shinyapple
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like so many others, i've been a silent member of this community, wondering how in God's name these people got like 240's and above. i knew that i wasn't going to be one of those people (really, no matter how i study!), so i'm quite pleased with my 194. i hope it gives hope to other people who know they aren't going to get a 240, like myself.
so anyhow, this is how i did it! 
#1--i freaked out after reading this forum, you guys are SO into Goljan, it's ridiculous! he's good, but i just used BRS Pathology and it was perfect. make sure you take time to look at pictures in Robbins, because i got a lot more pictures than i was expecting.
2. i used BRS Physiology, High-Yield Neuro, HY Anatomy, HY Embryology (and Step-Up is amazing for embryo sections) and HY Behavioral (also one of the best out of all of these). i used rapid review immuno/micro and first AID (which is terrible for micro, btw, find something more complete--i used Step-Up micro charts more often). so you don't have to go and spend $400-500 on a kaplan book set. these are like $10 each used, and more than enough.
3. First Aid was really important as a guide. the questions on the test are definitely more "thinking" questions than straight up i'm-going-to-know-the-answer-cause-i-memorized-it types, like most of the kaplan questions. so know First Aid, but don't expect that to be your saving grace. you've gotta be able to think the questions out, it's not all memorize and spit.
4. if you took that CBSE or your school offered it, and people say "well you're only going to improve on that by 30 points", think again. i did terrible on the CBSE (like 145 converted score terrible) and OBVIOUSLY did much better on the USMLE. it's how much studying you put into it.
5. i studied a lot. i mean, a lot. i'm kind of crazy. people say 8 hours, i'd do 11. towards the day of my test, i started study upwards of 15 hours. that's just me though!! i'm really slow and thorough. and don't freak out the day before, either. just study until (at most) 5pm, then take the night off. go to chipotle, watch a few episodes of a non-medical show (even though scrubs and house are the best), and climb into bed at 11, even if you know you can't fall asleep then.
6. for pharm-i just used first aid. it was enough. i freaked out at the end because i would get nearly every kaplan pharm question wrong, but don't worry. they're not half as hard as kaplan makes them.
7. speaking of kaplan (this isn't a bashing session, i promise), i did use their qBank. i used about 50% of that, and about 25% of USMLEWorld, which was really just really hard and towards the end it was really making my confidence levels very low. they're good for learning, the questions, but they're not really representative of what's on the test. i would have used all the rest of USMLEworld, but towards the end of your studying, you just kind of realize that there's stuff you haven't gone over in a week, and it's time to stop doing questions and really go over stuff that you need to. i did 50q's a day, for reference, took one half-length (which included the USMLE 150 released q's, 50 kaplan q's, 50 uworld q's)
for reference:
my Uworld avg: 48%
qbank: 55% (was avging 57% the last 10 or so, mixed, unused)
CBSE-145
150q's- 1st block-52%, 2nd block-62%, 3rd block-64%
i really hope this injects someone with confidence, which is also something i didn't have throughout. it's important to know that how much work you put into it is how much you're going to get out. take one day off (i did for my birthday) or more if you need, and stick to a test date. take a protein bar and some gatorade with you. good luck to everyone taking it!
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| GOGETA
Trying to get in PGY1
Topics: 381
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Congrats, now I dont feel so lonely with my grade :0)
See you one step2 forums
What was your 2 digit score?
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As a general rule, the better it felt when you said it, the more trouble it's going to get you into.
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
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Congrates!!!!!!!!!
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| P4a99
Moderator
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shinyapple wrote:
5. i studied a lot. i mean, a lot. i'm kind of crazy. people say 8 hours, i'd do 11. towards the day of my test, i started study upwards of 15 hours. that's just me though!! i'm really slow and thorough.
Congratulations on passing ...
How long was your whole prep.? How many reads did you do?
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Congratulations Paheli! --- Congratulations Feyza! ..... Good Luck drnaik-faraym-Gogeta-Bioguy-arlete
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| IpassedYes
Forum Newbie
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way to go buddy, good luck with #2
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| sg15
Forum Newbie
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congrat on passing! are you an american medical student or an img student?
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| new_n_lost
Forum Hero
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chipotle >>> Isnt that Some Pepper ???
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"never argue with a fool, they'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience" FORUM RULES-- Those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand. I get enough exercise just by pushing my luck --P4U World.." The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple."
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| new_n_lost
Forum Hero
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But Congrats Anyways Cos this is the First time i have seen Someone really Telling wht they felt while preping up and Happy with a decent score.
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"never argue with a fool, they'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience" FORUM RULES-- Those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand. I get enough exercise just by pushing my luck --P4U World.." The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple."
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| GoodGirl
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Topics: 127
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new_n_lost wrote:
chipotle >>> Isnt that Some Pepper ???
It's a jalapeno pepper  . I think he meant a restaurant , to fill the belly before exam date. 
Anyway congratulations, glad to see you made it trouhg step 1, the best of luck in next steps. 
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| edie
I can, and I will.
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Mmmm, Chipotle, love their burritos! Thanks for sharing your experience, Shiny, congrats on passing, GL with whatever's next--clinicals? Step 2?
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
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Good job, apple!
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| shinyapple
Forum Newbie
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thanks for the congrats everyone! not sure what my 2-digit score is, i think i'll be getting that in the mail pretty soon (our school posts the 3-dig score online so we can check before getting the mail).
i'm an american medical student. i studied i think total for about 5 weeks (i.e., you don't need 2 full months for this, i think i would have gone crazy doing that!), and i probably got through first aid about 2 times, some sections (since i used it during school too) 3 times. also i didn't mention that i used BRS Physiology for the phys sections and it was SO helpful.
and i'm not really sure what huge test is next...3rd year starts rotations, and shelfs w/in the rotations, so i gotta work really hard on those. good luck everyone!
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| tee40
Forum Senior
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Posts: 116
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great post and great job..congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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