sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
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Hi guys,
This post is dedicated to all those people who have helped me get thru this exam and also those who are going thru this and struggling everyday.
I am a married woman ,have a two years old baby ,graduated in 2001. After that I came to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />USA and forgot all about medicine . I became a doctor just to make my parents happy so studying for USMLE wasn’t in my plan. After wasting three and half yrs of my life, I started realizing what a waste of time and efforts my life is. People from my Batch and younger started getting residencies and then it just Hit me “I am a complete loser!”..i came to this forum talked to people and these people encouraged me with inspiring stories and encouraging words…I got 2001 kaplan notes and brs series so I started studying in july 2005. But honestly I wasn’t efficient or organized so when I did questions side by side I was scoring low marks. That was really disappointing. In addition to that, I had so many family obligations (only people from southeast asia would know this) e.g dinners and activities that I had to take 3 to 4 big breaks in between. That was my worst mistake, whatever I had studied just vapourized. Here I also want to emphasize memorization is the key. So after all this I completed my second reading and took Kaplan simulated exam in dec 2005 and scored 57%...that day I decided either I’m gonna do this with good scores or forget about it. I talked to my husband that I need to study without interruption for two months or i am just not taking this exam. He agreed to takecare of our son after he came home from office so I studied all day with the baby playing or watching tv in the living room but after 7 p.m it was all my time , I studied daily from 7 pm till 2 am…I took NBME form 2 on 27th jan2006 scored 470 (correlates to 86%)..it wasn’t enough, I had decided if I was to get into residency after 5 yrs of graduation and without any USCE and without the luxury to be able to move anywhere in USA, I have to get a solid above 95 percentile..so I postponed again for the second time and started revising , took another NBME form 4 on 13 feb 2006 scored 470 again (86%)…I cried that day so bad…I couldn’t postpone my exam because 28th feb 2006 was the last day I could take my exam and also I was exhausted…there was no way I could read more books so I started memorizing FA the last 10 days and was praying and hoping for the best. At this time, i had lost all my confidence and dream of getting a good score was looking impossible. But I went ahead and took the exam anyways. That night , I couldn’t sleep well, actually the only time I slept was between 5 am till 7 am so that morning I had a severe headache. I thought to myself sleepless night would be the last nail in the coffin.
I went to the center with 4 red bull and a bottle of Excedrin .Before starting the exam I took coffee and Excedrin . My exam came out to be easy with only last two blocks a little weird, questions were not long at all which was my biggest fear (I didn’t buy online Kaplan qbank , had a CD QBANK so I was worried about the timing issue)..there were a few mice breeding question which I ignored completely (I dint want those to mess up my mood)..few were confusing, I ignored them too…All I was thinking was that I have to give it my best shot…so drank all those red bull and probably 3 to 4 excedrin but still in the last two blocks I was totally lost so much so that I could not read the questions. Anyhow the day ended, and i knew the exam was easy, but I dint know how I did…I was confused often times feeling I must have messed up…the day I had to do oasis trick, I was really worried that I might have failed…I got the red screen but then I was worried about the score but that came out to be fine too 99/227…Though it wasn’t what I dreamt of, but that was the whole point…Aim for the highest and then you will get a decent score.
It was an emotional rollercoaster. By nature , I am a very anxious person who doesn’t have much confidence in herself and not very long ago I didn’t have any motivation either. But the point I’m trying to make is nothing comes without hardship, tears and sweat, you cant get lucky all the time( as I got in my medical school), I am not an intelligent person, just average and people like us have to work very hard. My advice is clear your mind of anything and everything that might distract you (e.g I stopped talking on the phone to all the housewives in town telling them I am studying now but we will meet and have party later). Don’t take big breaks, Make a goal and a plan and stick to it. Be organized. God Almighty made this possible for me I wasn’t capable on my own, my husband helped me so much that I couldn’t believe my eyes at times, And this forum and the people here gave me so much time and advice that I cant thank enough. Goodluck everyone and Thankyou!
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| vallia
Forum Guru
Topics: 98
Posts: 889
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Congratulations, sarika, I am verry happy for you. God bless you and your family. These success stories make me go on
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fight possessed
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| ing
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 435
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Thank you very much for sharing your story. Very happy for you.
I have about two month till my exam. I'm doing qbank, and keep getting average 55%. I'm so worried. I'm on 3rd time reading Kaplan. You said you used FA in the last 10 days. How do you think of FA? Thanks.
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Never give up!!
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| zzzz
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
Posts: 167
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hi sarika first of all congratulation for this good score.i really like your post i am an old graduate comperatively to me you are very fresh now iam so regretful that where i was i am in this country since last seven years & i wasted a lot of my time i didn't know about any of this kind of web site otherwise may be i could be charged before like i am now days! this site is playing a great role & people like you out there who are very generous are really a great motivation & support believe me i was lacking this i needed the atmosphere that i get it now & really now i don't feel necessity of friends any more.b/c this site is my best friend now.i really appreciate your all hard work God may give all of us the same strength.
one weared qs what is redbull & excedrin by the way thanks again.
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| malinda
Forum Guru
Topics: 162
Posts: 654
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YOU ARE SUCH A MOTIVATION SARIKA.well deserved success.
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I CAN DO IT.
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| dipti
Forum Elite
Topics: 32
Posts: 237
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congrtulations sarika!you won the battle!
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| general malaise
Forum Guru
Topics: 14
Posts: 433
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great score sarika!!! good luck in step 2.
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"El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Benito Juarez
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| brown
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 49
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thanks sarika for ur experience.goodluck for c.k.
