yuxin
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I took Step 1 on Feb. 16 and got my results, 230/93 on March 11. During the preparation, I received much encouragement from this forum. I promised myself if I passed, I would make my own contribution. The following are only my opinions, and may not suit everybody.
Some background information: Graduated in 1996 from China 5-years research experience in America Took 3-month, 30 visit Kaplan course Studied full time for 6-months Did two rounds Q-bank Q-bank 75-80% NBME-1 450 NBME-2 480 NBME-4 530
Why 30-visit course? If you have to work, or have some difficulty in English, or have limited budget, I suggest this course among all the choices. First, you can pause at anytime to take notes. Second, you can repeat any section as many times as needed until you understand. FMG students will benefit greatly from these features. I wanted to avoid the risk of becoming lost during live lectures, and was grateful for the freedom to take notes at my own rate. I made extremely detailed notes for every course.
Why two rounds Q-bank? I bought the 3-month Q-bank during the Kaplan course. Right after reviewing each topic I would do all the questions in that topic in clusters of 50. I re-did the wrong questions until I got everything correct. This is a very efficient way to practice the knowledge you've just learned. I bought another 1-month Q-bank in the last month before the test to practice test-taking and time management skills. As opposed to reading and re-reading textbook, my suggestion is to practice questions. Of course you can do these in 1-month Q-bank. I did them in 7 blocks together just like on the real test. Step 1 is all about time: how fast you can read and how fast you respond to the questions. But you don't want to rush through all the questions since you may miss many points. I feel the best way is to control the speed so that when you finish the block, you still have 3-5 minutes left; then you can go back to review the marked questions. Again you should not mark too many questions, but just those you are sure you want to return to. For some of the questions, no matter how long you have, you still don't know the answer. So just give it up. I would suggest marking around 5-8 questions.
Why Goljan and Fisrt Aid? After reviewing the Kaplan books twice, I spent 2 weeks listening to Goljan's radio while taking notes, and another whole week going through his high-yield notes. It helped me to make connections between points and systems, so that many things suddenly began to make sense. Maybe because Goljan already covers the bases, when I went through First Aid, I felt it was relatively simple. I finished the first reading in 3 days. These both should be done after Kaplan and right before your test.
Why full-time study? In my opinion, if financially possible, you should allow 1-2 months full time study before the test. Before I made the decision to study full-time, I attempted to combine first full-time, and also part-time work with study. Ultimately, these options were very frustrating for me. The benefits in concentration, focus, and energy for study, when there are no other distractions from work, are very dramatic. It is not insignificant, also, that my mood and outlook were far better once I could devote all my energy to study, without interruptions from work, outside people, etc.
Some books besides Kaplan: I really enjoyed three books and benefited from them. One is Katzung's Pharmacology, which is an excellent reference book even for the future. I always consulted it and was never disappointed. Another one is High-Yield Histology, which includes many small points not covered by other books but that you will come across in NBME. You can finish this book in one day. Also it includes many great pictures. The last one is Fadem's Behavioral Science. BS is the trouble subject for FMG so I got this book and finished it in 2 days. Just do the questions and scan the text, which is very easy to read.
The test day: In order to keep a record of how many blocks you have done, I suggest you write down the number 1 to 7 on the board they give you before you start the test. I was lost during the middle and not sure whether I had done 5 or 6 blocks. This is a small thing but helps. I was quite nervous during the first block. I read the screen but I didn't understand the words. So many thoughts came to my mind and I thought I could not do this. I had to stop for about 1 minute and close my eyes and tell myself many people did this and I can do it also, and all I need to do is to continue. Then I felt much more calm. It was relatively easy for me to go through 2 to 6 blocks until the final one. The questions suddenly became very long and confusing. I was already very tired and the time was running out. I had to look through all the questions first and answer some short ones but left some long ones behind. At the end I had enough time to go back to finish the remaining questions.
The days after test: It was not easy at all to relax. The questions I was not certain in the test kept coming back to my brain, which made me feel terrible. I didn't want to talk with or see anybody. But I am very lucky that my husband cheered me up and we went on a trip for a week. After my 6-month isolated study, it was so wonderful to be in nature with a loved one. So, don't stay home and feel miserable. You should go out and leave the test behind. More importantly, it is the time to reward your family, who fully supported you along the long difficult preparation and who will also support you during the next steps.
I welcome any questions!
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| malinda
Forum Guru
Topics: 162
Posts: 654
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WOW!!
