mazinger
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Well, I have been studying for step 2 for almost 2 months by now. Im almost done with IM, taking loads of time taking notes from videos (I have seen almost 50 of them... god this is taking forever!), and also have been taking lots of notes from UW. I dont know if Im too slow or too lazy, but I feel that IM notes is beating the crap out of me.
From my perspective I need a totally different approach for step 2ck compared to step 1. In step 1 I used to cram many things at a time, but I dont know IM book seems imposible to cram, well at least for now..
My resources are Kaplan set of notes 2006, 2002 videos, and UW... Im planning on getting at least a month of regular qbank and my test is schedulled for the first days of Dec.
IM is getting a lot of time. And I feel tired, bored, wanna waste my life playing video games.
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Well, lets see its 4 PM and I have planned to watch neuro videos featuring Dr Jacob Levi... There are aprox 7 videos, 4 of them are bet 20 to 30 and 3 are about an hour long.. So it going to be a long journey wandering between the lectures and the notes. Just thinking of this makes me yawn... hehehehe
Better hang on and pray for my strength to come back, the same that helped me through step 1.
Ok so, Im going to leave for now (and probably for the rest of the day), must take care of business and get myself dirty once and for all...
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Im done with 3 videos already, my left hand and fingers are on fire, after all the things I wrote.... Perhaps taking notes is a waste of time, but its my method to keep myself focused on what the faculty is saying..
Jacob is kind of cool... but, sometimes I wish he could go faster, anyways I want to get over this video-notes thing by the night..
Going to take a break & go play with my son for while..
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Didnt read anything else, nor watched the videos.. Geez, wasting my time.. again...
Come on! I can do it..
Maybe tomorrow
good night
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Ok, its monday 8 AM, a brand new day has begun with great expectations to fulfill at the end of it... Yesterday only did 3 Neuro videos, today I want to see all of them before lunch its going to be hard thou, but if I put all efforts on this I am sure I can achieve this goal...
Did some UW questions and it didnt go that bad... whole set of cardio got 68% Hem/onc got 74% Infectious dzs 68% GI 74%... At the begining I had pretty low scores (49% preventive medicine, 50s for rheuma and endocrine), but now I feel Im getting the hang of UW... And yes! some blocks are harder than others like if they were made on purpose that way, to boost your confidence at a time and becoming totally demoralized as a next best step  ...
Anyone who's reading these posts wish me luck and strength because Im going to need it...
By the way, I answered a few questions from nbme posted at IM forum, and found them fairly easy compared to UW, what do you think guys?
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original mazinger z
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| LisaM
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Wish you all the luck and strength in the world, mazinger! I think anything over 65 is a great Score in UW. Keep working!
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lisa
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| mazinger
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Thanks lisaM! thank you for your good wishes.. above 65 is good? ok so this means Im on a good track..
By the way congrats for your 92 score...
From your exam experience are the test questions close to UW? or closer to nbme? From my perspective UW questions are exhausting. When I studied for step 1 I did blocks of 50 mcqs and I finished every block with 30 minutes remaining in the block and something similar happened to me in the real thing.. BUT NOW, Im finishing each block with less than 10 minutes remaining, and feeling more tired than before. If thats how the real thing is going to be, I dont think Im going to be able to get through this....
I feel more tired doing just one block than doing 2 blocks in a row from other qbanks...
I dont want to sound narcissistic, but this feeling is freaking me out. Perhaps is the first time I felt so tired after a single block of mcqs...
nbme mcqs go easier on my neurons, and thats what I hope the questions of the test will look like.. and whenever I read UW score thread I think "come on! are those guys for real?" 80s scores! Wow! there are many geniuses around and cannot afford to loaf around, hahaha
thx again lisaM
Edited by mazinger on 07/24/06 - 11:45 AM
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Never had a journal before (for many reasons), at this moment I am starting to enjoy this.. A cousin came to visit and couldnt end what I had on mind, now Im going to give my best to achieve my plans... Watch all the neuro videos once and for all! And start studying pulmonology by the end of the day.. Then, perhaps do a couple of questions from UW...
