dharjma
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 182
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on november 11 2005 i did my first NBME part 1. this exam was taken 14 days before i had planned to sit for the Step1. i had studied seriously from June - Nov + going to school at the same time for 1 mnth. i scored a 216 on this nbme exam. i think thats an 88. i was very disappointed as i had high expectations of myself.
this was the email i wrote my gf right after the NBME1:
i am depressed. took the exam. it was supposed to take 4 hrs but it took 7. because internet connection kept hanging i had to sotp halfway to go look for other computers etc. anyway the results were bad. and the best part, i knew i didnt know the answers. so its definitely my fault. it wasnt hard, it was just stuff i wasnt sure about. i should do at least 4 000 questions more to get it right.. i dont knwo why my path was reported weak.s0 was behav science, histo/cell bio, reproduction, genetix. these are all the subjects i am weak in so its a true reflection of my abilities. actually it was pretty much like my Qbank rating.. so it looks like i didnt concentrate on my weakness, i just studied everything, which is wrong. i got a 216 which is either 84 or 86 im not sure. i called my mom at 3.30am when theexam ended. she said dont take it if i feel uncomfortable. i have been spending since April for this exam. how fucking long more huh? am i dumb or what? anyway im not gonna ruin my dream. so ill delay the exam, i must remember this score is because i havent been efficient in studying, whatever i get i deserve. so ill throw in however more months or money i need, i dont care. sorry my mood is off, take care.
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so thats what i did. i made a list of the subjects i was weak in. then i prioritised which had a lot of questions in them and studied them over again. i also started doing more questions. since i had already done QBank at that time, i did A&L, QBook and some questions goljan had in his notes. and i think a question bank Goljan had on CD, cant remember waht it was called.
i continued this for over 1 month, and remember going out on new years eve to get drunk and party it up a bit. my exam was postponed to Jan 16 2006. i took a 10 hr bus ride to Singapore a week before the exam to make sure i was well rested and had time for last minute reading. This was during my rural public health posting in med school.
so on the 16th i went for the exam. coming out of it, i felt it was hard. i had a feeling i did ok in the last 2 or 3 blocks. i regretted not reading goljans notes as well as i wanted to, especially Gen Path. but as i left the exam centre, i felt i did about all i could do for the step 1. the journey was long and i was glad it ended. now the 10 hr bus ride back to my rural public health posting site ...
the results came on valentines day 2006, was kinda cheesy i thought. it was posted to my dads place in KL and i had reminded him repeatedly to CALL ME ASAP when he gets the results. but for some reason, on that day, i just called him instinctively to ask him if he had received it, after all oasis trick 5 days before reported i had passed so i knew it was somewhere in the mail due in the next few days.
he answered the phone. "so dad, did the results arrive?".
"yes." was his one word answer.
me, naturally very anxious "why didnt u call me earlier?!?! can u read it out to me now please?", somewhat dizzy in excitement and anticipation.
"ok, first line says, your Name ......"
"dad can we skip to the next part at the results please?!" i interrupted. rude, but come on i was on my toes in anticipation.
"ok, first section said you PASS." he said.
"ok are there any numbers below that?" i asked, completely anxious out of my socks!
"ok the 3 numbers are 2-4-9" then theres a "9-9"
...................................................
"WHAT????????? ARE YOU SURE???????????" i exclaimed.
"yes son, u do realise ive worked in the bank for 20 years before this right? i know my numbers"
"but, but, is there any way u could be misreading this? is it ok if u try reading it again?!"
so there you have it. if i did it, anyone can. a lot of luck, a lot of hard work, and a lot of determination. going into or coming out of the exam i had never expected this score, especially after nbme part 1 had gone. i didnt dare take part 2 or 3 cause i was scared i wouldnt be happy and couldnt postpone it further.
i guess all the sacrifice in partying, chilling with friends, sex, not visiting home on 2 mnth breaks etc did pay off. cause it was definitely one of the best days of my life.
i went to the mall, got 2 whisky glasses and went back to my apartment to open my chivas. i had promised myself i would open it if i was happy with my score, and yes i was.
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 31
Posts: 935
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Congratulation
thanks for sharing with us
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| vallia
Forum Guru
Topics: 98
Posts: 889
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this was such an encouraging story, you sure deserve the success, congratulation and do good in step 2. good luck!!
___________________
fight possessed
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| RachelAlexander
banned
Topics: 0
Posts: 15
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Great story. I spent a ton of time myself studying for Step 1 at Score95.com and after I got my results I could not have been happier. The USMLE is the hardest set of exams on the face of this earth. IT FEELS SO GOOD WHEN YOU PASS!!!
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