LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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Hi,
Im an old IMG and have decided to put my money where my mouth is and get down to business with this exam and get this ball rolling once and for all. I was working full time for the last 8 years and with that had been studying half heartedly and not really getting anywhere. This past week I finally decided to let go off my job after discussions with my wonderful wife without whom Id be so lost, to see if we can go ahead with this plan. She works full time and for this project will also have to work on the weekends so that we can keep going rather than jumping on our savings.
I have decided to give my exam towards the end of November so that by years end I will have my result with me. With that in mind I will be using the following books for my use.
Anatomy: HY + FA
Behavriol Science: Kaplan + FA
Biochemistry: Kaplan + FA
Micro/Immu: Kaplan + FA
Pathology: Goljan + FA
Pharmacology : Kaplan + FA
Physiology : Kaplan + FA
I have the FA from 2003 and it is pretty much full of notes that I have put in it from the Qbank that I have signed up for twice so that is like my bible that I guard with my life.
Im planning on starting with Pathology first going through Goljans book first. Im making this journal cos after having read through this site it makes me realiize that this is the best source to keep track of my progress. Keeping it honest and staying the course is all that will work and help me towards my goal.
I hope to hear back from you folks and get your frank opinions. We all need the strength and motivation to fight and get this monkey of our backs
BR
MV
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| oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 48
Posts: 862
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Hi Welcome aboard....
I am also an old grad of 94. Your prep material is adequate and according to what most people recommend. One suggestion would be to start off with bio, micro and pharma then going to patho because all these add up and start making sense when you deal with patho. I was given the similar advice. Well, you can judge better.
Wishing you Goodluck with your exam!!!
GL
___________________
Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
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| Musuq
Forum Guru
Topics: 103
Posts: 425
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Liblin,
I also just started my journal, I think you have made the most important decision in stepping aside and take valuable time to commit for the exam, I wish you the best of luck and keep that motivation up everyday, as you say we should see this like an investment we are doing for a great future business. Keep up the motivation and work hard.
see you around.
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| ysridivya
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 2
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keep going!!!!! u serve as an inspiration to all of us.... all the best!
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| LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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So here I am back to give you all and myself an update. Firstoff thanks for your words of support and encouragement. I suppose its all baby steps and then get into the stride and run with this.
Yesterday I was going over the material and spent time going over FA of 2006. I then went ahead and as per oldkidintheblock decided to go by his suggestion. I read the FA section of Biochemistry first and it was very long since I have filled it up with loads of information. Today I went to Barnes&Noble around noon and was there for good five hours during which at one time I had a redbull and then a cafemocha with triple shot of espresso and jittery like crazy. Eventually slowly I kept on plowing and by the end of the day I was done with 50 pages from Kaplan Biochemistry. Once I was there my brain was fried and I came back home. Once home I was just messing around and didnt do much.
My plan for the morning is to go for my spin class at gym early and then be at BN around 10am and continue onwards. Will keep you posted. Again thanks all for yours words they really are very very helpful
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| LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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Productive day today also, did about 60 pages of biochemsitry Kaplan which got me to the begining of chapter 8 which goes into the study of Amino Acids. Once I completed that I went through the sections of FA which cover the same sections. Similar plan for tomorrow to jump more into AA and metabolisms
Thats all for today
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| target
Forum Elite
Topics: 2
Posts: 344
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Hi Liblin,
It is a good decision you have take to quit job to focus on your goal. Not many of us have such courage. Good luck and I am sure all the hardwork will pay!
___________________
Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week
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| Musuq
Forum Guru
Topics: 103
Posts: 425
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Liblin, good luck with the rest of metabolism, it takes time to picture everything together, so keep focus have a productive day and enjoy
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| zenith
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liblin: you're going at a wonderful pace - keep it up. and like target said - its a good thing u quit your job - wish i could do that.............
keep reading and at this speed you'll be ready for this exam very soon. good luck!!!!
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| LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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Thanks everyone for there words of support....fact is honestly I consider myself very lucky to have a life partner as in my wife who really is my rock and without whom I could not go through this phase in life....she is the best and im just so very grateful to God every day of my life for having her in my life.
