goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
Well that was it. It's been 2 days since after my exam & I feel sooo crappy, physically & mentally. I'm just thankful that I'm just getting sick now , actually I felt it coming after the 3rd block of my test.
Read on my honest opinion about the exam but remember I am just an average Joe who tried to squeeze the best in me til the test.
Night before my test, I was still sudying til 10:30PM. I was frantic
on some of the physio stuff from nbme & UW that I never get to understand. I was oozy so I decided to stop & went to bed at 10:45-11:00pm. I woke up at 1:30 am & luckily went back to sleep after turning & tossing for 1o mins. maybe.
Woke up at 5:30 am, my hubs cook something for me & made coffee( BTW I always do this in the am but for some reason he did
it that day ) I preapared my lunch & my kids lunch & snack, prepared clothes for school, made sure everyone's alright before hitting the door.
All the way from home to the test site I was praying & talking to myself & God that hopefully i will get easy blocks or doable blocks not out of this world pool of q's.
I was early at the center so I studied some more in my car, scanned the topics I'm confused w/ like Micro(dsDNA,ssDNA, Rna viruses) & even looked at brachial plexus in my poor FA.
Block 1, 2, 3= doable, I had lunch after block 3
Block 4- hard & the left side of my throat starting to hurt, I can't keep still in my chair anymore. I took a break & drank my energy drink & had half of my snickers chocolate.
Block 567- it's okay. If I said okay it means 50/50.
My exam consisted mostly of Patho, Physio & Pharma, maybe about 60-65%. The rest were equal distribution of Biochem, Behavioral Science ( I think I got lots of these!), Micro. Not much of Anatomy& Genetics. I can remember more than few Immuno & Embryo.I think these are the doable q's that killed me. I know the answer but I can't remember. So I was dwenked on that.
In Patho, in FA there were 6 q's from the vignette that were very high yield, hypothyroidism, hyperchol, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, DMD, fat emboli & Pneumonia.No tumor markers, no brain tumors
but lots of blood dyscrasias q's.Endo & Hema were HY!!
In Physio, lots of increase , decrease stuff that I was dwenked on.
I can't believe it.no EKG tracing,lots of renal , esp. the hormones & GI secretory products. KNOW these very well.
Micro, I said I studied the viruses DNA & RNA in my car bec. I am always confused with these I remember there was only 1 q about it so I don't know if that was good or bad. I may said it's good.
In Pharma, MOA of drugs as always, hard drug interactions bec. the q's were in forms of graphs ( DWENKED!)!! I am soo mad. Now it's getting me. A lot of anesthesia drugs also. My hubs an Anesth.& we were always joking about Succinylcholine & there's a q about it.I don't remember any q about lung volumes.
In Neuroana, study visual field defects,spinal cord lesions in FA!!!
Again dwenked..I did not see circle of willis. Gross Ana, I studied brachial plexus but it did not come out. Embryo there were q's on female & male genitalia.
In Biostat I had 2 calculations, MMM & Stroke vol. I did not have time to calculate SV.
I know guys out there who would get a perfect score w/ my exam q's but I felt I am not sure about it. I was blinked & dwenked. I mean there were few q's that I can't believe were very easy but there were lots & lots of q's that I was dwenked on. I shared my experience NOW because I don't think i still have the nerve later on if I don't make it but believe me if the result would be positive I would be WOOO HHOOOIING all over this forum but my chance is not 100% sure or even 80% or even 70% sure. I don't know.
I regret of doing nbme sooo late during my prep. UW helped me a lot but the q's were very difficult. I don't even remember if Kap Q Bank helped me bec. I finished that 1 mo. before my test. Honestly... read your notes or FA during your last week bec. that would help a lot.
This has been a long post, pardon me but as always, telling you all how I went through made me feel better. I wish you all the success in your review & I hope that one day I don't have to take this exam again. i would even settle for 75. I think w/ this test I gave my best & it's all up to HIM up there now who will decide if my best that Im always talking about is good enough.
As you read this.. pls. pray for me...
|
| elias
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 21
|
I hope to have a 99. I have not post my experiece yet, as i want to get the results first. And then i will post it for sure. Overall, i had the same experience with you..
