good_girl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 12
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Hey Guys. Just curious if any one out there working full time and preping for the test. If so, what is your strategy, what works and what doesn't?
There are plenty peopele here who keep telling me to quite, but harder it gets, harder I study. Am I just kidding myself? Exam is very hard and no way I can do both... Should I quite? What do you think?
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 435
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Dear Good Girl:
It depends on many factors in your life that you should consider them all to be able to get a wise decision, so this is very hard to tell you a wise opinion by this way,only thing that i think it could be helpful is:
Have you everdone a realstic assessment of your ability on step 1? If you hadn't, I think it is good first to do one of NBMEs, to know where r u stnding.May be you are too afraid of exam , so if you got a pass score on NBME, then you know that you only have to strenghten your abilities and it is possible with having a full time job at the same time.
But if you didn't get a pass score on NBME,( I hope it is not your case) you hould consider all facts off your life, to get a wise decision about what to do. ( get a part time job? postpone exam?..?......?)
I hope this hard time pass through your life very soon.
goodluck
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Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
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| GoodGirl
Forum Guru
Topics: 102
Posts: 1,395
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Hello,
I got a twin here ! Welcome aboard in the forum world !
GoodGirl ( the original one  )
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Prioritize & simplify.
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| good_girl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 12
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Thank you so a great idea about selfassesment, Hedieh. I am pretty sure I have to postone exam...it is been awhile since I graduated, so I have to review/re-study evertyhing that you can think of.. ..Just wish something it will be more houres in a day, so I can do everythign you have to do...ahh..wishfull thinking.
Thanks Hedieh.
Sorry and Hello Original GoodGirl. Can I be a good girl two?..becasue i am a good one too. 
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| GoodGirl
Forum Guru
Topics: 102
Posts: 1,395
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So let's study hard, so we can become the best ones ! 
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Prioritize & simplify.
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| md_be
banned
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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its not impossible.i did all 3 steps with a full time job.my strategy was work and study ,study and work.nothing else.i did not have the luxury of giving up the job.i did have a prttime job with oncalls for the last 1.5 mths of step 2.
i know a lot of people who cleared exams with work with a good score.the key is to remain focussed and work hard.
exams r hard but if that is what u want to do,go ahead and take the challenge head on.
if any one else can do it ,u an do it too.
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| Meduza
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 8
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hedieh,
Could you,please, tell more about NBME? What is inside, how Basic Science 1,2,3,4 differ from each other? Is it helpful to buy them?
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| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 435
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Meduza:
I haven't done any of them yet, but they are the best predictors of potential performance on real test.
Lots of our freinds in forum have done NBMEs, I think they could answer you better than me.
Goodluck
___________________
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
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| good_girl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 12
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md_be:
Thanks you so much for the encouragement. I need it really bad. Just need to know that this is doable and someone done it working full time. I am studing and working and this is pretty much all I do.
How long it took you to prepare to prepare for the step 1?
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| wildwind00
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 29
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Well its good to see there are people on board on this one - full time job + family + usmle , so here is my story , I work mon to sat 60 hrs/ week
study for 20 - 35 hrs / week , basically just work and study.
I have learnt to put people in 2 categories +ve and -ve , now most of my friends are in latter , I keep away from them , I will also advice you to do away with people who tell you to quit.
It is trying and frustrating but hopefully it will lead somewhere
good luck
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Try and Try and Try , for the pain in trying is less than the frustration of feeling lost.
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| bioguy
Forum Guru
Topics: 63
Posts: 943
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 people telling you to quit! thats terrible. you should definitely stay away from them.
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??/??/CS pass/??/4USlors/Need Visa - ok, i also need a good USMLE score !
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| good_girl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 12
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Wildwind00, bioguy, thanks and good luck to all of us.
Thanks for sharing. Like you, I am tyrign to stay away from -ve/time/energy consuming people. My work actually not that bad. I am teaching micro and some other stuff at the university. Probably 40 plus h plus lab prep...It is nice job, just feels like something is missing ...and I know what it is, my MD lisence. So, I have to go for it no matter what.
oh, by the the way if you see the "photographic memory" for sale, pls let me know. i can use some of that...
I have to say, this forum is the next best thing and is very addictive. Big hug to whoever started it
back to books...
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| neuroblast
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 13
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Good_girl ( original)
I have a story for you. (true story) I have a friend who was studying for his USMLE while working full time. Then he thought, since he is doing well he might ace the exam if he quit his job and study full time. Well he did and he passed but his score was no better than when he took the simulated exam when he was working full time ( 3 months before quitting). He now claims that when he was working it was psychological motivation to hit the books as soon as he got home but when he quit he started to slack off and get relaxed.
So it actually might help you to work. Nobody studies full time all the time anyway. You may need more time to finish everything but if you keep at it you'll do it. On the huge plus side you might get every single micro question right!
