sharvil
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 126
|
Hey Docs,
All the best to you for your Step 1.
You know what? If you want a 99 it is possible. Just follow these simple intructions:
First of all, decide that you want a 99. I mean if you decide that you want a 95 you will get a 90, so aim for 99 and nothing less.
You are only limited by what you think. If I told you that you could never fail what would you do? Do not get frustrated easily, life has just started for you, take one step at a time and enjoy it. You have great intelligence and education and a great life in the US. How many of your countrymen can get such an opportunity?
Here is what i would do: I would sit down first for 2 hours, shut down my cell phone, and take a notepad and a pen and start answering the following questions with full honesty and sincerity:
- What do i want? (if you are honest here you would say i want a 99 because anything less than that would be a lie).
- How would i feel when i have achieved my target? (think of yourself holding your USMLE Step 1 score sheet with a 99 and you giving your friends a great party and celebrating)
- What is preventing you from getting to your goal? How long would it take for you to reach your target?
- What are the resourses that you have that will help you reach your target?
- Do you have any role models who have got similar results?
- Describe your ideal day. What is your timetable and plan for achieving your target?
Answer these questions, not orally, but write them down on paper. You can do this even in chinese, but your pen should not stop for half and hour, just keep on writing. Then, read it out loud. Go to the beach and stand in front of the sea and say it out loud. Read it everyday after you wake up and before you go to bed. It should permeate into your system.
Now you will start feeling more confident. You should now start studying hard.
First start by reading the first 50 pages of kaplan Q Book where they have shown you how to prepare for the test and how to answer the questions.
There is a key to studying medicine. Before opening any book, answer this question: Why am i reading this stuff? For whom am I reading this text book? What is your answer? "It is for my patients." Any single line of the book can save the patients life. So then you will get highly motivated to learn each and every line of text book.
What has to be done?
- Kaplan LN for: Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Immunology, Behavioral Science
- Compass Anatomy/High Yield Anatomy/High Yield Neuronanatomy/High Yield Embryo/High Yield Histology
- BRS Behavioral Science
- BRS Physiology - Just the Neurophysiology.
- Goljan Patho - Very good, if you cant read it just solve questions from it.
- Kaplan Q Book and Bank
- USMLE Sample CD
- Hematology Slides from Harrison's Textbook of Internal Medicine
- Color Plates from First Aid
- Questions from Goljan patho full test
- Questions from goljan 5 star pathology
Last 3 weeks, don't just solve questions, but read all the material again.
Take B complex pills everyday......or else you will get wenickes enceph
Days before exam, solve the Kaplan Simulated and the USMLE Sample CD about 3 weeks before the exam.
Then 2-3 days for each subject. Just read Kaplan LN and nothing else, be confident, if you have read it before you are going to know the answer.
Take notes of all those things of Kaplan that you think that you cannot remember e.g. drug interactions with Cyt P450 in pharmac, side effects of lithium, etc. and write them in the diary.
Last 3 days, read no new material, just read those notes that you took and diary, also you might read certain topics that have to be memorized e.g. patho hemat, cns, kidney pharmac antiarryhythmics, anticancer, rhuematoid arthritis, behavioral sleep and stats, micro virus,etc. Do a rapid revision of those things.
2 days before exam, do USMLE Sample CD again, see photos of harrison and first aid, read diary.
Day before exam, just have fun and relax. Go for a haircut, go for a massage on the head, its so relaxing! Dont sleep in the afternoon or else you will not be able to sleep at night, do some physical activity like going for a walk, and relax with friends, watch a movie.
The morning of the day before the exam, read Kaplan Q Book 1st 50 pages where they have described the ways to answer question in the usmle.....................dont read anything on last day before exam.
Just check your orange card and passport.
Night before the exam, when you go to bed, visualise yourself at prometric and giving the exam, you are doing so great and fantastic and you know all the answers all the time...............wow that is the greatest exam of my life..................... read something that inspires you before you go to bed, ....................so that you go to sleep with positive thoughts in your mind............. the next morning awake refreshed and happy and ready to give the exam...........take 3-4 bottles of tang or vital z with you for energy. take some jelly sandwich so that you get lot of sugars, remember your brain needs glucose as sole source of energy.
Have a breakfast and take 2 tablets of vitamin B complex because you need them more today and take apples in breakfast.................one apple can stimulate you more that one cup of tea or coffee can. those of you who have a habit of drinking tea or coffee can take them to prometric as well...............
again check the orange card and passport..................................
now take the blessings of your God and conquer the exam
In the center, just take deep breaths
go to toilet before the test begins............
wash your face with water and wash your eyes and feel fresh
once you go inside the test terminal dont immediately start.............
take some deep breathes.
take the earplug and put them in your ear.
take the marker pad and then write on the pad............I am going to do
the very best. Come on You can and You will do it
surely................Nothing in this whole world can now stop
me..........Unleash my powers and awaken the giant within
...........................
now you are confident........................
then start the tutorial....................
you cant skip it but just keep on pressing the next button until it gets
over and then you will be asked your CIN no. Just type it and the exam
starts.
