drh
Forum Newbie
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My test date was July 29th, I got my score report 6 weeks later due to some problem with my student verification. I scored a 233/ 94%. Im an IMG in India, originally from California, went to med school straight out of high school...im currently finishing my 3rd year of college.
BOOKS
Pathology: BRS and Goljan Pathology Review (the older one)...i felt that BRS was sufficient and that i could of skipped Goljan
Microbiology: MMRS..really good book...easy to go through
Pharmacology: first aid.....did antimicrobials from MMRS also (this was my strongest subject so felt pretty confident)
Behavioral Science: BRS, and i did ethics from Kaplan, but after looking at Kaplan, i felt like i should of done that instead of BRS
Anatomy/Embryo/Histo: Kaplan, really good book, i also did High Yield once...i suggest looking images from higy yield
Neuroanatomy: Kaplan and High Yield....definitely Kaplan is better, but i suggest using high yield for images
Physiology: BRS...good enough
Biochemistry: Kaplan...definitely the best book available for biochem
Molecular Biology/Cell biology: High yield, everybody should do this book, excellent, fast reading only 100 pages..last chapter on receptors very important for exam
Comprehensive Books: First Aid 2005, Step-Up High Yield (very very good book, weak in pharm and biochem, but awesome otherwise, fastest way to improve your weeknesses, its organized in organ system manner), and Pathophysiology for boards and wards (average book...good for a change, easy and fast reading)
QUESTIONS
Kaplan Qbook: averaged around low 70's
Kaplan Qbank: 67%/ 100% complete (finished whole bank in 23 days..started after my second review...with around 2 months left till my exam
NMS: did around 7 blocks...averaged 72%
BSS: i did almost 2 volumes...didn't keep track of my scores, but it was around 50-60%, i thought it was a waste of time, too many direct difficult questions that are irrelevant
NBME: did only exam1 : 580...did 2 weeks before my exam and then completed my 4th review (correlates to 236)....definitely the most realistic questions available
I studied for around 6 months. I finished 2 reviews, did qbook during my second review...started qbank after my second review, did my 3rd review from all the books and for my 4th review i did only first aid
MY EXAM
It was extremely difficult in my opinion, much more difficult than Kaplan and even NBME (but NBME was the closest). First of all, the questions in the actual exam are much longer and take time to read. There are very few direct questions, the majority of the test are those thinking questions that have multiple steps involved. It wasn't too clinical, it was mainly basic. My test was majority Neuro. I got 1-2 histo slides, around 15-18 mri's/ct scans (most of which u can answer from just reading the question). Timing was an issue for me. I usually finished qbank and NBME with 10-15 minutes left in each block, but on the actual exam i finished each block with 0-7 minutes left, i got cut off on my review of my questions twice which never happened to me before. But at the end i was really depressed and disappointed with the exam, i felt like i choked on test day, but in the end everything worked out. I guess the way the test is designed you really cant tell how u did, so don't worry too much after ur exam.
Feel free to ask any questions...Good luck with ur exam
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| drsabafaisal
Forum Newbie
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Posts: 15
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congratulations great score
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| meroon
Forum Senior
Topics: 0
Posts: 52
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congratulations.
Did you do the q bank systemwise or just random.
I am an IMG from India,came to U.S last year.I completed Kaplan video lectures
around six months back.I had to take a long vacation and went back to India
for 2 mon.It took almost an year to adjust to the new place.I was really depressed and lost the entire vision about the future.now i am back to studies.I am doing q book now(I did not review any book after i completed the Kaplan lectures).I am trying to read while I do the questions.but its taking time.I would like to give the step-1 exam in JAN.
Do you have any suggestions for me?I would really appreciate the advice from any of the people in this forum.
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| sasim
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 126
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Congrats. Great score..Gud luck for next Step
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| venkatesh
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 36
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Meroon, u dont worry, i am also like u.i did my medical school in india, rt now i am in us. just now i started my usmle prep. i am studying kaplan lecture note book,this forum is great place, friends here are very helpfull, just keep in mind, study, study.study. During studying dont think about exam, just have fun in studying, this words are said to me by one of my friend here. if u need any thing, u just post here. Never think u are alone, we are all with u, go ahead, we will pray for u.