Can you tel me what were your scores in aplan, UW, NBME?
Thanks in advance
|
| asha kamat
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 101
|
Hi! goodyear,
You have done a great job taking this exam along with other chores! I am a mom too and definately understand that it is not easy to balance all the things. SO CHEER UP! relax , because you have studied hard for your exams and now it is time to relax. and as you said it is'him' who will make the final decision, just pray and keep yourself calm. will definately pray for you.
good luck with your scores.
|
| fruity
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 75
|
thx for sharing goodyear and goodluck for the score
|
| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
|
Good year,
You did a great job of taking this test with all the responsibilities. Even studying for the test with a family is hard, let aside taking the test in real. I am studying with the kids and household chores and do not know how will I do it.
I appreciate your courage and wish you success with high score.
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
|
| klimt
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 605
|
It's simply amazing how some of you can be moms and wives and competitive test-takers at the same time! Congratulations goodyear, I'll pray for you, may God bless you with a big score!
___________________
Traveler, there are no roads. Roads are made by walking.
|
| goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
Thanks guys. This forum keeps my sanity all the time.
See elias, you're the one I was talking about who would get a perfect score w/ the blocks I got. GL to you.
thanks fruity for your support all the time.
my comoms asha kamat & unique1, Thanks. As always family has always been our priority even in times of exam stress but we can manage. My other kid asked me the night after my exam " So what will you do now Mom?" I said i'll study again. "Again"
"Yeah again & it's for step 2" I said that bec. they knew I have been studying for step 1 so I just don't want to disappoint them. But I know back of their minds there will be more days of not being able to stay longer in their rooms every night for more stories, not being able to add more extra curricular activities, not being able to go out often w/ Mom on weekends, not being able to read books w/ them.. lots of little things we think little things but to them it's a big deal. for some reason Dads can't do that. No offense to dads but it's different w/ us. Funny bec. my hubs has to take off from work & he will be the one to drop off & p/u kids at school & when I got home he looks tired just for 1 day. I'm just thankful he's pushy I mean supportive plus he cooked when I got home from my exam.
well klimt I read your exp. the day or 2 days before my exam & tell you the truth got a kick & boost from it. GL to you too.
Again, thanks guys for making my day better..
|
| goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
One impt. point : After you take your NBME exam go through all the q's that were posted here in the forum. So it's best to do your nbme a month before your exam.
Some q's from the real exam were taken from nbme. exact q's.
hope that helps.
|
| fruity
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 75
|
hey goodyear , now is the time for u to make your kids feel sooooooooo special and also that momi has alllll the time in the world for them .............u guys have a blast 'coz u deserve it ........just don't think about anything and then after the break , u can get started with step 2 .
also , i wanted to ask u if u felt like kaplan was sufficient for the exam , along with goljan . did u take the usmle world , which of the two , kaplan or UW was more like the real thing ?? do u think there is need to do the ct's and mri "s , likr specially , what about slides ?? i know thats a lot of questions but now that u have gone thro the tunnel , u have to show us the way .!!.........my exam is close and i'm scared like hell ...........plzzzzzzz do reply
|
| step12006
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 183
|
I was waiting for your post .Somehow i feel deep inside that you are going to make it with good scores .You worked hard enough .All my prayers with you .Go have a blast now .I miss spending time with my daughter so much .Can't wait to get it over with and be on the other side .
Have fun with the kids and all the best !!
|
| goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
fruity just based on my review I think Kapqbank helped me but not as much as UW although I have not finished UW, I think I had 30% left but it teaches you how to think on a 3 step approach. UW was difficult & I just found out about it like a month before my exam & people said you have to finish Kaplan qbank & UW then do nbme. That's what I did but i regret it bec. I read the UW explanations also & took me ssoooo long to finish it bec. you're not only learning from the q itself but also from the explanations.I ran out of time in finishing nbme , i did not have enough time to work on my weak area based on the result. I don't know which one is more like the real thing, all I know is UW
makes you panic & let you study more bec. it's hard & you'll freak out if you get 48% at first. CT I had that in my exam, like subdural hge. but you'll be able to answer it from the q stem. I don't remember any MRI but some slides of blood & gross picture of liver & GI ( esophagus, int.). Spend time w/ the pictures in FA & UW has some .
