RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 08:33 PM
4 of 8 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
To all who are seeking advice here on this forum:
BEWARE OF WHAT YOU READ and WHO IS GIVING YOU ADVICE.
I began my STEP 1 prep on May 13th, 2007 - and took my exam on July 16th, 2007. During the course of my preparation, I read this forum for just a few minutes almost every day to see who was talking about what. Every now and again, I asked a question and got some answers. However, I also noticed some very disturbing things:
1. Not everyone who gives advice here is qualified to give it. In particular, I saw newcomers ask for advice on a general topic, and read replies from certain people who acted as though they were veterans and had all the answers, but had either NOT TAKEN STEP 1 at ALL yet, or had FAILED IT one or more times in the past. Before you believe someone, ask yourself - "Do you think this person passed with a good score, or are they at least ready to do well on the exam if they haven't taken it yet?" Quite simply, ask yourself - "Can this person back up his advice with results?"
2. I noticed that some people seem to give a LOT of advice, saying things like - "If you do this, then you'll be fine.". Many of those same people were also the ones crying about bad scores, or were second-time test takers. Beware of those who give advice like it's going out of style. If those people spent half as much time actually studying for the exam as they did wasting time giving advice, then they'd have far better scores.
3. Few people here write in complete sentences. Nobody knows what you mean when you say - "Iz MMRT rly gud r m I gunna haf 2 by sum more books?" If you want to be a doctor, then you'd better start writing like one, first. Good luck pulling that nonsense on the job. This can't be stressed enough. If you're trying to get a US residency, then you'd better learn to use English the way it should be used, or else prepare for some serious disappointments. If your patients don't understand you, they won't trust you, especially here in America.
4. A lot of people ask - "If I do this, is it enough ?" Enough for what ? Enough for a "just barely passing" score, or enough to score a 85/90/99 ? Everyone has a different idea of what "enough" is, so decide for yourself what you want.
- Before anyone gets angry at this post and says - "Who do you think you are ?" - I just got my scores today. I earned what is referred to as a "High 99" around here. I will not answer questions like - "What did you do to study ?" or "What do you think I should do to study ?" Different things work for different people, and in different ways. Find what works for YOU. I got some really good advice from this forum, but I see a LOT of bad advice being given on here. I'm not angry at any one person or group of people, but anyone who comes here for advice should be fairly warned.
Good luck,
RustedFox.
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 654
Posts: 6,112
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Totally Agree on this.
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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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| motorola
Forum Extremist
Topics: 66
Posts: 441
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agree fox. wonder what a rusted fox looks like ?!
also to advice givers...try to be more descriptive...about the answer and about your experience.
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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 08:56 PM
2 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #4 |
To "New-n-Lost": Thanks, I really liked your practice questions in the microbiology forum. However, here's a tip: Only the first word in each sentence, and the names of people, places, and proper things get capital letters.
To Motorola: Thanks. Good luck to you both.
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 654
Posts: 6,112
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RustedFox wrote:
To "New-n-Lost": Thanks, I really liked your practice questions in the microbiology forum. However, here's a tip: Only the first word in each sentence, and the names of people, places, and proper things get capital letters.
Is that Sarcasm Related to Ur Topic heading or Ur Sense Of Humor.
___________________
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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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 09:04 PM
2 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #6 |
New-n-lost: I'm being serious. Your micro questions were right-on, but don't capitalize every word in a sentence.
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 654
Posts: 6,112
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Sorry then i will be more aware of the Format or Editing of the questions i post. Thanks for the Advice.
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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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| yuna
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 229
| | 08/12/07 - 09:18 PM
3 of 3 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #8 |
Well said Rusted Fox. I totally agree with you. And I will not ask you for your experience, though.
Telling each struggle is contributing to the variety of preparation and to the experience pool. Many people will see themselves, more or less in that stock, and will find one which is suitable for them. Therefore that work helps ppls in many forums, and this forum is not an exception
I also got some great benefits from this pool, like Askdoc's and P53's. I love that! And more, I also love that there are doctors who are always willing to share their own, and taking mine difficulty as theirs. These things relieve the stress, and make this forum greater than others.
I think that is also the reason why you come here, not only for some infos. We need a community.
