Palaniappan
Forum Senior
Topics: 30
Posts: 148
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Hi all,
Atlast got my score-230/95..Exact score What I got in NBME..My first information for you is -NBME is the best predictor.First of all,thanks to anky,drplacebo,clozapine,me 007,new n lost ..and everyone who joined the discussions.
Next,a liitle bit for those who are working/doing research/studying master's degree and simultaneously preparing for STEP 1.One thing for sure is-IT IS DIFFICULT but NEVER IMPOSSIBLE.I am doing my master's degree and found it extremely difficult in the initial days when I came to US..Difficulties with food,part-time job,money and all those stuffs..Each and everyone of you preparing for step 1 simultaneously will definitely have untold obstacles one time or the other.STEP 1, in the midst of all these, is definitely doable.I still remember myself folding Burritos, making pizzas and reading first aid by the side when I was doing a part-time job in a cafeteria..All u need is determination ,no matter, what happens..you may be shattered in not getting results in your research, your professor might shout at you for mistakes for which u are not responsible,you might have dropped shrimp from your non-vegetarian roommate when you prepare for your vegetarian pannerr masala ...BUT...the bottom line is - This should not affect your daily schedule for studying STEP 1.
I have been working as a teaching assistant too for nursing students explaining the "basic ethics in research".This helped me a lot -Not i terms of Step 1 revision or something like that but financially.Of course..It robbed away my time but as I told you untold obstacles are definiite for all,especially those who are preparing simultaneously..I still remember my statement in the class -"Case control study is a group of yellow coloured colonies by staph.aureus"..That's what happen when you take calss after studying microbiology just before:-)
Next,A lot has been talked about preparation in this forum...I would like to shed few important points from my experience...REVISING With questions is the best method.I hear anky saying 'that's wat everyone do.Absolutely..the difference you could make is go back to the portion of the lecture notes and register yourselves with the point you got wrong ..It is definitely time consuming but I think that would definitely carry you into the nineties..
Last month : Only those questions you got wrong..It is not a bad idea to keep a note of points you got wrong..This would definitely help in your exam.These people don't test you the exact point but the exact Concept..Those concepts which has been registerd in your mind forever is not going to change and that is why you got few quetsions correct...Those questions which you got it wrong definitely needs some time.As many think,it is difficut to get those concepts in by reading only once..Go through your mistakes again and again..
Personally,I am not so comfortable with my score but I have nothing to complain in the midst of all these circumstances..My sincere suggestion is "Don't give up at anytime"...Press it on still it works for you..The biggest beauty in step 1 is you will definitely feel the difference when u put effort and when u don't!!
Please feel free to ask any questions
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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What can i say, Palani....i take my hat off
Congatulations! You did a great-great job! Hard work pays off...
And don't complain - your score is awsome and many would kill for it (hope not literally).
Looking forward to reading your posts in Step 2
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| shalini.ravi
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 153
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awesome score!!! am havin my step 1 on apr 26,thot of takin nbme on 26 march so i can improve my weak areas...but i definitely cant postpone my exam so i wonder whts the point....when shud i take nbme ideally palani?
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| shalini.ravi
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 153
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u can really improve on ur score in d last 1 month cant u?am finishing my qbank n hv 1 month o revise...hv notes for qbank n u/w but not done qbook....loads to revise...ihow shud i plan now?pls advise 
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| sany
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 120
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Hello Papaa..
Congradulations !!!!!.You are really one of those models who make a big difference!!! Outcome is only one parameter tp suceess but the journey deserves more appreciation.You have really made it and your message agiain is encouraging.May I put just one question?Have you taken some of the tests (NBME and the like)?and how is the correlation?
Thank you
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sany
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| Palaniappan
Forum Senior
Topics: 30
Posts: 148
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Thanx a lot babydoc...Will definitely look forward for discussion with you in step 2...Of coursde not on research ethics
Hi shalini..It looks a pretty good plan for you..I would suggest a small change..Try doing Q book for a week from now and take NBME 3 weeks before the exam and you will know where to improve..I am suggesting this because you will not have time or mood to do q book 1 week before the exam..That's what happened to me..So..better finish it first and then take on NBME..
