kitik
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 23
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I have been a silent member of the forum.
I am originally from the Former Soviet Union I went to Russian speaking medical school and learned medicine by totally different system than in the USA. I want to mention that books we used in our school were usually1993-95 edition which didn’t have all the recent information for the test But anyway I just want to give hope to everybody who is really willing to devote their life to the noblest profession (In my opinion) and despite all the difficulties become a licensed physician in the United States.
I came to USA as an international graduate student, I wasn’t welcomed and pretty soon I realized that Clinical medicine is what I need not a research or anything of that kind. I met my husband during graduate school and soon after that we got married. Now I had a dilemma : Should I take very hard tests ( which I thought I am not going to pass) or just be a housewife and forget all my previous achievements( I was a top student in my school)., my husband wanted me to stay home and take care of kids. So I couldn’t make my mind. It took couple month to realize that staying home isn’t an option at all. I wouldn’t be happy , that’s the bottom line. And I decided to study no matter what.
I started September 2006. First I didn’t know how to study (I never took any tests before , cause we had oral exams in my medical school ) so I was really bad at taking any test.
I started as I would start preparation for oral exam in my school, took anatomy by Moore and started to read but soon realized it is not going to work. My husband advised me to start doing practice tests and I did, scored very low (on Appleton and Lange practice test around 50%) I was in despair, it is hard to realize that in your school you are number one and here you can’t get passing score couldn’t imagine I would ever make it and pass my USMLE. But I have many examples when people fail many times but still didn’t give up, so I decided to at least try
I looked up on the internet people discussing USMLE and learned about Dr Goljan High- yield and audio lectures. I got them and started to listen, in the beginning it was a nightmare I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying ( even though my English is pretty good), but the problem was detailed Cell biology and molecular biology (also pathology which I forgot or diseases I never heard of ) It took approximately 2 month to just start understanding the concepts and learn completely unfamiliar disease Dr Goljan was talking about.
I decided to read Robbins Pathology I have never read this book before (but heard how difficult it was) It was hard, I also got questions accompanying ( Review of Robbins Pathology which I consider very good). I was listening to Audio lectures on my way to the library, then reading Robbins pathology, then doing questions during the day. I will not claim that I was studying every single day, but I tried to, because I actually get pleasure from studying.
Soon I realized that my results started to improve I did NMS review questions Results weren’t that bad.
I moved from pathology to other subjects Microbiology made ridiculously simple + Kaplan
Pharmacology Kaplan
Biochemistry Goljan( He is outstanding teacher )
Anatomy and Neuroanatomy I didn’t have enough time but looked through it is not very high yield subject).
Physiology Costanzo+ Kaplan ( some chapters)
Immunology Kaplan
I did a lot of questions (The last 2 month I got Kaplan q bank which was pretty good). I did probably 5 or 6 8 hour practice tests( Twice Appleton, twice NMS, plus Test in Kaplan center). My Kaplan q bank score was around 61 %
I looked through NBME questions they are pretty similar to the real test.
My husband realized how important it was for me, he helped me a lot , he taught me genetics and biochemistry concepts and explained to me test taking strategies( Which are very very important).
On the day of my test My dread was to simply pass.
My heart was beating when the first block started but I was finishing blocks in 30 minutes time was never a concern. I thought that test was hard, very hard. I did breaks after each block. My husband was there to support me and feed me
After the 4 block I thought that I am failing , cause there were weird questions on some unknown to me concepts ( Maybe they were experimental). Anyway when I finished my test I told my husband that either I failed or barely passed.
All these month till July 18 I was thinking of possibility of failure but on June 19 I logged on Oasis and saw: Our record indicate that you passed……………………………………………………..
I was running from the library like crazy, couldn’t believe it.
But the major surprise was ahead I scored 92/222 on the test.
I couldn’t believe my own eyes.
Non-native speaker with Russian education, old system of teaching medicine by old books and no test taking strategies whatsoever I passed test and beat the mean.
