musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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Well, I received my score today. I did the oasis trick, found out that I passed, and I called a program to found out my score. I scored an 89 2 digit, i dont yet know my 3 digit because the secretary didn't tell me.
My exam experience
I have to keep it short because I dont remember it all. it was 3 weeks ago, and it seems a big blur to me. All i do remember is that for me the first 4 blocks was very easy. Like almost like someone was playing a joke on me with fake easy questions. It covered mostly IM, and its specialties(cardio, pulm, renal). Then the 5-6th block got a big tougher, but nothing i never encountered, but just required some thinking. Then the 7-8th block is where it got tough. I would say i had to make a few educational guesses on those two blocks, focused more on ob/gyne(my weaker subjects). i took breaks to keep up my endurance by eating snacks and such.
I felt good leaving the exam. Not as well as i did when i left step 1, but 75% good. I had gotten a 245/99 on step 1, and i felt that i would have gotten atleast a 92-93 on step 2ck. But thank god that i passed, and lets see how the match goes.
Here are my exam scores.
UW - cumalative % was around 60%, i first was scoring low to mid 50% to then 60's and a few 70%.
NBME form 1, 3 months before ---- 350
NBME form 2, 2 months before ---- 430
NBME form 3, 1 month before ----- 510
i read kaplan review books x3, Crush step2 x2, and FAstep2 x2. I did UW questions and wrote down all my mistakes and reread them before my exam.
hope this helps you guys, if you have more questions let me know. ill update this when i get my 3 digit score.
takecare,
mustafa
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| kykie
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 219
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salam!let me the 1st to say congrats.U have moved to the next step[i.e residency,interviews].wishing u all the best with interviews.I took my exam on the 27th. so I guess i have to wait till next week then.I pray insha Allah it'll b ok.
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,125
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conrats musali,
Good luck for the match.
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The Key to Succeed is Patience.
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| 2002tii
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 80
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Congrats. FYI an 89 will probably be between 219 and 221.
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| step12005
Forum Senior
Topics: 27
Posts: 122
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Congratulations and thanks for sharing the experiences.
One Q regarding Crush step2 and FAstep2. I have FA at hand but I am wondering whether it's good enough as a review book. Since you've used both of them, do you prefer one of them over the other or you'd rather have both of them finished to cover the whole picture? Thanks
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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kykie, robin082006, 2002tii, and step12005. thank you very much.
step12005 - people prefer crush or FA for different reasons. FA is a good comprehensive book, but it is very big and it goes into too much details. it covers everything. crush is just the basics and doestn cover everything, but it is a very quick read, you can probably read it in 2-3 if you spend all day reading it. whereas FA will take upto 4-5 days to read. it really depends on your personality and how you read books.
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| dr.sunshine0519
Forum Newbie
Topics: 7
Posts: 40
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Congrats! I am about to take step 1 in a few months so do u have anyy particular suggestions for me? since u did so well!
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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dr. sunshine0519 - its been almost 2 yrs since i took step1 so i dont know all the details. but ill tell you what i did.
1. kaplan live lecturs.
2. reviewed kaplan books x 3
3. first aid for step 1 x1
4. questions from qbook, qbank, nms, bss, blackwell, kaplan practice.
5. wrote down all answers to things i didnt know into FA
6, reread FA x3 after that.
then i was ready for exam. i did more questions, but i dont remembe what, i did roughly 6000-7000 questions.
takecare,
mustafa
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
Posts: 2,164
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congratulations musali. 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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| vanshita
Forum Guru
Topics: 23
Posts: 827
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Congratulation
GOOD LUCK for match
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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thanks alot guys, im currently apply for match, particularly in the chicagoland area. and let me tell you its really tough for an FMG especially in chicago. anyone else having a hard time getting interviews???
takecare,
mustafa
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| salsterz
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 10
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Hey Mustafa congrats on passing....could you tell me what form of nbme in your opinion was the closest to the exam? I have money to take only one and hence i asked.
also i feel that crush step 2 is very general and not as wholesome a coverage as First Aid. Did you feel it was adequate for your exam?
thanks!
Salman
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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salzterz --i took all of my nbme exam spread apart evenly, but i would have to say that either form 1 or 2 is the closest. i felt that form 3 didnt have enough peds and ob/gyn.
your correct, crush step 2 is very general and not a wholesome coverage compared to FA, but FA i think does the exact opposite and is very detailed. For my exam, i read both.
to the rest of you, keep studying, work hard, and god willingly all that you wish will come to you.
takecare,
mustafa
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| kingkong
Forum Senior
Topics: 29
Posts: 65
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hi musali,
could u please guide me.is it worth to subscibe to kaplan qbank in addition to usmleworld for step2 ck?do you think uw was close to your real exam.i am using kaplan lecture notes, ucv's by bhushan 2002, first aid 2005, kaplan qbook 2005, and in addition to this ofcourse usmleworld.now do you think this is enough to get above 85 percentile in ck?your advice will be highly appreciated.
