vic2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 82
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I was reading the posts and what I understood is that the best books are : Washington manual , Swanson and Crush for step 3 plus USMLE World CCS and MCQ .
Am I correct or is necessary Kaplan lectures (step 3 ) also???
I am so confused how to study for this test!!!!!
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| almost giving up...
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 18
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I would say: to start do Crush. Good fast review of everything, boost your confidence and you can start doing tests soon. Then you can review more in depth Kaplan if you have time, for your weakest areas.
USMLE world helps you with practice with questions. Depending on the days you have do cases from the CCS and tests from the MCQ. This is a MUST. Divide your time so by the end you are doing more tests than at the beginning.
Your Wash Manual is good for reference if you want to review your weakest areas too, but not to study it all. It is s too extense for what you need. You need PRACTICE with questions.
Swanson for me was good for when I was bored to death and did not want to study. It presents things on a way that is interesting: Makes a case, makes questions, you answer them, then they review them. I would recommend to read the high yield things from there is you have time (like cholesterol management, HTN, etc) but I also think it is extensive and does not cover it all (remember that it is for Fam Med.). I think that if you get it, get the latest edition, because the other is outdated. In the other hand I knew an american graduate who read Swanson three times, did questions and passed with a score on the 80s.
I would not go nuts buying stuff. Focus on a few books and STICK to them, or you will go nuts with anxiety.
I would also suggest to look at Strong Medicine, though. It is like the Crush, fast revision, but more complete in some areas, that the crush does not review. It helps you with the CCS too. Many people use this one instead of Crush. I kind of like better Crush, but I had both.
One recommendation: DO the USMLE world for the CCS cases, PLAY with the CCS CD, OK? That will really, really, really boost your confidence and help you on the second day of the test.
This is what I would recommend, but the best thing is to look at the materials and decide what DO YOU like, what makes you feel more interested, challenged, etc.
Also, do not be afraid of being flexible. If you start a plan and are not sticking to it, look for other alternatives that will make you feel/be more focused.
For me, it was hard to pass that test and I passed it with a lousy 75!! I am very undisciplined, a busy mom and also I have some learning problems!
I just send this to you to keep the ball rolling. I hope it helps you and hope other people give their opinions.
Also do not forget your spiritual life. If you believe in any higher power do not forget to dedicate your study to it/them/him/her and ask for help. Whatever we believe in, gives us strength.
I am Christian, and I wish you all the blessings to you so soon you can be a great physician again.
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| chemamr
Moderator and PGY2
Topics: 703
Posts: 4,442
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i have ordered Swanson to a bookstore because they didnīt have it. Which is the latest/newest edition? 
i donīt want to buy the oldest?. PLEASE ANSWER
___________________
Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
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| almost giving up...
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 18
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Do amazon.com and find out. Mine was a 4th ed. and it is outdated.
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| vic2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 82
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Thank you "almost giving up " . I finished my fellowship in Infectious Diseases 2 years ago (in my country ) , got married , came to US , had a baby and became a full time mom . I had a terrible time to study for step 1 , just took it , I hope I passed . While I am waiting for my results I am planning my future steps and because of H1 visa , I will need to take step 3 before my interviews.
So , I think I will study simultaneously for step 2 and 3 , I was doing some questions from step 3 and I could not see much diference between them. I do think I will enjoy very much to study for step 2 and 3 (after step 1 everything is a pleasure!!!) and your advices were very important to me.
I am also a Christian , and I do believe God is always looking for me and has a plan to my life . So , everything will come in the right time and i do hope I can come back to my beloved medicine very soon.
God bless you too.
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| chemamr
Moderator and PGY2
Topics: 703
Posts: 4,442
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thanks almost giving up.
itīs 5th edition, so itīs ok, i guess.
___________________
Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself.
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| almost giving up...
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 18
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Congratulations for becoming a mom! That is one of the most wonderful experiences I have had in my life too. My kids are now 14 and 10 and I cannot believe it!
If you can have family close to help you, plan on it. Your mom, sister or someone close. It is very demanding to be a mom when you are in residency. For you and the babies/children. They need the best of care and you need peace of mind to concentrate on your job.
Take care and keep in touch and...
Merry Christmas!
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| nelia
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 31
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hi Almost giving up
Thank you for advise . You are encouraging.
About questions: I bought kaplan step 3. Do you think they aren't good?
Is usmleworld a must?
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| dr vi
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 14
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hi almost giving up...its so nice to see your mails..you really brighten my spirit..its a joel osteen online
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| marcela
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 27
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WOW, thank you, but what/who is that ? joel osteen? Guess kinda ignorant here...
Nelia, sorry I did not answer before, I do not know where was I...I think Kaplan is excellent. It did not work for me, because I have weird brain (not much works in there) but we are all different (that is the fun of it). I DO think though that USMLEWORLD is a must. They present the CCS in a way that we can really figure out better what is asked during the cases. That info, I do not think is anywhere else. TRY it if you still have time. At least for me, that part of the test was so stressful...
Do not give up, good luck!
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| marcela
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 27
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I just went to two interviews. Both Programs were excellent, for different reasons. One offers an instruction that I am lacking of and they seem so organized and so nice. The residents are just SO GOOD! The town is beautiful, good education for kids, etc. The other program, I know it for years, it is in my town. It is a program for underserved people that is standing up against a giant in managed care and stuff. They are just such a beautiful people, all of them, focused in what is right and in the values I want to live for. The Coordinator, the Director, everyone, they are incredible, they are so genuine too. It is a place that surely no matter what, you would want to go everyday to work...The training would be challenging for me, mostly because I did it already when juggling motherhood with it, with other people around me that never understood me, and worse, that took advantage of my weak position...trauma...yeah...that was a traumatic experience. Will I have the strength to go all over that again? Will I have the strength and most important the neurons?
Will see what will be my place.
Sometimes it feels it is SO difficult, that no one can really understand us . Right? But you know, it is true that what does not kill us makes us stronger! I was able to finally pass this test and new doors are opening. There is light at the end of the tunnel. It has been like that for me, and I am not the brightest crayon in the box! so...it will be for you too.
I remind myself: do not give up, we can't. Especially us, physicians from other countries. American physicians, they are great people and they survive and are trained in a system that is so damaged and they need our different point of view. Some of them just get to suspect that Medicine is much more than what they see, some run away to other countries to live it in their bones. They are so thirsty of spirit, of soul, the things we have so much of in our lands, because the spirit has always been closer to the poor. There is a lot of value in what we can offer, I believe that is why we are here.
Medicine is an art of loving and caring, it cannot become a mechanistic business!  So we must use everything, every talent we have to pass the obstacles and to grow. We must take advantage of our capacity to re-create ourselves, keeping what is essential. This is a moment of transition and probably will not get any better before getting really worse, but we must still do what is right.
American people are beautiful people, a country formed by people that wanted to search for a better destiny. This land is the place of so many rebels, revolutionaries and visionaries...The freedom of America has nothing to do with their product of exportation (capitalism) that is just the only way this country became to know how to subsist. Freedom is the spirit of generations of these people, people now mostly confused and lost in the mall of this life.
Well, this is only my opinion though...but did I make you think?
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| marcela
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 27
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marcela=almost giving up,
I just forgot my passwords, and use both names as they show up in my emails.
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