ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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hello every1...
i am a graduate of 2004 . graduated in august 2004 and got married in sep 2004 ..
in oct i left pk and came to saudia..
i started my step 1 preparation on 1st jan 2005... but it ws a real slow , non serious study...i ws seriously double minded whether to take steps n try my luck in US or just try foy house job in saudia.. therefore i ws not able to study properly...anyways, i finished my first read by june! yes...6 months...actually i ws studying for few days then sumthing wud come up n i wud stop studyign for weeks in a row...thts why at the end of my first read...i didnt remember anything wht i read in the start....i ws real worried...i tried to solve q book ques but i scored in 50s...ws really worried...thought i cudnt do it...then i joined prep4usmle ...n ppl here supported me n told me tht its ok, happens to veery1 and tht its too early to judge urself....
in aug i found out tht i m preg, n also tht the exam centre in dammam is closing down by the end of the yr...so now it ws now or never for me....i did my 2nd read by min oct ...and also got registered...once i got registered for the exam (paid the fee n everything) i devoted myself to my studies...
after my 2nd read i took one month online Q bank , n tht gave me confidence...for the first time i felt tht i cud do it....it ws one of the most difficult times of my life...as i ws preg n it ws ramadan...i live in a joint family n so i has to take care of sehri/iftar etc,,, n also solve mcqs etc for 12 hrs in a day,,, anyway...i started with scoring in 60s n towards the end i ws scoring in late 70s n 80s...once i even got a 90! with an average of 76...
after tht i got a lot of confidence ...n frm nov 15 till 1st week of dec i did my 3rd read n read FA for the first time...i would suggest tht u guys do FA with the 2nd rd....
then i solved few more mcqs, did NBME 1 on 13th dec, then caught flu, then revised a lil n finally went for the exam...
yes , my Q book score ws (after 3rd reading) b/w 76-late 80s
Q bank= 76
USMLE cd : 41, 44, 39
NBME form 1= 570
didnt get time to do kaplan simulated...
i did kaplan for every subject except patho for which i did BRS
did kap DVDs for immuno, beh sci, genetics, physio,
did goljan lectures only for gen patho..i wish i had time to do it whole...the lectures r gr8 n they really help...
did FA , online Q bank
i think if u do properly then kaplan is more than enuff,,,,but u hv to do everything in it properly n use the latest books (at the most one edition old)
FA is great for review but plz understand tht it is not enough...dont think tht we will get good marks by doing only FA topics...esp now , i hv noticed that more n more ques r coming frm immuno/genetics/biostats/molecular bio and these r not covered nicely in FA ...so dont rely 100% on it
also dont think tht this is high yield , tht is low yield...do everything ...b/c in my exam i didnt get alot of ques frm wht is supp to be high yield...
if u hv any ques , then feel free to ask
i hope this helps sum1...
UJALA
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99/95/CSA cleared/ecfmg cert/step 3 pending/2004 grad/need visa/no USCE
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| ALFA
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 87
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Hi, Ujaala, thank you for posting your exam preparation. I am sure you did well.
Would you say that First Aid emphasizes main topics that are tested well? I know that it's not enough, but can one rely on FA regarding the HIGH YIELD topics? Or you need to know more of High yield stuff beyond FA? I am concerned about it, because I see that it does not cover many topics that I find in other books(I mean textbooks), and which I find important. But, from the other point, you don't have to know everything, right? So, just a little confused.
TXS!
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| digitaldoc
Topics: 35
Posts: 369
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That was great and comprehensive :-)
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| DrPak
Forum Elite
Topics: 49
Posts: 348
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Great story! I hope you score well. I wouldn't have the stamina to do anything else but study for the Steps (often I don't even have that much!!). If I were responsible for any chores in the house, I wouldn't make it - lazy that I am. Best of luck.
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| ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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hi ALFA! well FA is a gr8 book for the last week review...but it DOESNOT cover all HIGH YIELD topics well... my personal experience...its fine for anatomy, pyhsio, patho, pharma , micro, bio chem review....but not for genetics, immuno, mol bio....so for these , just stick to kaplan,,,,or if u can , then add every imp thing in ur FA...
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99/95/CSA cleared/ecfmg cert/step 3 pending/2004 grad/need visa/no USCE
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| ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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hi Dr. Pak..well...r u a girl? i suppose so....r u single? i suppose that so..
i used to think the same when i ws single....that how does married girls (some with kids) study in medical school....but now i realize...that nothing is impossible...n u get the stamina n courage when u face the challenge 
best of luck ....!
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99/95/CSA cleared/ecfmg cert/step 3 pending/2004 grad/need visa/no USCE
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| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
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Heyy ujaala!!
you must be back home with family now...hope you have a great time!
p.s...DrPak is not a girl.....visit his blog...amazing writing talent!
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| buddy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
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hi everyone
can anyone guide me to prepare for my usmle exam
I know you guy's are really helpful
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| ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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hi cyra! yeah i m back frm my vacation n now waiitng for step 1 result...
buddy....well we r ready for help, ask away!
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99/95/CSA cleared/ecfmg cert/step 3 pending/2004 grad/need visa/no USCE
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