All the best
Edited by yuna on 08/12/07 - 09:41 PM
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| DRchromatin
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 87
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Good advice RustedFox. I understand that everybody will not learn or remember things in the same manner but it is interesting to hear what people have to say in regards to their preparation for this exam. I think you're completely right when you say that there are unqualified people giving exam advice. Since you got a 99, I think it would be nice if you would share how you did study for the exam. Again, this is completely your own choice but since you are a qualified 99er, I don't think it would be a bad idea.
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| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
| | 08/12/07 - 09:33 PM
5 of 5 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #10 |
Congratulations on your score rustedfox.
But i dont like your tone or attitude towards people who couldn't score well.
1."general topic, and read replies from certain people who acted as though they were veterans and had all the answers, but had either NOT TAKEN STEP 1 at ALL yet, or had FAILED IT one or more times in the past"
2."Beware of those who give advice like it's going out of style. If those people spent half as much time actually studying for the exam as they did wasting time giving advice, then they'd have far better scores"
Sorry to say but just scoring high on one exam doesn't make one wise or knowledgeable. People who for some reason have attempts or low scores are not stupid if thats what you mean. There is always a "DO" list and to complement that a "Dont" list. People who have passed comfortably can never understand what makes another person fail and its right then when you need people who have been through failures to tell you what not to do.
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| antidepressant
Forum Guru
Topics: 32
Posts: 717
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liked only #3, rest of it, smell of arrogance,
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Step 1 can not defeat me!!!!!!!!
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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 09:41 PM
2 of 4 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #12 |
Sarika: Thanks for the congratulations. You have a very valid point. My counterpoint is: if you didn't do well or failed - don't give authoritative advice, or make statements such as - "If you do this, you'll do just fine." Those people obviously didn't do what it was that they said, and thus have no basis to make conclusions like - "you'll do fine."
I had to take the tone that I did to let people know that I'm serious. There is a LOT of bad advice around here.
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 654
Posts: 6,112
| | 08/12/07 - 09:52 PM
3 of 3 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #13 |
I do Agree tht there is a lot of Bad Advice Floating but I can Assure U that Being a 99er doesnt make u the Exalted Person whose Advice shud be Given Attention Cos Getting is a 99 isnt at all Means that u Have the Aptitude to give Advice. Ppl who have failed once and then passed or have gotten lesser scores doesnt make them insufficient or incapable for giving advice Cos My COUNTER Argument for that Is PROVE UR SCORE Show Us the SCORE Report INSTEAD OF THE COCKY Atitude. If u r So Sure of that Score Have The GUTS to Show it Otherwise like MAZINGER said PUT UR MONEY WHERE MOUTH IS.
Getting 99 is a matter of LUCK too..... incase ppl forgot abt that............ BUT BEWARE OF THE BAD ADVICE AND JUDGE THE PERSON ON THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE FORUM. Look at their posts see if they have given Correct Approaches towards questions. See if their Posts arent simply just Their Prep Journals Contributions But Also their Own Way Of Attempting Questions. For Me Seniors like ROBIN, MILDUS , GEROO, LEOPARD , MJL , ASMI r the best ones to give Advice cos i have seen them attempting questions and seen their approach NO MATTER WHT THEIR SCORE IS.
BUT heed to RUSTY's Advice Beware of the Advice Floating Around.
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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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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 10:04 PM
2 of 4 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #14 |
New-n-lost has a point. If I could fax you a score report or something, I would. For now, you'll just have to take my [248/99] for face value. People are sensitive about scores, so I didn't want to just out and say it. Again, I had to adopt a tone that let the forum know that I am serious. I think you'll agree that I'm more than fair and polite when I'm speaking to someone personally.
The problem, pure-and-simple - is this. I read a lot of posts that said - "If you do this, then you'll do just fine.", and I then saw a lot of those same people later say - "Oh my God, I have my exam in three weeks ! What do I do !" I did well, thus I should know a little about what it takes to do well.
Good luck to all. Watch for my posts elsewhere.
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| hope4dabest
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 435
| | 08/12/07 - 10:04 PM
2 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #15 |
Even fox is right in his own way but wont say that others are wrong.....there r drawbacks in everything u do...nobody is perfect u see...Nobody compelled us to join pre4usmle......so be cautious on your own...Rest is ones own luck and destiny
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
| | 08/12/07 - 10:07 PM
4 of 4 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #16 |
RustedFox, congratulations on your great score and good luck with the next steps.
I agree with what you said but at the same time , would like to say that not every experience is for everyone . There are people taking USMLE in different circumstances , some are students, some are already practicing physicians , some have long breaks in their career , some have to support families and so on. That is why there CANNOT be one template that each and everyone can follow. Advices are not to be followed word for word. I personally like to have different views about an issue and then choose what to follow and to what extant .
