xklxkl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 16
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Dear All,
I am taking my CS in nex Feb.
Have any of you take Kaplan CS courses?
Which one is better/enough? CS 6-day vs. CS-5day?
After the course, how long did you wait to take your exam?
Thanks! Good luck to you all.
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xkl
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| icarus
Forum Senior
Topics: 27
Posts: 149
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Dont waste ur money over the course man ..i have never ever read any thread abt how wonderful courses are ... everyone seems to talk abt FA and UW .. and thats wht i am trying to do ..
Kind regards
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The Maestro says its Mozart...but it sounds like bubble gum
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| xklxkl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 16
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Thanks ICarus. I have the same feeling. But I did pay $500 to reserve a spot. I think the course is mainly a confidence booster for me. Besides, I have nobody to practice with. I am single and do not have many friends around in the city I live. My only friend here, who is also preparing for CS, actually insists of taking the Kaplan course. That leaves me with a pillow to practice with.
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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it's always interesting to see someone telling others what is good or bad when actually not using it himself.
only those who did not attend this course would say that Kaplan is a waist of money. it is expensive, but it worth every penny of it
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| damselMD
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 173
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i regret not taking a live review since i don't have many people to practice with. especially when i am not around many family. i thought i could study on my own but i wish i took a review. i think the Kaplan one is too long though. there is another one C3NY by Dr.Mark Swartz that is only 3 days in NYC. and i think that would be worth it. but then again there are people who need the extra help. but if you add up costs, the kaplan review might be worth it too. so i don't know. i rather spend the money on the review class and less on accomodations and food. NYC is expensive even for a few days.
my advice, be honest with yourself and strip your pride. and see if you need the extra help regardless of the cost. it is investment into your future.
good luck
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| xklxkl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 16
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Babydoc4usle, Thank you for your reply. Did you take the Kaplan CS course? If so, can you tell me more details and how you felt after that. I am very interested in hearing from a person who took the course and passed CS exam. Thank you again!
damselMD, Thanks for your message. I agree with you on being honest with myself. I just started with my exam preparation. So I guess it will take a little while for me to find out if I need the extra help. I did hear about C3NY course for CS at NYC. Actually, if I attend this course at NYC, it will save me money not only for the course expense but also for accommodations as I have place to live in NYC. But for Kaplan course, I need pay extra for accommodation. But again, I need to know more about my situation in order to make a decision.
If you won’t mind, may I ask how your CS exam was.
Again, thanks for your message. I really appreciate it.
I wish both of you the best luck in USMLE exam preparation and matching,
Cathy
Edited by xklxkl on 08/24/07 - 02:12 PM
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xkl
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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yes, i did take this course, and it was a great experience; course is very intensive, we had 15 encounters total, 3 as a learning start, and then 12 more within 2 days. at the end you have results with performance score, with all mistakes and feedback from SPs. days are long and information comes at all the time.
i had my exam on 08/22/2007 in Atlanta, center was very good, proctor did everything to make us feel better, more relaxed. Before the exam i thought i had all concepts in my head built up, but when exam came i panicked, and if i don't pass it is only because i made stupid mistakes, and no one is at fault, only me.
if you feel that you need help from outside do whatever it take to reach the goal, wich is passing score on the exam. some people need more, some less to do it, and it's normal to be not like others.
we are all unique, but we are on the same road, use all resourses to get to final destination.
good luck
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| vitaj
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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To xklxkl,
I took the C3NY workshops with Dr. Swartz and they were excellent. I sat for my exam on 6 July in Philli and just learned I passed. The workshops really helped me gain confidance. My other friends I made at the workshop passed also.
I cannot say anything about Kaplan except that they are much more expensive and all the postings were excellent about C3NY so I choise it and I am glad.
GL to you.
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| chiqui
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 173
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I took the Kaplan 6 day course and liked it alot. I did think it was expensive, but I had very little time to prepare. I took the course a few weeks ago, took the practice exam (the sixth day) on Saturday, flew out to Atlanta on Sunday and took the exam that monday. Kaplan was pretty much my only preparation. I though it was VERY helpful, although I haven't received my grade yet, so we'll see. There were ALOT of people taking the course with me that studied on their own the first time they took the exam, failed, and were taking the course before thier second try.
For IMGs I think it is worth the money if you have it. The way you interact with patients in the states is very different than the way it is done in many other countries. And the sixth day is worth the $500. The way I looked at it, I passed Step I and CK, and the only thing standing between me and a residency in 2008 was the CS. With limited time and few available dates, I couldn't afford to fail, so I paid for Kaplan. I don't regret it (unless I fail, in which case I will be devastated).
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In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.
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| xklxkl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 16
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Dear All,
Thank you all so much for the messages. I was on vacation and did not respond to your posts right away.
Dear Vitaj,
Thanks very much for posting here in this thread. I still have a little more questions if you won't mind.
May I ask how many patients you got to see when taking the C3NY course?
Did you take the 3-day course or only part of it?
How big was the class and did you get enough time to practice with patients?
I did not have much patient encounter when I was in Medical School and it was about 10 years ago. I am not sure about your situation or friends you made at the class. I am just wondering if the class is enough to prepare me for the exam. I would be very grateful if you can give me some comment on this.
Again, thanks!
Dear chiqui and babydoc4usmle,
Thank you both for the message. It is really very informative to hear from people who took the course. Good luck. I am sure both of you have passed the exam.
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