-Eddie-
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Posts: 15
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This is my first post so I would like to kindly say hello to all of You doctors!
I am a 2006 IMG from Poland. I have started my Step 1 prep about 10 days ago and just thought it could be a good idea to keep my preperation journal here.
My plan is to take Step 1 in April '07. Will study full-time, every day of the week 7.30am-10pm. Most of the time in the library.
I have started with Pathology as I think it is the most interesting S1 subject. Have almost finished BRS 1st reading. Done half of Qbank patho with 77% correct and most of USMLERx with 75% correct.
My thoughts after first reading is that I need to chose one book for each subject and know it by heart. BRS Path and questions are in my opinion perfect preperation for pathology. Memorizing this book should give me a base to do well on exam.
For next week I think I will try to review once again the whole book (I will always read each book at least twice, optimum 3 times, before moving to another subject). And finish all patho questions.
The next subject is pharmacology. Planning to start Oct 16.
Currently haven't decided which book to chose for pharm: Kaplan Lecture Note or Lippincott. I prefer concise but detailed books, don't need much explanations. Like graphs and tables.
BTW, anyone from Poland?
Good luck to all,
Eddie
Edited by -Eddie- on 11/21/06 - 07:40 AM
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| -Eddie-
Forum Newbie
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I have done about 3/4 of BRS second reading, have finished most of path qbank and other q's and I think I know where my weak points are. Tonight I will try to make notes of the most difficult to remember stuff and learn them during the weekend. Maybe FA will be helpful, but I can learn a lot while doing my own notes.
Qbank performance increased to 79% and USMLERx to 76%. I think I should start doing in timed mode, b/c I think too much on a question and most of my wrong answers are when I'm changeing corrent to incorrent.
I have also decided to use Kaplan for Pharm. Will start on Mon/Tue.
Plan for the rest of the year- finish reading all subjects (each book at least twice) and do all q's. This should be done by Christmas, and my plan for the last week of 2006 is to take NBME. If my score will be satisfactory I will shedule my exam day.
And finally, I have to start looking for a research/usce for the second half of next year. The sooner the better.
Anyway, I miss my friends from med school who were a strong support for me and also a much needed competition. I wish they all study for Step 1...
Ok, that's enough for today. Going back to work....
Eddie
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| DIBA
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 53
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Eddie-
best of luck with ur preparation. I need feed back about usmle Rx . How r the ques ? somebody told me this is a wastage of money . what do u think about the ques? r these useful ? take care.
diba
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| -Eddie-
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Thanks DIBA,
I wouldn't say waste of money, just should not be a primary source of q's. Qbank is primary for me. USMLERx has shorter questions, most are rather easy, some too easy (but Kaplan also has ones). There are about 20-25% of q's which asks of information i didn't feel relevant for the usmle and most of them I do wrong. That's why I usually get a little lower score than in qbank.
To sum up, if you need q's to practice and Qbank and UW is not enough for You, I think it is worth buying. Otherwise, it could be a waste of money.
My private rating:
Qbank- 8/10 (too many easy q's)
USMLERx- 6/10 (too short and some too easy)
UW- 8/10 (too many short q's)
Remeber that its only my opinion and can differ from other's and yours.
Anyway, hope it was helpful.
Take care and good luck studying,
Eddie
Edited by -Eddie- on 10/13/06 - 03:49 PM
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| DIBA
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 53
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thx !! great . Ur information helped me a lot. even more than i want . My exam is on 15th Dec. only 2 months to go. i m doing my 2nd reading till Oct along with phy q bank , IV bank , Q book , Robins ques . Nov for q bank and usw. I want to do usmle Rx . but i think I'll ran out of time . lets see what can i do.... I'll just try . again thx. take care .
diba
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| -Eddie-
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 15
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I've finished Path, time to start with Pharm.
Plan: max.2 weeks. 1st week for first reading(Kaplan LN & FA)& all tests.
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 93
Posts: 1,215
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Hi Eddie, you are flying trough those books ! I wish I could have your momentum ! Well , everybody study under the difference circumstances.... my is slowly but steady . By the way I'm originally your South neighbor , I mean a country .
Keep up with the speed !!!
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| -Eddie-
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Hi GoodGirl,
You're right, after years in med school everybody has its own, most effective speed of learning. Although I have to say, Ive never been studying so much for the exam and this is new for me.
South neighbor, so Czech or Slovakia. It's great, more people from our neighborhood the better. Let's show others we can ace the boards!!!!!
BTW Ive been to Prague this summer.
Anyway, I have almost finished 1st reading, only anticancer and some endocrine drugs left. I have started doing qbank, done 80 q's. i got 74% and 77% correct. weak points-some topics from CNS and ANS. I shall start 2nd reading by doing CNS.
Plan for the weekend is to finish 1st reading, do FA and do more tests. 2nd reading starting from Monday.
Next subject is going to be Biochemistry. Will stick by Kaplan LN. Planning to start from Oct 30. 2 weeks should be enough for biochem/genetics. 2nd half of Nov- Anatomy.
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 93
Posts: 1,215
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Hello Eddie !
So how are you doing ? With the speed you are reading , I can only imagine, you are sleeping with the books.  For sure you will be ready in April, taking exam with great confidence !
Yes , I'm originally from Slovakia, but I grow up and matured in Prague , the place where I got my medical degree! Oh , how much I love that city . Even today , when the people ask me , where am I from . I reply ''Czechoslovakia''. To me is like , we were never separeted.