I am very grateful to everybody who supported me :My husband , my family, my friends, Dr Goljan.
And the message of this post is DO NOT GIVE UP. There are many miracles in life . DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS.
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| medicus_81
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 438
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hey, that's awsome!!!congratulations!!!!
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If you judge people you have no time to love them
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| unique1
Biochemistry
Topics: 23
Posts: 1,612
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Really inspiring story. Congratulations and GL.
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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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| kitik
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 23
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Thank you. I wish you same luck as i had that day. Never give up. An you will get what you want
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| new_n_lost
Forum Hero
Topics: 724
Posts: 6,396
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Now Thts Really a Inspiring Story and truth also. Most of Us here have had this sort of dilemma.
Congrats and Best of Luck in the Future.
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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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| kitik
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 23
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Thank you. Good luck to you in your preparations
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,766
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Hi , when is your exm ?
If I am not mistaken , it is the lowest 3 digit 99 recently.
How long is your prep seriously & non seriously , & since when you ever start to do any thing re USMLE eg study, read or do the Qs ??
Either exm get more difficult or easier ??? to have more 99 .
Did you take kaplan course, if did, how long & how many hr of dvd study at center or both live prep & center prep ??
Hi , on July 28, one member post his score 223/93 , my frined personally know him , just to let u know.
Thanks.
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| tee40
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 116
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congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| kitik
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 23
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I am not sure about 99 and correlating scores, I know that I score 92/222.
My preparation was since septembe of 2006 to may 29 2007 , but There was time when I wasn't studing anything or thinking it's not worth to studyI am not going to pass anyway. But there were days when I was literally living in the library.
I didn't take Kaplan course, the only thing I did I read kaplan books ( not all of them but some chapters ( the ones I wanted to understand deeper). And I did Kaplan diagnostic scored 56%. It was in March 2007
I started with practice test Appleton and Lange, don't even want to think about it I scored around 50 %. After that I was doing as many questions as I could. Overall I did 5 pracitce tests+ Review of Robbins pathology+ Q BANK + q book.
I recommend doing many questions and understanding conceps, but ven after that exam will seem weird.
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| LilInjnDatCould
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 49
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Kitik,
Thank you for sharing your very insightful and inspiring preparation experience. And congrats on such a great score!! Good luck on your next exam!!
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| epica
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Kitik,
MOLODEZ, YMNUCHKA
CONGRATULATION!!!
(Please participate w us in step 2 forum, don't be silent)
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| kitik
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 23
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spasibo bolshoe. Pojalusta napishite o svoem experience. Budu ochen rada pochitat na russkom. Ochen skuchau po obsheniu na rodnom iazike na samom dele.
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| kitik
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 23
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if anybody needs advice I will be glad to share my ideas
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| kitik
Forum Newbie
Topics: 10
Posts: 23
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spasibo bolshoe. Pojalusta napishite o svoem experience. Budu ochen rada pochitat na russkom. Ochen skuchau po obsheniu na rodnom iazike na samom dele.
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| edie
I can, and I will.
Topics: 26
Posts: 1,199
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Congrats to you, your story is amazing! GL to you on your next Step 
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| vwilldoit
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 175
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good luck for next step...
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just do it .....
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| angel^Doctor
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 493
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GOD u put me into tears !!!! :'(
god bless u
amazing inspiring story , go 4 ur dreams
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 435
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Congrates!!! Good job! Maladiet!!!!!!!!
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 69
Posts: 1,001
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Inspiring!!! Congrats and good luck!
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| wyb
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 43
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Reading your story is just like a light inspiring me to keep going. Also you gave me a right direction when I am wandering after I finished Biochemistry. I got very bad feeling to read Microbiology and hardly to continue. Now I'd like to try the way you did, reading and lilstening Goljans first, then touching Microbiology.
Have you watched Kaplan's Video when you were preparing?
Thank you so much for the post! And Good luch to all your next step!!!
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