Second time exam takers or low scores who learnt from their mistakes are contributing a lot here by telling others not to do what they did wrong. I appreciate and respect their efforts as much as "high 99ers".
Please do not get offended RustedFox  . I do understand what you mean to say and appreciate your contribution but just want you to realise that only one failure does not makes someone worthless . They are still physians ..... intellegent and wise  .
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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
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Unique1: Well-put, and no offense taken. My own family care doctor just barely passed his STEP 1, and he's a lot better of a doc than most cardio-gods that I know at my home hospital.
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| GOGETA
I'm Dr. GOGETA
Topics: 323
Posts: 2,721
| | 08/12/07 - 10:19 PM
5 of 5 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #18 |
So let me see if I understand:
1- Because I failed the test once and PASS on my second attempt with a low grade my advise is no good 
2- Because someone has a personality to be jocking around that does not mean in any type of size or shape they are not qualify to give an advise.
3- Who will I prefer to get an advise from, some one that will be honest and try to help in good faith or some one that "got a 99" but I do not know nothing about.hmm
4- I do not know the conditions you had but if you had a fulltime job and a second job then congrats to you, but do not come here and say to a REAL person with a REAL situation that if they have low grades or have failed are not qualify to advise.
I will end with my good adviser IMG SURVIVOR post:
The usmle is one benchmark for competency but only one and not sufficient. Grades are pretty much meaningless in the basic sci years and don't comment at all on the quality of the education. (see: diploma mills). The usmle can be passed by someone who doesn't have a good education or clinical ability but who has taken a review course to focus on the exam, and it can be failed by an excellent, well trained doc who wasn't in a school preping him for the usmle. I dont think its in any way shape or form sufficient to say someone passed the usmle thus had a good education/training.
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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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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 10:27 PM
2 of 4 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #19 |
Gogeta: I can't understand a lot of your post, and I didn't want to say this - but you are guilty of a lot of that which I am warning of. If you want to discuss this any further with me, write me a private message and spare everyone reading this thread a debate that has nothing to do with the actual exam.
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| propanalol
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 119
| | 08/12/07 - 10:34 PM
2 of 3 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #20 |
sorry fox, absolute nonsense, & arrogance...n' i'm american born, so my abbreviation or da way i write makes me what i type wrong? BS! oh yeah, i ain't ignorant either....my AP english was 4...n' my SAT's 1430 bak in da day when it was outta 1600
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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 10:39 PM
3 of 5 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #21 |
Propranolol: Yes, it does make what you type grammatically incorrect; and you don't sound as though you know what you're talking about at all. Do you know any doctors who write on charts like that? I sure don't.
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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 10:41 PM
0 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #22 |
I'd like to point out that I wrote this post to HELP people weed out bad advice. Thus, my intention is to HELP. If I wanted to just be arrogant, I wouldn't waste the keystrokes trying to help at all.
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| GOGETA
I'm Dr. GOGETA
Topics: 323
Posts: 2,721
| | 08/12/07 - 10:44 PM
2 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #23 |
OOOOOO now I understand you want people to write professional English HERE. LOL
You are hilarious men.
But I will give credit that you do not see MD writing in charts like that.
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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
Topics: 47
Posts: 438
| | 08/12/07 - 10:55 PM
2 of 4 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #24 |
Jackofknives wrote:
Physicians should be critical thinkers, so you should have your own judgement about who is believable and who is not, if you don’t think the posts are credible, overlook it, simple as that. If you are not a critical thinker, for the sake of your patients and for science, please become one.
Jackofknives said this very well. Rustedfox is a critical thinker, sometimes we mistake between arrogance and self-confinde. For being a good physician, we should be self-confident (as Rustedfox ) and critical thinkers ( as Jackofknives says). It is better for us to know about our mistakes to be able to correct them, so it is better not to be offended by a colleague critics, it is better to learn something of it.
Rustedfox, I know I have lots of grammatical and spelling mistakes, English is not my first language, I try to correct it.
Goodluck for all.
Edited by hedieh on 08/12/07 - 11:50 PM
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Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
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| RustedFox
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 45
| | 08/12/07 - 10:57 PM
0 of 2 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #25 |
Hedieh: Your written English is remarkable. In fact, it is better than a lot of native English-speakers that I know. Well done and good luck.
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