proctalgia2
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 16
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Hi guys,
Big thank to the members of the forum( specially to Old IMG gang) for the support and motivation while I was preparing for the exam.
My score is 211=87.
To all those who are going to take the exam, my advise is to be mindful of your time. If not for the time the exam qns are not very hard. I got badly disoriented in time during the first block and in the end ran out of time and 5 qns just blindly marked even without reading the stem.
By the way I am an old med grad with a history of attending Medical school prior to 1990. So you all can do this.
I mainly read Kaplan notes + first Aid and did Kaplan Qn.
Good luck to you all
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| anishiva
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 71
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Congrats proctalgia!Good job
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| wgy64
Forum Newbie
Topics: 6
Posts: 9
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Your effort has been paid off, and wish you get good score in step 2!
Could you please share a little more how long have you prepared for the exam and what was your study pattern?
Thanks.
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| mytime
Go Marching in!
Topics: 40
Posts: 3,182
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YO PROCTALGIA ! U DID IT!  ANd hey ,Welcome back! The gang will be thrilled to here from u! GoODest luck ahead! 
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| bax
Forum Senior
Topics: 20
Posts: 193
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congratulations
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 20
Posts: 1,462
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Congratulations Proctalgia and welcome back .
Did you do UW too ? or only Kaplan q bank ?
Wish you best ( GOODEST ) of luck on step 2 and beyond .
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I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| aim99
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 156
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huge congratulations - you did great! all the very best for step-II.
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The intellect works with the greatest intensity when it works continuously; the more you do, the more you can do - Oswald Chambers.
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,714
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Hi Proctal,
Big Congratulation, that's why have not see you for a while, you're in serious study land & exm day . I used to follow your posts .
You sound so so young & still do, did not know you're not recent grad & is one of the senior grad like me, us.
Good grad, score folk.
Celebrate, then share the deatil subj wise of which dvd, audio, books, LN, Q, on line, offline, time, any repeats of them all or which and most importantly life & mentality advice of prep time, D day for all the old grad like all of us.
Wish you have a great score in all other steps too. 
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,714
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On behalf of Unique & MyTime. I try jumbo one, but did not appear this time.
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| acid
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 26
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HEY CONGRATS
AS AN OLD GRAD OF 2001 I ALSO FEEL GOOD TO C SUCH SCORE .U DID IT BOY .HOPE ALLAH WILL GELP U TO FINISH THE REST .
REGARDS
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| zolpidem
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 80
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congrats...
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| arlete
Attending in 2012!!!!!
Topics: 43
Posts: 3,060
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Congratulations.
Very funny name!
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Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 108
Posts: 1,514
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The huge applaud to you ! You did great.
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Prioritize & simplify
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 20
Posts: 1,462
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Shwe dear , thanks for the smileys.
Proctalgia , it would be nice to hear a little more detail from you. Thanks.
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| proctalgia2
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 16
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Thank u Guys, I am overhelmed by the response. As I told earlier you guys in the forum were the main motivation factor for me to embark on this journey.
yes Unique, I will be back with my exam experience soon.
Take care and Good luck.You all are on thr correct path
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| kykie
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 219
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Big congratulations!Looking forward to ur preparation tips.Pls were there alot of calculation q's on the exam? cos in q bank there were quite a few esp in pharm,but havent seen much in uword yet,though i'm not even halfway thru yet
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Believe in yourself
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| jaide
say wat!~
Topics: 18
Posts: 541
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congrats!!!
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God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference
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| proctalgia2
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 16
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My exam experience.
Hi friends, It is a pleasure to share my story with you. Hope it will help you all in some way or other.
I attended medical school prior to 1990s.When I came to USA in late 2005; I had worked as a family physician for over 15 years in Sri Lanka. With this kind of background, my knowledge in basic medical sciences was nothing but rudimentary.Infact I never entertain the idea of doing USMLE at this stage of my career.
However, my failure to find a decent job to the full satisfaction of my mind here in US forced me to rethink my strategies. While browsing the net in order to learn more about USMLE, I came across this forum and was amazed to see success stories of old medical graduates. This was a turning point for me. If they can do, why not me?
The other thing is even if you fail the exam, it is not going to make matters worse. Moreover, you will be adding one more years to your age by this time of the next year whether you do it or not.
Having gone through the writings of the colleagues in the forum, I learnt that the selection of study materials was extremely difficult thing. This is specially so when time is not on your side. So many things to read, but so little time to spare. Anyhow, in the end I selected following material as my main resources.
Kaplan notes
First Aid book
Goljan’s Path notes.
Kaplan Q book.
Kaplan Vedio
Goljan’s audio Path.
On average, I studied about 3-4 hours a day for almost 10 months. Needless to one must have a certain degree of self-discipline and do many personal sacrifices during preparation for the exam. Nevertheless, this should not be done at the expense your family. The support I got from my wife and kids was what kept me ticking toward my goal.
I read all Kaplan books (except pathology book) cover to cover three times. I always made it a point to do MCQs from whatever sources from the very beginning. Watched video lectures (Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Neuro, Physiology, Behaviour sciences after reading the relevant chapters.
For pathology, I read Goljan’s notes three times and listened to audio several times.Goljan’s notes are good because he covers other areas like immunology and biochemistry with clinical integrations in mind.
The FirstAid book was mainly used during last couple of months while doing the MCQs from the Kaplan Q book.
I wanted to do UW but did not have time. I had a collection of NBME QNS downloaded from various sites. I went through these Qns too, but not timed.
Now I feel that It is certainly good thing to do UW or NBME at least one to two month prior to exam. This way one can identify the areas that need improvement.
Practice the timing of the each block meticulously, because at the exam proper this experience will be a critical factor in deciding whether you reach upper 90s on the marking scale.
Most Qns in the exam were similar to what you see in Kaplan Q book. Nevertheless, there were some weird stuff in Genetics, biochemistry and immunology that I have never heard before. However, I can say many QNS were straightforward and simple. Nothing fancy if you have read the Kaplan books.
Therefore, folks this exam is doable and you can pass it. My opinion is that any one who has gone through the nasty experience of being tortured in a Medical School for over 5 years can survive the USMLE ordeal.
Once again a big Thank you to all the colleagues in the forum for having been a source of inspiration when I was on the verge of quitting.
Take care and good luck
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| CRUSHIT
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 15
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CONGRATS .....OLDKID here
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| inkspot
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 643
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congratulations its great to listen to and learn from your expeierence! all the best for step2 bro you can nail it ( its more clinical )
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89/92/CS/Step3 awaiting result/H1-J1/2005 grad/1 mo USCE/ 2 publication in home country/ 1 Research/volunteer work/
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| bax
Forum Senior
Topics: 20
Posts: 193
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congratulationsssssss
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| kingsof2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 147
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congrats
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 20
Posts: 1,462
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Proctalgia , thank you for your detailed experience.Good to see your pretty fall leaf back. Best of luck with the next steps.
Crushit , I had already guessed it were you with a new name . If you can still log in with your old name , please check your pm.
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I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| mytime
Go Marching in!
Topics: 40
Posts: 3,182
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| jole
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 314
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Congratulatios!!!All the best in the other steps.
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Never underestimate the power of prayer.
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