Isther
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Just finished the Qbook... 75.4%... I expected less so not doing THAT bad. Things returned to normal, and I'm trying to keep up with the schedule. Miss my family so much that it hurts, but have to give my baby a reason to be proud of her old man.... Tomorrow I'll start UW
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| chickimi
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Hi isther
i always try to follow your journal---- & i really liked your schedule of studying----but problem is after studying 9 hrs for 3days----i cldn't study anything for lst 2 days---i'm till now left w obgyn +pedi+4 chap q from UW.i was supposed to finish my 1st UW by 9th of june---i dn't know wht to do---it seems like suddenly i got so tired & at the same time lost my motivation too.PLS help me. CAN U PLS TELL ME HOW DO YOU STUDY___I mean wht u do to keep urself motivated &how often u take a break.THX in advance.
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| 3535
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Hi Chickimi,
Same problem.
After few days of studying, you LOSE "IT" .
My husband says_instead of waiting for "IT" to come back automatically and getting sad & depressed for 2-4 days, I should take a constructive break . "IT" may come back in 1/2 a day.
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| Isther
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How nice to see that I'm not alone with this problem... thanks chickimi and 3535
Let's keep calling "IT" that cocktail of depression + tiredness + and wanna quit ideas. "IT" is a pain in the butt!!! Comes on an irregular basis to mess things up. You have one awsome day and the next day IT knocks the door....CRAP!!!!
I just don't know how to deal with it. When it comes it comes... I can be seated the whole day and read nothing. But,even when there is nothing to completely eradicate IT, I can decrease the frequency of visits. I noticed that there are certain thing that can mess my concentration, for instance my daughter, family reunions, fights, certain movies, etc. So I had to avoid them as much as I can. That's why I'm away from my family because at home was impossible to read. Now, I don't feel good for what I did, leaving my family and all, and some admirable people didn't have to turn away their responsabilities to face the exams but I know myself.. I had to do it.
3535, your husband is a wise man, is not only helpfull but needed to take good relaxing breaks, treat yourself good, and your mind will return the favor. Now, be carefull when you enjoy too much, can be hard to focus after a good rush too.
At the end, is still an everyday fight... but with the propper support is bearable
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| seri
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hey
nice to read your posts and know everybody has ups and downs. 3535 your hubby's idea makes sense. my personal detractors are when i start worry about scores and whether my efforts will bear fruit (and like isther said misunderstandings). i'm doing better with telling myself i'm going to enjoy learning and scores are a side issue.
isther i really admire your planning abillity. do you recommend FA over Crush/ B&W?
g/l all
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| aimhigh
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I am just being dragged by "IT" these days...but when you are in good mood studying you just could n't help using all of the energy. I hope that I could get over this down cycle and get back to the "warrior" mood soon. I am planning to finish revising kaplan notes and UW by June 9th...God please help me!
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| karusmle
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hmmm. nice to know that everybody goes thro the same feelings as mine , i thought i was the odd one out , anyway i will try to do my best , i wanna conquer this exam , i dont want this exam take over me .............
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| Isther
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Topics: 39
Posts: 745
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Well... hello!
Thanks for your words, and for sharing in this humble journal... IT is a common evil, but is bearable and certainly you all are going to do excellent... I'm betting on you.
I started UW a couple of days ago, and I sucked as hell... Qbook was kinda soft compared with UW, and now I'm facing some anxiety since the time is running out... and not feeling very prepared. I suppose is normal at the begining, if not I'm screwed...jejeje. Anyway still have tons to do...
Peace!
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| seri
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hey
what was your qbook score like? how many uw scores are you able to do in a day?
keep up the good work.
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| aimhigh
Forum Elite
Topics: 22
Posts: 148
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Isther, still have a month and it can make a great deal if we use it well. Try not to let "negatives" win over our morales!!! Just keep going! By the Way, UW does not reflect the real score...try to learn all the things provided by UW! My working speed is still slower but I am telling myself that a little improvement is always better than "pause and being anxious"  ...let's just hang on!!!
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| Isther
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Hello... sorry I haven't wrote, but with only a few weeks ahead I feel the need to cram a little.
Seri:
Thanks to your words, as for your past question... I never used Crash and not a big fan of FA...I read FA for Step 1 being reading for Step 2, but still not sure abour thier impact on my performance... like the pnemonics though. My Qbook score was 75%, and have done 14 scores of UW with a general score of 61% (it was on 55% the first day so that's why I'm cramming). Doing 4 had to change my previous plan and use the FA hours for more MCQ's... wanna finish it at least a couple of times.
Aimhigh:
Thank you too, I really appreciate when all of you are around giving support. I'm following your advice and trying to see UW as a learning tool instead of a assesment. But time is slipping faster each day so gotta move accordingly.
Take care, and have a good study day!!! (away from IT) 
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| seri
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thanks isther. really appreciate your taking time out to reply (i know what kind of stress you must be going thru). keep working hard and you'll come out in flying colors.
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| Isther
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Yesterday was day off... felt like IT was trying to pay a visit... so I cut my loses and took the day.