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| good_girl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 12
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Neuroblast.
Cool story Thanks. And you are right about motivation to hit the books first thing.
Yes, I am hoping to get at list micro right ...just kidding, I want it all to be right..and as soon as possible. ...Don't we all....
Thanks Neuroblast and goodluck to you and all of us.
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| vwilldoit
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 177
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hey goodgirl, I want to wish you lots of motivation for ur studies, it must be very difficult to study with a full time job, but I think God gives these situations to those who can handle it. You have the capability to handle this situation, so you will be able to go through this phase too... I wish you good luck and energy for your studies...
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just do it .....
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| dirtyplay28
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if you can quit ...do it! intensity is everything. you can study 5 years for this thing if you just read 3-4 hrs a day hear and there. not saying its impossible but if your average like me than QUIT now. or bust your @%&& for 2 years on the hopes that maybee you will pass. put it this way ,would you have been able to work full time and go to medschool. how many us students do u know do both? sorry just being honest.seems like you always hear the nice motivational stories of how people did both, but you dont hear the ones where it didnt work out. so yes, im one of them and i met plaenty others who were on there 5th year working and studying. dont listen to other people. know yourself.
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| doctor123
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 342
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Well well well, I will suggest you to quit job and give full time to ur studies. I am doing it but i dont have choice.I am going really slow might go for 2010 match but if you have choice quit job and give ur relaxed mind any no. of hours you want to give to ur studies.
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ALLAH; guide me to the Path of Success.
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| CocaCola
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 908
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I worked during my step 1 prep...
worked during my step 2 prep then stopped working the last month and half before the exam... and worried the entire time about money...
I have a child so studying during the day was a bit easier for me... however i goofed off quite a bit with the extra time...
being around medical people may be a great motivator for you... however a 40hr work weeks doesnt give alot of time for reading and questions... have you thought about going part-time temporarily???
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There is one thing we can do, and the happiest people are those who can do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. We can be all here. We can give all our attention to the opportunity before us!!!
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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I worked 60 hours a week during my studying for my steps. I think the advice here is good. A lot depends upon you. I was able to work and then go immediately after work to a librayr to study. That was pretty much all I did for several months, work and study. I had a very supportive wife who put up with me not being around and kept the house running. In the end, I did fine on my exams. It was stressful though. I have to agee with an earlier poster that knowing me, I probably wouldn't have studied more if I had been off work .... although I would have been more well rested.
If you are not at a place in your life where you can devote the majority of your free time to studying, then working may not be right for you. But if you need the money (like I did), and have the dedication, it is fine. It can be done, it has been done.
Good luck!
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| dirtyplay28
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If you are not at a place in your life where you can devote the majority of your free time to studying, then working may not be right for you.
VERY VERY TRUE. THATS WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO!
free time ,meaning not only the social going out aspect, BUT the relaxing ,sleeping watching tv aspect too. kiss that bye bye 
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| yunuz
Forum Junior
Topics: 17
Posts: 66
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I am working full time and have a family.I am studying for mle.I failed once with a 179/73.I am planning to sit again for exam in March.I need to work and have no other option at all.Period!I need to adapt a new strategy everyday.I try to get as much done when I feel I have plenty of time and no too much work.Dont have a fixed schedule.But I do have a study plan .Now I dont do much because I am fasting.But after Eid(End of fasting for muslims), this is what I am going to do:wake up at 5 am.followed by 10 min meditation, do Qs from 5.30 until 6.30.Have breakfast-Take a bus at 06:45 to work-Arrive at work at 07:50-Read until08:30- start work untill lunch-Study during luch for 01h30.
In my office,I usually have 1H to 1.5H sparetime including breaks and I study during this time.I use all my breaks for studying.
Finish work at 16H-Library from 16H to 18H.
Back home I arrive at 19H. Have diner, do family obligation, walk for half an hour,play with kids etc until 22H.Study untill 00H00.Bedtime.
In total I end up with 4 to 6 hours study every day.
Week ends I work when my kids and wife sleeping.Study hard nights because I can recover during day time.
I have to say there are some period of crisis like when my wife was ill or when I am extremely busy at work.I dont get too much done this way.
But I will not give up despite my failure once and my age(very old IMG).
As you say in this forum, no pain, no gain!
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| good_girl
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 12
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Dear friends, thank you so much for helping me to realize what I need to do.
I know I cann’t quite my job for varies reasons. So, it is not an option. Also, I cannot quite studying for MLE, because it is my dream to be a doctor here (I am IMG). I sincerely believe that I can help some one …one day.
So, with your help I understand that I have to adapt new strategy for each day (depends what is going on at work or with family). Another thing, my studying will be longer than average because of my other commitments….
Main things, Guys, by sharing your experiences, you helped me to believe that it is possible to work and to study and I thank you for that so very much.
Good luck to all us...
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