virgola82
Forum Guru
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Finally it’s over! My letter has arrived reporting with my great surprise the score of 250/99. So first advice: it’s normal after the exam to remember just wrong qs and to have that feeling of having done not that good.
Now let me tell you my story. I graduated in Italy last july and because the possibilities here to have a good residency are few, unless you like being the carpet-man of directors, I decided to try to do this exam to try to get a good residency in US, where I happened to go to for about 8 months to work on a research project I used for my thesis (In Italy it’s mandatory to prepare a thesis to graduate). Luckily I am 25 yo so I think I can afford losing one year in doing so.[/font]
After my graduation I took some holiday (August and September) and in october went for a clinical experience in Geneva, Switzerland. I was struggled by the temptation of looking for a position there because the quality of Health services in Switzerland are even better than in US but eventually decided to purse the hardest pathway known as USMLE…
So in November I started studying for step 1 while in the meantime I was doing the Italian licensing exam that consists of 3 months of rotations plus a final MCQ exam which is really easy compared to USMLE but still I had to dedicate half of my days for this till February when I started dedicating full time to Step 1.
This is how I studied: for each subject I downloaded the pretest book that even though has often “strange” qs I still think it’s worthwhile to use to see if a chapter can be considered “done” or not. I chose 75% as my cutoff value. At the end of each sbjuct than I used to do qbook tests to see if I could switch to another subject. I don’t know why but found qbook’s qs often very hard even though I know that for most of you are not. Maybe it’s because I didn’t watch much of the videos.
This is what I did subjectwise:
Biochemistry: was my strongest subject because I did my thesis on insulin and glucose metabolism. Used mainly my notes plus Kaplan LN that are really good mostly for inborn errors of metabolism. The genetics part I did mainly from Goljan’s genetic chapter in his gen path notes and also listened to this audio lectures that are among his step 2 lectures. And of course used PreTest for evaluation, even though some qs are too picky
Physiology: I had a not too bad background here too. I basically reviewed everything from Kaplan + Goljan’s fluid end electrolytes chapter. I also used as a reference Molina’s endocrine physiology and Berne’s Physiology but just for few things (PTH, Steroids etc)
Neuroscience: I studied from Kandel’s neuroscience during med school so I just revised my notes. Also I watched Dr Levy’s Neuro lectures from Kaplan stuff for step 2 and they were very useful.
Anatomy: here my background was terrible… I started from Kaplan but it didn’t work so I found this combination: www.netanatomy.com + Kaplan videos + qs from beyond vesalius
Netanatomy is a great website: I used to do the gross anatomy and radiologic anatomy part. I used to do for each body region all the dissections in the order given doing the test first, than the description + correlations and then the test again before moving to the next section
After doing a body region I watched the corresponding Kaplan videos that are really good: I could answer some qs on exam just because I watched them.
Eventually, to see if I could go ahead I did qs from beyond vesalius, a software that I happen to have don’t even know how. The qs here are very good. I set my minimum target at 75%. You can get it here http://files-upload.com/302806/BeyondVesalius.rar
On exam I got an asterisk in Anatomy so I must think this approach worked
Behavioural Sc.: This was and still is my worst subject. I studied from BRS Fadem’s and didn’t watch Kaplan lectures. I scored poorly in this subject on exam (borderline performance) so my advice is do Kaplan lectures and notes! Maybe doing Dr. Gonzalez-Mayo lectures for the psych part would be better because allows you to save time in step 2 preparation later. I strongly recommend studying this subject really well. I think here is where you build your score. I got a lot of these qs on exam and whish I studied it deeper. I saw on forum a lot of people suggesting to “use BRS path side by side with goljan because something is missing in goljan’s and you can add it from brs bla bla…” Guys if you spend your time doing this what can you get more? 2-3qs? And if you spend the same time doing behav? This would for sure return you much much more correct qs on exam. So my advice is STUDY BEHAV! And don’t waste time in subjects you are already good at.
Microbiology: I sticked to Kaplan notes particularly the wonderful tables at the end
Pharmacology: I did Trevor’s lectures plus Kaplan LN and qs from katzung and trevor’s after each chapter to see if I could go ahead. I set 75% as my minimum target. Do the CNS and ANS chapters over and over again!
Pathology: My background was pretty good here I was infact scoring around 65% in UW before starting it, anyway my advice for path is Goljan Goljan Goljan Goljan. I did his old spiral notes but maybe if you get the new rapid review should be better. And please buy it! He is such a great teacher that deserves us to pay those 40 bucks. I used to listen the lecture and then doing the notes. I think if you know the notes inside out you cant score less than 80%. After each chapter I did qs from both Pretest path and robbins review setting my target at 80% (they are not that tough so it’s feasible). Also, very Important: I used to do qs from BSS after reviewing from goljan the corresponding chapters. BSS is a great series (in fact it’s authors include goljan and fadem) because it allows you to review all the subjects. For instance vol 1 include CV, haematology and Resp not only path but also pharm, anatomy, behav, microbial etc. So it’s a real board simulator. Only problem with BSS is that qs are really hard so don’t get depressed if you cannot score high. I set my target here as 65-70%
UW: It’s tremendously useful! I started it before reviewing path so started with a score in low 60s and after Goljan I used to score around 75% on average. This tool is great because teaches you to read through the question. Most of qs on exam are doable, but they are asked in such a way that even if you know the concept tested you can get it wrong (I hate this but that’s what happens). So if you are trained in reading through the q with UW it’s gonna be much easier to understand the qs on exam.
Step 2 material: I used to watch step 2 ck highlights video for psych and internal medicine. Even though Conrad Fischer is a riot and 100% poof… I think his highlights are really useful for step 1. But don’t even think about going through his full time lectures: he just screams like a goose 50% of time! What is useful on the other hand I think is watching Dr. Levy’s neuro lectures: this guy is very good. Unlike Fischer, even though Levy is prone to screaming too, he leaves you with a lot of knowledge after listening to him.
