faraym
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Atlast i got to write my experience. I was waiting for this day . Before telling you how I prepared for CS let me tell you that I passed , ok now u can relax .. ... so u know... what I did WILL WORK! 
THE SET UP : 2 kids , 5yr and 1yr , + laundry +cooking + cleaning + CS preparation.....
TIME TAKEN: 1 month.
MATERIALS:
1.USMLE WORLD , first aid,(book)
2.Tape recorder , 
3.Stethoscope, Broken ear bud , 1 bed spread for drape , Pen (in place of tuning fork) ,
4.Clip board, Copies of Patient notes (blank) from First Aid.
PREPARATION.
My sister had recently given the CS so she gave me a lot of tips , discussed cases on phone .(thank you!)
First I studied all the cases in UW and first aid .
Then I memorised the Differentials.
I practiced on a pillow.
I counselled myself again and again in front of the mirror.
Then, ..ok guys here comes the ..part you have never heard of before ....
I kept a tape recorder in a room next to a pillow , closed the door ,stuck an instruction note on the door , kept a timer outside the door(my cell phone),
Practiced all the cases , from knocking ,to talking to the pillow and counselling , while the tape recorder recorded my voice. I came out and wrote patient notes on the xerox copies of PN s.
Later I listened to the tapes , and improved..my sentences ,accent...etc
My 5yr old daughter was my model for examination part . She helped me a lot . The tape recorder was my critic....
2 days before my test my mother was with me , I could practice 8 cases each day ..just like the actual exam...
THE ATTIRE
White with reddish pinstripe shirt (gap.com) 24$
Grey pants,Charter club (Macys) 52$
Black shoes and black socks ( Payless shoes.com) 32$ he he ..
White lab coat ( my sister's)
Stethoscope(my own)
Perfume ,Lip gloss..
THE STAY
Sheraton 280$ (OUCH !) that was a stupid graduation weekend.
THE CENTER
Philadelphia.
Edited by faraym on 06/22/07 - 12:24 PM
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| faraym
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coming up next ....... THE EXAM ....
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| P4a99
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congratulations
GL on your other steps
most colorful experience i have ever read
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| huyniid
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you are so brave. I admire you !!!
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| dncosta
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Nice explanation
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| faraym
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Reached the center at 8 a.m .
Went upstairs,showed ID (drivers licence) was given a number ,2 copies ,to attach to the lab coat ...Got a clip board and SPECIAL PEN
was asked to sit in a row , while proctors gave instructions.....
Was Shown the SAME USMLE ORIENTATION CD .
Were asked to keep all the belongings in a common locker .
Could carry cash ,ID, Stethoscope,(NO PEN), questions were answered.
Everyone had time to checkout the examination stuff, the bed , the instruments, the water faucet , the restroom etc.....
Next , each of us was allotted a case and the drill started and was over in no time.
I got 12 cases WOW
All Sp's behave just like real patients, after sometime I forgot they were acting.....
No one was difficult.
I knocked , greeted everyone, showed concern, offered water and tissue where relevant, counselled most of them.....draped as soon as i introduced myself.. didnt shake hand in ER cases and Pain cases...
Couldnt finish one case , so just said .will be back after the test results.....
Edited by faraym on 06/27/07 - 11:04 AM
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| faraym
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coming up next TIPS and FAQ s
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| faraym
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FAQ s
OK guys ,
1.HIP examination is allowed . I asked that Q there he he ...
2.There is a common locker to keep all your belongings ,at your own risk.
3.There are 2 restrooms
4.There are 2 breaks, 1 long and 1 short, eat and use rest room
5.Lunch. We had tuna salad, chicken , turkey, scrambled eggs
Salad, all kinds of bread, tea , coffee, water, fruits , cookies, etc...
6.There is no waiting area for others.
7.The alcohol swabs and tissues are on the sink.
8.The water in the rooms is drinkable.
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| faraym
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Will write the TIPS tommorow Iam soo sleepy ...
Please ask any questions (except the cases),will be glad to help....
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| faraym
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thank you Huyniid, p4a99 and dncosta.
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| sadiq naveed
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congrats
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| CocaCola
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congrats faraym! good luck for future exams! another one down!
almost everyone who passed this exam says that while with the SPs it felt like they were with real patients - things just flowed naturally...
i think this is a predictor that you passed the exam!
just my humble assessment!
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| quaidian148
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Cograts I think its time to Crack a Party
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| dr.shailu
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congrats
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| dermatology
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hey faraym !!!!
CONGRATS ..... best luck for other steps .........
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| faraym
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Thank you ,cocacola, drshailu,dermatology,quaidian,sadiq.
Yeah cocacola ,if u think that the SPs are acting then the exam becomes difficult.
One good thing about SPs is that ,they are very ,very predictable Most of the time you'll know what's going on ......
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| asha kamat
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congrats!
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| GOGETA
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CONGRATS, please dont forget about gogeta
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| faraym
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thank you asha and GOGETA !
Faraym will never forget GOGETA iam not going anywhere ,not yet....
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| star1
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faraym CONGRATULATIONS , your experience make me laugh a lot , how creative mind you have WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW
i will do the same as you did for practice of CS
good n keep good work up
My exam is at end of august.
I m not good at english, Dont have good confidence in communication skill and I will have just 35 days after my CK exam for prep of CS . what you suggest.....
after watching UW view and reading FA n UW I will be able to get good hold of CS exam like communication skill etc ?
thanks
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| vanshita
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Congratulation
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| faraym
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Star1,
The comedy in my experience suggests that the exam is very easy , if you know what to do.
Ofcourse I was going crazy during my preparation, I couldnt do most of the things that people did while they prepared for CS.
I had to come up with weird ways to practice . Check my topic about tips for CS soon.
But with God's grace things worked out. i hope they'll work for u too....
Thanks vanshita
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| redhorse
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thanks faraym,
do u take down notes while you ask questions? Isn't it hard?
Or do u just memorize what the SP said and try to recall it when you write the PN? Can u recall all of them while writing the PN?
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| faraym
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redhorse,
I took notes in short forms. i had practiced to just tick right mark against the PAMHUGSFOSS and LIQORAAA and others....
Never wrote sentences or negative history (Initially i used cross mark ) Then I figured whatever isnt ticked with a right mark is OBVIOUSLY negative!!
Most of the time i looked at the patient and simultanenously ticked right marks on the scrap sheet...
For the exam part ,u never get to write anything....in the room
So ,I always made it a habit to examine from head to toe .......(I mean from above downwards,....this way u dont forget what u examined and what u didnt.. )....(Relevant stuff ofcourse) And not system wise..i.e cvs ,RS CNS etc,
But wrote the PN in the correct format.
This made it easier to remember.
hope this helps.
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"Bindu ki maa, Jab Jab jo jo hona hai ,tab tab so so hota hai." from Padosan.90/85/pass
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