yuna
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Posts: 229
| | 09/14/07 - 02:43 PM
4 of 4 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Finally I have the courage to write about my exam experience and my prep. My English is not good, especially in such a hurry without proof reading.
My prep:
· Time of prep: 3.5 months, 6-8 hrs/day to 8-10 hrs/day (last month)
· Date of exam: Aug 21st
Resources used:
· I have listened to all videos once in Kaplan Center when I did step 2CK
Books
· Pathology: I used Kaplan Pathology for step 2CK and some HY still have remained when I started for step 1. The early day of my prep I decided to buy RR pathology (2nd edition) as followed the comments in all forums about Goljan’s stuff. I also tried to take Goljian audios from torrents as well as Papi’s Notes, considering them as a Must Have for my Prep. However, the bullet s and HY style of RR Patho made me crazy, because the context were written in a detail way but not so comprehensive. I tried to look for other Pathology stuffs and ended up with Robbins’ Basic of Pathology (the small one), new edition.
· Physiology: Started with Kaplan note (2006-2007), it’s very comprehensive, especially with the new lecturer in Kaplan Video. I loved the endocrine and cardiovascular chapters. I also tried BRS of Physiology (Costanzo) but then had to give up due to its compact patterns
· Biochemistry: Started with Kaplan note and Lippincott’s Illustrated Biochemistry. Compare with Kaplan note, this book had more thorough explanations, greater graphs and diagrams. If you did not learn Biochem before, as my case, you will definitely should read this book.
· Anatomy, Embryology, Histology: I started with new Kaplan video and Kaplan note. The lecture in video (Dr. Seiden) was the greatest I have had on gross anatomy and embryology. About Histology and Neuroanatomy, Kaplan note was enough because the DVD lectures were not so good (Dr. White). I tried HY Gross anatomy and HY Neuroanatomy and gave up soon after a few days, because I could not simply memorize the HY facts. I needed to understand. I also tried Rapid Review of Gross Anatomy and Embryology (2nd edition). It was a complete Review Book of Anatomy, but the exam didn’t require that much. Clinical oriented Anatomy is great, but it was not so helpful in a short prep like mine.
· Pharmacology: Kaplan note + Katzung’s (for clarification, in some cases). Kaplan note is enough if it is more organized. The ANS drugs part is enough for the exam.
· Microbiology, and Immunology: Kaplan Note + Levingson’s. If you read well Kaplan Note, it is more than enough. Levingson is only for clarification
· Genetics: just Kaplan’s
· Behavioral Science: Kaplan note is great for all purposes. I have Fadem’s BRS Behavioral Science, and when I read it, found that it was a very great, great book on BS, but I didn’t have time for it. Ethics : Conrad Fisher ‘s 100 ethics questions will give you the principles of Ethics and Pts-Doc relationships. I love this well written book and just read the principle, not the Qs bank. Statistics: Kaplan note is more than enough.
Review books
FA 2007. I got this one early, with FA Question & Answer, but I never touch the latter! FA is praised by all of examinees, but I found it was difficult for me to read. The facts are not organized in any manners, just FACTS and TRULY HYs. In fact, I lost around 10 questions because I could not memorize FA!
MedEssential I read once while I prepared my step 2CK. I have no comments. If you read KLN, you can try this for memorization (which is impossible to me).
Question banks
· Usmleworld. I registered 3 months for first round (in tutor mode, with slow speed 50 Qs/ 2-3 days at the beginning). After 3 months, I registered a new account, to have the fresh Qs and did the 2nd round.
· Kaplan Q bank. 1 month before the exam, and I stopped after doing around 1000 Qs. At the beginning of my prep, I intend to save for NBME so I didn’t purchase it. But later I thought if I failed, I would regret for not having the Kaplan Qs
· Kaplan Qbook. In some blocks. I got around 75-85%, then switched to Qbank due to lack of time.
