naki
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 26
|
To Praying for a 99, I am in the same situation as uniques. An IMG, mother of 3 small children(2 to 5 yrs old) and been away from my studies for some time now, last time I studied any basic science subject was in 95. Until now, my schedule revolved around my children's. Study a subject for about 3 weeks, then something would come up, my child would get sick or something, and I would not pick about the book for the next month or so. So now I developed a back up plan, where I have 2 months of precious time to myself to prepare!
The story goes, took a Kaplan course in 04, live lectures, video's and books, excellent course, however, take the extended prep, instead of KMI, same thing, just paying more for KMI. After the course, I did not study, had my third child. In Jan 06, I decided to resume my studies, however, Just like Uniques situation, I felt like I was missing concepts!. Kaplan Books are good for a review, assuming that your basic science courses are still fresh in your memory.
I thought oh great! now I have to start reading Guyton all over again, which I started to do. One day, I was at my local library and I came across this one old text book for health care professions, called Human Anatomy and Physiology by Joan G. Creager, This might sound ridiculous but, I began reading it, and finished the book IN about a week and a half. Since we are MD'S, it should not take longer. I might sound weird, but while reading it, I was like oh, yeah I remember that and that, grant it, it is an easy text, for us doctors, however, my concepts kept coming back, I recommended the book to many of the old IMG'S at the Kaplan center, and they said that it worked for them, it was a lot faster than re- reading Robbins or the whole Guyton again for recalling basic concepts.
The bottom line is what we learned in medical school is stored somewhere in our brains, like old data, in a computer, but the problem is, how do we get this old data to work. Even If it means going back to Robbins or finding some obscure book like I did. Do what ever works best for you, to start remembering your concepts.
It's been over a year since I read that text, started preparing for my exam 3 weeks ago, going through Kaplan dvd's and books, I have to say with relief, I understand Dunn and I really do not have to go back to Guyton or that obscure text that worked for me, and that I do understand the concepts. hope this will help you. and wish me luck my exam is in 2 months. I just want to pass the exam, I had enough of studying and restudying my basic science subjects and if I pass I will share my story of success even with a lucky 3 digit score 0f 185.
|
| Feyza
Forum Guru
Topics: 48
Posts: 1,435
|
Naki !! I was like SHAME ON YOU FEYZA 3-4 months ago bc I was using wikipedia to remember the ABCs  nice to see someone feeling like me ! but it worked and I strongly suggest it to ppl like us...just type the thing in google and hit the wikipedia link among all what google gives you...especially the anatomy pix ..mol bio...cell bio...are great 
no more shame on me then 
___________________
O my Lord! Open my chest for me ( grant me self-confidence ) and ease my task for me.Ta-Ha 25-26.
|
| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 34
Posts: 2,211
|
First of all, thanks so much for that Naki. It was really not expected. When I started reading your post and realized that it started with something similar to my nickname I said to my self "Oh ! what did I do this time?!!".
Anyway, regarding your lovely post. It looks like your one of those super moms out there trying to do them all at once (momhood, MDhood and residencyhood!) . You, Unique1 and others ... oh yah and sss sss (she was pregnant when she took the exam!)... I know that it is extremely difficult but our situations are so much different. You said that the last time you have studied any basic sciences was in 95 ... well at then i was a little bit older than your children. O.K let me get to the point, my problem is that the system in my med. school is so different than many of the new programmes out there. In other words, the approach over here to the basic sciences is different than the approach in th US and other civilized countries (countries with newer systems). Biochem. for example, here they emphasize the chemical structures, formulas and pathways with out mentioning anything about the clinical correlations to that pathway. If they ever mention anything it would be the extreme minimum. Like oh yah they did say something about G6PD deficiency but you can tell immediatly that its not really the most important thing that they want you to know add to that all the deficiencies that have to do with those many enzymes in the different pathways, over here we just need to know them and if you remember on the exam to write them next to the arrows your doing a good thing but its not really mandatory. Our exam questions would be something like this: Q1: explain the anaerobic glycolysis. Q1: Drow the structure of testosterone and mention some of its functions in the body. ... O.K. ... i think you got my point now ... But in Kaplan its a whole different story ... they tell you not to really work on memorizing the formulas but understanding the clinical correlations of the enzymatic deficiencies and all that stuff. So, what am i supposed to do? Ans.: go study biochemistry all over again from the new point of view!!! So, ill have to throw away my books (we study from books written by our professors) and get some new books and do the thing all over again! Oh well, at least im learning something new and getting closer to my dream. So, thats what bugs me. Spending years on studying something then having to do it again with a new approach. I would rather do it right from the first time and that is exactly what im planning to do next year ... forget about the crapy school books ... get out the big text books + the high yields and do it right from the first time ... im sure that would effect my GPA but whats the big deal when you know that your doing the right thing?