Hi sany..thanx a lot...As I have said,I took NBME form 2 as advised by anky,drplacebo and of course what they said was exactly correct...I GOT THE SAME 95 IN NBME also...
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| me007
Forum Guru
Topics: 72
Posts: 803
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Congratulations, Palani!
The score is great!
Good job!
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 654
Posts: 6,112
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Buddy U have Proved to Us All n to Future Candidates that Its not that Difficult to finish off Step 1 amidst a financial n physical Rollercoaster n Still GREAT SCORES Truly Buddy. N btw ur panir masla  must be getting good do tell us the recipe of panir pizza i might try making it !!!!!!!!!!
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FORUM RULES-- Those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand. I get enough exercise just by pushing my luck --P4U World.." The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple."
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| Luckyall
Forum Guru
Topics: 11
Posts: 593
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Many congrats Palani ! Great great job ! Is very good to be multitasking, what can i say ? you'll surely see it by the outcome of your interviews
GL for the future !
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| tee40
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 117
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Hey Palaniappan congrats & thanks for sharing and the encouragement..good luck and God Bless with your step 2
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| shalini.ravi
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 153
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thanks a lott palani ,i will follow ur advice and for u now its d time to really celebrate...feels good to read ur experience n somebody who worked so hard really made it!!! awesome n wish u all d very best for stp 2!
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 100
Posts: 1,325
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Congratulations!!!!
Thanks for putting it nicely how imortant is revision in preparation! It is never bad to hear it again, espetially when you don't feel like going back to revise.....
Well enjoy your score and GL in future !
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| kingsof2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 113
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GREAT JOB!!! CONGRATS
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
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Congratulations palaniappan.
You are not happy with a 95 Wish you a 99 in step 2
Your story is so inspiring . I also fold Burritos and make Pizzas ,not for the customers but for my own kids, and listen to Goljan . So it means I should also keep my hopes high
How long did it take you to prepare for step 1 and how many hours a day were you able to put in?
Wish you all the best with your future steps.
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| spitmetal
Forum Guru
Topics: 25
Posts: 636
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When did you take your test???? February 20th??? Did you receive the score report in a usa address????
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| Palaniappan
Forum Senior
Topics: 30
Posts: 148
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Thanx a lot..To everybody..Wish u a great score in ur exams...
New_n_lost...U know..its very easy to make a pannerr Pizza..All u have to do is just think whatever u are making to be as u thought of..becoz most of the food stuffs I prepare in home are like that..Of course..learnt a little bit of cooking only after coming here..Nothing comes so delicious when u make something(even though others could not even taste it more than a second)
Well..Unique 1..I was able to put around 5-6 hours per day initially...and later during my winter break..I was able to study full time for a month..Total prep time was 7-8 months..with lots of interruptions...The biggest obstacle was not my part-time job but the most difficult thing was "Sas program" which I am supposed to learn compulsorily in my master's degree.
Hi spitmetal..Yeah..I took my test on FEB 20th and I received my score report to my US address...
To my PM's :My prep test score were :
Usmle World : 68% -Try to do it in timed mode.This was a wonderful toola dn I am sure this is definitely going to help you.
NBME form 2 : 560(95)..exact score.
My suggestion will be take the exam date first so that it will make you study and take NBME 2-3 weeks before the exam and you can still postpone it if you score less...
All the best
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| shwe
Forum Elite
Topics: 10
Posts: 419
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Wow,
Congratulation Palania. , what a good score. When you study full time, how many hr. a day you have put up.
Any suggestion re; which books, cd, dvd , Q material to use, a must, references, how many reads to books, dvd, Q & which one , how to prep in each subjects indetail please.
If you've already post, please link the thread here. Thank you.
I love the line the shrim drop into the vegetarian dish from non vegetarian room mate.
Really admire you, getting 95 while also in the school... master, doing research, working
off jobs. Your hard work, determination, motivation paid off. Please advice, how to get
that motivation too.
Wish you 99 in step 2.
