LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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Hi u all usmle exam takers,
well, i am trying to start my own prep journal and monitore my progress towards my goal ( that one day i''l be successfully completed the steps and be admited in a residency too )
i don't expect my journey to be easy; i'm an old grad, img and on top of that a single parent of a second grader ( starting this fall )...so between PT work , my obligations to my child i shall try to fit in studying...i have to admit i've been trying it for a while without much success due to the many disruptions that you could imagine i encounter...and it has been discouraging at times, plenty discouraging
i need your encouragements folks as i don't have any family around here and the few friends i have don't understand exactly what i'm going through
so pls come by and share your insights, suggestions
i plan to start with PATHOLOGY
i'll be using: - Goljan rapid review
-FA 2006
-Goljan lectures (mp3)
-diverse sources of q
i'm expecting that my first pathology read to take no more then 3 weeks
i plan to study about 6 hours a day in my days off ( i've never been able to do more , not even when i was a student ) and to solve questions the days i work ( not a fixed number...i'm hoping that at least 50 i could manage )
my strategy for "attacking" the pathology is to read different bits from different chapters...i somehow seem to have a hard time going through a whole chapter at once
i'm also hoping to be able to fit some physical exercising in between so i could tell myself that i'm doing something nice and relaxing for myself too
i shall try to keep u posted with my progress, every night before i go to sleep, to give a short account of my state of mind, hurdles i overcomed, fear and hopes....
i also want to post here a link to the step 1 experience of an extraordinary doctor...very inspirational...she is my role model for how u could tackle everything in life if u keep your focus on the task at hand and u learn how to make the best of use of whatever time u have available
http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/13400/1/
your input will be always appreciated; it took a lot of courage to come here and openly talk about my struggle, recognizing that it is a struggle and that is depressing when you don't have the adequate support...i'm hoping that recognizing my feelings and being able to put them in writing, as well as addressing my problems will only help me to come up with better suited habits that will help me make progress
thank you and the best of luck to everyone
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 40
Posts: 2,856
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Hey, LG...
What part time work do you do?
I graduated in 1992, three kids (8, 5, 3 years old), passed step 1 and about to pass step 2 CK.
Think about how many difficult situations you faced in your life and overcame, this is only one more. You may bend, but you don't break!
Good luck, I am praying for you.
Arlete
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| CocaCola
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 908
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I am with you LG... there are many busy moms here "making it happen"... good luck to you... i know you will succeed! 
Edited by CocaCola on 06/16/07 - 09:58 AM
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| medocuk
IM-RES
Topics: 26
Posts: 1,467
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It does take courage to come out here and let people know how weak we can get in our resolve.To accept we aren't ace students and may be not even 99 material.
But that is the whole idea.to find the support needed to do what it takes for this exam.Doesn't matter how much you can study.How slow you can get. What your fears are. Whatevere..this Journal link has seen it all and there are solutions and there are some wonderful people out there who would give you a puch when you needed it and be there for you when you think you stand alone.Give you your space as and when you need it.
So you have made a good decision.You do have a plan which I think is very essential and god willing you will keep at it and you will do just fine.
Good luck to you.You need anything you know we are just a quick reply away.
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,442
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Hi LG ,
The link you have posted , is my motivation as well. This is the lady who gave me courage to start my journey. Isn't it great to know that people have been through the same difficulties and were able to make it and so can we .
I wish you strength and a great success in this journey. We all are here whenever you need us .
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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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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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arlete wrote:
Hey, LG...
What part time work do you do?
I graduated in 1992, three kids (8, 5, 3 years old), passed step 1 and about to pass step 2 CK.
Think about how many difficult situations you faced in your life and overcame, this is only one more. You may bend, but you don't break!
Good luck, I am praying for you.
Arlete
arlete,
u r a wonder !!!! wow with three kids and u've made it...did u share in a post your tips and tricks for handling it all ? how long did it take to finish studying for step 1 ?
my pt work is nothing brainstorming   ...it allows me to pay my bills and that's about it.....i had a hard time finding work because of my education..i live also in a small state with not too many options.