· NBME. I am glad to say that, I never regret to do them all, online. The formats and the topics they are asking in NBME are much like the real exam. After I did NBME Form 1 and Form 3, I felt that I lack of some kind of knowledge which could not be provided by KLN, UW or Kap Qbank. I checked the Ans one by one. Then, in the exam, I was glad that I had gone through them.
Forums
· Prep4usmle. Give me strength to write my prep, with many supports from friends. Give me the Ans of NBME Qs ( the correct ones after many examinee’s discussions, I realized that the offline NBME Ans had some incorrect choices)
· Usmleforum. Dynamic, much of resources
Links on net
· Webpath. I read all of the pictures there, they are just great
· Netanatomy. Very helpful for CT and MRI evaluation. A must for review of cross sectional anatomy
Actually I must say that step 2 CK helped me a lot in my step 1 prep, especially in Pathology, Pharmacology and Behavioral Science.
In my prep, after 1st reading in each subject, I took UW questions in the same area, subject wise, tutor mode. I read all explanations in right and wrong Ans, in all optional choices. In the case that I were not clear about the concepts (guessing, hesitation or illiteracy), I reread the section or the chapter. Yeah, it took much time and was bored. Sometime I took notes, by typing into excel file, but later on I didn’t review my note at all. So don’t waste time for careful and detail notes.
I started my prep with Anatomy, and I got stuck in nearly 3 weeks, I felt that I forgot all the things, especially gross anatomy when I read in the forum. I look for books, in a hunger state, and end up with RR Anatomy. But, it was too thick to read!. After 4 weeks, I stopped and said to myself that I will come back later.
I spent some time reading Levingson’ s Micro and Immuno as I said, read KLN and did not sastify. The same as I did with Robbins’ Pathology.
The last month, the second reading helped. Yeah, that was the true read, cramming. I could feel the value of each word and sentence in KLN which I had omitted in the 1s read. In the second read, with the HY in my mind (after doing UW Qs), I could grasp more Facts, and HY stuffs, and understand them. No boring anymore, no dreadful thickness of the books. After I read each subject, I did either UW or Kaplan Qbank again. And this time I felt OK about Biochem, Anatomy and Immunology which I was worry much about them. The remaining preps I wrote in my prep journal.
Concerning UW score, due to doing in tutor mode, it might not reflect the true thing. In some blocks I got high 70 but in other low 60 and there were some in 50s (Biochem) or lower (Molecular Biology, Genetics). I didn’t care much about the UW scores with the exam’s, but I really care about my improvement after readings.
I want to say something more about NBME, the evaluation bars of NBME results helped me to find out my weakness. In the first 3 Forms, I always had my BS, Biochem, and Anatomy as borderline. I focus much on these fields and finally the 4th forms, I got all in the upper panel, except for Anatomy. I know that, I can improve what I already know and good at it, but I cannot improve what I am weak in a short time of few days. Therefore, I thought that I was ready for the Test.
Finally, I would like to say that, everyone has his/her own style of preparing for this exam. Therefore, what I wrote here is only suitable and applicable for my own case. I didn’t listen to Papi’s lecture and I read FA just in few chapters. So I think I cannot have any advice on how to have a good prep.
Your inputs and questions are welcome, I really appreciate.
All the best
Edited by yuna on 09/14/07 - 04:50 PM
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| edie
I can, and I will.
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Yay, Yuna!!!! The long awaited EE is here, thank you, and congrats again to you 
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| vanilla
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congratulations!!!!
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
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Thank you Yuna, such a deatil post .
CONGRATULATION on your 99 , 242 .
GL to your residency & GL in your future
All the best Tidus might meet Yuna soon  
So long mate , do not forget us , am sure going to miss u alot here 
GL
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| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 193
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excellent write-up, yuna. thanks for the same.
yep, am gonna miss you too. and, thank you so very much for all your advice.
wishing you all the luck you need to match at the program that's best for you.
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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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| mytime
Go Marching in!
Topics: 40
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| | 09/14/07 - 08:49 PM
1 of 1 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #6 |
Thank u Yuna! I might just purchase the online one too.