Exam: I arrived at test center 45 mins earlier and the proctor was so kind that made me start the exam a little earlier. There was nobody else in the testing room so I didn’t even use earplugs. I had lots of behav, path, pharm and of course some strange mol bio that I think must have been experimental… Also had a couple of path slides with no more than the organ it was coming from said in the stem. About 5-10 CT/MRI which you can easily answer if you are trained with NetAnatomy + Beyond Vesalius. I did the first block, than break to drink some water (be careful to the air conditioning at test center: the air was so dry and I caught a flu there!), than blocks 2 and 3, break, blocks 4 and 5, break, block 6, break, block7. Time was not an issue in most blocks. I finished 45 mins earlier, even though for tougher blocks I used all the time up. Blocks # 5 and 6 were really hard, like a hard one on UW; blocks 1, 2, 3 and 7 were manageable while block 4 was kinda halfway. After the test I thought I passed with something in the 80s because everytime I was trying to recall a q I was in doubt on I realized I got it wrong so after 5 qs wrong recalled I decided not to think about the test anymore. Actually it wasn’t hard to do because I started to study for Step 2 few days after…. I will do that at the end of July.
I remember when I was reading post like this thinking “look at this guy, it seems everything was so easy for him to get this score… things are not being easy for me so I will never do well on this test”
Guys this is not true. I have felt overwhelmed and too little for this test so many times. It’s normal to have that feeling, but just don’t let it kill you. Remember that the relationship between fear and performance is an upside-down U. Some fear is good to make you pursue an objective, but too much is gonna just make you do worse. Agitation serves to nothing. There will always gonna be days in which you are sure you can make it and than few days after you are sure you will never make it. At least for me it was like that. Just consider that this is physiologic…
Edited by virgola82 on 06/16/07 - 09:04 AM
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| P4a99
Moderator
Topics: 50
Posts: 2,544
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unless you like being the carpet-man of directors .... man i thought this is only going on over here
Great score ... great experience ... great plan
CONGRATULATIONS
Edited by praying4a99 on 06/16/07 - 06:56 AM
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Congratulations Paheli! --- Congratulations Feyza! ..... Good Luck drnaik-faraym-Gogeta-Bioguy-arlete
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| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 200
Posts: 2,777
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i absolutely loved your post. i usually hang around on this forum to get away from my books for a little while, and only get back when i begin to feel guilty for the time spent. but you have made me feel like going back to the books! i esp love the syatematic way you wrote. it's easy to see how you worked for your 99.
a well-deserved score. hope it repeats itself for step 2. keep it up!
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| inkspot
Forum Guru
Topics: 41
Posts: 755
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hey congratulations! i will ask you so some questions ! but later.
have a nice day
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| inkspot
Forum Guru
Topics: 41
Posts: 755
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http://rapidshare.com/files/37057602/Beyond_Vesal
is not found ! looks like the link is broken
would you please repost the correct link or upload the file !
thanks
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| docja30
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 4
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thanks for the advice. did u get alot of general pathology question?
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| newbeginnings
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 103
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Congratulations on great score,well deserved i must add.
Your preparation seems very thorough .
I am currently doing the anatomy just the way you have described other than beyond vesalius q's.I had a question about kaplan videos .I have old ones .Would those be good enough for anatomy ?
Congratulations again and all the best for step2 .
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 435
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Congrtulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience, I wish you'll get the residency that you like in USA!
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| usmlefever
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
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congrats...........
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| virgola82
Forum Guru
Topics: 85
Posts: 348
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I tried to change the link for the software and the whole post messed up, I don't know what's wrong with it but when I try to edit it messes completely up. I think I fixed it now... anyway the link for beyond vesalius is this http://files-upload.com/302806/BeyondVesalius.rar
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| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
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Hats off to you!! What a strategy! What a methodical approach! You certainly deserve the 99!!
CONGRATS! Good luck for the remainder of the journey!
Thanks for the software.. it is downloading right now....
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Life is a Mind Game! Remember, obstacles aren't meant to prevent your success; they only slow you down and show you where you must work harder.
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| Luckyall
Forum Guru
Topics: 11
Posts: 592
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Congratulations ! 
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| erA1ic
Forum Newbie
Topics: 8
Posts: 13
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congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you do that great in stp 2 as well !!!
the kaplan or goljan videos may i ask where did you find them? if you downloaded them can you send me the link???
thanks a lot and gongrats again!!
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| zolpidem
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 80
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congrats...n u deserve it...
thank you for the nice post
all the best
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| P4a99
Moderator
Topics: 50
Posts: 2,544
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thanks so much
the program is sooooo great
everyone reading this go ahead and download it
cuz you know netanatomy is supposed to close for the public
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Congratulations Paheli! --- Congratulations Feyza! ..... Good Luck drnaik-faraym-Gogeta-Bioguy-arlete
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| Feyza
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great job and great last paragraph for me thanx and wish you your second 99
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| Ujk
Forum Guru
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Congratulations!
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| ieltsforall
Forum Junior
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dear virgola 82.millions time congratulations and GODWILLING , u will get your destination very soon .thansk alot
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| vanilla
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 84
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congratulations!!!! gr888 score!!
i have a question regarding UW.....how to use it? Imean in which mode, subjectwise or combined, in tutor mode or what?
Also how many times did u did UW?
Are the real exam questions similar in pattern to UW?
Thanks & GL for next exam ......
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| catz.2006
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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Hey,
Congrats on the great score. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us. How many revisions were you able to make? Did you do kaplan qbank?
Thanks for your time.
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