zzpearl
Forum Senior
Topics: 53
Posts: 143
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Hello, everyone. I am so glad with my score which I have not expected, 99! I was aiming 95 all the time during my preparation.
I spent certain time on this forum during the preparation, and kept tracking the previous exam experience. Thank you all for your support and information, especially those who answered my questions.
I graduated from the medical school in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />China 7 years ago, now I am studying for my PhD in the U.S. I prepared for 7 months, mainly part time during the night after bench work, full- time at the end. The exam was like a mission impossible at first because I did not even know the English word. However, it turns out pretty doable. In fact, we can ace it!
I used Kaplan notes, Goljan audio and notes for pathology, BRS for physiology, High-yield for gross anatomy, and First aid. Watched some clips of Kaplan webprep, and did online Q bank, Q book, Webpath, and 40% of BSS.
I would say” the key of this exam is Repeat” Try to read the notes for 4 times. And solve as many Qs as possible. The real exam Qs is most close to NBME, but longer. 80% of my exam Qs are displayed the full screen. The real exam focus on the detail of the High-yield. So try to manage as deep as possible for those high-yield, do not bother with those rare syndrome.
Two important issues I want to point out:
Do not get depressed by your performance on the Q bank. I only scored 65% on average, I was so concerned because almost all people got over 90 scored higher on Q bank. Looking back, I do not think Q bank is a good predictor for your exam because the way people do the Qs varies. You will score higher if you do Qs right after review certain topic. Try NBME instead . I took form 1 one month before, and scored 95. Do not panic if you could not sleep the night before the exam. I did not sleep for a single hour, although I tried. And I felt so tried the morning on the Exam. Fortunately, I was quite alert during the exam. Now, looking at my score report, I do not think the lack of sleep compromised my performance. RedBull is pretty good to keep me awake during the exam.
The step1 preparation is a precious experience for me. I learned to manage multiple tasks at the same time; I aced the exam, fulfilled my lab work and published a paper. Most importantly, I build stronger self-confidence. I know I could not achieve these without the blessing of God. I will continue praying becuase I know God, my father, is listening to me.
Good luck to everyone!
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| busy_mom
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 100
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Wow - you really are a multi-tasker!  Congratulations on your fantastic score, and thank you so much for sharing your experience! Best of luck for the following exams!
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| farjoudi
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 40
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conragulation
good job my freind
i also have the same problem .enghlish is not my mother language and sometimes itshard for me to undrestand some english sentences .
plz let me know whats edition of lecture note did you used .did you go to kaplan center
and only kaplan lecture note is enough for getting good score.
did you used other refrence that you mentioned above.
thank you
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| reet
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 152
Posts: 1,411
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GREAT JOB.....CONGRATULATIONS
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Live as u were to die tommorow. Learn as if u were to live forever.
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,123
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great score, congratulations
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The Key to Succeed is Patience.
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| Doc2378
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 688
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Awesome dude...Hats off!!
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Courage does not always ROAR. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow" - Mary Anne Radmacher
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| p53
Forum Guru
Topics: 51
Posts: 804
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congratulations, great score!
good luck on step 2.
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"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein
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| Malithahe
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 171
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Hey, Congratulations ! Good achievement...lights of phD + residency in USA !
Good luck for step 1 and the rest of the thing
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Although there are many barriers, people who do good do not fail to pass all those successfully ...
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| sam27
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 118
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hi zzpreal,first of all a hearty congrats to u for such a great score. i wanted to ask u which notes of goljan did u used the review book (300) pages or goljan book (500). was kaplan pathology was helpful to u.if u dont mind what is the way u read the notes ,do u think that making notes or flow chart , daigram is impp to retain the material for such a huge exam or just simple reading is enough. thank u for the response. god bless
sam27
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| karusmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 296
Posts: 1,001
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i have seen ur posts zzpearl , i knew that u will do great ,congradulations!!!!!
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| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
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congrats!! great work! all the best for the future!
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| brown
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 49
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hi congrats.is this exam doable if i study for 4 months full time?pls suggest.
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| icycool
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 24
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WOW...GOES TO SHOW ADVERSITY BRINGS OUT ALL OUR INNER RESERVES...FANTABULOUS!!GREAT WORK..KEEP GOING
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| fakhan
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 73
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Congratulations,great score
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| ing
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 435
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Awesome! Here comes Chinese new year. This is great new year's gift.
Happy new year to you! 狗年快乐!
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Never give up!!
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| ssrpk
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 154
Posts: 2,819
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congratulations for ur success, and good luck for step2
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life is guud
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| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
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Congratulations!!!Job well done!!
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| pocas
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 169
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CONGRATULATIONS AND
HAPPY NEW YEARˇˇˇˇˇ
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| zzpearl
Forum Senior
Topics: 53
Posts: 143
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Thank you all for your kind words. Best Luck to you too!
To farjoudi, I used 2005 kaplan notes which are international version, the same contents as 2004 ed. Kaplan updated the notes every two years. I used Goljan 400 notes and audio for pathology. I highly recommend it! Dr. Goljan is amazing. He made my study of pathology so easy! He explained the pathophysiolgy so well, he made the integration and he taught me how to apply knowledge istead of just memorizing. And He has the sense of humor. I enjoyed his audio so much that I remembered all the jokes he talked. J For reference, I have Robbins pathology, never went through it, just for checking certain topics and pictures. I did NOT attend the centerprep. But I watched some of the Kaplan webprep, mainly physiology, anatomy, neuroanatomy microbiology, which I think is good. But I did not have time to watch all of them.
To sam27, I used goljan notes (400, the one he gave out in his leture, the same contents with his audio, I do not know whether it is the same thing as 500), but not the review book (300). I did not even open kaplan pathology, but heard that it is not good. In my 1st reading , I try to understand instead of memorizing; I listened Goljan audio in the 1st reading; I began to memorize and make connection in 2nd reading; in the last two readings, I will focus on the things that I did not remember. I do think taking notes while reading is a good idea. However, instead of writing a complete personal notes, I put them on the margin of Kaplan notes and the 1st aid, most of my notes come from the explanation of the Qs I solved. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Ist aid has very good chart, graph.
To brown. The actual time you need to spent is dependent on your efficiency and your target score. Good luck!..
To ing: Happy Spring Festival to you too! 
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| zzpearl
Forum Senior
Topics: 53
Posts: 143
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pocas
Happy Chinese New Year to you too
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