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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CocaCola wrote:I am with you LG... there are many busy moms here "making it happen"... good luck to you... i know you will succeed!
thank u for your encouragements
i'm hoping people will come by and also share here their strategy for dealing with some of the challenging aspects of the preparation for the exam
some of my challenges are :
time for the child...beyond just feeding/bathing her ..i incresingly believe thyat after she comes back from school i should drop off everything and spend time with her, or doing stuff around the house, cooking, grocery shopping, answering e-mails
finding a good place to study...mine doesn't seem to be at home, where there are so many temptations to brake off the routine...so i have to get out of the house and go somewhere else
monitoring the effective time spent studying, especially when there are numerous interruptions
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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medocuk wrote:
It does take courage to come out here and let people know how weak we can get in our resolve.To accept we aren't ace students and may be not even 99 material.
But that is the whole idea.to find the support needed to do what it takes for this exam.Doesn't matter how much you can study.How slow you can get. What your fears are. Whatevere..this Journal link has seen it all and there are solutions and there are some wonderful people out there who would give you a puch when you needed it and be there for you when you think you stand alone.Give you your space as and when you need it.
So you have made a good decision.You do have a plan which I think is very essential and god willing you will keep at it and you will do just fine.
Good luck to you.You need anything you know we are just a quick reply away.
thank you for your nice words...it took me a while to realize that real support, sympathy and understanding could come only from your peers, the ones going through the same hardships as yourself
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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unique1 wrote:Hi LG , The link you have posted , is my motivation as well. This is the lady who gave me courage to start my journey. Isn't it great to know that people have been through the same difficulties and were able to make it and so can we . I wish you strength and a great success in this journey. We all are here whenever you need us .
thanks unique,
yes there is one thing i want tosay about that lady...that she knew so well hw to leave in the moment...when was time for studying that where her mind was, when was time for the kids or her hubby that where her mind was and so on and so forth...u can't be attending to domestic errands and be thinking about the exam or vice versa
also her amazing organizational skills...that she perfected as time went by instaed of getting discouraged
nothing is as it was when we were students and discovering what works for us years down the road is one of the biggest challenges....accepting the change and dealing with it in a constructive way is the key to succes
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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i have to admit all this writing is time consuming and on top of that i'm not a woman of 2 words either...
so my first day went by ok...i didn't finnish everything i had in plan but i also got a late start...hopefully i catch up
once the evening rolled in i was very tired and went to sleep befoore giving a end of the day report
i tryied to make notes in FA and on cards from the material i was reading...it seems to be only time consuming and i'm not so sure if it's going to help in the end
i like the pathology rapid review from goljan because the most significant aspects are written in bold aspects...so when u just want a quick review there u have the visual clue
my state of mind was ok...not too tensed...not too loose....i'm trying to be as dettached as i can and just make it seem efortless and enjoyable so i could wake up next morning willing to get back on my journey
see u all later...have a productive day or a nice day off for the ones who are taking it easy today !
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| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
Posts: 758
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Hi LG,
What an inspiring story yours is. You are a very courageous, strong woman I am sure you can do it! Thanks for posting Hamidi's thread... she is ONE AMAZING LADY!
First day going well is a great sign!!! So you should keep at it! We are all here for you, trying to tackle the same beast [should call it our friend actually ]
I think writing notes into FA will certainly help in the last few weeks before the exam; although it consumes some time now.... I tried doing it, but I am reserving it for the second read. Isn't RR Path great? Do listen to Goljan audio along with that book. He is FANTASTIC!
I know what you mean by needing encouragement and not having friends who get what you are going through cos I feel the same way. So do keep posting in your journal and we can all do it together! Good luck!
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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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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 40
Posts: 2,856
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Dear LG:
My score was 207/84, so I don't know if the way I did was the best one, because most people want to get at least 95... LOL!
Anyway, I studied for 10 months (worked full time during the first 5, my old one had appendectomy and I move interstates during this period), if you can concentrate in 4 or 5, it's better, because sometimes you forget what you study at the very begginig...
I basically memorized First Aid, transformed it in flash cards and carried them everywhere: dentist, doctors appointments, ballet, swimming, karate classes, you name it! I would study even on grocery store lines! Then I did Kaplan q-bank, then usmleworld.
When all my kids were at daycare/school at the same time (about 12 hours a week), I would go to the library at a Medicine College in my city, where I wouldn't be distracted. I did that for about two months, then I discovered my cell phone didn't work there, and I quit doing it. In case of an emergency, I couldn't be reached...
During the final period (about three weeks), basically my husband embraced eveyrthing he could about the kids. He fed them, bathed them, played, I had to reaaaly concentrate. So if you are able to have someone for the final lap, that would be important. You have to count on your recent memory.
Be patient, persistent and go that extra mile for what you believe. Your child need you happy to be happy. Sacrificing some now will bring much more in the future.
