ShlacK
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 11
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Hello every one, I just go my grade . A very sadistic grade in my opinion: it is neither bad nor good, i am neither happy nor sad.
It is a grade I think I deserve though.
Anyway, the purpose of this thread is not to speak about my feelings but rahter to give you some exam advices. Obviously I will not be giving you advices about what to study and not to study with such a grade.
I studied FAx4 , done nearly 2000 questions from many sources with explanations x2 and that's it + the background from my med3 electives : OB-GYN , Psych, Pediatrics and Surgery. I considered Pediatrics to be very step1 friendly and can be studied in that perspective since you get with it: Embryology, Anatomy, Biochemistry and Pathophysiology with Pharmacology , nearly all of Step1 material.
the big advices I wanted to give you is more about the exam day itself:
It is very hard not to panic especially if you start with some weird genetics research questions and hard biochemistry questions. I can assure you that everything you do not know by heart 100% you will mix them up and forget on the day of the exam. So all the stupid mistakes you can do during a mock exam due to a lack of attention you will do them when taking the real thing due to stress and blurred vision ( thanks to the very annoying small font and white background)
The problem between taking mock exam questions at home and the real thing is that at home you can say: oh mast likely that is the answer and I am going to choose it. and most of the time it is the right answer indeed. But during the exam day , you will be : euh maybe I should answer A this is the right answer most likely but no , why not answer B? and you start panicking especially since there is nothing relieving your stress like in a mock exam where you can check if you have the correct answer instantaneously.
Concerning the time limit for every block. It is also very sadistic the little clock in the corner with the time fleeing. I am well know in my class to finish way ahead of time. But here... I felt really to be tight on time. Ok there are FEW straightforward questions but most of the questions you do need more than 72sec just to read the question and get the little clue word that will give you the answer.
One last thing: I did 3 blocks , then 2 blocks and then the last two. Well at the end of the first series I tought that I was failing the exam. But then it all became very easy and the last two blocks were very normal. So I do not know if the first three blocks were indeed very hard or if I should had taken a break sooner to relief some stress.
In conclusion, study well for this exam, it is your futur in a 2 or three digit grade, but also do not kill yourself studying for it. And remember to know very well all the analogies like : HBV -> PAN it is the most high yield in my opinion for the Step1.
And good luck to all of you.
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| ing
Forum Guru
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Posts: 435
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Congratulations for such good score! Thanks for sharing.
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| macrolide
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
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good job !! best of luck for future exams.
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| doc179
Forum Guru
Topics: 67
Posts: 1,217
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cogratulations... and yes you are very right on how comforably we are at home doing the practice exams and how we panic during the actual one...hmm Thanx for sharing
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| doc179
Forum Guru
Topics: 67
Posts: 1,217
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congratulations... and yes you are very right on how comforable we are at home doing the practice exams and how we panic during the actual one...hmm Thanx for sharing
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| goodgod
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 80
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congrats... thanks fo sharing ur experience. GOOD LUCK..for other steps
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The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.
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| brain!
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
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congratulations..
good luck for step 2!
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| dowjunk
Forum Elite
Topics: 14
Posts: 435
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ShlacK, really appreciate it. Thanks dude!
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Grad of 2007. Work in progress.......
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| suma
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
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congrats..................best of luck for further exams
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 31
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congratulation
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| prathi
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
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congratulations shlack . well i too am bothered about the time factor , coz i too tend to get panicky if 2 ans seem right .well i guess i have to study more hard . u said u did jst fa and questions , wat abt kaplan notes ? u r too gud thn . u will do even better in the next step . 
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| usmle4life
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 52
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GOOD JOB ON YOUR SCORE! you said it is not a good score..what are you talking about? it is a very good score!!! anything about 220(88) is very good for residency. I read it on a medical residency website..so good job! and thanx for all your advice
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| muadt
Forum Senior
Topics: 19
Posts: 71
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congratulations ! great score ...... i agree with usmle4life this is more than enough to get into residency..... wish u the best with ur next exams !
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| 26malik
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 429
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hi, good score. and thanks for such good advise.
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| Machiavelli
Forum Senior
Topics: 49
Posts: 65
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from where can I study analogies ?
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
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congratulations. thanks for the advise. yes it is easy to outsmart yourself cos you think there is a 'catch' to the question. i am already realising that. hope to God i remember thsi during the exam
one quick question: what is HBV and PAN???
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| Machiavelli
Forum Senior
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HBV is associated with PAN
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
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am a little slow with short forms. HBV is hep B virus? what is PAN????
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| Machiavelli
Forum Senior
Topics: 49
Posts: 65
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HBV= Hepatitis B Virus
PAN = PolyArteritis Nudosa
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| ShlacK
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 11
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To Machiavelli:
Honestly I do not have a book name in my mind.
I saw a friend though with a the Recall series style Question and answer book for the step1.
And Yes Hepatitis B Virus is asociated (30%) with PolyArteritis Nodosa so in a long block of a question (the type of question during the exam that sounds like they are teaching you more than quizzing you) when you see that patient has an active HBV infection and some weird vasculitis you can click very sure of yourself the answer that says the Patient has PAN (obviously the best thing would be to read very thoroughly the question and check every answer....but hey you only have 72sec/question and there are 349 more waiting! :P )
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