because I had a gap in my medical education, of not only one semester but 2 years!!. Thats right, after my first year of med school, I requested a temporary leave (baja temporal) and not even to do anything related to medicine but to see the world and travel..oh yes!!, to be young and crazy! .
Anyway , I explained this gap in my application (personal statement) and during my interviews, it was an interessting topic to discuss with the PD .
In your case, it is in the road to the USMLE (and not to see the world like me ) so seriously, I think it is a another good approach to the boards, consider it seriously, it is very clear to me that you are very focused in this USMLE thing so I honestly think it can work very good for you
hope this helps,
Lore
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| carnederez
Forum Newbie
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Posts: 6
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Some of my friends to a semester off right before there internado to study and present step1, last I heard they did really well in the exam. I on the contrary did step1 during my second month of internado, without taking time off. So it just depends on you.
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| carnederez
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 6
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Sorry it was "they took a semester off"
btw, chemmar did you scramble into a residency? did you try a prelim year??
just wondering. GL
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| Karla
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 47
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Hey DrGamax and euroboy, thank you for your advice, I have been studing from Kaplan books and they are really understanble and good sumary.
See you and everybody that is taking step 1 , good luck with your studing and study hard.
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| chemamr
Forum Hero
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Medusin: it sounds a great idea, it would be even better (perhaps) if you could take those preparation courses in UAG or any other place.
Carnederez: no, unfortunately i didnīt match in any place neither in the match nor the scramble. Life is not very fair or friendly for IMGs who need a visa, itīs reality, thatīs it. Anyway I will try it hard next match 2007 with a better and on time application. I hope to match because it will be the last year I will try it in the USA. I mean, if I donīt match again next year, I wonīt apply next match 2008 again, no way. But Iīm confident I will do it well.
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| euroboy98
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Hi Medusin, here goes what I think or, more importantly, what I experienced: fortunately I didnīt have any gaps (timewise) in my CV; however I did hear more than one program director, student, resident, etc. mention how programs, for the most part donīt like gaps in your academic upbringing, unless you have a very good reason for it. For example, I met a resident(american) who matched into Orthopedics and in the months between finishing med school and beginning internship he had an accident and lost an arm. It took him 2 years to rehab his mind and body and become ready to practice medicine again (ended up matching in PM&R); in doing so, he traveled the world and worked for doctors without borders in Brazil and somewhere in Asia. All of these, just like in Lorenaīs experience, not only justified the gap in his CV but turned out to be a great topic to discuss during interviews. I do agree with Lorena, regarding the fact that you would be taking time off to take a usmle step, it does seem like a pretty good reason to me. And if the program directors she talked to didnīt seem to have a problem with that, then you should be ok. Just keep in mind 2 things: if you are applying to a surgical field, people tend to be more intense and more "cut-throat-like" so I donīt know how theyīd respond to such a gap and, second, MOST U.S. students take the steps while doing their school rotations; ie. they donīt take time off to study; everyone expects them to pass and do well (and most do) while at the same time not interrupting their rotations (some might take some time off, maybe a month but thatīs actually vacation time, does not really count as taking a leave of abscence for a while. If you are going into something non-surgical then Lorenaīs experience is the best example ever that youīll do great! Hope this helps!
Chema, itīs truly unfortunate that things didnīt work out (so far). As you said, I think that next year will be your year without a doubt. I really believe getting USCE is key, or at least an oberservership; at the same time, a good friend of mine got into surgery without any prior US experience. My point is that US experience is not everything; in case you havenīt done it yet, I would suggest contacting the programs you interviewed at and ask them very properly for an honest answer/evaluation regarding why you didnīt match with them. Whatever they can tell you could help you understand what went wrong. You might be thinking right now that X reason was the cause and in reality it can be that Y reason is what truly hurt you. Another thing, in my experience I believe that the visa situation is not that much of an issue, especially if what you want is a J1 visa since programs are not the ones who actually sponsor that visa (itīs sponsored by ecfmg); if you want H1 then itīs a whole different story and I know nothing about it because itīs not offered in PM&R anyway (for the most part). I think that something that made things hard for you is that, as you know, most categorical surg spots go to american grads and most prelims go to IMGs; at the same time, programs donīt want residents that go to their programs for prelim and donīt have an advanced position; itīs too stressful for programs to have their interns having to worry about their intern duties and at the same time, spend 3-4 months interviewing for an advanced position or, even worse, thinking about what the hell they will do after that one year since theyīll pretty much end up without a job. Hope this helps. Good luck and, as usual, anything we can do, let us know!
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 637
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I have a question u choose the date of the test but what about the hour? At what time is the test? Jeje
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| chemamr
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they all start at 8:30 am usually.
thanks euroboy.
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| Medusin
Forum Elite
Topics: 19
Posts: 296
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Thanks guys for all your responses. I have been thinking about this for some time now. I have narrowed it down to the pros and cons.
Pros:
1. Dedicate only to Step 1 and get a good grade (passing it in my first attempt. hopefully)
2. Knowledge Review. There are some subjects which I still feel like I am weak
(biochemistry, molecular bio) and this would give me a chance to review all the basic sciences so I can go into the clinical sciences "con todo". I think this is one of the most important points, since it is not only getting good grades in boards that matters, but more importatly taking care of patients. We can only do this right if we possess the knowledge. As doctors, we have to know everything.
3. I dont know what specialty I want yet (general surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine, etc) but I do know I want to go to the US and do it. I need good board grades to apply for any specialty and if I get them then I can choose any specialty I want in the future.
4. If I can pass Step 1 before 5th semester, than I could take CK and CS before I graduate and apply for the match right after I graduate.
5.Even if for one reason or another I decide to stay in Mexico, passing these exams help me prepare for the ENARM.
Cons:
1. Gaps in my education which could affect interviews.
2. Time (U de G is a six year medical program and I would stay behind one semester. This includes leaving good friends, graduating later, etc.
3. No time to get crazy jaja like Lorena said, but hey we are med students for a reason. We chose to study and practice medicine and its not an easy path.
As euroboy mentioned, most USA students take their exams while in school. However in the USA they train students to pass these exams. In Mexico they never focus on these board exams. If some interviewer were to ask me about why I had a gap i would probably respond. "I want to be the best general surgeon. To do that I have to study with the best. The best surgeons are in the United States. I have an enormous respect toward physicians in the USA so therefore I took the USMLE very seriously."
Well these are just thoughts that go through my mind from time to time but I hope you guys can comment on them. Thanks again.
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| Lorena
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"If some interviewer were to ask me about why I had a gap i would probably respond. "I want to be the best general surgeon. To do that I have to study with the best. The best surgeons are in the United States. I have an enormous respect toward physicians in the USA so therefore I took the USMLE very seriously."
This sounds very good to me Medusin.
I guess is just a matter of when to take time off to study for the steps.... during med school or after graduation...right?
For me there is no way I could have passed the steps during med school without taking time off, for many reasons, some of them you already mentioned Medusin. You have to take this test thinking you are ready to get a good score and not only to pass.
I agree with you euroboy, that the fact I applied to IM which is not so competitive as surgery helped, it could have been a totally different story if i wanted to be a surgeon. Thanks God I want to be an internist!!
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