Jinesh Thomas
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 9
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Hi,
I am an IMG from Kerala, India. I got rank 49 for the All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Exam held on January 11 this year. I would like to take the USMLE soon and I hope the forum members will guide me on a few points.
1. Is it WISE to take the Step 1 and 2 simultaneously within a few weeks of each other?
I would like to know this because my residency in Kerala is scheduled to start around the first week of May. On starting residency here, I believe, I will how only have a few hours per day to spare for any serious preparation of the USMLE.
2. Regarding Step 1, I would like to know what weightage they give to Embroyolgy, Histology and Cell Biology and Behaviour Science. (I am the least prepared in these three subjects) I did read Barbara Fadem for BS yet certain questions do still elude me - Is another book needed for preparation?
3. As for Step 2, I would like to know which book would be nice for Preventive Medicine.
4. Finally, I would like to know if anyone is willing to sell their Kaplan Q Book of Step 1, CD Practice Exams etc. that would help me in preparation.
Thanks,
Jinesh.
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| meg
Forum Guru
Topics: 62
Posts: 806
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"Jinesh Thomas" wrote:
Hi,
I am an IMG from Kerala, India. I got rank 49 for the All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Exam held on January 11 this year. I would like to take the USMLE soon and I hope the forum members will guide me on a few points.
1. Is it WISE to take the Step 1 and 2 simultaneously within a few weeks of each other?
I would like to know this because my residency in Kerala is scheduled to start around the first week of May. On starting residency here, I believe, I will how only have a few hours per day to spare for any serious preparation of the USMLE.
2. Regarding Step 1, I would like to know what weightage they give to Embroyolgy, Histology and Cell Biology and Behaviour Science. (I am the least prepared in these three subjects) I did read Barbara Fadem for BS yet certain questions do still elude me - Is another book needed for preparation?
3. As for Step 2, I would like to know which book would be nice for Preventive Medicine.
4. Finally, I would like to know if anyone is willing to sell their Kaplan Q Book of Step 1, CD Practice Exams etc. that would help me in preparation.
Thanks,
Jinesh.
Hi Jinesh,
I might not be able to answer all your questions, but some. Congrats on your awesome performance on PG entrance. It will certainly reflect your understanding of the subjects/concepts. But USMLE is slightly different I feel compared to most of the Indian PG exams. It is a lot about integration and though I had done well in medschool, as I began studying for step 1, I realised it was requiring a new orientation from me. You give yourself some tests and see how you fare and also then you can know how the exam is and if there are differences in the way it is structured from the exams in India. There are several high yield topics and review books like First Aid are good for that. Have a look at them. The topics you have mentioned are quite important though they get integrated into Pathology, Pharmach, Micro..... Behavioral is important and BRS is good. Somehow, whatever books you do, Behavioral still keeps evading!!!
For step 2, I was told (as I am beginning to prepare) that Kaplan notes are the best. First Aid is also good. I havent checked out Blue Prints for Preventive.
All the best and hope you ace both the steps!
Meg
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| Jinesh Thomas
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 9
|
Hi Meg,
Thanks for your good advice.
As you suggested, I have indeed done some of the sample tests. For example, I did the Kaplan Sample test consisting of 25 questions for Step 1 : 24/25, for step 2 my score is 20/25 and step 3 is 19/25. I feel the exams were a bit to easy for what people call the USMLE. I also did the first three exams from Kaplan Q Book Part I for the USMLE Step 2. Test 1:42/50 Test 2:46/50 Test 3:45/50. and Test 4:45/50. From what my seniors tell me, they do it a bit too easy at Kaplan --- It parallels only a 80% difficulty with the real exam. These are three seniors who scored 99 on their Steps 1 and 2 from the college I did MBBS. They ask me to do CMDT to get a more clear picture. I guess it will be OK. I am short of Q books for the Step 1. So my assessment of Step 1 is less complete.
As for the concept of USMLE being an 'integrated exam', I feel you say it is so because most medical students in the US write it upon completion of their pre-clinical courses before they have a good exposure to clinical specialities. For most of us in India who take both exams after their MBBS, Step 1 and Step 2 do not make so much of a difference because in both the questions seem clinically oriented. And I saw your score: HATS OFF TO YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE!!!!! It is a big achievement for someone who did this while still in her preclinical years in medical school.
As of now I am concentrating on Histology, Embroyology, Behaviour science and Preventive Medicine. I guess I shall take the Steps some time in May/June/July period within a few weeks of each other.
And one more thing Meg, to be quite honest with you, I don't think I will ever get a visa.... That is why all of us hit our PG entrances here before embarking on the USMLE. Experince: my three seniors who are biting dust for the last one and a half years in spite of their high scores. Lucky these seniors are doing MD (General Medicine) in top institutes in the country. It is just a gamble, but I am gambling... Ha! ha! ha! What is life without a little gamble! :lol: :lol:
Good Luck in your preparation for the USMLE Step 2. I AM SURE YOU WILL ACE IT. GOD BLESS!
Jinesh.
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| meg
Forum Guru
Topics: 62
Posts: 806
|
"Jinesh Thomas" wrote:
Hi Meg,
Thanks for your good advice.
