sachida
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Hi guys,
I have decided that I will be an active member of this community after reading it for while and never posting much.
To give better prespective of why and where I am here is some history.
I graduated in 99 in India. I had deep interest in research and came to USA for PhD.
While taking classes in 2000-2001 I thoght of working for usmle and collected books but never had enough time and courage to properly read them and prepare for the exams.
Meanwhile life went ahead, got married and finally finished PhDin last July.
While doing post-doc I decided to re-start the USMLE process.
I quickly realized the material and focus required for the exam. I thought I was good in pathology, physiology, biochem, genetics, immuno and mol bio (thanks to phd!!). I knew I was poor in Microbiology, Anatomy, Emryology, Histology and Behavioral sciences.
I started with Goljan and Kaplan lectures. In the begining, it was fun because I was actually not thinking about exam but just learning stuff that I some how had neglected in second year and barely passed. Now I understood stuff much clearly.
Then people kept telling me to do qbook so I took the qbook and hell broke loose. The material that I had read was hardly there (atleast that I though initially). I get easily furstrated when I read something and cant remember it. I also started hating myself for scoring so low on those qbook questions- 60-65% for most times. I also realized that I had changed in last 6 years or so. My concentration was weak, I could barely study an hour at a time, cant finish more then 20 question at a time and my mind keep wandering. Very very furstrating. I had all kinds of thoughts coming to mind- football, cricket, news and the worst- I had become a computer addict.
By the time I finished my first reading I had already missed my first goal. I cant appear for the december exam. So I set up a new goal for March.
This diary will detail how I am dealing with all these problems, how I am progressing and if I have guts to make a turn about and get back into reading and winning habbits.
I welcome your comments, advise and thoughts.
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| sachida
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Topics: 54
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I found this tool helpful in last hour. It follows first aid very well. Its fun to do.
http://www.valuemd.com/qbank.php
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| reet
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hi sachida..
u said u are good in subjects==pathology, physiology, biochem, genetics, immuno and mol bio .these are the most imp i.e highly tested on exam..
Sitting for 1 hour then take a little break and agaiin sit for 1 hour....take little breaks..
KEEP GOING
GOOD LUCK
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| sachida
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Thaks for the encouraging words reet.
Yes, that is what most people have indicated. However, lot of the questions have components borrowed from pharmac, micro and/or mol bio. I am just afraid about wrongly interpreting those componenets and therefore missing the correct answer.
Secondly, when I am working on subjects individually and then going to qbank, I do ok but when I rendomly pick up the quesitons, I miss majority of them. To me, it appears I need to revise and make my concepts very clear.
I have decided that I will do a full practice test this weekend. It will help me identify the areas of weakness and then I will concetrate more on those subjects.
Todays goal: 70 pages of princeton review specifically designed for comprenesive review. It has tons of tables and I think a good tool for collective memorization. I am hoping in next three days I will cover it completely along with first aid and then will take the prep exam to evaluate my strengths and weekness.
thanks again...
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| reet
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sachida,
how many questions in value md q bank to solve for free???
how do u find tommy 's concepts?? is it worth doing???
good luck buddy
Edited by reet on 01/05/06 - 10:44 PM
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| sachida
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Topics: 54
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Reet you can do ALL for free. It is not mcq type. It is just short Q and A firing. But uses exact same words that appears in the first aid. Path alone had around 1500 such short Q and A. I find it useful because it give different medium for same info. When I read the same book couple of times I tend to skip some info that I can cover with this tool.
I have no idea about tommy's concepts. So you will need to educate me on that. I have finalized by source list and I am going to stick to it.
I am using mostly Kaplan. Path I have done from BRS. Q book, Q bank Kaplan
Review with first aid and princeton.
I cam short for 15 pages last night. Could not take it anymore, have to work full day today and cover the shortfall. I will update how it goes soon.
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| sachida
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I spent first half of day standing in lines at the DMV. In the USA, department of motor vehicles is worst of all- long lines and chaos. I did show dedication though- I kept going through first aid while standing.
I came up with memory key-
If you go to Las Vegas, they give you alchohol has COMPlementary.
COM stands for cephalosporin, oral hypoglycemic and metronidazole all three have disulphiram like reaction. So easy to remember now.
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| sachida
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Here comes another one. Three A's that can ruin your kidney: Amphotericin, Aminoglycoside, Antiviral including Acyclovir
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Doubt is a luxury we cant afford. Future is predetermined by the character of the people who shape it
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| sachida
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Topics: 54
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I finished 60 pages of review book. It seems my pharmac and micro sucks. I still keep forgetting the same stuff. May be I should just highlight that stuff and go over it again. Well, spent 4 hrs watching American Football. Redskins won!! I am happy.
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| sachida
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Topics: 54
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Today is not a good day. I have not even started yet and it is 7 in the evening. Got back from work but feel tired from yesterday. I was happy yesterday since I studied untill 4 in the morning.
Nonetheless, I have to get my goal for today. Finish behavioral sciences review in superfast mode. I forget drugs otherwise it seems I should be fine.
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| sachida
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Topics: 54
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I came across a book called USMLE buzzword. So far I like it. I like it because it is Q and A format. I am finding that format suitable to me. Also, many of the Qbank questions that I could not answer after my first read are covered in the book. Its a small book to carry around so when you have time (e.g. standing in line, waiting for bus etc..) it is easy to use.