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| huangbaobao
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 18
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hi Musali,
I am also at chicago area. i have heared it's really hard. what special are you applying? several of my friend ended up somewhere else last year. here is my email maybe we can exchange some information.
huangbaobao17@yahoo.com
lisa
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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kingkong - i would only do kaplan qbank if and only if you have finished UW and then redid your incorrect answers. if you still have 2 wks or more time, then do qbank. for me, UW was similar, but it wasnt as difficult. to be honest, i thought i would get 94-95, and i felt somewhat confident that i did get it. take nbme exams and see where you stand to get above 85 (2 digit score)
huangbaoboa aka lisa -- i applied to many programs because i know as a FMG that it is very tough to get a position. and i was right. i applied to 109 programs and i have only got 5 interviews as of last week. however as soon as i got my step 2 score i just got 2 more interviews. so 7 total. i want to say i got about 25 rejections and the rest have given me no response. so here is my specialities that i have applied to and in order that i would liek to go into
1. Emergency Medicine
2. Surgery (a PGY 1 spot so if i dont get EM, do one year and reapply to EM)
3. Radiology (my parents wanted me to apply so i did, not my priority)
4. Internal Medicine (if i get IM, then specialize in either cardio, renal, or GI)
5. Family medicine ( specialize in eitehr sports medicine or geriatrics)
im from chicago, and so i prefer to stay in chicagoland area, however if i need to move then i will move.
takecare,
mustafa
ps. lisa, you can PM me here, i will check if you want to talk in private.
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| truedeam59
Forum Elite
Topics: 29
Posts: 145
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Hey musali
Oasis trick said I passed also. I am waiting to have my score this week. I guess it will be high. Anyway thank you brother. I will get back to you as soon as I get the results
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| huangbaobao
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 18
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Hi Musali,
thanks for reply. As I know it is tough for FMG in chicago. But since you applied different levels of specialty I think you will get in. and you have good sores also. my friend last year was applying Radiology and trans only. so it was really hard for him. he only got one interview in chicago area. did you get any radiology interview? i think after you get certification you will have more interviews. but for those early match programs I know some of them have already finished interview. I am applying next year. want to figure out how the market it is in chicago i am living here also. one of my friend apply internal medicine this year get interview at sant francies hospital at evanston. this program is very friendly to FMG. did you apply? anyway good luck keep us posted!
lisa
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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lisa,
i did apply to st. francis and i havent hear of anything. i just got back from an interview at university of wisconsin EM program. im soo happy i got that interview. but here is my breakdown so far.
IM - SIU in spring field.
FM - St. joseph(chicago, offered PREMATCH), St. Mary of nazereth(chicago) Hinsdale, Christ(oaklawn), UIC at peoria, and lastly SIU in carbondale.
EM - UW(madison)
Radiology - none
Surgery - none
so its not too bad but i really htought i would be flooded with interviews due to being a US citizen, have a 99 on step 1 and with US clinical experience. but we will see what happens.
truedeam69 - i wish you the best. if you applied to residency programs this year they can look it up on eras for you. thats how i know what my score was, i still havnet recieved my scorereport.
takecare,
mustafa
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| huangbaobao
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 18
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Hi Musali,
Congradulation for you interview at UWisconsin that's a really good university and program. I will cross my figures and toes for u.
you have really good scores and plus clinic experience here. I would also think you will get much more interviews. one possible reason might be the late application. if you had all your scores before Oct I bet you will have tons of interviews. but you know what last year one of my friends only get one interview she got matched. she were telling me when she saw that magic email with "congradulation! you have matched" she must be the only one in this world actually know where she ended. all because she only had one interview. but that's ok!
I have did some research work here in the US without clinic experience and I am considering go back research after exam and see whether actually is working somewhere will help. what do you think about recommendation letters? and about radiology program is that really hard to get in or you do need some connection also?
one tip from friends who also applied late is call those programs you really interested to tell them you have finished all the exam and really interested in the program. maybe that will help. i will wish you all the best!
lisa
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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yeah, im pretty excited about Univ of wisconsin. i have a gut feeling that i would ahve been flooded with interviews if i applied with all my scores in. butg what can you do about that? nothing now. just pray and hope for the best.
research is always a huge plus, especially for people who have graduated from medical school and apply a couple of years later. you should get letters of recs from doctors that are in the US.
as for radiology, for a US graduate you must have the scores to get it. for an FMG you must have a huge connection. ie my friend got into cook county radiology program as an FMG, but his mother has been a radiologistg at cook county for 25yrs. so he got in that way.
i have called a few programs up, and they all told me that the interview slots are all full.
takecare,
mustafa
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| huangbaobao
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 18
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Thanks I will hope all the best for you!
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| MRMAVERICK
Forum Guru
Topics: 41
Posts: 733
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congrats best of luck for match
INSHALLAH u will match the pos u desire most
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| musali
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 76
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insha allah, i hope and pray the best for all of you on prep4usmle
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