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| female doc ny
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 169
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congrads sounds like the sitution i am in also 2001 grad 2 year old but the rest i wish still havent give my exam not studying great reading your story give me inspiration can i ask did u do FA did it help b/c i cannt seem to correlate that book with my kaplan books should i absolutelydo FA did it help u thanks also how manyreadings did ugive the kaplan books and what question sources did u use
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| OBO
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 106
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Congratulations Sarika, well done. I think dedication and lots of hard work plus luck are the secret of success for this exam.
Good luck for all of your next exams.[ i am also following your advice of stop talking on phone, it is really helping me in maintaining my concentration for the studies]
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| farjoudi
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 40
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congrtulations sarika
please told us about the question in usmle
how did you see them? whats your opinion about fa?
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| yolanda
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 247
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Hi Sarika, Congratulations! You are a great example to follow.
You wrote that you used FA, can someone please tell me what FA means???, I've been reading this a lot, and I am familiar with most other books but FA I don't know.
Someone asked about redbull, this is an energy drink, and excedrin is a headache medicine.
Bye, Good luck for Step 2!!!
Yolanda
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Recognize that you have the courage within you to fulfill the purpose of your birth. Summon forth the power of your inner courage and live the life of your dreams - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
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| drbin
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 535
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CONGRATULATIONS dear Sarika
It was only yday that I happened to read ur mails and I checked for all ur mails and read them. They kinda suited my situation very well. bs I started studying only in feb and am thru my first read. planned to take my exam in July-aug but seems like I got to postpone it to atleast sept. but the problem is a 3 wk gap in jul last to aug which I cannot avoid. So I was too worried and searched for people who took such breaks during their study and ur mails really hit me. Nw ur words inspire me a lot and Iam well motivated nw to take the exam before I go for the vacation.
All the best buddy for Step 2. Hardwork never goes unrewarded. It is 99% hardwork and 1%luck always.
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action speaks better than words
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| general malaise
Forum Guru
Topics: 14
Posts: 433
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yolanda, FA stands for first aid
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"El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz" Benito Juarez
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| yolanda
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 247
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Thank you General Malaise, I realized that once I finished submitting the reply, daaaa, jejeje. upps.
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Recognize that you have the courage within you to fulfill the purpose of your birth. Summon forth the power of your inner courage and live the life of your dreams - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda
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| pocas
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 169
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hey congratulations tell us your study plan pls
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| buddy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
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Hey Sarika! A very hearty congratulations to you for such a good score.
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| SalmanKhan
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 6
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Congratulations!! Sarika, test was not easy, it was your preparation and hardwork that made it look so easy.. God Bless you...
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| 26malik
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 429
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*****CONGRATULATIONS****
your story is so motivating. and it is a proof that hard work never gets wasted.
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There is always hope
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
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congratulations. you are a source of inspiration to us all. wish you all the best.
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| jigi
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 9
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Congratulations! you did a great job, especially thinking of studying with a kid. I heard that 2001 edition Kaplan note is not as good as other editions. Do you have the same feeling? I am asking just bacause I also have this edition, but not sure whether I will use it. Thanks.
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jigi
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| dr_ecv
Forum Senior
Topics: 34
Posts: 118
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hi sarika..
congratulations..
i have entered this forum today..and urs was a story that inspired me..i am from asia and yes i do understand the family obligations and i am an older graduate than u are..
i am just startinf to prepare for the first step...
i hope i can sit for it and do it just like u did...
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| anaghap
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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Congratulations Sarika. I am from India too and married and recently gave my step 1. I am having the similar feelings like you. I started preparations last year but wth lot of interruptions ( marriage and all) and finally gave my exam April 18th 2006. I dont knwo how I have fared. I am so scared and fear I might fail. I know that I have put in all efforts managing house, work and studies and studied hard. The questions were not very difficult but none were straightforward. All were 2 and 3 step questions. I could not sleep after my exams coz I was habituated to sleeping late and getting up early. Please pray that I score in 90's or else it wil be of no use. Like you I have also graduated in 2002 and have no USCE.
Also tell me how to begin with the Step 2 prep. I have to begin now
anaghg
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| ramo7
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 126
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sarika,
im in similar situation as you. started study for step1 march 05 but couldnt commit to it as had ot of distractions. finally commited in jan 06 and scheduled to take the exam on may06. got a month to go now and im getting very tempted to postpone my exam as my qbank scores were not that great, also got to go to the hospital everyday which gives me less time in the evening to cram all the study. i too have the kaplan notes and brs books you have...what do you think i should do...stick to kaplan or brs or postpone my exams and try and do both of them? i cant take off work and the amount or usmle review im getting done is all in my spare time which is only about 4-5 hrs in the day...really could use your insight as i think im i your shoes right now...
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| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
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hi ramo7,
I can understand its a tough time for juggling job and studies. The best advice would have been to take a few weeks off before exam but you said thats not possible. I would say dont add any new study material at this point. Revise from where you have already studied and most importantly memorize Firstaid. 75% of my exam was basic so i can say if someone knows Firstaid inside out they can pass exam very easily. Now comes how to score more than just passing and thats where your prior knowledge, BRS and kaplan comes into play. I would say before apperaing for the exam take NBME form 4 which will predict your performance in the real exam and if you are satisfied with that score then only take the exam. Remember you dont want to fail and you Cannot improve on a passing score so be as prepared as you can be even if that means postponing the exam. I postponed my exam all together for 3 months and rescheduled probably 5 times untill the last date of my eligibilty period came when i had no other option but to take it.
Goodluck i will pray for you and if you need to know anything else we are all here for you.
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