manolok
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Status Post Oasis update shock; well here I am back again, studying for step 1. But have decided to structure my approach by creating a journal. Plan: 2 months Hard core studying, target date: Mid September
Tentative schedule
1. Path: 4 days, Goljan's HY 500 notes, 50 questions a night from USMLErx or usmle 123, havent decided yet, then read Patho section of FA
2. Phys: 5 days, 50q's, and FA
3. Pharm: Kaplan and FA, 3 days, questions
4. Gross, histo, embryo: 4 days, Kaplan then FA, questions
5. Neuro: MRS or HY, 2 days then FA, questions
6. Micro/Immuno: 4 days Kaplan, HY, FA, questions
7. Biochem/genetics: 3 days Kaplan then FA, questions
take NBME form on Aug, 24, review weak areas, then questions till the very end.. re-read FA
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| manolok
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Was pretty hard to study last night but managed to complete something.. Started to read Goljan but found it hard to concentrate. Decided to watch Pass program videos. Started with Vitamins, discussion of Gi drugs and Kidney stones. It was only an hour long video.. Gonna change my strategy a little bit and going to attempt to finish these videos and the notes that come with it.. it should only take me a week to finish all this not like Kaplan which takes forever. Then will read FA. Debating on signing up for a q-bank..
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| lisa25
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its ok, keep going, good plan. 25 days till my test, gotta do nbme also to see if i improved, i learned from ur experience in that nmbe's have to be above 420. We can do it, stick to ur plan. ur way to close, i think u'll get it this time.
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| manolok
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Thank you so much lisa25!
Just got home today from traveling.. and its hard to see family with a look of disappointment in their eyes. But your reply made me smile again! thanks for the support. Reading endo now and going to finish the lecture. Do first aid section on it then do questions.. I'm thinking of USMLErx... any thoughts??
FYI, after you take NBME, try to download the NBME answers and questions.. it's floating around the internet somewhere. There are repeated questions on the actual exam from the different forms.. I'm glad I'm able to contribute something from my experience. I guess one man's failure is another man's success, and I gauarntee you IM GOING TO PASS this time! And you will to on your first attempt!
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| lisa25
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Thanks Manolok, just forget about everyone else and what they might think , its all about u and no one knows how hard this is. I know u said not to bother with Kaplan pathology from ur posts, but i'm doing it any way cause i feel its got some good things in there even though it is simplified, i'm still doing golgian though-rapid review, the quesions in the back and on the cd look really good, have u done them??? Make sure u do Golgian HY this time, and NBME higher than 420 otherwise DO NOT WRITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is ur last time u are doing this, don't compromise ur NBME scores. Ok good luck.
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| manolok
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Finished Endo and just have to read corressponding endo section in FA, Renal is next.. Lisa thanks for the reply, now on PATHO-Kaplan, it's ok if you read it, but NOTE, the derm/skin section of Kaplan is incomplete. You should make time to read that part in BRS or RAPID review Goljan.. trust me on this one.. was burned big time on one of the exams because of material that wasn't covered in that section in Kaplan. It's a quick 5-page read so do it before you go into the exam.. pay attention to tables/pointers with the key points in BRS, if anything.. read those.. But Kaplan does have HY quick facts and it's a quick read. My path foundation is really poor so I needed a little more meat with my potatoes.. LOL.. ok, good luck!
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| manolok
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Yesterday was a slow day for me as the anxiety of receiving my test results heightened to an all time high. I managed to almost finish Renal, but going to repeat some of the dvd that I missed due to distractions. It's hard restudying for something over again but at this point I have no choice. I realize through my experiences and also from the many people that replied to my posts that I need to get this anxiety well under control. Plan today, finish Renal, review notes and do corressponding FA sections. Need to sign up for a test bank but still debating on doing Q-bank or Usmlerx first.. hmmm, well today shows more promise
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| manolok
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Signed up today and did first block of the new qbank, usmlerx.Qmax. Was suprised at the questions and was similar to real exam including its interface. Scored a measly 60%. Like the way they cut and paste related topics from FA on the explanation page. read it on the screen then highligted it on the real FA book. So, will now what's important come closer to exam time!
Hope this will help me bring up my score in upcoming NBME's! oh well.. time for break. Almost done biochem lectures.
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| manolok
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next block of questions on usmlerx.. scored a 56%, I'm glad that the there are some tough questions on this q-bank coz i started to worry if I made a mistake. But I find this a really great tool to learning FA inside and out. I particularly love the way they prefernce FA after the explanations, I force myself to read it even though I've read it before. Oh well, hope there is light at the end of this tunnel. Back to Biochem.
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| octospider
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I am mostly a silent observer on this forum. I just wanted to let you know that what you are doing is admirable. To keep going when most people would give up shows true courage. You are a hero manolok. Once you get into a residency of your choice, you will look back on this and think if I can go through that and still make it, I can do anything.
You can do anything manolok. That 99 is yours. Keep up the great work. You are an inspiration to a lot of people. I salut you!
It is always darkets before dawn.
___________________
"If you refuse to settle for anything but the very best in life, you very often get it."
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| manolok
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wow octospider thank you! Well, its been tough, and the 4th time around isnt really easier.. but i'm a firm believer of having one's time.. and honestly, mine is about to come. A classmate of mine who is now a second year resident called the other day. We have sort of a love-hate kinda relationship. often competed in medical school and exams. Was avoiding his phone call, coz i knew he was calling to find out if I passed or not. And i broke the news to him. I could tell he was disappointed. But what followed from his mouth i couldnt believe. He told me that he could no longer help me get an interview at his program coz of my attempts. Could you just imagine this??? not really the kinda thing you want to hear right now. But on the upside, my other classmate, who has had multiple attempts on both step 1 and step2.. is now starting her FP residency in a university based program. She relayed to me that attempts for this particular program are not considered and its more of the potential for success that is a major critieria for choosing the residents. So you see one door closes and the other opens.
Hey, I may not be the brightest. But I love medicine and didn't sweat it out in 102 heat for 5 years and monsoon season to give up now! Cannot is NOT part of my vocabulary!
BTW, did I fail to mention that my first classmate, passed step 1 and step 2 with both a 75/76, respectively, and had to endure the humiliation of being the lowest of his peers in an "in-house_ exam.
well,have to say that my setback is due to genetics.. my dad took the FLEX 3x, and took his anesthesia boards 10x.. I guess if he gave up on his 3rd and 10th try.. he wouldn't have the luxuries he has now.. and let me tell you I could go on and on about his success but there not my laurels there his.. need to create some for myself!
back soon with day end journal entry.. thanks again for the vote of confidence..
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| manolok
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almost done with biochem and did a block of 50q's on usmleRX; 64%. I'm still undecided as to how I feel about Q-max, but overall, I like it.. i think that the real exam is a combo of Q-bank and Q-max, The latter being close to the real thing. The style, in my opinion is closer to the NBME assessment exams.. well, gonna call it a night soon..another day.. thinking about scheduling my exam soon before all this info goes away..
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