GOOD LUCK
take care
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| meroon
Forum Senior
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Posts: 52
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Thank You,Venkatesh.It is always good to know that there are people who support you while you go through this hurdle.i am trying to keep a time schedule for doing questions.hope i will succeed in this.
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| venkatesh
Forum Junior
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Posts: 36
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Ok merron after u do your question, let me know how was your performance, today i completed the abdomen in anatomy, next upper limb.
take care
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| meroon
Forum Senior
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Posts: 52
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Venkatesh,I am doing pathophysiology from qbook,Av score50-60%.in between i got sidetracked while reading an explanation.so now i am reading Adrenal gland from Physio.(this is how i take time to read explanation)
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| usmle_g
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 7
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Drh,congratulations and good luck on your next step.
I;ve heard of MMRS Micro few times but still do not know what it is.Would you tell me the whole name? Many thanks.
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| drsabafaisal
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 15
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usmle_g
MMRS is microbiology made ridiculously simple
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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hey guys,
first of all hearty congrats to drh for such a great score
i am IMG from india now staying in us preparing for usmle step 1.i just found this site few days back which is really helping me a lot.because it is really difficult to prepare far away from your family and friends..
i am very much confused about selection of books.so many books for each subject.i have kaplan lecture notes right now.i thought you will help me selecting subject wise books.can you please tell me which is the most imp subject to start?please help me....
waiting for reply,thanks
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| venkatesh
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 36
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Hi, Merron, u are doing well just continue .Myself i am studying upperlimb in kaplan lecture nortes, even though it is a small part, it is consuming lot of time. Today i was panic thinking my pace.Any how we have tp go through this.
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| venkatesh
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 36
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Hi Dipti, the kaplan lecture notes is good, in addition u can add to this, First aid ( 2006 edition is releasing in december) and goljan audio pathology ( still i have not purchased this, but everty one in this forum, say we have to go through that). if u want any thing more information, let me know.
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| usmle_g
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
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drsabafaisa thank you for your reply.
Edited by usmle_g on 09/28/05 - 09:37 PM
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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hi venkatesh, thanks,
i read that these goljan audio is available on coolgoose...you tried there sometimes?i wanted to ask that from which subject should i start?
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| venkatesh
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 36
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Hi Deethi, i tried in coolgoose, but it did not open, u can buy one in ebay, it is not expensive.
Next u asked me , which subject to start, even i have that question from very long time, i did not get any answer, but what i think basic things to be get colected before going to para subjects, rt.
so i started with anatomy, next physiology, bio chemistry latter we can take up other subject.
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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ok....you know what,you go to coolgoose.com go to music and then click on search....type usmle and into next box type goljan....you will get it...because i got that .ok which book is good for anatomy,biochem and physio?
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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hey,how is BRS pathology?
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| venkatesh
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 36
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Thanks, i found out goljan, in coolgoose, did u downloaded all 32 files. About pathology, i am palnned to do question in BRS too.( i have BRS pathology already)
Most of the people tells that majority of question comes from pathology in exam. so i am planning to work out all three, kaplan, BRS and goljan.what do u think about this, let me know.
which subject have u decided to start. again i will check this site around 4pm.
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| dipti
Forum Elite
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Posts: 237
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i am thinking to start with patho as this subject has more weight in exam and this is my favourate also,i guess i should start with that....i am goin to keep anat and biochem last as they difficult to remember for me so better to do them last as i have short term memory...
i am also goin to read the same for patho..i am going to do systemic first....like,cvs patho and anat,pharmac and physio...at a time...what do you think is it good?
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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is the KAPLAN Q bank is different from Kaplan Q book?
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| venkatesh
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 36
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Hi, the planning is good, u just focus on that. Next, the q bank and q book is diferrent, q bank is online question ( for three months they charge u 279$) and the q book u can get it in any store (cheapestbookprice.com it is a online store, it will compare all the stores price) it is good to have question book.next 10 pm. so when are u going to start, when are u plannong to give the exam.
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| tanushree
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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HI Dipti, thanks a lot. actually i was finding how to download goljan,and today got it, i am img student from india ,just start preparation.Do you have any idea how i can get kaplan video?
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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hey tanushree,
i dont have any idea,may be you can find out on kaplan site...if i will find out i will tell you....when are you giving exam?
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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hey venkatesh,
i havent plan yet ...when are you giving exam?i am still confused about taking date as i still dont have that much confidence.....so much to study....how much time should we take minimum?
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