So take care , let's keep those wheels rolling !
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| -Eddie-
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Hi GoodGirl,
I'm doing fine. I wasover 2 days off, had to help my wife with her work. I've started 2nd reading on Wed evening and got dvds from a friend so now reading and listening. Done kinetics/dynamics, ANS (those graphs...though!) and currently doing CV. I have to say, dvds are really helpful in understanding the concepts.
And how are you doing, when are you going to finish biochem? Is it that tough? Im planning to start biochem next week. Oh, and are those K dvds helpful for biochem?
BTW, nice avatar!
Take care, neighbor
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 93
Posts: 1,215
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Hello,
The Biochem. is not as tough , I can understand it , that is not a problem. Just the proces of memorizing and recolling is not easy, for sure is very lengthy ( in my case ).II read & read , it seems I'm getting it , than I close the book and my brain is like a empty space. And I get easily distracted , I always think what I have to do , did I forgot anything? You know, my husband ( army guy ) is deployed till next april . And I'm taking care of my son ( he is pretty demanding boy , I have to tell you ).....
From where did you study Biochem. ? I have Kaplan as a main sorce , but I found myself often peeking into Lippincott's , what is much better written. The dvd-ies are fine, they make me always sleepy. The guy sounds pretty monotonously to me . You are right , they put things into perspective. What I know, Kaplan notes are suppose to be done with Dvdies . They are complementary .
Have a nice weekend!
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| Ewa
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 48
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Hi Eddie!
Wow, you're really working hard! I'm from Poland, too, but I study in Germany and I'm not done yet w/ med school.
I was aiming for May of 2007, but now that I saw your prep plans, I'm not so sure... I started by reading robbins basic pathology 3 days ago, my plan is to follow up with BRS path. I was hoping 1 reading of robbins and 1 reading of BRS would do it, then I'd do the q's and if necessary read over BRS. I'm also listening to Goljan's lectures and will go through web path.
I don't have that much time every day because of my regular classes, I can study for about 3 hours daily and the whole day on the weekends.
Well, just wanted to share.
Good luck, I'll keep glancing into your journal!
BTW where in Poland did you study?
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| -Eddie-
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Czesc Ewa,
I think May 2007 is a reasonable date. My friend did it in 4,5 months, passing his 4th year exams in the meantime. It depends mostly in your attitude to step 1. Stick to this date and do all you can to be ready for May. It must be your highest priority matter during that time! Everytime something distracts you, say to yourself that everything you do other than studying kicks out what you have already studied! It helps me, so may help you.
As for Robbins Basic Path, its your choice and it depends how much you remember from your school ( I assume a lot, since you're a med stud) but I wouldn't recommend it as a primary review book. Its a text book which should be used as a complement of difficult topics. Especially that you don't have that much time!!
My recommendation (and my friend who passed step 1/2 with 97/98) is BRS Path as many times as time will allow, Goljan audio, FA and q's q's q's....
Try doing some q's after you will get through some topics to see if you're on the right track. This will help you most.
Good luck, Ewa. Devote to this matter, never give up, always think optimistically, try to get to like what you're reading and enjoy learning. And ace the boards in May 2007!!!
Eddie
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| -Eddie-
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GoodGirl, I didn't study Biochem as yet, this will be my next subject. My plan is to start Biochem between Oct 2-4.
I am also going to read from Kaplan LN. I've heard its the best of Kaplan series. And dvds, and FA.
BTW 1st month of studying is past. Done Patho and like 90% of Pharm.
For November- Biochem & Anatomy. If time will allow, will start Micro.
You know, I really enjoy studying for Step 1. And I have a strong support from my family. Life is beautiful!
Eddie
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| Ewa
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 48
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Czesc  !
Well, I started reading the Robbins, because I don't really feel confident in Path and if I want to do well on the boards I'll just need to learn it over. I haven't registered for the exam yet, so it was more of a guess to take it in May, but if I don't make it till then, I might just as well go for July or August, that's not so bad. I still have 2 more years of med school, so I can still be flexible, time wise.
Microbiology is also my weak point, our exam in the med school was too easy, I didn't study too much for it but still ended with a good grade... so here's the outcome...
I feel confident in Pharma and Biochemistry, those are my two strongest subjects, followed by Physiology. Anatomy needs revising, but it's not that difficult, I guess.
Well, I'm going back to Path. I might listen to one of Goljan's lectures tonight, I just love him!
Good luck with your studying, I wish I had your motivation!!!!! My friends are not as supportive, they usually try to convince me to go out with them instead!
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 93
Posts: 1,215
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Hello Eddie
thanks for stopping by in my journal. For sure November will be productive month! What else can we do during the winter ? Just study as well as we can ! Nice avatar.
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 93
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Long time to not hear from you . That means you must really study hard and just doing fine. Keep it up, buddy !
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| -Eddie-
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Well, I've finished Pharm yesterday. I managed to read it 3 times and do all the questions. My aim was to know Pharm enough to be able to review the whole subject in 3 days. What it sufficient, guess I'll see in Jan (my next reading)
Biochem+Genetics is next, will try to do it in 2-3 weeks. Kaplan LN as usual.
I'll have 2 days off this week , just don't know exactly when.
Hope you're doing fine, GoodGirl. Steadily, every day one step further. Take care,
Eddie
Edited by -Eddie- on 11/06/06 - 11:16 PM
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| -Eddie-
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Posts: 15
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I've finished biochem 1st reading. Planning to read it once again and do some tests by Monday. Will start Genetics next week.
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