Read carefully and start exam. Dont worry..............
Just take the exam like you are playing a video game or computer
game,..........no big deal just routine game.......................
most important ENJOY the exam,
after the block gets over just write on the pad. Great Job Doctor, keep up
the tempo, keep up the good work , 1 block over successfully..........
DO the 1st two blocks simultaneiously without breaks.
after two blocks take a break, wash your face and eyes to prevent eye strain
and fatigue, drink some tang. and start the third block.....
after your 4th or 5th block take a meal.................dont eat too
heavy,................
and you are like 70% done.
just give the blocks and after each block write something good about
yourself...........
i used the marker pad just for that..............
This willl be the best exam that you have ever given in your
life................
Ok Folks Enjoy your life,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
You already have the VISA POWER now you only need extra mileage on your
score........
if you need any help i would be glad to be of assistance
best of luck to all
i m sure everyone will do great......anyone and everyone can get a 99 because we are doctors...
Sharvil
Edited by praying4a99 on 05/02/08 - 11:18 AM. Reason: Did some Formating
___________________
Be POSITVE, thats my blood group
|
| malinda
Forum Guru
Topics: 162
Posts: 654
|
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU? too late for me dear.I have already fired the bullet and now waitingto see how precisely it hits the BULLS EYE.
___________________
I CAN DO IT.
|
| ing
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 435
|
Grreat suggestions!
sharvil, how did you use FA?
___________________
Never give up!!
|
| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
|
sharvil, this is so well put. i think you need to start your own 'school of motivation'. i wiil like th privilege to be the first registered student.
thanks for your words of advice.
___________________
It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
|
| mitty
Forum Guru
Topics: 52
Posts: 376
|
Thank you for taking time to help us.My exam is in two months.I didn't take notes when I read kaplan notes.Is it too late to start taking notes from kaplan?or should I spend the time I have on memorizing FA and Q bank?
Thank you in advance.
___________________
He will make it happen.
|
| sharvil
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 126
|
thanks a lot mitty, tolito, ing and malinda for all the appreciation........
I used First Aid a bit, It did not click for me somehow, however all my friends found it extremely useful and I did use a lot of first aid mnemonics........its a superb book.
mitty its not too later to start making your notes with kaplan, you still have one revision left, you can read the notes 2-3 days before the exams. You dont have to memorize Q bank. Never memorize question and answers. I think once you solve questions you usually remember them pretty well when they apprear in the exams. FA is a good concise review book for step 1. However I would stress that in the final revision it is better to do what you have already done before rather than starting on an entirely new textbook or source.
all the best to you all for the usmle
sharvil
___________________
Be POSITVE, thats my blood group
|
| suma
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 60
|
hai sharvil,i just started preparation ,planning to take exam after 6 months,so can i do tht,are 6months enough?tanx for ur motivation
|
| sharvil
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 126
|
ihi suma,
think 6 months is a very decent amount of time, but again it depends on how many other prior committments do you have, if you are working full time 12 hours a day for 5 days a week, then it becomes difficult.
in the end, you should make a reverse timetable, so that you can have alteast 2 if not 3 revisions and solve at least 1000-1500 questions and be confident and give the exam.
all the best
sharvil
___________________
Be POSITVE, thats my blood group
|
| suma
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 60
|
tanx sharvil ,i want to spend whole time on studying only ,so.............
tanx
|
| OBO
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 106
|
Thanks sharvil for great suggestions. They are really helpful.
|
| ralux
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 59
|
hey sharvil..congratulations for your great score..How much did u study for it (how many months and how many hours a day?)..
|
| sharvil
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 126
|
thanks ralux and obo
for my step 1, i studied for like 6-7 months, but at that time i was simultaneously doing my internship also, and so i had to plan my timetable well. some days it would be 8-10 hours a day and some days it would be 2 hours, but on an average it would be 3-4 hours a day.
i took the last 12 days before the exam off, because the internship schedule was too much to handle during those times.
