DanVitor
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 34
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Hello everyone!!!
I'm IMG from former Yugoslavia. Graduated in Jan 2005. Done my civili service, almost done with my internship in my home country...
I hope my experience will help someone as I found this forum of tremendous inspiration and constructive info!
I've started my preparations in May 2005 but that was just collecting the books and reading here and there. Serious preparations started in September 2005. So, I prepared this exam for 15 months. That is too long, but I did like that. I was really weak in anat and biochem, so it was like preparing it all over again. And I did have no info that anat is not that high yield. So, have to say I lost 5 months in anat. I would like to emphasise this, coz in country anatomy is so important. I don't say it is not important for USMLE Step 1, but you really don't need to know all that details. Prepared from Gross Anatomy by Chung and was so sceptic that anat is onlu 500 pages. But, for exam, you don't need so much of anat... Learn from my experience.
Biochemistry was another long prep area. Did Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 3rd Edition.
In February 2006 started BRS Physiology by Linda S. Constanco, 3rd Edition. Very nice book, did it in 3-4 weeks with my civil service. By the way, I was doing civil service every afternoon Mon-Fri from Jun 2005 to March 2006. Had 2 months off. From March 2006 had whole day...
March 2006 and April 2006 BRS Pathology by Schneider i Szanto, 2nd edition. Had guests, so they interferred with my studies 
May 2006: Medical Microbiology & Immunology Examination & Board Review. As everyone says: best Imuno overthere! Micro is detailed, but it was worth coz I've got asterisk 
June and 1st half July: Pharm: Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews 3rd Edition. Went to wacation during that period, too.
Then started my second reading. Did Behavioral Science only for 3 days. Only once. In August. Did very bad on Kaplan Qbank in BS (50%). Then read very cerafuly explanations and improved my performance. Got asterisk too in BS
Set test date for October 19th.
Finished 2ng reading by the end of September.
WAs doing Kaplan QBank since August. First started with 60-70%. Then, by the end of September was around 80%. Did 67% of QBank with cumulative 79%
Then found out about USMLEWORLD QBank Step 1 and was terrified that I'm less than 4 weeks before my exam and have that hard USMLEWORLD QBANK in front of me. Kept my self alive and with God's help started USMLEWORLD QBANK. Did something around 75% of questions with cumulative score 79% (spoiled in last week when I was doing rest of the questions just to see answers - I don't recommend that coz that made me very anxious!!!)
Did NBME Form 1: got 790 (265). Knew some questions from forum. But have to admit that this was fairly predictive.
In last two weeks done 3rd reading. This is a must. Burned out twice, and on those days couldn't study anymore.
Went to Zagreb, Croatia to take exam. Was praying a lot. On the day of exam felt like I don't know nothing. Don't be scared, it is normal. But was confindent that God will answer my prayers.
Exam was just ok. There were some questions that were really tricky, but generaly, questions were pretty straight forward. Lot of physio. Lot of histo. By the way, I've read HY Embrio in 5-6 days and performed that very well. But already knew much of it from Chung's Gross Anat.
Break time is just enough. In 2-3 blocks had time problems, but finished all the questions.
I would put it like this:
Block 1: Easy
Block 2: Moderate
Block 3: Moderate
Block 4: Moderate-Hard
Block 5: Moderate
Block 6: Moderate-Hard
Block 7: Easy
Final word: Felt like overprepared in some areas and kind a weak in others(histo + genetics). Yes, there was a lot of genetics. Just read little bit of Jorde.
It is doable, as everyone says. So, take your pace, feel that you can do it and pray, pray, pray. That will give you peace of mind that you need so much in order not to freak out. Because this is really BIG exam.
Hope this helps!
If you have any questions, I will be glad to help.
Once more, THANK TO GOD WHO BLESSED ME SO IMMENSELY!!!
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| malkut
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 93
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Congrats
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| drfax
Forum Elite
Topics: 21
Posts: 233
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Millions congratulation, I'm so happy for you, your score is awesome.
Please , have you went throgh First Aid, I mean what did for last review as a collection of high-yeild topics...