I will update you all as I go through it..
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| sachida
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Buzzwords are good book to go through.
I did two blocks on Qbank today!! Got 72% correct.
Hopefully it shall improve. I like this Qbank since it does not follow particular subject. Gives me good feel of how exam will be. Honestly, I am feeling more confertable with the qbank then before. I still need to start revisions-Anatomy is today's topic. Two days to finish it including neuro.
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| sachida
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Things are going ok. I am getting 72-76% correct on kaplan Qbank. I am trying to do two blocks a day.
I compiled a resource on all lysosomal disorder. I get confused with clinical description in the qeustion so I thought I will put together something helpful.
I will share it with you.
Attached Files:
Storage Disease.pdf (28 KB, 47 downloads)
Edited by sachida on 01/15/06 - 01:13 PM. Reason: new file edit
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| sachida
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I just added few things in support forums to make life easier when we need to remember the chromosome number where gene is located.
http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/comments.php?id=2...
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| sachida
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I have been slacking off for last three days. NOT a thing that went accroding to plan. Oh well! I dont want to loose the weekend. I realized that I had to put more effort in Anatomy and Embryo eventhough they are low yeild subjects. I think high-yield series is nice for both of them.
Today atleast 4 q bank blocks and neuroanatomy is the target.
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| sachida
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The week passed by too fast. I am sounding more like a crying baby now!! I just had so much to take care at work that I hardly studied. The dates are coming closer and plan is in disarray.
I am trying to focus on things that for sure I dont remember well. Also trying todo more questions since that is the format which makes it easier for me to remember stuff.
Today I plan to do 4 blocks. Finish neuroanatomy that I have been slacking of for 10 days and read atleast a chapter in the systemic review from step-up.
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| sachida
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I am back. Now the date is set on8th may. Need to reverse plan for exam. It has been a real struggle last few months on personal fronts.
But this time I have to do it.
I will update on my plans soon
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| tolito
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welcome back sachida. you were going full steam in january. i hope you were able to continue the trend. make a timetable for yourself at this time and set your targets so you know how much work you need to before may.
wish you good luck.
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| sachida
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Thanks Tolito!
Ya I was doing good but life has taken many twists and turns in last 4 months derailing the whole things. But thats past.. who wants to look at that. I am feeling much comfirtable with the material in my revisions. I am planning to take nbme test on Sunday this weekend. It will give me three weeks to focus on my weak areas. I have reworked the schedule accordingly. Also, most importantly I am not going to work for those three weeks giving me lot more time to study. My parents are also coming from India on 10th may so there is no pushing back exam this time. I am also doing more and more questions from whereever I find. It is good way to find out chinks in my armor and repair it. The biggest problem is I can not sit for more then 45 minutes at the most. I have to get my concentration right. I found out that for each set of q bank I had increasing amount of wrong answers as time went by. It means I have to reset my mind after each block so fatigue does not carry on. Today its time to finish pharmacology so here I go... happy studying everyone..
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| cool_guyp4u
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sachida wrote:
My concentration was weak, I could barely study an hour at a time, cant finish more then 20 question at a time and my mind keep wandering. Very very furstrating. I had all kinds of thoughts coming to mind- football, cricket, news and the worst- I had become a computer addict.
Hey sachida,
Reading the above, I felt like 'are you a different person' or 'are you me'? I haven't joined in a Phd but in a MPH program. Done with it last year and working full time. Before last month, I felt like I was sitting on thorns if I sat with a book in my hand for an hour. cricket, news and computer addiction - you are right - that is me. Just today morning, I have banned yahoo messenger, I would not open cricinfo.com , I would not open eenadu.net. Not that I spend 24 hrs on these stuff but open all these above atleast 10 times a day.
How did you become free of these things?
Best of luck!
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| sachida
Forum Guru
Topics: 54
Posts: 438
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I will not say I am completely free of them yet. I am still coping with it. These are difficult habits to get rid off. Few things I did are as following.
1. Uninstalled games and apps that I used most and were not necessary. Took out all icons except bare minimum and filled it with all the links and icons of usmle related material. If I am going to click on something it better be related to usmle. It will serve as reminder to what I need to do
2. Cricket is still going on. But I am not trying to even avoid it. I just read the news or let the commentary run on back while I am doing Q and A. These for years has not affected my studies so I am not sure if I really need to get rid of it.
3. Try to do more q banks. It helps in many ways because you do not need long concetration span as per say doing a chapter. That way you do not feel furstrated as often and gradually will regain ability to sit longer. Now I am at 45 minutes from 20 minutes. But every minute counts
4. Do more videos and audios
5. Reward yourself and punish yourself for small goals
It is difficult but keep trying you will succeed
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| tolito
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that is a nice way to put things sachida. have you done nbme yet? good going.
i found this thread very enlightening. it may help you in planning your studies
http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/30882
GL
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| cool_guyp4u
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Thanks Sachida. Your test seems to be around the corner? When is it?
Best of Luck!
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| cool_guyp4u
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Thanks Sachida. Your test seems to be around the corner? When is it?
Best of Luck!
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| sachida
Forum Guru
Topics: 54
Posts: 438
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Thanks tolito for link.
Yes the exam is on 8th.
I am taking nbme on sunday. I will post how I did. I am trying to blast through first aid for now.
Thanks all for your support.
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