Today was a good day, I'm doing 4 UW blocks/day, so hopefuly will be done by next sunday. Today's score was 48-72%... gotta keep on track...
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| Isther
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Thank you seri for your good wishes... Hope the best for you too.
Another good day... Reviewed yesterday's questions, and did another 184. Score was 64%... Tomorrow will be the same, as the next day, and the next day, and the day after the next day...*sigh* One day I'll look backward and laugh about these days...
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| 3535
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No, you dont have a series of "same/monotonous" days ahead.
Instead your days ahead have a "different "question each 60 seconds.You'll be thinking Qns, solving them, analysing them, getting happy about good scores, getting the feeling I want "that" day to come because I am ready to fight that day out.
Just felt like writing this.All the best!
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| Isther
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Hi... Thanks 3535, you don't know how appreciated are your support words...
I'm sorry I haven't been around, but a lot of crazy things just happened... I was kinda depressed for the last couple of days, full of negative ideas about the exam, lets say that IT came and stick around a lot. Also something happend back home and I had to change my exam day and do it early... that means that only have 10 days for the big day... Dear God don't leave me now!! And also, world cup started yesterday and my team won 2 -0 against Poland... if somebody from Poland is reading.. I'm sorry pal but...IN YOUR FACE !!!!!
Study is going kinda well, will finish UW in a couple of days, the 1st time average is steady at 64%... now, what I don't know is to spend my last 8 days doing UW again of doing Qbank... To be or not to be!!!
Thanks again to all that supported me, and all the best to you!!
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| Isther
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Another day... 8 day to the exam... tomorrow will finish UW, score is still on 64... don't know if that is bad... certainly is not good. I'm tired, and can't prolong the exam...*sigh*
Let's recap: I covered all kaplan notes, memorized, 1 reading only the same plan for step 1 (and got me a 97). Covered around 10 hours of videos (which is nothing), and reviewed near 2500 q. hopefully I will cover another 1000 before the exam. I'm feeling more confortable with the questions, and my scores are progessingly increasing, but somehow I still feel that I missed something and that will drive away a 90+.
Well, the only thing left is to keep going. I did my part on this, let's hope for the best. Last week, lets walk the walk.
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| achilles
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i think you'll get a very good score isther.
and well i am missing your questions in the int medicine forum.
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| Isther
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Achilles: thank you so much, good to know that my tiny contribution is noted...
Long time haven't post. A lot of things have changed. I'm feeling better now. Anxiety was killing my performance. Suddenly a few days ago, a buddy of mine called saying that he managed to get an observership for me in a good hospital, that I could stay at his house. Then I called to the airline asking for a change of schedule and they did it for free. So in a couple of days everything turned downside up... automatically gained 3 more weeks to prepare for the exam... and with that my anxiety was gone... I' still freaked out for this miracle... Even better, my team had an astonishing triuph over Costa RIca 3 -0. This day has beed so beautifull so far... I won't spoil it with something like STUDYING...
My study is gettin better, I returned to the old plan (posted up)... reading FA and watching lectures by Dr. Fisher (kinda wacko but way too test orinted). UW is almos done, score is still at 64,but hey it was the first time on tutor... I bet I can do better than that.
All the best, and is good to be back!
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| achilles
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your contribution is not tiny by any standards isther. i follow your journal and it is motivational and i am sure many others feel that way. especially your motivation for your step 1(you wanted to make your dad feel proud) gave me a real push.
and for me you are one of the coolest guys around with a light hearted good sense of humour and yes your team, equador is doing well in this world cup so far
good luck pal and happy studying.
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| Isther
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Dude... wow, that was very kind for you to say that... thanks! I'm glad that what I write is helpful somehow, just hope that it is as much as what all of you wrote has helped me... after all that's why we all are part of this forum ... right?
Study is going steady, yesterday started Qbank, and certainly que difficulty is lesser than UW... at least that's how I felt. Another hour of videos and some FA pages... my new date is July 6th, 3 weeks from now, and enough time to make a difference.
BTW... Happy Father's Day to all papa members... PATERNITY RULES, YEAHH!!!! That's one more gift in the year for this elite group...jejeje
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| Isther
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Another 150 questions... and doing GRRRRRRRReat, after UW, doing Qbank is like eating apple pia with warm milk... NICE. Average is on 75, that can still be improved. Done with OB, Derm, Ethics, and Stats from FA, and done with cardio videos with doc Fischer... Tomorrow same dose of info to digest, and feeling very optimistic.
Tomorrow, ECUADOR vs GERMANY... :* that's a toughy...we'll se tomorrow.
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| Isther
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| aimhigh
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Hi Isther. Happy to see that you are making great progresses! keep up doing great work! I just finished revising FA and am going to work more on my weak areas and those that needs menorizing. 10 days away from my exam and I hope that I can do well inshallah. Mentally, I was shaking a bit after reading some sad news from the exam experience column...really scared honestly. Let's pray for each other so that we can be strong and mentally calm on the exam day!
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| 3535
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I also have 10 days.
I am really unnerved right now. esp about the same post in exm exp.
I got 520 in nbme, which i took without being fully prepared. I dont know if i'll be fully prepared even in next 9 days.
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