mechanisms
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 6
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Hi Everyone,
My first of many posts hopefully. I plan on taking the Step in the Last week of July. I am taking kaplan right now.
I need advice, I have very difficult time memorizing things and wanted to after reading many posts from this website, what people consider a "First read" of kaplan to mean?
Is reading for understanding or for memorization. For instance, I read a page and close the book, after 15min don't remember anything. That is why I am having trouble with kaplan.
I was an average to above average student for four semester in caribbean medical school and my last semester was horrible, I have been getting below average in everything. I believe that has brought down my spirit tremendously and now Step 1 seems impossible to me. My aim is to work hard and get a 220.
Anyway, here is a scale of subjects from strongest to weakest.
Physiology > Genetics > Epidemiology > Biochemistry = Anatomy = Histology > Pharmacology > Neuroscience >> Microbiology = Pathology
Please suggest, how I should start my study and what my time line should be. As well should I watch kaplan videos again or just focus on the kaplan books.
Thanks a lot.
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
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Do the Kaplan Videos with Notes twice
Use Goljan Audios, Spiralbinded notes n HY 36pgs n Rapid Review For Pathology
On Ur 2nd read Incorporate the notes With First Aid n Kaplan MedEssentials.
If U can Afford n for USMLE WORLD n Kaplan Qbank together. in ur 2nd read.
Use High Yeild Notes for Anatomy ( Gross, Histo, Embryo, Neuro)
Go thru Everyone's Exm Experiences it will give u a Fair idea of wht most ppl think.
Work On Ur Concepts n Nothing Else.
Use Ganong for Physiology, Robbins for PAthology, Katzung for Pharmacology as Reference Books.
Ur First Read shudnt Take u more 3.5 mnths if u study atleast 12hrs/day. 2nd read under 2mnths.
Target is to build up speed of reading doing almost 30-40 pgs a day n redoing them again n again.
It wont happen unless u dont make ur concepts. U can Easily Convert the DVDs into Audios by Converters n Transfer them into ur iPod or Mp3 player so that u can do it while u r at school.
Different ppl have different strategies Do that Wht WORKS FOR U.
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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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| mechanisms
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 6
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Hi,
Your plan is very detailed, however I only have little less than 4 months to write the exam, my school requires me to write it in this amount of time.
Another question is...
is it more important to do questions questions questions or going over the kaplan notes?
thnx
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
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My Plan Gives a complete break by break view how u use it is upto u
I wud Say Concepts, Concepts,Comcepts and Concepts KLN N ALL QBs go hand in hand,
The Rest is upto My Friend AS U hold the Key To UR OWN FUTURE.
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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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| Feyza
Forum Guru
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yes teh Qs ARE very important in my opinion !!! on my behalf...readin the notes 5 times or studying with Qs ? I prefer the Qs bc I never forget that way and I never lose time on stupid details when I get the point with the Qs 
good luck
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O my Lord! Open my chest for me ( grant me self-confidence ) and ease my task for me.Ta-Ha 25-26.
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| ieltsforall
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 72
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hi i agree with concepts if not believe on concepts then i think it is better idea to take any software and then go to the neurosurgery department and put it into frontal lobe of left cerebral hemisphere and start installation and best the exam believe me i m joking okkkkkkkkk well my plan is to do kaplan lecture notes and make a solid concept well still i have not kindly pray for me but make concepts and cramming those things like micro embryo ooo hhh in which cranial nerve sound ooo lalal and most probably KAPLAN MEDESSENTIALS is also a good choice if u have done kaplan lecture notes not before plzz and first aid and start to do question and q bank and usmle world may it helps thanks
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ieltsforall
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 654
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feyza.basoglu wrote:yes teh Qs ARE very important in my opinion !!! on my behalf...readin the notes 5 times or studying with Qs ? I prefer the Qs bc I never forget that way and I never lose time on stupid details when I get the point with the Qs good luck
Look At a simple Question Recently posted by a Member on PTH its a Simple concept but if asked in a Twisted way which they normally do then it becomes a Out Of this WORLD question ppl talk abt. the only reason its out of this world is that they ask u little thing which is embbed in the tiny incy whincy little details that we normally tend to skip, then trying to recall the detail in UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE N STRESS IN ONE MIN is lot to ask so yes Questions do help u a lot but if ur concept is weak to begin wiht u wont be able to make an educated guess or go thru the process of exclusion. both the ways help to bring down the probability of gettting wrong by 50% which is a lot so think again on ur choice or strategy before committing urself to it.
Edited by new_n_lost on 04/01/07 - 07:58 AM
___________________
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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| rock
Forum Elite
Topics: 23
Posts: 305
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very good advice NNL...will help me too with my preparations...
one thing i have started to incorporate in my study style is that i review all the material i have read from the previous day and do a quick revision of it by listening to the lectures again and then move on to the next portion. this way i am able to assimilate more info than with just one reading.
i really want to do well on this exam and i hope i can. i am an old graduate and in a way it will be good for my confidence to do well on this exam. and i believe everyone sets out to do the same for oneself so good luck guyz !
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| rock
Forum Elite
Topics: 23
Posts: 305
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does anyone have HY for anatomy(gross+histo+embryo+neuro) in electronic format so that i can download them...i am looking for this and will be grateful if someone can give me the link. thanks guyz.
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| mechanisms
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 6
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Thank you, I appreciate the replies. I will do kaplan for now, slowly spend a week on each subject, then do the Qbook questions for the pertinent sections, This process should take me seven weeks if I spend a week on a book. During the weeks I will revise as well I can and after that time I will do the NBME exam to see where I am (If I am not getting a 220 at that point then, I will revise the kaplan again and take NMBE after it again. Once I get past this point, I will do questions for another 6 weeks supplementing my knowledge with First aid and kaplan along the way, most likely Qbank and Uworld(i have heard a lot of good things about this).
Inshallah, this is the plan, offcourse I will read the different subject posts on this web board during my downtime.
Hope this is enough.
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