cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
|
It has finally drawn to an end. Just got back . I'd like to think it went ok overall but I got slapped around PRETTY hard on at least three blocks .The last one in particular was a whammy so I felt incredibly belittled as I left the test center…but then I thought…hey! At least its over!! I studied for 6 months and used kaplan lecture notes and UW.
I felt there were a lot of " why" questions….phrased what's the underlying mechanism….wanting the underlying pathophys. There was a fair share of the "most appropriate next step in Dx/management" and "the most likely Dx" questions.
Internal Medicine: Of course the bulk of the exam. Fairly balanced across the systems….lots of shortness of breath differentials,chest pain, swollen joints, dysphagia, abnormal gaits ,back pain,knee pain, renal failure,mesenteric ischemia,diverticulitis and ah yes…lots of neuro… again the mechanism, best test and the site of lesion…. basically just about everything. In retrospect I think it would really help if one goes about grouping diseases with similar presenting signs/symptoms and knows how exactly they are different…cos that's the way the way they put the questions forward and make you squirm!I had about three EKGs but you could've come to the diagnosis just by reading the question stems. Antibiotics were pretty big for me too. There were those " which of the following would decrease mortality in this particular patient the most" questions too…and there were always two choices which sounded just right (but then again I am probably a dunce when it comes to these things)
Pediatrics: Never been my strong forte and I think I may have just blocked out on how I did on the peds questions. Quite a few of these too but nothing out of the blue( the fact that I found them hard is another story)
Surgery: = Trauma…..motor vehicle accidents, gun shot wounds etc.
OB/Gyn: Not a whole lot of OB but enough of Gyn to compensate for the relative lack of it(PAPs,irregular menstrual bleeding, ovarian/endometrial cancers,hirsutism etc)
Psychiatry/Ethics/Biostats: Psych was pretty heavily tested for me…found it confusing cos I've never been all that great with this either. Will have to say the same about ethics too. About 7-8 biostats questions…easier than step 1.Also, think it would be good to know the age specific causes of mortality(I didn't remember L …..and I had a few questions from there too)
UW helps a lot in bringing the essentials home.It also compares well with the real exam.I think its good to have gone over it twice.That said, I also feel that one can get too comfortable with the way questions are asked there and its prudent to take the NBMEs. The NBME exams compare very favourably(more so than UW) with the real thing in my opinion .Not to freak anyone out ….UW definitely is awesome and is just what's needed.However, I used it as a learning tool. Alright, I think this is about it…..I really can't say how I fared on this thing cos most of the time I was narrowing down to two choices and then marking the one I thought made more sense and moving on(not a great feeling this but hopefully,I marked the right ones!). Off for now guys…hope this helps.
Edited by cyra on 07/28/06 - 05:34 PM
|
| ANU_MLE
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 57
|
Thank u cyra for ur help,
Wish u the best score.
|
| infliximab
Forum Guru
Topics: 22
Posts: 320
|
CONGRATULATIONS!!! ON COMPLETING THE EXAMS, WISHING U A GREAT SCORE
|
| nazia3
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 13
|
Thanx alot crya,wish u best of luck for ur results.I wanna ask ,what assesment examz did u take?And what were scores in those examz?
thanx for ur help.
|
| drdiv
Forum Junior
Topics: 16
Posts: 63
|
congrats cyra,i hav been closely following ur posts they r great.
u will definitely get great score
do u mind posting ur assessments&scores that u got
|
| nida
Forum Elite
Topics: 23
Posts: 87
|
Thanks for your post, wish you a great score.
|
| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
|
Thankyou guys!
nazia3,drdiv: I took NBME 1(4 weeks before the exam) - scored a 610(241),NBME 2(9 days before the exam) - scored a 640(247).I found form 2 harder but ended up doing better on it.(I felt crappy and unsure when I took form 2 and I am crossing my fingers and hoping the prediction holds true for the real thing!).I used UW as a learning tool and did it by subject after having reviewed it....I had a cumulative of 70% but I wouldn't put much weight into that.
infliximab: not done with all the exams as yet *sigh* CS scheduled for aug 15th!
nida: thanks for posting all those questions...kept me on my toes.
|
| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
|
Congrats! You must be on top of the world now, having crossed the two major steps! Thanks a lot for ur exp, it was very useful. Iam sure you will rock CS, so prep can be combined with parties:o)
oh btw, ws the below edited by urself or the computer? :-s
cyra wrote:
.Also, think it would be good to know the age specific causes of mortality(I didn't remember L …..and I had a few questions from there too)
|
| drdiv
Forum Junior
Topics: 16
Posts: 63
|
thanq cyra
|
| nazia3
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 13
|
thanx alot crya.
good luck for cs too.
|
| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
|
Thankyou drk...It really is a big relief!
