oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 53
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Hello Friends
Sorry I was a little busy so couldn't post it earlier.
I started studying in bits n pieces a year ago. But I really put my effort from the start of this year I think 15 January to be precise. I basically read all of KLN except Patho for which I did Goljan.
I read the KLN physiology 3 times and watched the videos of the graphs only instead of listening to the whole CD. I discussed the whole of physio with my wife who happens to be a dentist and really it helped me a lot. I did all the questions at the end of the chapter alongwith the study and Kaplan qbank simultaneously.
For Pharmacology I did KLN again approximately 3 times. I watched videos of initial chapters about pharmacodynamics and kinetics which are difficult concepts. I did mcqs again from it and qbank
Microbiology, also from KLN twice all of it and for Immuno I watched the video too but it didnt match the notes anyway I just watched it to understand few basic concepts. Later on I shifted to KME for parasito and mycology alongwith Immunology. Mcqs again from end of chapter and qbank.
Anatomy was really difficult to decide. Initially I read all of KLN except neuroanatomy for which I did HY. But later on I switched to HY for Gross Anatomy, Embryo few initial chapters and Neuroanatomy. I did little bit of Histo from KME. I did NA in great detail and spent nearly one month reading it. It was really worth it. I personally feel doing Anatomy from KLN was a waste and I should have done all from HY, they are great books. I watched Imaging Atlas CD for CTs MRIs and Webpath for fractures angio etc. I also looked up various diagarams of GIT from Snells Anatomy. Mcqs again from Qbank
Behavioral was my favorite subject and I did it twice from KLN and watched the entire video CDs. It was a great help. I also did it from KME. Biostats was little difficult part of it but I did it too thrice from KLN. Much of it in the exam was doable. Mcqs from qbank
Pathology as it was highly recommended I did at least 4-5 times from Goljan though I listened only once to the lectures. I consulted for diagrams from Webpath and Cotran Kumar. I did qbank and end of chapter 2 tests scoring 74 and 65 respectively in Goljan. Mcqs from qbank.
Biochemistry I read at least twice from KLN and then from KME again 3 times, it also helped in the exam as a bulk of questions were from there. Mcqs from Qbank.
I subscribed to UW once qbank was over and did approximately 50-100 questions perday in tutor mode. I read answers of the questions which were wrong and those which I guessed. My score at the end of it was 50% accumulative. Personally I feel I didnt gain much from UW and its little over emphasized but yes it gave me a habit of thinking and reasoning out questions. Also, I did qbook alongwith it and was scoring on the average around 65-70%. By that time I had switched to FA and trying to read it and retain it which was indeed a painstaking task.
On nearing the exam I was doing FA and Goljan Patho RR and mcqs from qbook. Also, looking at my wrong mcqs at qbank. I watched Goljan slides, webpath, Snell's diagrams and graphs from KLN. I did NBME downloaded mcqs and got around 70% on the average. USMLE cd I got around 32/42/32.
I drove around 500km 3 days before the exam and closed my book in the evening around 5 pm. Went to bed around 10-11 pm. On the exam day when I started my heart was racing away. Initially I was numb for 20 minutes then I came to realize whats going on and came into the pace of it. I took 5 min break after the first block, second block then did third and fourth in a row. I took a brief lunch of a chicken sandwich alongwith flaovred milk and tea. Fifth block, I took another 5 minutes break and at sixth too. I had skipped tutorial so I had comfortable time and also rest room was very close to the exam room. In First block was ok , second and third block were easy as I remember doing around 15 questions which I was 100% sure of the answer. Rest of the block were not very tough but I had to reason out the answer and take use of my remote memory rather than cramming of FA.
The seven hours went very fast and finally it was over. I felt relaxed and took a breath praying to Allah Almighty to end it for me. I had this sense of comfort after the exam but I didnt know where I stood. So I just prayed in my heart.
My suggestions to you are When you are doing initial readings do them seriously because you will have recall from there not from FA. FA is excellent in last few days and you should do it thoroughly but right from the start, keep adding notes to it. I was very lazy in that regard. Do as many mcqs as you can. Watch videos as I suggested or upto your own comfort. Watch slides of gross and angios, CTs and MRIs. At least be familiar where is the stomach and spleen. I didnt memorize the lab values as mostly I knew because of day to day practice otherwise just learn CBC, Urine, Electrolytes, RFT and LFTs.
Dont panic over UW scores. My opinion exam is very much like little harder than qbank and NBME but lot easier than UW.
Have Faith in Allah and study hard. I didn't have much faith in myself but immense faith in HIM and it helped.
It is a doable exam as others say but needs a lot of hardwork and dedication.
I wish you goodluck and 99 in step one. I hope my brief experience and preparation may help someone. Please keep me in your prayers and wish me luck for CK
OKOTB
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Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
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| P4a99
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 34
Posts: 2,272
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Very very very nice well written prep and exam experience ... this is a 95+ preparation!!! I wonder what went wrong.
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| Ujk
Forum Guru
Topics: 42
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Thanks
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| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
Posts: 765
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Thank you Oldkid for a very well written experience! Certainly useful  Congratulations on your score and good luck for the next step 
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Life is a Mind Game! Remember, obstacles aren't meant to prevent your success; they only slow you down and show you where you must work harder.
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| jaZjaM
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
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Thanx great experience..
CONGRATS...
BEST OF LUCK FR CK n a great Residency..
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
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Thanks for writing your experience. You said you watched Imaging Atlas CD for CTs and MRIs. I am not familiar with this. What is this CD ?
I am sure that CK will be a piece of cake for you . I am not saying this to make you lazy and not study hard  but I mean to say that go with confidence this time and InshaAllah you will do great.
Best of luck!!!!!
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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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| oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 53
Posts: 891
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I got this CD when I visited home. Its by Mosby. On the internet search in title Imaging Atlas CD by Mosby. Its a British CD but has excellent pictures of Xrays, CTS, MRIs, Angiograms and Ultrasound. I had an older version but I think now they have included Doppler videos too. It is simple and has self testing modality too. Gives you pretty good idea what is what in radiology. Thankyou for your wishes and yes unique I am very much aware that now I have a long way to go before stopping. Just keep me in your prayers.
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Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
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| steppingsam
Forum Junior
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Congratulations and Best of Luck for other steps too.
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| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 177
Posts: 2,358
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thanks a lot, okotb. i've already learnt a lot from your prior posts, and some more from this one too.
keep the advice and inspiratio coming, even when you're a 2ck forum resident!!
thanks.
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
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Thanks a lot, Oldkidontheblock.
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| keepgoing
Forum Guru
Topics: 62
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thanks alot for sharing,all the very best for next steps and ur life.!!
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| zade
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 179
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Congrats, oldkid.
Thank U 4 sharing ur experiences. Best of luck on ur other steps.
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| seems
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 280
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hey oldkid
A BIG CONGRATES TO U , ALHUMDULLILAH ,its over.
now u can relax and go 4 the next step.
good luck 4 the other steps ,and plzzz pray 4 us too.
ALLAH HAFIZ
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| medocuk
IM-RES
Topics: 26
Posts: 1,499
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Thanks for sharing. Good luck.
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| hope4dabest
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 433
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Thanks...Good luck for ur scores
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| oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 53
Posts: 891
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Thankyou everyone for your wishes and love. Best of luck for all of you from me. I hope to find you all very soon on CK forum. Keep studying and keep motivating.
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Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
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