Sorry for that long boring discussion ... May God be with you and guide you to whats best for you ... wish you the best on your exam (plz. aim for something higher than 185 you deserve it + do it for the little ones... ask them to pray for you each night) GL on your prep. Lastly, try to listen to Dr. Goljan more than Dr. Dunn (he can cheer you up much better!)
OMG!, thats the longest post i have ever written, I hope its not a real waste of your time.
___________________
2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ........ My Blog
|
| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 34
Posts: 2,211
|
Just for intertainment, here are some other biochemisrty Qs from ((real exams)):
Q: write the structural formula of acetoacectic acid. Explain how it is formed and how it is oxidized in the body.
Q: explain how palmitic acid is chaged to active acetate by bete oxidation. Calculate the ATPs produced.
Q: drow deoxy ribose and mention some of its chemical significance.
I dont know about your systems out there ... any of you reading this ... were your biochem. exam questions like this? how were they?
___________________
2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ........ My Blog
|
| naki
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 26
|
To Feyza: At first I felt like you, but, then I thought I had nothing to be ashamed of, because I have not studied these subjects in such a long time. I just needed something to get my brain going again, to start remembering what was once already learned in medical school. Thanks about the advice on google, I wish I had talked to you about a year ago, before I read that text, however, the text did help, and the bottom line is, use whatever works best for you to start recalling your concepts fast.
|
| naki
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 26
|
To Praying for a 99: Thank You and I totally hear you when it comes to Biocemistry. My med school had similar questions. However, I took Feyza's advice, googled on to Biochemistry on wikpedia, I only skimmed thru it and it loked like a good tool to refresh your memory for Biochemistry.
I have not yet, started to study biochem for USMLE, Plan to only spend 5 days on it, I heard it was lower yield than the other subjects. It is also probably one of my worst subjects.
Two weeks ago I bought biochemistry made ridicously simple, not bad, I skimmed through it , I think it helps you get a better understanding of biochemistry as a whole subject.
I also heard, that Rapid Review Biochemistry by Golijan is an excellent text, I plan to study from this book.
Biochemistry:
Concentrate on what enzymes lead to diseases.
Where energy is used in big pathways, and how pathways link to each other.
I hope this helps!
|
| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 34
Posts: 2,211
|
So naki, how is everything going?
___________________
2008 Step 1 Study Plan Discussion ........ My Blog
|
| drsaima
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 149
|
Well, call me very naive but I believe all the posts.....if I start reading all like what if he/she is lying, the world become a very weired kind of place for me...why would any one lie on these forums???just for ego...they shud leggo that eggo
But this discussion CAN hurt someone's feeling,.
I hope NNL will get 99 and post his experience here InshaAllah
Every thing is possible here...we all are prayng for 99
|
| atomakande
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 18
|
One important thing to have in mind is that most people who get 99 will like to post their scores, whereas there are tendencies for people with lower scores to not post at all. At the same time, there are also lots of people with scores below 99 that posted, you just have to look for them. Again, like I said, everyone with a 99 are overly excited and post their scores for everyone to see.
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | |
