Reddoc
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 109
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Got my score some hours ago....and its still sinking in ........ 99/256. Thankyou God, and I know I owe it all to my husband for his unflinching support. He's been my Godsent angel 
Well, guys..... now its official . If I can do it, anybody can  So get out there and give it your best. All I used for my Step 1 prep was Kaplan and GOLJAN. Honest to God.....u dont need more than that. I did all of the Kaplan notes except for Pathology.For which I used Goljan. Exhaustively. I got his lectures on my MP3 player, and listened to them every spare moment- while commuting, cooking, walking, eating and sleeping. Used his Rapid Review Book as my only study material for Path.Also his 100 page High Yield Notes fr all subjects.
Apart, from that, all else was strictly Kaplan notes for the rest of the subjects. No fancy reference books. Infact after graduating in 2002, this was my first brush with any books! So believe it people, u can do it with just Kaplan and Goljan. Dont get trapped trying to read every book under the sun. But learn from what you do read.
Guess thats it from me. Take care, and God bless.
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| sturge_weber
Forum Guru
Topics: 77
Posts: 1,042
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congrats and enjoy reddoc
tell more aboyt ur prep, and can u please tell some quick ways to improve the score in the last month
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| mamc
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 27
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thts an amzing result ,,how long did u take 4 preparing ..wht all ques did u do....i kind of started again after failing the first time so pls guide me..........
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| Reddoc
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 109
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THanx Sturge. Well I prepared for about 7 months.... my first reading was very thorough. Took me about 4 1/2 months. During that time I did the Kaplan 30 day center prep while simultaneously learning the material as I viewed the lectures. THen I did the Qbook, scored pretty miserably- in the 60s and 70s. That kind of gave me an idea of where I stood, and what I need to concentrate on during my second reading. So my 2nd reading took about 2 months of very concentrated study - did the Kaplan books again, as well as Goljan Rapid Review for Patho. All the while listening to Goljan audio ofcourse.
Also, I had got the Physio Q bank when I signed up at Kaplan during my 1st reading- it was part of an introductory promotional offer & I'd got it free. So I'd keep solving that throughout my 1st reading... just 15 or so qs a day- but turned out that really helped me.If u can go through the Physio Q bank and learn new stuff just by reading all the explanations, it will really help u on the exam. The difficulty level was a little higher than the real exam, but after going thru that Physio Q bank, u'll be more than ready fr anything.
After my second reading of Kaplan and only 1 reading of Patho Rapid Review, I started the Kaplan Q bank in my last month of prep. SCored 83 % overall. Then I gave 1 full length exam - the Kaplan CD (got it from a friend) Scored 88% on that. Last 1 week went thru some more full length exams Sga posted on the forum - God bless that guy - really helped me pick up some pointers by going thru the explanations. FInal couple of days- just read my handwritten notes- things I'd been jotting down cos they were new to me or seemed important at the time, and also from the explanations of the Kaplan Q bank.
Day of the exam -RELAX. Turned off all alarm clocks, fones, disconnected any connection to the outside world that might wake me up, and told my husband not to even get out of bed in the morning until I woke up- JUST to make sure I got all the sleep I needed for the exam. 
Best ways to improve
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| sturge_weber
Forum Guru
Topics: 77
Posts: 1,042
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thanks Reddoc, for telling about ur preparation, u can enjoy now, and have fun
all the best for step 2
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| ciplox
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 21
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did you do nbme?this q bank is it online?do you need to pay extra for it?how was ur immuno?i have old immuno notes looks like they are outdated?is it true?congrats.great score.
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| reet
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 152
Posts: 1,411
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CONGRATTS reddoc... and to ur husband .
well thats great score....enjoy ur success.
___________________
Live as u were to die tommorow. Learn as if u were to live forever.
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| Reddoc
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 109
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Thankyou Reet.
Ciplox - I did not do NBME. For the simple reason that it is a diagnostic aid for u to assess whether or not u r ready for the exam. People get disheartened when they do poorly on it, And I didnt want to shake my confidence b4 the exam. On the other hand, when u do very well on the NBME, u may become overconfident, and that can kill u on the exam.
Do the Q bank. Its available online. U have to pay for it.
Immuno- was my strong point. Kaplan notes are good enuf, dont think slightly older notes wud harm u. What they ask is the gist of immuno. Dont remember any oddball immuno Qs on my exam.
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| ciplox
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 21
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whats the percentage of immuno q they ask any idea?i am really worried.i have old 2002 edition.
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| Hagar
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 24
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congradulations reddoc!! great score. did u have many molecular biology q's on ur exam? also do you think the biochem portion of qbank is similar to the ones on the real exam?
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| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
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Congrats!! always good to read a happy ending and more importantly, the person being happy wth it Good luck for step 2!
Had a Q on Goljan's rapid review u say u studied from......do u find tht ws more helpful or his lectures? or both??
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| Reddoc
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 109
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Thanx guys.
Hagar, there certainly were a reasonable no. of molecular biology q's on my exam, though its difficult to quote a percentage. Frankly, dont bother yourself trying to figure out how many Qs on a particular subject u might encounter. Just do what u gotta do - STUDY!!!
DRK, I'd say the audio was more helpful- I must have heard the whole bit atleast 3-4 times, until I cud recite it backwards. Ofcourse the book is also EXTREMELY important. What Goljan does , in essence, is clear yr concepts like no one can.
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| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
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thanks REDDOC....hv a great time celebrating!
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| renta
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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hello fellows...i am a silent visitor of this site but it is time to participate actively in your company
congratulations reddoc...i have one question,when did you take the test,i've taken step 1 on december 23 and i'waiting for the results...
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| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
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Awesome!!!
Congratulations!!
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| farjoudi
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 40
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Congratulations!!
what edition of kaplan lectures note did you use
did you go to kaplan center for preparation or just used the lecture note
thank you
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| Reddoc
Forum Senior
Topics: 2
Posts: 109
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Renta- I took my test on Dec 16th. Hang in, u shud be getting yr score in a couple of days.
THanx Cyra!
Farjoudi, I used the 2005 edition of the Kaplan lecture notes. I went to the Kaplan Center for the 30 day center prep. U can cover all the lectures in 30 days if u space them well and start reading the lecture notes b4 u actually start going to the center to view the lectures.
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| oxymoron
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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hi there! congrats on your success and best of luck for your part 2. i want to ask you about the kaplan cd you practised with that you got from your friend. i was trying for it but never get to lay hands on it. can you give me the source?
thanks
tush
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| ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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hi REDDOC ...congrats!!!!!!
it always feel good to read success stories like urs
best of luck for the remaining steps
___________________
99/95/CSA cleared/ecfmg cert/step 3 pending/2004 grad/need visa/no USCE
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| icycool
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 24
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congrats reddoc,AWESOME.thanks for sharing ur prep.celebrate...
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