amgirlmd
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 30
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i taking Step2 in a few weeks. make that in 2 weeks..yikes! =)
i agree with Blueprints for IM, although there are people who say it is totally sufficient. I am using Kaplan notes which is definitely enough. also Vignettes and MCQ sources of QBank, medrevu, some QBook, and NMS. but there are definitely overlap with all these question sources.
Some people recommend reading Currents for select topics, but i am not sure about that. other reviewers might be too-detailed, but i guess it depends. USMLE Step2 Secrets seems to be a favorite as well, i don't have access to that.
what are you using? good luck!
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| new_img
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
Posts: 39
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I red about half of the IM blueprint but I'm not quite satisfied. It seems that some topics are not covered. I also have the 2 volums of UCV IM and I like the style of clinical cases presentation and the NMS review questions. Didn't buy yet the qbank couse I didn't finish at least one time to read what I planed. I am thinking about the CMDT, hope it's a good choice couse I heard some good things about this book. I'm an IMG here in US so I find kind a difficult to chose the books and I only have about 3-4 months .
Thanks for your message and wish you to get a good score. What are you reading for the last 2 weeks before exam?
Bye!
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| smith
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 20
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Amgirlmd can you tell us what do you read the last days before the exam: crush the boards or first aid or step2 secrets....
:icon_thumb: Wish u have a great day when take the exam!
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| jasonw
Forum Senior
Topics: 46
Posts: 119
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I studied step 2 for 4 months, using kaplan material only.
I heard some people like NMS questions.
I dont know anything bout Blueprints or else
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| amgirlmd
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 30
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hey everyone,
i have been doing alot of questions, Qbank, medrevu.com, QBook, nad some Pretests.
as for notes/reviewers, i am focusing on Internal Medicine. so that's Kaplan notes, High Yield Internal Medicine, this little blue Advanced Life Support for Step 2, and Vignettes. i feel weak in Nephro and Urology, so i will probably also read those topics in CMDT.
i am not sure if this is a good plan, but i want a more structured schedule plan for me. so i do alot of questions during the evening, with notes/reviewers during the afternoons.
what about everyone else?
good luck!
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| jasonw
Forum Senior
Topics: 46
Posts: 119
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wow, seems like u ve been doing a lot of questions amgirlmd!
that s good
nephro is not that high yield in the exam, i think... dont worry bout that...
but remember IM is only 30-40 % of the exam...
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| amgirlmd
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 30
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are you sure internal medicine is only 30-40%? i guess it is but it seems so much more than that. i guess the topics tend to overlap with Surgery and OB/GYN a bit.
i am not sure how much more i can do. i am trying to do questions to lessen the test anxiety. and i am trying to read over the vignettes. but we will see how this works out.
what about you? how is your review going?
good luck everyone!
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| amgirlmd
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 30
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wwrong place for the post! 
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| afrose
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 12
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"jasonw" wrote:
I studied step 2 for 4 months, using kaplan material only.
I heard some people like NMS questions.
I dont know anything bout Blueprints or else
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| rick
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 9
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i personally think GOLJAN's kaplan notes are excellent for IM as far as disease diagnosis goes.For management one can always refer to kaplans IM notes.
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| rick
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 9
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hi jason,i just wanted to know whether you took kaplan live lectures for step2 or you just studied from the lecture notes on your own.they have these websites that are offering dirt cheap live lecture packages.How credible is that.I am in a fix.
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| Syed
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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I think that blue prints is just almost the material that you may need to know for step 2, but I also did that kaplan video lectures books they are also great.
___________________
Hay There,
prepairing for Step 2, graduated in Dec 2000 and now Iam in USA studying for these boards.
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| Vandit
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Blueprints is insufficient for IM. It lacks depth, which Current provides. NMS is also quite detailed, but is too dense to read in entirety so better left for focused studying (i.e. brush up on nephro). Practice questions are the best way to prepare. As for basic review books - Secrets or Crush are top choices.
I'm planning to take 4 weeks to study for the exam, though many of my predecesors at my school have taken on average only 2 weeks and passed with flying colors. But then again, we're a top school. 
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| Vandit
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Another thing... Kaplan isn't worth the cash you shell out for them. You can get much better books with better structure and high yield materials at a mere fraction of the cost. Unless you have too much time or money on your hands, Kaplan is only good for QBanks.
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| zad
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hi, ihave read blue prints & kaplan lecture notes.
qbank. can any please tell me that does kaplan
videos are really worthy at this time( $3000).
and how is crush the board?
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i studued two months for step-1, got 99
i m planning to study for 2 months for step-2........
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| chints_21
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 9
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I am iMG here in usa.
How much time I should give for step 2
which books I should use?
Should I join kaplan?
___________________
cbshah
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| ipjoa
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i have passed step 1
now studying for step 2. i have family . i get stressed out at times. please help me to how
i should focus . i plan to take in jan end.
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"ipjoa" wrote:
i have passed step 1
now studying for step 2. i have family . i get stressed out at times. please help me to how
i should focus . i plan to take in jan end.
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In my experience, step 1 is a must before taking step 2 and it really help you a lot! I dont think that 2 weeks is enough for the preparation and usually 2-4 months will suffice. Im an IMG and i guess US graduates definitely have an edge over IMG in this exam since their pattern of education is geared towards taking the USMLE type of exam. In short, an IMG must create his/her own timetable to grasp the information and review the basics if questions arises. If you are already done with a training in other country then i guess step 2 is not much a problem specially if your training is internal medicine. The clue here is to know what disease they would like to focus here in US ( example like myocardial infarction) and study them by heart coz they will ask you the principles regarding that disease. Always imagine yourself as a doctor already and know what to do next either in diagnosis or treatment (Like for example a question with description of MI then the question is what to do next) i guess everybody knows the ECG picture or enzyme to order but the question is knowing the right thing to do at a right time. So if patient had an MI then giving aspirin is the first thing to do in ER setting and exclude the diagnostic enzyme as choices in the question. All i am emphasizing here is the principles of the exam and not the objective details of the exam.
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| abonaga
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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I do not believe you, and I am sure a lot of doctors agree with me.
2 month study for step 1 and 99 score????????????
I think the administrators of this site should take action aganist liars like you, because you are a stress induced by your irresponsible behavior
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| Dr. Jamali
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 11
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any idea how helpful the live kaplan classes are? want to take them, not sure if they're worth it...
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