Thank u in advance
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My best friends are these Gentlemen :Why & How.
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| drpkaur
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 808
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congrats.
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| zenith
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Congratulations!!
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| DanVitor
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 34
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Thank you all for your kind words!
drfax: Thank you for reminding me to say something about First Aid. I have that book, but haven't used it much. It is overrated. I done my books well, so just went through all of them in 2 weeks. Yes, it was devastating, I was sick one morning, couldn't study whole day, but I just had to refresh my dear books
Used First Aid for Patho slides, used also WebPath questions for a while, but not much, just when I was sick of my reading... Used First Aid also to supply holes in BRS Patho (e.g. brain tumors, Neurofibromathosis type II). Just went quickly over it... And yes, used it to choose my literature! It is very good for that purpose!
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| tessa g
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 8
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Hi Dan
Congratulations
Thank you for posting your experience.
It looks like you had a very thorough preparation.
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| drfax
Forum Elite
Topics: 21
Posts: 233
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thank u DanVitor, this is exactly like me , I don't like it too much as many people say about it, I use it just for orientation and not miss big things and then put it away,
that was helpfull,
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My best friends are these Gentlemen :Why & How.
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| lilla
Forum Senior
Topics: 27
Posts: 155
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thank you for your sharing. I have a question for you. how do you think the real exam is similar to kaplan Qbank or nbme or UW? I am doing UW right now. my exam is 18Dec. thank you in advance
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| DanVitor
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 34
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Lilla, I had the same question. NBME - take at least one form, it is highly predictive if you haven't open NBME questions on this forum.
Kaplan - good for review... Too simple style of questions and to picky. If you know your books, then Kaplan is ok to sort your knowledge. But UW is right stuff to face you with the challenge of real exam. Do it, and I believe you'll be fine! After UW there are good chances that you will feel that Step 1 is not so complicated. That is my experience. Read explanations, it is very important and useful!!!
What is most similar? >>> Depends on exam you get... But UW will give you best chances for worst exam option, which is a goal of good preparation Don't miss at least one NBME!!!
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,428
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Congratulations on such a great score .
Did you listen to Goljan audio ??
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| lilla
Forum Senior
Topics: 27
Posts: 155
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thank you so much! your advice clear my mind. now I know what I need to do. actually, I already took nbme form 1 one month ago. got 560. I am just wandering whether I need to take another one( form2) or not? I already did form3 and form4 from download. how about your opinion?
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| DanVitor
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 34
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Thank you again for you nice words...
unique1: No, I didn't have Goljan audio, learn about it to late! But, if you have time, it would be great to take it and listen those lectures!
lilla: I've heard that Form 2 is much easier then Form 1. I only took Form 1 3 weeks before exam. I think that you should take that form only if you feel down about your exam. But, if you are doing well with UW, then it's not a big difference to take or not take in my personal opinion!
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| klimt
Forum Guru
Topics: 27
Posts: 605
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congratulations!
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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 857
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Congratulation
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| MRMAVERICK
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
Posts: 749
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congrats
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| mleguy06
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 59
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Congrats on your grand success
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| Diego Casali
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 234
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Congratulations, DanVitor!
Thank you very much for sharing your experience.
Good luck for Step 2 CK.
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| 26malik
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 429
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Congratulations.
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There is always hope
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| DanVitor
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 34
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Thank you!!! Good luck in your preparation!!!
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| dr_sm
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 10
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congrats man!
good luck 4 ur step 2.
give me some advice to improve my preparation bcz i m in 60s in qbank.(2nd read)
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| DanVitor
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 34
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Thanks!
You should know your text very good. That's only secret for Kaplan QBank. But don't be depressed if you got a lot of tiny microbs you don't know. And take only questions for divisions you read 2nd time!
Good Luck!
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| jam
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 27
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congratulations doctor!!! i'm very happy for you!! wow it's my dream to get high in the step1.... well, i need to actualize that dream;p
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| SaadMaq
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 15
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way to go Danny.......good luck in step2
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| drbcshah
Forum Elite
Topics: 48
Posts: 227
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please post your important topics depending on your exam
High yield topics
thanks
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