I think that we can't study everything esp for a short time & old grad like me so just
study the high yields emphasized by Goljan & 1st page in FA as you start each topic.
I also read mitty's exam exp & kind of followed it. You'll see lots of credible advices here so chew some of it. Good luck in your review.
|
| Nan
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 159
|
thanks for sharing goodyear and goodluck for the score. may God bless you with a big score! Have fun with the kids !!
|
| smal
Forum Guru
Topics: 140
Posts: 727
|
wow,thats gr8.
detailed ,luved reading it.will be going trough the same things in month.
good luck on ur result
___________________
remedy for weakness is not brooding over it ,but thinking of strength.
|
| keepgoing
Forum Guru
Topics: 64
Posts: 1,708
|
happy to see finally u r done with ur exam!congratulations !goodluck for scores buddy!
___________________
"chhak de phhatte"
|
| reachgoal
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 14
|
hey goodyear,felt as if someone was talking about my exam experience.Had exactly the same questions like u and also made silly mistakes in the easy ones.its the easy ones which come back to haunt me at night.feel miserable about them.just want to pass.would u give me your e mail id so that i can contact you.
|
| rome
Forum Senior
Topics: 1
Posts: 26
|
hey goodyear any goodnews yet?
|
| goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
not yet rome.. still 2wks post test. Thanks for asking.
reachgoal check ur pm...
|
| reachgoal
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 14
|
thanks.i wrote a reply to u too.bye
|
| goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
My God the waiting is killing me softly..... I pray that the I'll also feel the "excitement" they're talking about once you passed a step.
Good luck to us all!!
|
| step12006
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 183
|
I hope you get the best score ever .Thanks for encouraging me and just being there to help .God bless you .
|
| reachgoal
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 14
|
hello goodyear i passed!!!!!
|
| mytime
Kick my butt!
Topics: 39
Posts: 3,173
|
GOODYEAR I'm looking fw. to ur passing.wish u all the luck in the world.
|
| goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
Hey Thanks guys. I was blinked!! Barely passed but it's okay. If my best was up to it only it's okay. I am still blessed. Now I have to study real hard in step 2. There's soo many to study also & family activities esp this holiday so i hope I do better in s2.
I wish you all the luck hardworking fellas!!
|
| goodyear
Forum Guru
Topics: 16
Posts: 409
|
One thing: I really did nbme soo late in my review for step1. It should be a month before so you will have enough time to study your weak areas a lot. This forum has lots of vgood advices & I wished I have found this site earlier.
A month before my exam I read that there was UW in step 1 so I did that frantically but it helped me a lot. Explanations were vgood. But I tell you 1 month is not enough to do it esp for a busy MOM like me. I gave my best shot & at night all the aches & back pains comes out but I try my best to stay awake in front of the computer just to finish UW. Pains comes out when you're stressed & you feel like YOU have to DO IT!
But when you take your time & tell yourself just to study routinely for 5 hrs every day for 6 mos. I think that's no stress at all. But what I did was crammed all my time, studied unevenly, sometimes 3 hrs. sometimes 9-10 hrs everyday & seldom I don't get enough sleep at all. It's bad. With the latter I get easily irritated & it's not good for my family esp if I'm already yelling at them for no apparent reason. I would feel guilty afterwards. Is it worth it that I am still studying?? I think it is. MY husband always tells me I don't have to anymore since he's already one & making lots of money for the family but I am doing this for myself. I know I can do it & I did it ( I passed!) Guys my passing is all hard work! I have shed soo many tears & I have asked GOD a lot of favors already but passing this exam does not end here. I know there will still be more challenges to come & I have to be ready for it.
Anyway, just work hard!!! Do UW & Kaplan Qbank, Qbook. Understand the explanations very well. I still get hangover fr step1. What a GLAUX!!!
MOST ESP. Pray!! & BELIEVE that you can do it. Don't think that it's because we're MOMS we can't do it. It's a lot of sacrifice I tell you. PLUS you must have a WILL that you still LIKE what you are doing, that is studying all day looong... all night loong.
Good luck everyone!
|
| rome
Forum Senior
Topics: 1
Posts: 26
|
congratulations plz check your pm
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
