manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 71
Posts: 231
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I finally passed something!! I took my CS on July 16, 2005 and was updated today. Went to IWA on ecfmg website and well, you guys know the rest...... I passed. If you guys want to know my experience just look at my previous post about my exam. I made a lot of mistakes folks and actually suprised I made it.
What I used.
1. Passcsa course; guy told me gauranteed I would see 8 out of the 30 cases in their manual, well, i saw 6! so, close enough. And no, they didnt pay me anything to post that! to all the haters out there. Im cheap so I took the cheapest of the cs review courses which was really money well worth spent in my opinion. But its only one day, so prepare the night before to maxmize the most of the review. I went drinking and gambling in atlantic city the night before. They werent verbatim, but same chief complaint.
2. First Aid; read the challenging q's on here and on Usmleworld.com, helped me alot!!!! TRUST ME on this. The mini cases are an excellent last minute review
3. Oscci; read half way through it and decided that it was not appropriate for the exam.
4. Studied for 2 and half weeks, but hardcore studied for 1 week. practiced with myslef, my mom my pregnant sister, my dad and my classmate ( we took the exam together, she passed too! yeah)
5. This forum, hehehe, people posting what they really shouldnt...to future examiners benefit
Advice
1. Stay calm and collected, be polite. Imagine you are the concierge in a 5 star hotel and treat your patient as if he/she were an overnight guest. The customer is always right no matter how biligerent they are!!
2. Wash those DAMN HANDS!!! I didnt miss that. They dont want your grubby-germ ridden paws all over them especially if your SP number 12, would you????
3. DRAPE and EXTEND, DRAPE AND EXTEND (Drape the patient and extend the examining table)
4. Come up with at least 2 to 3 strong differentials, dont bullshit. I only came up with 3 for most of my cases but they were solid on the money diagnoses. Workup; same prinicpal.
5. Challenging/rude/difficult patients; had 3 and just kept on smiling. Even though I wanted to slap a couple of those SP's, but they are paid actors and you paid too, so act along with them. But some will really push your buttons, dont let them.
6. Counsel your ass off!!! Dont forget that, I think its more important then the physical, in my opinion. I ran out out time in one case because i counseled the majority of my encounter. But i think that was the point of the encounter. So go with your instincts
7. Get a good nights sleep; I DIDNT, Didnt sleep at all!!! there was a party going on in my hotel.
8. Dress for Success; I bought a really nice Kenneth Cole tie, and got compliments on it, so now im going to wear the same tie for my interviews.
9. Take a Deep Breath before you walk into that room, and dont freak out. 2 examinees were given warnings at my center for entering the room prematurely.
10. Lastly, stay postitive throught the whole exam. You will miss something or alot of things, expect that. If you obsess over it will affect you so after you finish the patient note get over it and MOVE ON it will hurt you in succeeding cases.
Final note, I personally think this exam is needed. I come from a family of MD's and everyday, I hear them talking about patient complaints of doctors with NASTY attitudes and BAD manners. I dont want to be that kind of doctor, do you?? I now see why everyone was made to take this exam as of last year. Have fun with the exam, and accept the opportunity to enhance your craft as a physician with open arms. Good luck all! Got to study for my other steps.....
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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Congratulations!
I wanted to ask you - eng is your native language?
I' m an IMG and i have good clinical skills but in my own language.. I know eng well enough to read and write(i passed step-1 & step-2CK first attempt),but i have no much experience in spoken eng.
could u pls comment,
thanks,
Leon
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| Lorena
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
Posts: 237
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!! 
Thank you so much for the great advice!
Best/ Lorena
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| trishue
Forum Elite
Topics: 24
Posts: 156
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I PASSED TOO!! RED SCREEN! haha congrats too manolok...
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| manolok
Forum Elite
Topics: 71
Posts: 231
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congrats to you trishue and good luck to you Lorena. As for fetus, English is not my native language but I grew up in America. Hmmm, I dont think that English should be a hindrance for anyone to pass in this exam but then again you are being tested on your spoken English. I would say, just make sure the patient understands you and communication lines are open. i used to teach ESL before I went to medical school. What I advised my students is to practice speaking English with anyone, even with random strangers just so that you are comfortable with speaking it in any given situation. Supplement this with watching tv shows and listening to radio talk shows and really observe how conversational English is spoken. Look up anything you dont know. Dont worry about the accent, trying "TOO HARD", could work to your detriment. Just make sure your English is audible and clear. Wait and see your English curve will increases exponentially. Good luck, and practice, practice, practice.
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