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 435
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Congratulations Yuna, and thank you for detailed experience. I think it is helpful.
A question from leadres: Didn't neither of you find this post helpful? I think this is a helpful experience becuase it gives many hints about a prep.
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| hedieh
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Wow! I realized just now that you've got a double 99! So your experiences are definitely helpful! best wishes for you on the match!
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| yoga
usmlelogy professor
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that was useful thnx yuna 4 sharing
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| yoga
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4 patho would it b enough f i did the audio & papi notes ( the one scanned with spiral)?becuz i dont have the rapid review book at local book stores would that b enough 2 excel patho??do u think kaplan patho notes worth reading ?
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| ShweHope99.9998
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Yuna , have a great week end.
Enjoy the freedom of exams, no more to get ECFMG certificate , you're now MD , WOW .
Q.. answer later , no rush , just my curiosity ... so ..
1. ..... no FA at all or not much [ if then which FA section is better to look at ] , also ...
2. ..... KME once at ur st 2 prep , so how long ago is KME b4 st 1 study & also to st 1 exm D day , last , not the least ...
3. ...... u study all the time in ... subj wise , no sysytem wise at all , is that correct ?? ,
4. oh ... one more re: UW, kap Q bank , Q book ... never timed mode, tutor mode only and all subj wise after each subj , no mixing Qs style as all subj to mix in , right ??
5. not the last one yet ... this one will have more detail to be ask later, soon, since we all love to have you enjoy ur week end , as I too love to enjoy my summery not raelly, but fall , winter cold sunny week end .
ok ... Q .. 5 .. is .... all the texts , add on books apart from kap Ln as main... which books you read ..the whole book .. as cover to cover .. from the beginning to the end , if some are not then which chapters, topics to be read in which book for which subj ?? ,
same Q as for the web you had use .. like .. net anatomy, web path .. you read all web or if not which to see, read in which system ??
6. ..... Thank you yuna , pl , do not have to answer all Qs at once ,...
..... just the UW , Kap Q bank is the PRIORITY , that NEED to get the ANSWER that .. I will like to know .. you did Qs after the read , not side by side with the read , right or wrong .. this is the last Q for this post 
Thank you yuna, will ask more when have Qs . As like kap LN study, after the 2nd read of ur post today, just have more input then more Qs in mind to ask you , just to be sure I get it right
So might ask more after read your post again more later
Was so happy for ur score at 1st time read ur post , so it was just a read, never get the idea of real meaning of ur guide in the post , my bad, just like our 1st read of Kap LN
GL in your residency
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| yuna
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 229
| | 09/15/07 - 02:09 PM
3 of 3 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #12 |
Dear Shwe, my bad of late response. I only have time when my lil one napping.
Here are some of clarifications about my post
ShweHope99.9998 wrote:Yuna , have a great week end. Enjoy the freedom of exams, no more to get ECFMG certificate , you're now MD , WOW . Q.. answer later , no rush , just my curiosity ... so .. 1. ..... no FA at all or not much [ if then which FA section is better to look at ] , also ... After I took the test, I think the most chapters I should have read are the subjects that require memorization in FA 2007 (the first part) : Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology. the classification of viruses, how to classify the bacteria. But I think if you or I have time, First Aid in the last month of prep is A MUST. 2. ..... KME once at ur st 2 prep , so how long ago is KME b4 st 1 study & also to st 1 exm D day , last , not the least ... I just scanned the book. Especially the system-wise chapters. I almost forgot it. 3. ...... u study all the time in ... subj wise , no sysytem wise at all , is that correct ?? , Shwe, it is correct. Almost the time is subject wise. I had my experience in step 2 CK, while I do mixed Qs, timed mode. When I need to read or revise things, I need so many books at a time. It will take more time. I did my combined Qs in NBME and found it was so helpful. However, I did combine system wised in Patho, Physio, Pharmaco when I did my first round UW, because they were strongly related each other 4. oh ... one more re: UW, kap Q bank , Q book ... never timed mode, tutor mode only and all subj wise after each subj , no mixing Qs style as all subj to mix in , right ?? Yes, I got my experience from step 2 CK. UW is my study tool. Kaplan Qbank is my study test (timed mode, mixed or subject wise. This time I did only subject wise because I needed to fast review). Q book I also did in timed mode 5. not the last one yet ... this one will have more detail to be ask later, soon, since we all love to have you enjoy ur week end , as I too love to enjoy my summery not raelly, but fall , winter cold sunny week end . ok ... Q .. 