Count on us, other mothers around here, everything will be all right!
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| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
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WOW Arlete! Kudos to you! I would not say 84 is bad at all, considering all that you were juggling with!!
I am trying to learn from inspiring people like you!
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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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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 40
Posts: 2,856
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Thanks, acyntia...
Botton line is: we have to trust someOne bigger than us wants it to happen, too. Because we go against the odds when studying is not all we do, like it was 10 or 20 years ago... And if one child is sick, USMLE becomes second instantly, no matter how hard you want it!
By the way, I love your phrase!
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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acintya wrote:Hi LG, What an inspiring story yours is. You are a very courageous, strong woman I am sure you can do it! Thanks for posting Hamidi's thread... she is ONE AMAZING LADY! First day going well is a great sign!!! So you should keep at it! We are all here for you, trying to tackle the same beast [should call it our friend actually ] I think writing notes into FA will certainly help in the last few weeks before the exam; although it consumes some time now.... I tried doing it, but I am reserving it for the second read. Isn't RR Path great? Do listen to Goljan audio along with that book. He is FANTASTIC! I know what you mean by needing encouragement and not having friends who get what you are going through cos I feel the same way. So do keep posting in your journal and we can all do it together! Good luck!
thanks for your wishes ...the same to u and to all of us trying to tackle these exams
second day was ok....and i came close to accomplishing what i had in mind...but just fell asleep with Goljan talking
for all of us a song that u should listen to...i like it very much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5KGX63ZANs
right now my spirits are up but i know how easy they could come down tumbling...i'll keep plugging away
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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arlete,
i think you are one amazing human being...so much on your plate and u still managed to study...i think that the score is wonderful considering u were multitasking...not just one child but 3 of them !!!!!
i'm not that great with multitasking....neither i have any help here...so no one to help right before the exam...i'll have to find someone to take my child to school that day so i could get on time to the center....but i'm not focused on that little problem right now 'cause it seems to be so far fetched....as i don't focus on the score either...i think that the PD should know that we are more then just scores, there is more to our personality and in all these cases of old grads and mothers there is even more..a lesson of diligence
thanks for sharring your side of the story...the best to u and your family !
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| GoodGirl
Forum Guru
Topics: 102
Posts: 1,395
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Thanks for the song, nice to see all of us getting together here, supporting each other, cheering to our small steps along the exam preparation, having comforting words during the days where is no one around.
LG, hard days will bring you bright future,a sacrifice, love of your child, and warm words of your new friends will lead you to the fulfillment of your dream. We are all here to find a help, a way how to pass this exam, so you can count on this forum, on us here !
All the best to you during your preparation and beyond.
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Prioritize & simplify.
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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good morning,
today is a catch up day and reorganizing...the past 3 days have not been extremely productive due to work commitments that left me exhausted ( i even wonder how people with a full time job manage to study 3-4 hours a day when they get home...kudos to them and their ability to switch focus so smoothly )
i could see my mood sliding downhill...so i guess keep studying at a constant pace ( without reaching your threshold...so u don't get burnt out fast ) could really help with a positive attitude
have a good day everyone !
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| LG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 50
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GoodGirl wrote:
Thanks for the song, nice to see all of us getting together here, supporting each other, cheering to our small steps along the exam preparation, having comforting words during the days where is no one around.
LG, hard days will bring you bright future,a sacrifice, love of your child, and warm words of your new friends will lead you to the fulfillment of your dream. We are all here to find a help, a way how to pass this exam, so you can count on this forum, on us here !
All the best to you during your preparation and beyond.
thank u so much for your warm, encouraging words...they r higly appreciated !
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 40
Posts: 2,856
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LG:
Thank you for the compliment. Sometimes we don't know we are able to swim untill the big tide arrives.
I don't know ANY mother who's not a multitask. We are able to be brushing our teeth and disciplinate at the same time (a firm look says "don't!", and the kids know that look so well... )
I am praying for you, just keep us posted, so we will celebrate together!
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| LG
Forum Newbie
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not a lot of accomplishement during the past week ...sporadic reading and some question solving...trying to get back on track
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| Pediatrician2B
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 148
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I'm a working Mom ,a n old grad.Only diff is I'm not single,but that comes with its own set of responsibilities.Everyone has a story to tell,but ultimately each & everyone of us is fighting towards the same goal.U can do it.I have had so many setbacks.But reading ur posts makes me gain confidence.U can do it. So go for it my friend
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