You must be really happy .Heartiest congratulations.You are a great motivation for me.GOOD JOB!!
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| suma
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
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congrats,GREAT JOB
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
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Congratulations and good luck with your next steps.
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| skyhigh
Forum Guru
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congrats!
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| kk21
Forum Newbie
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congradulations on your achievements!!! best of luck for the future!
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| general malaise
Forum Guru
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congradulations, thanks for the experience!!
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| infliximab
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 320
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CONGRATS!!!
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| jenni1
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 12
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Congratulations! You posting really helps me. Best luck for step 2!
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| ing
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 435
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Thanks for sharing. Congratulations!
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| ing
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 435
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yuxin, when did you do your nbme? Did you do timed test for nbme? Thanks. --ing
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| zzzz
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
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congratulations you gave a right suggestions for preparing this test b/c mostly people until last day they don't know how to study for this exam anyway thanks alot for your all sharings.
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| yuxin
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 28
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yuxin wrote:
Thanks, everyone,
Hello, ing: I did NBME form-1 at one month before reviewing Goljan and FA. Then I took Form-2 at two weeks before and Form-4 one week before.
Since I thought it is important to study the questions in NBME, I took the self-paced 4-hours/each block version. I finish the block in one hour and study the questions without changing any answer.
Good luck for your study
Yuxin
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| ing
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 435
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Thanks very much Yuxin. Good luck with your step 2.
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| imeln313
Forum Junior
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Great job! Good luck with your next step towart residency!!!
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| farjoudi
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 40
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dear my freind
Congratulations !
i have a question even though, i know you are so exited because of your good score and i also know my question isnot related to usmle exam .but i need your help about my problem
i am imd and i already started my residency training in radiology in philippines but fortunatly i was lucky and could go to us 3 month ago wit tourist visa . my visa is expired in june so i am going to chang it to other type of visa i read that you work as researcher in us, can you help me how can i find a research job in us.i had research before in internal medicine an radiology as well .so ,if you can help me please inform me.
my email is farjoudi@yahoo.comthank
thank youso much
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| OBO
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 106
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Congratulations and thanks a lot for sharing your exam preparation. It helpps me a lot.GL
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| yuxin
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 28
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Hello, farjoudi: I think it is not difficult to find a research position in USA if you have experience and papers. You can try to look at the website of any university which you are interested. Most of them have a list for opening research positions. But I think it may take some time to apply for visa.
Good luck,
Yuxin
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| dr_neonatology
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 66
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Congrat yuxin, good job. You encouraged me as we are in the same boat; old graduate. Please, let me if it is beneficial to take notes while studying or just finishing the books.
Thanks, waiting your post for step 2 soon....
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| xwxf
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 71
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Congrat!!! Yuxin. Your experience is very informative. Thanks
I have a question about the schedule to do KAPLAN online QBANK and NBME.
I am in the middle of the 1st round for step 1 and plan to go over every topic 2-3 times. I plan to take NBME and online Qbank at the end of the first round. Then, 1 months before the real exam, I will only do questions, including NBME, online QBANK, and qbook. Do you think this plan would be an efficient one to help me hit a high score? Or, could you give me some suggestions?
Thanks
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| frontal
Forum Guru
Topics: 53
Posts: 421
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A very well written and well reasoned-out post. Congratulations on your great score, yuxin, and thank you for writing it all out so wonderfully.
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| 4mymd
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 67
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Yuxin, thanks a lot for sharing your experience 
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| yuxin
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 28
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Thank you, everybody, for all the kind commends. I will start step 2 kaplan 30-visites next week.
Hello, xwxf:
Your plan sounds good to me. NBME will give you information not only about what your level is, but also tell you the way they ask questions and what they ask. So it is good to do one of them after your first round. I suggest you do good research on those questions and you will learn a lot.
Qbank also serves two purposes. One is to learn the knowledge, another is to practice how fast you should go in one block and how to handle 7 blocks in a row (mentally and physically).
Good Luck!
Yuxin
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| shilly
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 20
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hey, yuxin
thanks a lot for your experience!
i'm a chinese doctor and came to US one month ago. i also plan to take step1 at the end of this year. but i have some questions:
1.i graduated from TJMU 11 years ago. It's too long for me to memorize the points of basic medicine. Is it necessary for me to review all textbooks first? or, should i only use Kaplan notes as the first books to begin with?
2.i want to spend 3~4hrs per day to study , Is that enough?
thak you!
shilly
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| Lim
Forum Elite
Topics: 62
Posts: 210
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contratulations~
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