Having said that I am doing good still with Biochemistry...Tuesday was a crazy day for me so missed out on my studies but yesterday again I was at it and did get to do another 60 pages. I need to get better at my time management as I feel that with me not working anymore I should be putting in atleast 8-10 hours a day....hopefully with my engines getting lubed up I will get there soon also since I am planning to give the exam by Nov 20-25
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| LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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As it is life has a strange way of getting to you. My last regular study was on Thursday and I did pretty good. Around 7pm a good friend of mine called me to ask if I wanted to join him for drinks and so I did...the only problem was that I left home at 9pm and by the time I was done and over it was 4am in the morning. I woke up around 9am the next morning with an obvious hangover and a natrually pissed off wife.......this is my story...i dont drink regularly ever..I dont keep alcohol in my house..I dont have an urge to drink it but when I do its like each time I binge...every two weeks probably for the past 5 yrs or so....I suppose in all honestly I was living in denial that I did not havea problem and that it was all under control but for some reason Friday morning that is not what it seemed like to me....so for the first time in my life I decided to go to a AA meeting on my own without having even discussed or spoken to anyone about it...I atttened it at 6pm that evening followed by a second one at 8pm the same nite... There were folks from all races..ages...religion..u name it...but I had one thing common with them...I realized for sure that I do have a drinking problem and even though I am educated..smart..intelligent I cannot control it rather it controls me...be it every 10th or 15th day of my life...I came back home that nite and told my wife about my experience her first question to me was what did u learn...and I told her point blank I am an alcoholic...I have been attending meetings daily since then and plan on going to one tonite also
It has been overwhelming for me to realize for the first time in my life that I actaully have a problem for real...I told the folks there last nite that it was like anyone of my family or friends I have spoken to since this realization I want to scream and say out loud that hey guys guess what I am an alcholic..it really has no face
So here I am speaking my heart out to all of you...maybe in a way it might even help someone else here but for now it sure is giving me strength..I am going to hit the books right now after I finish this post and get back to studying...seems like I had decided to take up to challenges in my life at the same time but better now then never...its one day at a time...
Thanks and catch up with you all laterz alligators
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| LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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Well things have been going pretty good. Im done with the Biochemistry part of Kaplan. All thats left is the genetics protion which I plan on doing tomorrow. I got so tired going over the metabolisms today at BNoble that I finally decided to ditch the last chapter. I picked up the Ridicilously Made Simple version of Acid Base balace and did about 20 pages. After this post I plan on reading it for another hour or so and then hit the sack.
My plan is to complete Biochem and Gentics by tomorrow then do the two tests from QBank. Once that is done I will probably jump on Physio or Micro thats still up in the air.
Anyways Im going to get going for now and keep you all posted.
Tcare for now
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| Novak75
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 392
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Liblin, Hi, first of all welcome to the forum, and I just wanted to congratulate you on going to AA. It takes so much courage, intelligence, to accept and realize our problems, that saying it out loud, or shoudl I say, writting it in this forum, and actually doing something about it, it is so great, so helpfull, and I can't really find the right words to express myself, I just wanted to say thank you for sharing!!!
Take care and God bless, and my prayers are with you and your family, keep going and never hesitate, and never give up!!
___________________
leave the old behind—leave behind old behavior, old thinking, old words.
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| LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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Thanks for your words of support Novak they mean the world to me. At first I thought I had kind of scared everyone around since I never heard from anybody from the forum but just your words give me the strength.
The AA meetings are actually going really good and I surely do feel alot better and stronger than ever before....studies are also going good. I completed the Biochemistry as planned and sat down with Kaplan Physio today...to my surprise it went pretty good and I completed the first four sections of Kaplan series. The goal for tomorrow is to continue with the additional chapters...thats it for now
Novak thanks again u rock!!!!
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| LIBLIN
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 11
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Well after a gap of a week im back but not away cos I wanted to. Last tuesday I got down with fever and sore throat which landed my butt on the bed for almost a week. Its been a horrible week for me and even now Im not fully recovered. However yesterday was the first day I got back to the books and was productive. So was today. Im still on Kaplan Physio since the lapse of last week. Yesterday I finished Renal and GI, today I did half of Endo and part of Acid Base balance.
My goal is to complete the remaining parts of Physio by tomorrow and that way I can start onto Anatomy from Wed. I plan on doing Gross Anatomy/Embryo form First ..Cell Bio first six chapter from HY and Neruo from HY
Thats the plan for now..will keep u all posted
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