foco
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
Posts: 66
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I took the exam on august 1, OASIS updated 23, finally received my report September 27(long wait, apparently the fist one got lost in the mail, had to ask for another)
Step 2 CK 99/255
I’m an IMG graduated 2003, in a surgery residency in South America since then, I took a few months off while changing programs. Time that I spent reading and doing MCQ.
My plan was unusual; I tried to prepare step 1 and 2 ck at the same time with 5 weeks apart from each other, and took 2CK before step 1. At fist looked like a good idea since I’m and semi-old graduated, but now I would recommend the other way around. Step 1 first will be very helpful for your CK exam.
The material I used:
.UW one-month subscription
.Kaplan qbook, about 70% complete
.Kaplan qbank
.Kaplan notes, I read a few topics from it, but I didn’t work for me.
.CTO mini-manual This are like Kaplans for the Spanish version of USMLE(It is called MIR in Spain) If you can read Spanish I highly recommend them.
. First Aid 2 for the last week review.
At the same time used step 1 material: FA 1, micro ridiculously simple, Pharmacology Lippincott, Road Map Physiology, Silbernagl, Color Atlas of Pathophysiology.
About the exam, it is very long(like many people said before) I was very difficult to say focused the whole time. Time management 1, break , 2,3,break, 4,5, lunch, 6,7,break,8.
I didn’t run out of time in any block, had more minutes to review the marked questions than UW blocks.
Most questions are about medicine(60% or more), then peds, OB/GYN, psychiatry, surgery and biostat, in that order.
I would say about 15-20% of the questions I had absolutely no clue and just pick an answer, 50% felt they were easy, and the rest medium to hard.
The next day started doing MCQ for step 1: UW for step 1(it’s new but I took a chance with it) and USMLERX, and sat for step 1 on September 5.
OASIS update tonight, so I let you know if I pass.
Good luck and thank you all for helping me.
Edited by foco on 10/06/06 - 04:29 PM
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 21
Posts: 812
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Congratulation Great score
GOOD LUCK for match
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| study_ing
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 180
Posts: 2,511
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vow..thats an amazing effort
congargulations on ur score 
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If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world.
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| foco
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
Posts: 66
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thanks vanshita and study_ing. I just did OASIS trick for step 1 and I passed.
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,125
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Congrats,
Good luck for your score.
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The Key to Succeed is Patience.
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| nadiabarati
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congratulations. Please let me know about cardiology. I'm afraid of this subject cause I guess many questions will be about it. What do you suggest for cardio? how about neuro and emergency medicine?
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| foco
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
Posts: 66
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Thanks robin, Nadia cardio is a havily tested topic, probably kaplan notes is a good souce for reviewing, but I used CTO manual, the only problem is, as far as I know, it is only in spanish.
About neurology, it's another important subject, there were some questions about neuro that looked like step 1, review neuroanatomy from FA 1.
Only a few q were set in an emergency situation.
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| nadiabarati
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thanks a lot for the kind reply. I don't study kaplans because I hate its monotone and ill-organized format. My sources are blueprints. There are independent books for cardio 300 pages, neuro 200 and emergency 300... So I'm wondering if I can study them and which one is worth it among?
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| foco
Forum Elite
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Posts: 66
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recived step 1 report, 96/237
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,159
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foco, you are unbelievable!!! barely 3 months of study for the 2 exams and you ace both. i wish we could do some brain transplant
congratulations.
all the best at the match.
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It has been a looooong hard journey but I am inches away from my destination...
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| anne06
Forum Elite
Topics: 11
Posts: 103
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wish i could have scores like that...congrats...and u studied only 4 three months???have 2 agree with tolito then..
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| foco
Forum Elite
Topics: 9
Posts: 66
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thanks tolito and anne, I studied for about five months. Did I wrote 3 in some post? if I did it was a typo.
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| study_ing
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 180
Posts: 2,511
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vow...thats great ..truly inspirational ..hope u get into a brilliant program
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If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world.
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| just do it
Forum Senior
Topics: 24
Posts: 139
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Congrats ! Real good performace.....Wish u GL with ur match !
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