Something got really messed up when I posted this...tried to edit it out... guess that part got left out.I had some ques for age specific mortality causes...its good to group them in bulk so its easier to remember....I really dont think its that much of a biggie cos you tend to forget things you think you know well in the heat of the exam anyways.One morething which I forgot to mention...have an idea of the BMIs...that way when you read questions you know if the patient is overweight/obese etc.Its different for children...where they use percentiles.
All the best with your prep drk....you'll do great!
|
| Geroo
Forum Guru
Topics: 114
Posts: 799
|
hi Cyra
thanks for posting your exam experience it's really helpful,
I'm wondering if you used FA,Crush or secrets,and if it was helpful.some people say that Crush is outdated is that true?
GOOD luck
|
| mazinger
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 917
|
Cyra wish you all the best...
___________________
original mazinger z
|
| rajniag
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 20
|
GOOD LUCK CYRA
|
| study_ing
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 180
Posts: 2,511
|
good luck to u .hope u have an amazing score..im new to the step 2 forum but found quite a few of ur step 1 posts helpful and prayed for u!!
___________________
If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world.
|
| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
|
Thanks Geroo...I didn't use crush/secrets or FA.The only thing I used FA for was for dermatology.From what I know Crush and secrets have the same content...its just in different formats...I think its in Q and A format in secrets.
mazinger and rajniag...thankyou!
study_ing:wow!It was real kind of you to pray for me!Thanks and keep praying pls...got my first post exam jitters today...hopefully I'll put this behind me and get down to my CS prep.
|
| Geroo
Forum Guru
Topics: 114
Posts: 799
|
thanks Cyra wish you great score
|
| morpheus
Forum Newbie
Topics: 7
Posts: 32
|
congratulations and i wish you a good score. i know you're gonna get it.
|
| Isther
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 745
|
Sorry I'm late... CYRA!!! NO DOUBT AT ALL... YOU ACED THE DARN TEST... relax and wait until your 99 arrives.
All the best!
___________________
Useful information for USMLE and the residency matching process at http://www.usmlematch.com
|
| berkeleyboy
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 361
|
cheers cyra! thanks for the nice post and all the best in a great score!!
Berk
___________________
PGY-1 Ohio State University Plastic Surgery
|
| frank100
Forum Guru
Topics: 48
Posts: 586
|
I wish you good luck too.
|
| Jinx
Forum Elite
Topics: 17
Posts: 316
|
Best of luck----its a 99 for sure!
___________________
Life is a journey--enjoy the drive!!
|
| cyra
Moderator
Topics: 29
Posts: 844
|
morphues,Isther,Berk,frank and Jinx....thanks for the good wishes....I really appreciate it.
NBME and ECFMG have been diligent....my score was reported on the 16th and I had my score report in hand when I got back home today.I got a 224/91....I would be lying if I said I am not disappointed cos my NBME scores were much higher and I really had worked hard and aimed for the(much coveted) 240's.Anyways....all this is part of the game and I really am thankful to God for having brought me this far.I took CS yesterday and shall now be working towards completing my residency application.Thankyou all for your prayers and support.Do let me know If I can be of any help.
|
| drk1980
Forum Guru
Topics: 147
Posts: 1,038
|
yeah i agree, the score doesnt seem to truly reflect ur capabilities tht i know of....but iam sure PDs can see beyond that.. so congrats! :o) u'll do superb in the matching process that looks beyond just the digits in a score!
all the best in preparing ur application now.
ps: if u get time wud appreciate ur post in the cs forum on ur experience.
|
| appletree
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 22
|
Cyra, I read your post again from the very beginning. 91% is not a very good but still an OK score. My friend is in a community progrom with 5 double 99% people. I understand you very well.
I will take my CK at the end of next month, and I hope I could get a score above 95%. (My step1 score is 95%).
I have read kaplan 1.5 times (because I feel I could not remember anything in detail from the note directly), finished UW with 61.5%. I am not sure how I should do next to improve my NBME, (although I have not done that), since I will do NBME form2&3 later on. Do you think I should test myself with NBME now?
Do I need to read notes again or take a good UW note now?
Thank you very much!
Apple
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