Lets see what happens and hopefully I wont be interrupted by anyone else...
Move it!
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Today has been a total disaster, I have been constantly interrupted by my niece and my son... Not to mention my folks, my wife, my sister, my visiting friends, my cat, my dog, my, my, my .. What the heck!
Think I should isolate myself in the Rocky mountains and pray for the ticks to not think of me as a refreshning energy drink red bull.. What the ticks dont know is that I'm full of poison thanks to the anger and frustration I have accumulated through the day...
By the way its nice to have a diary and to share my thoughts!
Im done with the videos, tomorrow I'll cram Pulmonology and Neuro (of course not all of them, but at least read the most I can)..
See ya!
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Today is a brand new, full of hope and joy.. Today Im going to cram pulmo and neuro... Besides that, mazi beated the crap out of me today in the IM forum while answering questions from nbme...
Well, thats ok there are people who study a lot in this forum and are very smart, so Ill study harder and sooner or later Ill have my revenge...
BWA HA HA HA HA...
Ok Ill eat something for breakfast and Ill go ahead with my plan...
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Im almost done with pulmonology... I like it so far, think tomorrow I'll deal with neuro..
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Today has been an interesting day in the forum, lots of discussions and perspectives... I like that!
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original mazinger z
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| LisaM
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Mazinger, to answer your question about my exam, I felt that most questions on real exam were easier than UW, but it is always nicer to be surprised if the questions are easier than you expected than otherwise. I too had only about 5 to 10 minutes at the end of each block to go over marked questions. The key, I think, is to mark as few questions as you can and practice question solving techniques. This makes a real difference. Many strategies have been posted earlier, most of which are detailed in the first few pages of kaplan Q book. It is good to not just use one technique but consciously practice and master several so you can comfortably apply them on exam day. One of the best tips is to read the first line, last line, glance at answer options and then read the question looking for specific clues. Another one, if you have to re-read a question within a short time, to read the first line, middle line/(s), and go to answer options. It pays to know the normal lab values very well so you can easily glance over AST, Thyroid, Alk phos, as you would temp, pulse and BP. You probably knew all that already. Hope it helps to reinforce.
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lisa
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| shalu
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how do u manage your time to do DVDs and UW both? how many hours of DVDs do u complete daily? can i join your diary pls.
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| shalu
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hello liza and mazingar
what is best time to take UW b/c i m doing my first reading with DVDs? pls do reply me i worried?
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| mazinger
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I have no ideal formula for this, but Im doing my first reading also while doing questions side by side.....
Im taking lots of notes from videos and UW, on the other hand there are many people that just watch the videos and read the explanations and never take notes and do great...
So its up to you, if you are willing to use UW as a learning tool or as assesing tool..
I would definetely use it as a learning tool, and learn from your errors... Dont be discouraged by your mistakes and as I said learn from them...
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Dear Shalu its taking almost forever to take notes... I spend at least two hours in every one hour video... Plus the notes from UW like another 2 hours for each set of 46 qs... Why am I doing this? Because, I feel its very nice to review material in my own words.. Specially for the last month cramming..
Same formula I used for step 1, and it worked..
So if you have time and you feel it suits you my advise would be to take notes..
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Thx for your response lisa
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Neuro Neuro Neuro!
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original mazinger z
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| mazinger
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Neuro neuro neuro...
I have been constantly interrupted, and my progress has been darn slow (I guess its a defense mechanism to blame my faults on others), well I honestly feel its not my fault and it never is...
hahahaha
So lazy, so funny...
It seems that today I have missed a lot in the forum, many discussions and controversies... It seems that chivas reagal is the guru around, cool! now I know who to ask for an answer..
Tonight I am feeling tired and Id rather wake up early in the morning and hit the books..
Good night
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