___________________
Be POSITVE, thats my blood group
|
| ralux
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 59
|
do u think it can be done in 4 months (from now till august)...Im just starting now...and im already stressing out...How did u memorize all the details?
|
| lecheah
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 83
|
hey ralux
i am taking my step 1 in may.
don't worry if u have enough time or not. just do it. and once u start studying u will see it's not as bad as it is. so stop worrying and wasting time, just do it NOW.
all the best to ur exam.
and congratulation to u sharvil!!!
|
| sharvil
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 126
|
thanks a lot to all
i have good news, i matched in categorical surgery at UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School, Newark.
sharvil
___________________
Be POSITVE, thats my blood group
|
| sonaliraj99
Forum Senior
Topics: 39
Posts: 132
|
hi... congrats on ur high score n.. d match... u r takin it i gues.. i'm plannin to write d exam in july.. 1st week.. 'l it b doable??? also.. did u apply for d match wid just step1 scores??
___________________
ZIDDI.ZIDDI ARMAAN!!!ZIDDI.ZIDDI HAI TUFAAN.
ZIDDI.HUM BHI YAHA.
|
| sonaliraj99
Forum Senior
Topics: 39
Posts: 132
|
hi again sharvil .. i jus went on d link below n read ur post on ecfmg certification... i'm in my pre final now.. i'd like some doubts cleared... i heard dat one can do their internship in states.. is it true?? do i need to clear al d 3 steps.. or jus d first 3 exams(not step 3) to b certified??? also wat do u mean by categorical surgery??how soon after grad can i apply... pl... guide... thanks in advance..
___________________
ZIDDI.ZIDDI ARMAAN!!!ZIDDI.ZIDDI HAI TUFAAN.
ZIDDI.HUM BHI YAHA.
|
| sharvil
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 126
|
no i applied to the match with step 1, ck and cs scores, however i you want h1 i would recommend step 3 scores too maximise chances.
u need to clear step 1, ck and cs to be certified. after u r ecfmg certified only then can u apply for step 3. you can do a few rotations in the states during your internship, that would be equal to hands on US clinical experience a very positive thing in your application. However make sure that you have clarified with your University in India that they are going to count your US rotation into your 12 months or else you will have to repeat those 2-3 months in india again in order to earn your degree certificate. make everything clear before taking any step.
Categorical surgery means a full 5 year course in surgery. usually foreign grads end up gettin a prelim spot which is for one year only and then they have to reapply the following year and start the whole process again.
all the best
___________________
Be POSITVE, thats my blood group
|
| aarya
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 59
|
hey Sharvil
my heartfelt congratulations on the matching into the programme of your choice.....it is great to see hard work being duly rewarded
all the best for future
aarya
|
| sonaliraj99
Forum Senior
Topics: 39
Posts: 132
|
hello again.. thank u.. i'l surely follow up on ur advice.... one final q.. wat al formalities r to b done frm my coll. before i apply for residency.. other than verification n trancript.. LOR??SUMMER COURSES DONE??? LETTER FRM D CHIEFS?
___________________
ZIDDI.ZIDDI ARMAAN!!!ZIDDI.ZIDDI HAI TUFAAN.
ZIDDI.HUM BHI YAHA.
|
| shilahk
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 126
|
sharvillllhi...thanx for your advice..it's very nice...the thing i am having difficulty in is how to make my reads...shall i do a rapid read wothout memorizing much information then after finishing all books do the second read ?? or shall i do first read with longer time and better effort for memorizing informay=tion but this will take me alota time.....what do u think??
|
| amit_neb
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 7
|
This is the best advise anyone anywhere has ever given ........ you are good ....very good ..... stick around we need you ...
___________________
Amit
|
| sharvil
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 126
|
hey sonali, sorry cud not reply earlier, yeah thats all u need to do from your college. i think u forgot deans letter.
well shilahk, its your way of reading, its entirely personal, i think you should read in a style that you have been comfortable all your life and in your medical school.
thanks amit.
all the best to you people
sharvil
___________________
Be POSITVE, thats my blood group
|
| prader-willi
Forum Elite
Topics: 28
Posts: 364
|
hi sharvil....hats off to u....u did it..... cat surg at umndj!!!!!!WOW ....i pray u can advice me a lil bit....21 days to my exam..i ve finished q bank....now i just bought the new fa 2006 since it has systems based approach.....not really feeling confident for the exam ... got decent score on q bank(78% random timed)....still........i ve kaplan notesand goljan twice....shud i go ahead with another rapid reading of the notes...or the fa....pls help me out...thanks...congrats once again...
___________________
hang on in there......u will survive....
|
| unfortunate
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 56
|
hey sharvil.
i am going to take third try. i failed twice. I tried my very best for second time, was aiming for 90's .but NBME score was 360. first time i didnt do qbank. but in second attempt i did qbank 60% and qbook 35-40 average score.
wht would you suggest A FAILURE PERSON??
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
