Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Hi diary, I am an "old" IMG, ECFMG-certified (STeps 1 and 2) 9 years ago. Residency, however, did not happen due to a number of reasons. I got another degree and went onto a biotech career, had 2 kids--- fast forward to April 2006. I requested the state medical board permission to retake my Steps 1 and 2 in view of their licensure rules which say that all the Steps (1, 2 and 3) have to be completed within a 7-year period. I have now applied for my Step 1 exam permit and i plan to take it in Sept-Oct. I dont know if program directors, who will look at my application in the future, will look at both the old scores and the new scores- whatever!! All i know is i am going to give it a shot. I am a busy mom but my family is very supportive and i am here to try my best. If i dont, i will always wonder "what if i had?!". April 4th 2006- I am starting with Anatomy - 2002 Kaplan LN. I am going to place an order for the 2006 Kaplan LN. I am still debating about the 2002 notes vs. 2006 notes. Can anyone let me know whether i place this order on their website? Are these the notes/dvd's that everyone on this forum talks about? I am posting here so that i remain focused on my preparation (after all, it is very easy to give up!) and motivated enough to complete this journey and also to gather as well as share all the information that we need to succeed. Resolution for the day: Stop calling myself an "old" IMG! How about "aspiring MD" instead! Question of the day: Has anyone used any of the companies like FMG portal to obtain externships/observerships?
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| aisha2
Forum Guru
Topics: 37
Posts: 414
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hi Serenity welcome , good to have u here , wishin u all the success and good luck ....... u will find alot of moms on this forum so u will have a lot of support and u havin 2 kids mioght be able to help others as well .
i think starin with the kaplan notes is the best thing to do , if u can buy the kaplan 2006 or 2005 edition that would be great , u can try lookin for them on ebay , i think thats the only place u might be able to find them , dvd lecture is good to have specialy if u have had such a long break in ur studies , it helps u understand the notes much much better , u can find them from ebay as well.
fro pathology get goljan audio lectures and either the 500 pages notes or the rapid review, do not use kaplan for pathology.
hope this helps u , good lcuk
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NEVER GIVE UP IN LIFE, BE PERSISTENT
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Thanks, aisha2!
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| Dr.CXCR4
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 11
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Welcome serenity: You are not the only "Old" IMG here, I am too, I did not complete the steps, pass Step 1, (96) and fail Step 2,(98) went to research got trained, married, wife+2 kids, junior faculty and now I coming back to finish the job. I took step2 Ck one week ago. I am hoping to get this done. Don't depair and don't feel OLD, and unworthy. Once a doctor always a doctor. All of us are going to the same grind. Hang in there. Keep the faith!
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,164
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yeah we should stop feeling old. life starts at 40!! or whenever you care!!!!
welcome serenity. you have good time to study. yes this forum is great. real lovely people who are very supportive. you will find virtually answers to all questions, bothersome worries, jokes, questions etc here.
kaplan series is the rave. check this thread for more
http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/31963
good luck
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| 4mymd
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 67
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Serenity, charge your batteries, you are on your way lady, welcome aboard and good luck on your studies. 
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Hi everyone, Thanks for the welcome, DRCXCR4, tolito and 4mymd! I have spent the last 2 days planning my program of study and ordering the books. I have the Kaplan 2002 notes. I did look for Kaplan 2006 notes on ebay- haven't bid/bought any yet. I am planning on joining one of their courses later in the year. So my booklist, as of now, looks like this- FA 2006. Anatomy (Gross, neuro, embryology, histology)- Kaplan 2002 LN, HY Neuroanatomy, HY histology. (i also have mrs neuroanatomy). Havent decided what to do for embryology (HY embryo?). Physiology-Kaplan 2002 LN. Biochemistry- Kaplan LN and Lipincott's Illustrated. Pathology- Goljan- i have 2 sets of notes that i downloaded. I dont have the audio cd- trying to find out where to get those from. Ordered Robbins review of pathology. Pharmacology-'Road Map: Pharmacology', by Katzung, 2nd ed. 2005 Pending- Behavioral sciences, Microbiology, Immunology and Mol Bio, Qbook. Am i missing anything?
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,164
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yes you are good to go. what books for micro and immuno?
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Micro- kaplan 2002 LN. I read on one of the posts that micro mrs was good. Immuno- I have a copy of Cellular and Molecular Immunolgy (Abbas) but i dont know if its an exam-specific textbook. I guess HY is a good buy. I am going to get the Kaplan notes printed out this weekend and the books ready. Starting with Neuroanatomy.... my kids will be starting their spring break next week, so i have to work out a schedule where i can put in some hours of study and at the same time let them have their fun!