All the best,
Shwe
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 438
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Hi everybody:
I hope u r all well and doing ur best to be sucsesful on exam. I am a junior of this forum, and I am recently reading your notes. Especially I was impressed by Palanipann and babydoc4usmle notes, they could be a good model of hardworking and dediecated people.Congragulations to them! I am sure that they would be ( or may be they r right now) two of best doctors in the world.
Dear freinds I just want to start prepering for step 1, but I am still in doubt about the books that I should provide. I prefer to begin with the more detailed, because I was graduated 12 years ago and I have forgotten most of basic science concepts.Can you guide me about the references?( I want to start with Biochemistry or Pharmacology)
And I have another question. I want to know about anatomy questions and how much should we know about anatomy for the exam?
Thank YOu
Wish the best for all
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| Palaniappan
Forum Senior
Topics: 30
Posts: 148
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Hi shwe..I didn't write about any of my preparation since a lot has been into this forum regarding preparation for each subjects and those posts were useful to me..Of course..Kaplan DVD's will be definitely useful.I would suggest you to listen to it after giving atleast a superficial reading through the books..Regarding Books : KAPLAN,KAPLAN and KAPLAN.I don't think u would need any of the other books..Once u do the qbanks u will know how depth KAPLAN is ..how many we might have missed in our first reading without giving much attention to most important points..For MOTIVATION-I am not the right person to advise you but still I will suggest u to go through GOOD GIRL'S first few pages in her journal-which made me alert whenever I was down.
Hi hedieh..Regarding anatomy-spend ur time usefully in neuro-anatomy and much less on gross..KAPLAN is more than sufficient..For CT use netanatomy.com.
I would suggest a short overview of preparation plan for step1.If this looks good to you,stick to it.
Kaplan -all subjects-First reading 21/2 months.Once you finished your first reading of every subject finish first-aid at the same time.
Kaplan-Second reading + Usmle World 50%...VERY IMPORTANT...I would suggest UW coz it is difficult and accurate.Take notes into your first aid .Try to do it in tutor mode .-11/2 months
Next...USmle world -remaining 50%...Do it in timed mode with questions from all subjects and 50 qs in a block....Don't spend too much time on reading only KAPLAN now..Go retrospective;y from UW and read kaplan..NO USE IN reading KAPLAN again and again without questions...1 month
It is really very difficult to use UW as a learning tool since we would be forced to assess our performance compared to others-That happened to me..Please use UW as a learning tool-Better said than done..Still,if you can't resist ur temptation,You could assess ur performance in UW as >60%-good going.Now ,take the date for Step 1.
Take NBME form 2,exactly 3 weeks before the exam....Are u getting 90+..?Good performance dude..you are almost there..Try to focus on weak topics in first aid and your notes and sure..u will be in 95+ in the finals..
All the best
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| sam27
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 124
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palanniappan thanks for the reply by the way did u do kaplan qbank what is your thought about kaplanqbank
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 438
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Dear Palaniappan, thank u very much for ur sechedule. I will follow your advices, plz tell me what do mean by 21/2 month or 11/2 month. I did not understand.
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Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
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| Palaniappan
Forum Senior
Topics: 30
Posts: 148
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Hi hedieh..I meant it will take two and a half months to complete that part and one and a half month for the next part(according to the above schedule),if you study full time...
Hi sam27...I did not do kaplan q bank and I would suggest you to do it if you have time or else UW is good enough..
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| dr.dream
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 25
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hello palaniappan,congrats for ur pretty good score.
i want to write step1 in july.so i have 3 more months to go.right now i'm finished with 1st reading of path,50%physio,and currently doing biochem and micro and immunology.i think i can complete my 1st reading by may 1st week.is d remaining time sufficient to revise the things along with questions?please do suggest me regarding my preparation.thank u in advance.
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| Ancylostoma
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
Posts: 642
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Palani..great job man....all this paneer talk make me want to pig out and get fat whil waiting for my score...Good luck you worked really hard !!
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| Ancylostoma
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
Posts: 642
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What was the mean and standard deviation on your test ? forgot to ask ...
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