5 .. is .... all the texts , add on books apart from kap Ln as main... which books you read ..the whole book .. as cover to cover .. from the beginning to the end , if some are not then which chapters, topics to be read in which book for which subj ?? , The only books I can read from cover to cover are KLN . Believe me, when you read KLN the 2nd time, you will find they are so good for understanding the concepts and enough for over 80% of the question. Don't rush, dont' omit. If you have done Qs bank, a revision from cover to cover is worth. It took me about 2-3 days for the 2nd read for each subject. It is not so hard, isn't it? same Q as for the web you had use .. like .. net anatomy, web path .. you read all web or if not which to see, read in which system ?? I read webpath for both my step 2ck and step 1, all the pictures. Just a scan to know what they are talking about (a pathologic term...)
For netanatomy. I read and memorized the cross-sectional structure anatomy on CT. They have very great illustration there.
6. ..... Thank you yuna , pl , do not have to answer all Qs at once ,... ..... just the UW , Kap Q bank is the PRIORITY , that NEED to get the ANSWER that .. I will like to know .. you did Qs after the read , not side by side with the read , right or wrong .. this is the last Q for this post Shwe, you can ask any Qs, don't hesitate. And check your PM today Thank you yuna, will ask more when have Qs . As like kap LN study, after the 2nd read of ur post today, just have more input then more Qs in mind to ask you , just to be sure I get it right So might ask more after read your post again more later Was so happy for ur score at 1st time read ur post , so it was just a read, never get the idea of real meaning of ur guide in the post , my bad, just like our 1st read of Kap LN GL in your residency
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| yuna
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Thanks Edie, Paheli, Hedieh, mytime, vanilla, yoga and Shwe. I just tried to narrate my prep, but my language can't help me much. Because of that I don't have the ability to tell in detail what I did like in some prep posts. Something I wrote might make you confused  
Yoga, if you started with Papi's audio then Papi's notes, they are more than enough because Papi integrated everything in it. However, you should start with pure pathology chapters first, then the remaing is after your finish of other subjects. KLN is also a pure patho note.
I really appreciate your inputs
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| new_n_lost
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Ur Experience has one thing that none of th eother experiences have Humbleness. Thats wht makes it unique. Its a nice change.
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| hedieh
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Agree with new_ n_ lost.
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| paheli
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agree with hedieh!!
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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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| faraym
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Agree with paheli !!!!
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| shwe
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Wow , please let me agree with my dear sister faraym
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| shwe
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Thanks yuna, thank you for your patient & answer all my questions .
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| ShweHope99.9998
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Dear Yuna ,
Thanks a million. Thank you for answer all the Qs in clear deatil , easy to follow colorful fashion .
Thank you
GL
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| yuna
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shwe wrote:
Wow , please let me agree with my dear sister faraym
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| mytime
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OhNO agree very much so with everyone above!!!!!!!!!!
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| hedieh
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Yuna, plz plz don't forget to tell us after you will be matched. It's evident that you'll get a decsent position, I am really interested to see that!
I wish you goodluck again, and wish that all of your efforts be paid back in the best way!
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| paheli
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guys, this is sounding like a farewell thread............i don't like it
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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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| shwe
Forum Elite
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PHL ,
If in that case , we can open fare-well thread at support forum, instead of here for yuna , MDU , Edie , KT , ? anuba , GGT etc. , who else have done all exm or almost all or some will not go for next step though done st 1 .
May be we should have that new big thread or forum for that as new sections .
What do you think ??
GL
GL yuna in ur choice , dream of residency at best prg u like .
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