As you suggested, I have indeed done some of the sample tests. For example, I did the Kaplan Sample test consisting of 25 questions for Step 1 : 24/25, for step 2 my score is 20/25 and step 3 is 19/25. I feel the exams were a bit to easy for what people call the USMLE. I also did the first three exams from Kaplan Q Book Part I for the USMLE Step 2. Test 1:42/50 Test 2:46/50 Test 3:45/50. and Test 4:45/50. From what my seniors tell me, they do it a bit too easy at Kaplan --- It parallels only a 80% difficulty with the real exam. These are three seniors who scored 99 on their Steps 1 and 2 from the college I did MBBS. They ask me to do CMDT to get a more clear picture. I guess it will be OK. I am short of Q books for the Step 1. So my assessment of Step 1 is less complete.
As for the concept of USMLE being an 'integrated exam', I feel you say it is so because most medical students in the US write it upon completion of their pre-clinical courses before they have a good exposure to clinical specialities. For most of us in India who take both exams after their MBBS, Step 1 and Step 2 do not make so much of a difference because in both the questions seem clinically oriented. And I saw your score: HATS OFF TO YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE!!!!! It is a big achievement for someone who did this while still in her preclinical years in medical school.
As of now I am concentrating on Histology, Embroyology, Behaviour science and Preventive Medicine. I guess I shall take the Steps some time in May/June/July period within a few weeks of each other.
And one more thing Meg, to be quite honest with you, I don't think I will ever get a visa.... That is why all of us hit our PG entrances here before embarking on the USMLE. Experince: my three seniors who are biting dust for the last one and a half years in spite of their high scores. Lucky these seniors are doing MD (General Medicine) in top institutes in the country. It is just a gamble, but I am gambling... Ha! ha! ha! What is life without a little gamble! :lol: :lol:
Good Luck in your preparation for the USMLE Step 2. I AM SURE YOU WILL ACE IT. GOD BLESS!
Jinesh.
Hi Jinesh,
I am am IMG myself and from India and finished MBBS in 2001. I am here in a Masters program. I am on F1 visa. Thanks for congratulating me.
As I see your scores... you are surely going to get 99! I used to get 40-44 in qbook, or anywhere,my range was 78-80% . You are scoring terrific. You will ace the exams for sure. I have begun studying for step 2 and am going to do CMDT as well (essential chapters as I feel like).
all the best,
Meg
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| Jinesh Thomas
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 9
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Good luck and thanks. 
Jinesh
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| vyseerx
Forum Guru
Topics: 165
Posts: 378
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hi dinesh
engana irikinnu?
well, you can take both the steps together. that saves a lot of time and a lot of subjects are the same. especially behavioural sceince re-appears as psychiatry in step 2. biostatistics again reappear as preventive medicine in step 2. a lot of medicine questions on step 2 are actually patho-physiology questions of step 1! and drugs of choice questions of step 1 become treatment of choice questions of medicine. so , it makes sense for IMGs to prepare both the parts together. you have done well in ALLINDIA, and should do well in this exam too. but i should caution you though, dont answer questions from memory.it is not going to be enough. USMLE rarely tests rote memory. prepare well for biochem, immunology,pathophysiology and then behavioural science. IMGS traditionally do poorly in these. inorder to excel you have to prepare for the most likely testable material. go for kaplan , live lecturenotes, and then buy webprep cds. they will be of some help.
you will clear steps no problem , and even for step 2 CS you may get VISA, that is also not a very big problem, but MY ADVICE TO YOU(AS A FELLOW IMG, (PG)AND NOW IN USA) , is DONT COME TO USA WITH OUT HAVING COMPLETED YOUR MD. finish that and then come. residency can wait. and importantly be good with your HOD and ensure your name gets into a couple of journals along with his. where are you , AIIMS? that goes a long long way in getting a GOOD residency and then A GOOD INSTITUTION AND importantly H 1 visa! (your weapon for a green card!)
so,study well, finish the steps, but , come only after your MD. IF YOU STILL NEED SOME INFO, YOU CAN MAIL ME.okay?
paapom
vysee
___________________
vyseerx
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| Jinesh Thomas
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 9
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Hi vysee,
Pinne enthokkeyunde vishesham?
Thanks for your detailed help. I must really watch out that Behaviour science stuff... gets on my nerves... In addition I need to trim my knowledge of the screening protocols in the US, their vaccination schedules and aaaarrrrgh...... those ticks and ticks and mites.
I did my MBBS from Kottayam Medical College. I did get ranks 159 and 48 in AIIMS last year but did not take any seat since I will not get General Medicine with that rank. Likewise, I scored 139 and 68 for PGI, Chandigarh last year but you know Medicine is the most elusive subject. Hey! I guess it is OK, because subject is more important to me than college. But several of my friends have taken whatever subject they could thinking of the visa.
My counselling is on the 15th of March. I am leaving today (i.e the 11th) on Kerala Express to New Delhi to attend the counselling. I will take MD (General Medicine) most likely in Trivandrum or Kottayam. And yes, I will not try to come there without completing my PG here.
As for Kaplan, though they are nice, I guess I do not want to take it since my seniors tell me that it requires time commitment which I am rather short of and there are a lot of high yield areas that I need to cover. I am trying to get my hands on old CDs which are hard to come by.
Thanks once again for your help. Also glad to meet a fellow Keralite!
Keep in touch and good luck in your preparation.
Jinesh.
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| drarchie_10
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 4
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Hello there
I have a small query
I have done MBBS and now planning to give Step 1 and Step 2. I did try for MD exam but could not get through  .
Could you please guide me about what happens after step 1 n 2. I heard lot of people saying that you do not get visa so its waste of time. Also some people are doing GRE and some GMAT along with the two steps. Any ideas whats the best and easiest way out??
Regards
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