Edited by Serenity on 04/07/06 - 10:55 PM
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Now that the booklist is assembled, i am wondering if Sept-Nov is too ambitious?!
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,164
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of course not serenity!!! you never have enough time so just stick to it otherwise you will keep moving it forward and you willnot be gingered up to study hard everyday cos you have that option to move it forward. of course at some point, realistically one may need to move it forward if the level of preparedness is not adequate for the goal one has set for herself. so keep going and working towards sept-nov. i made that mistake of not sticking to my goals. so here i am. first i thought dec 2005, then march, april now june2006. it was cos i did not have a schedule and i was not adequately motivated.
go for it.
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Thanks, tolito! I see why this forum is so great- everybody needs that support system. Okay, i am still getting all the books, notes ready. Come Monday, i should be ready to start.....going to start with anatomy/neuroanatomy.
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,164
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how is anat going? neuro was a real killer for me amn i am still having dreams about occulomotor nerve.
GL
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Hi, started with neurnoanatomy mrs yesterday, read the first 4 chapters. Decided to review it again today and then move on to the next. Has anybody tried the Kaplan home study program? Where do i get the kaplan dvd's from?
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,125
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Welcome Serenity,
You're not old, lots of people are older than you in this forum.
Two of my friends have graduated since 1985 and got 90+ for step 1. Are you older than them?
Kaplan is enough for everything except Pathology that we need BRS or Goljan Rapid review.
You can buy Kaplan 30-visit program, you will receive 2006 LN package and the price is acceptable. If you buy on Ebay, it's about 700$ but used, or out-dated.
Keep going on./
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The Key to Succeed is Patience.
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Hi robin082006, Thnx for the info! I feel younger already...
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Went to the library today to continue with my neuroanatomy- was it always this complicated?! I have decided to write down notes rather than passive reading and maybe i can integrate what i read from HY and Kaplan LN. Look out for Serenity's notes y'all!
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| hodgkins
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 293
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Serenity..tell you one thing..remember we are all standing on the same line..on a mark ..ready..go, to catch Usmle step 1 so, dont worry as long as you have the spirit and determination, you are not far from any of us here,you are just beside us travelling in the same road, on top you have more than what we have not seen yet..All the best
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WE CAN DO IT..!!!
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,164
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yes serenity, it is good to make notes. i am never confident of myself if i do not jot things down. i also have pasted on my wall stuff like decer rigidigy, circle of willis, spinal tracts, 1st order neurone, diagrams of brain slices so i can look at them everydsy when i sit down to study.
happy studying
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| aisha2
Forum Guru
Topics: 37
Posts: 414
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u might want to try kaplan dvd lectures for neuroanatomy , it realy helped me ........ good luck
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NEVER GIVE UP IN LIFE, BE PERSISTENT
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,164
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how is your bulletin going????
i found this thread very enlightening. it may help you in planning your studies
http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/30882
GL
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Hi tolito and others,
I havent posted over the last 2 days becoz my books are still arriving and i am trying to formulate a plan for how to go about the whole process. I havent picked up momentum yet. I dont want to do just one subject at one time, so i am thinking of doing neuroanatomy (which is not me at my best!) and phamacology (which i have always found simpler). I ordered HY neuro from amazon, it hasnt come yet. The MRS neuroanat leaves a lot of gaps which is tough for me, having been away from the subject. But i am still moving forward, even if the first steps are baby steps.....
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| 4mymd
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 67
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Serenity, I think starting by your weakest subjects is the best thing to do, at least you will knock them off first, then the path will be nice and smooth for you, best of luck on your journey dude. 
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Hi, Reading pharmacology first 2 chapters from Road map today. Also looking at the Lange USMLE step 1 review- it has an organ system based review which seems easier. Has anybody prepared for the step 1 using an organ system based approach to all subjects, rather than the common anat, micro, biochem etc subject approach?
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| Serenity
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 77
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Today was my first day of dedicated reading- except for 1 or 2, i have all my books. Looked thru FA2006 and Lange USMLE step 1 review and decided to radically change my approach to studying. I am going to start with organ system based review. So, i started with CVS, reading embryology of CVS now. Then onto anatomy, physio (cardiac cycle, volumes etc), patho, pharmacology etc of the cardiovsacular system- dont know how long i will take with each system but i intend to try this approach for my first reading. I am finding it easier to read this way. I am taking notes from the books as i go. Any exam is a challenge and this one especially so... the countdown has begun! Let's go, people!
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