veterana
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 31
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Believe me or not, I graduated in 1981, worked as Rheumatologist in my country for many years, and because circunstances in my life, had to moved to USA a couple of years ago. Even when I'm working here as a researcher on my field, I miss too much the contact with patients. The head of the division where I work now appreciates my experience and wants to give me a faculty position, then I decided to study medicine again (most people think I'm crazy). I started studying 6 months ago, but hard only on weekends, since I work full time. I have a very supportive husband and two wonderfull teenagers who helped me a lot, I took the 4 NBME, the first one in february, just 1 month after I started looking of some study material, and I got 370 (184), then I though that i could do it. I studied the hardest I could, but biochemistry and genetic were very hard for me. most of that is like from scratch. I took the other 3 NBME and passed alll of them, but the highest score I got was with the 3th one (490) 1 month before the test. 4 days before the exam I got 470, which scared me because i took 10 days of vacation for the final preparation and I expected a higher score. Anyway I took the test yesterday, and I'm really having second thoughts because it was very hard, I was 100% sure with not more than 50 questions, I missed at least 50 (that i can remember, specially biochemistry, genetic, and even some of pathology Q which is suppose to be my strongest side). I coudn't find the answer for some hard pathology Q in either Gojlan or 1st Aid. I felt pretty confortable during the first block, some noise disturbed me during the second one, then I wasn't so concentrated, but I did not enter in panick. After the 5th block i was so exhausted that I rushed the last 2 blocks , and I do not know what I really did, i just aswered the first option that matched on my mind without even reading the others. I finished the Q # 50 of the 7th block 12 minutes before the time, then i started checking some Q, I changed some that were OK for wrong options, because my brain conections were completed sticky, and believe me I wasn't nervous.
During the first 3 block I marked many Q to verify them with the extra time, but i realized that i didnt work because the Q were in general very long and some times difficult to understand (specially for non-native speakers as me), then from block 4th i only marked those that i felt i could be sure about with extra time. I was exhausted, my brain did not work very well during the last block, and most of the Q were not according with 2005 Qbank, if I pass this tuff step would be because waht I studied, Q bank Q did not help me too much. Probably most of my wrigth answers will come from the lectures I took and from what I studied from the books. Immunology was hard, a lot of neuroanatomy, an many long clinical vignettes, giving you time just for reading and answering, not to think. I know my experience is almost unique (because my age and graduation year) but maybe useful for somebody who feels an old graduate.
My final conclusion is that this test does not measure your knowdlege, it measures your memory and your capacity to deal with the time, your concentration and yor resistance. I do not need a high score, but I think i can fail it, even when i studied very hard .
Thanks for sharing your experiences, they helped me to take the desition of doing this. Now, it is time to rest and wait for the score:rolleyes: I I can do it, all of you also will!! :nod:
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| drpkaur
Forum Guru
Topics: 196
Posts: 810
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Thanx veterana for sharing your experience...may god bless you with gr8 scores...GOOD LUCK
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| deoriveraMD
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 42
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Thank you for posting your experience...HOPE YOU PASS&GOT A GOOD SCORE
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 31
Posts: 933
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Thank you for sharing your experince with us
GOOD LUCK with your score
you will get good score
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| ing
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 435
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Good luck to you!
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Never give up!!
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| unique1
Biochemistry
Topics: 23
Posts: 1,613
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Thanx veterana for sharing your experience. I am also an old graduate and have started my prep. I know it is a tough exam , especially for older grads. You did a great job of preparing and sitting in the exam.Good luck with your score .
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I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| arizona_wave
Forum Elite
Topics: 56
Posts: 268
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congratulations veterana for having the courage to study and take the test......your experience really gives inspiration to others that it is possible......
You have already cleared the biggest hurdle i.e. taking the decision and studying hard ....
God bless you....
All the best to you and have faith..
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Matched in 2008 !!
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| veterana
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 31
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thanks everybody for your good whishes, i feel less anxious today
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| 2006?Maybe...
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Thank you, Veterana for sharing with us and best of luck with your score! I am also an old graduate (1995), you encouraged me a lot.
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| Nan
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 159
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Best wishes. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am an old graduate also (1993). You have inspired to do well in my exam.
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| mjl1717
Forum Hero
Topics: 959
Posts: 5,467
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thx veterana for your experience.. its an accomplishment just getting up, lacing up boxing gloves "fighting" and taking the test. You'll do it!
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Smell the coffee! "Is That an Osler move??"
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| HILFIGER
Forum Senior
Topics: 24
Posts: 200
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Thanks for sharing and wish you all the best
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,174
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thanks for sharing veterana. from your NBME scores you should pass so dont be anxious. it must have been tough for you. am an old graduate too but not as many years as you and i know it is tough. it is like a whole new curriculum. bioch and genetics are also the worst for me. i have finally understood elementary gene language. i enjoyed reading immuno.
best of luck at step 2. UAAAAAAAA
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| veterana
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 31
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thanks everybody for encourage me.
Epica, I'm not from East Europe, you can let me know your e-mail if you want, I will answer ASP
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| veterana
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 31
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I got my score yesterady: 205, 83. I passed!! Graduated 25 years ago!!
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