indidoc1
Forum Guru
Topics: 50
Posts: 978
| | 09/25/07 - 04:07 AM
2 of 4 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Before i explain about myself and the title, lemme put my suggestions & exam experience on record so that everyone doesn't have to wriggle through my story to get at what they want the most 
Well, i have a few suggestions...
1- Take the NBME dry run at the prometric centre u wanna take ur exam. It worked wonders fr me in reducing my anxiety levels.
2- If u wanna take the NBME online to estimate ur score, do that at leats 3 weeks before the exam so that u have time to cover up when it reveals ur weakness. I waited too long and had to go without an NBME.
3- Control Anxiety at all costs... especially in the exam. Work on a relaxation technique. Invariablly, there's gonna be a block or 2 which r gonna stump u. The trick is to just go thru them without losing ur cool. Better times lie ahead.
Now about my exam....
I reached the centre one hour before time... Had my breakfast at the hotel before leaving so, in all there were abt 2 hours between the exam n my last meal to get over the alkaline tide that Goljan describes  I spent one hour waiting at the centre relaxing and psyching myself up. Started my exam n spent one n a half minute on the tutorial... not reading it (coz i hd done that at home) Just turned a few pages of the tutorial to let the feeling of "the exam hs begun" to sink in. I skipped the rest of it n started the Qs.
They don't go for picky concepts on the exam guys... they ask about common things.. but they do go in depth into those. Asking a Q about a common disease doesn't mean that its gonna be easy. On my exam, the theme was chr. renal failure n calcium metabolism... They really dug deep into it.. It ws as if they expected me to be thorough enuff to detect a thyroid enlargement doing a P-R examination  (don't take that literally.. just to give u an idea) I took a break of 5-10 mins after every block coz thats how i had practised and studied. The 1st 3 blocks were ok but the 4th really tested me.. I didn't have any time in the 4th block to go over marked Qs.. well, i tried to stay calm during the block n took a longer break.. n the 5th block ws definitely a relief.. 6 th ws ok.. 7th tested me but ws not as tough as the 4th. But by the end of the 8 hours, i was totally drained... Really tired me out. I m hoping with all my heart that i didn't mess up Qs in my hurry or due to fatigue.
Now, something abt myself n my prep...Well guys, the title tells the story....
I took way too much time to get it over with and most of that was in the beginning. Did only 3-4 subjects while studying in my internship.. n it ws like.. 6-7 months.. After my internship, i ws still rolling along slowly when God showered on me His blessing in the form of a study partner.. FOCUS.. She's really been my pillar of strength through this time.. We have studied together, scolded ,cajoled each other n shared all the ups n downs of this rough ride. Since that time, my studies were transformed n together, we started chugging along..
Guys.. hear me out... If u get a good study partner who can be ur best friend too, study becomes a lot of fun.. We discussed lots of topics n there were 2 voices i remembered throughout my exam, Goljan's lects n our discussions. 
About study materials.. i bought lots of books but lemme make this clear THE MORE SOURCES U CONSULT, THE LESS CONFIDENT U GET N THE MORE CONFUSED TOO. So, limit ur resources.
I realised it n did only kaplan and Goljan notes. wth HY fr anat, embryo (couldn't do neuro) . Ended up doing only Qs frm the other books (BRS,etc) n can't say they helped me.
The kaplan video lects r veryyyy good.. all except micro/immuno. I did them all once.
n then we come to THE G MAN.. Goljan rocks people!!
I know we hv heard this over n over again but he really does deserve all the praise.
n then.. qbanks.. UW UW UW UW UW and UW fr me.. Did it once n took notes.. couldn't revise it b4 my exam but it surely helped.. the format on the exam ws quite similar though the questions were a little simpler n straight forward... and the exam doesn't test picky nuggets of knowledge.
And now.. fr the people who helped me get thru this time..
God 1st n my parents n FOCUS. .. can't thank them enuff.. simply can't think of words.
My forum family.. Coolsuch,Novak, NNL, KG, MT, unique, Jaide, seems, lily, anmelie, target, oldkid,aim99,zade,sss sss , proctalgia, Shwe, goodgirl .. n anyone whom my fried up brain hs forgotten.. thank u all fr making it happen fr me..
i think i have said enough.. Any questions are welcome.
Just getting nervous about my result n keeping my fingers crossed fr the score.
Good luck to every one
___________________
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!" ~ Henry Ford
|
| vwilldoit
Forum Senior
Topics: 18
Posts: 189
|
thanks for the suggestions, they are great!! good luck for your scores!!
___________________
just do it .....
|
| focusmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 0
Posts: 284
|
Glad to be of any help Indidoc........you v worked hard ....BIGGGGGG CONGRATS on getting it done real nice. May the Almighty bless u with a WONDERFUL WONDERFUL SCORE!!
(p.s. just sit and pray for me now cause i need it real bad )
|
| medocuk
IM-RES
Topics: 26
Posts: 1,499
|
Great pointers. Thanks for sharing
|
| edie
I can, and I will.
Topics: 26
Posts: 1,235
|
Thanks for sharing your EE. May you be blessed with a wonderful score 
|
| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 177
Posts: 2,418
|
wishing you a great score!
btw, absolutely funny avi!!! poor chap!!!
___________________
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.
|
| dr ruman
Forum Elite
Topics: 29
Posts: 412
|
Bravo nice job,well done,very informative and advices,wish allllllllllllll best.....
waiting for ur result post now,and one thing ur Avatar,oh my Lord its killingly funny,hehehhehehe,
welll i have a question plz plz lemme know,i have done kaplan and goljan and almost following same pattern except goljan audio lectures,i have gone thru his notes twice and tried best to nail in my brain,and i am just 4 weeks far from my exam,should i hear his audio tooo,this thing prick me alot that alll successful posts and exam experience mention his voice guiding them during exam,i really dont know wat to do plzzzzzzz any suggestion
Congratssssssss and Best luck again .............
___________________
Living each day as a preparation for the next is an exciting way to live. Looking forward to something is much more fun than looking back at something—so lets do it together
|
| indidoc1
Forum Guru
Topics: 50
Posts: 978
|
Thank u vwilldoit (what a nice username), medocuk, edie, paheli& dr ruman.
No need to thank focus here She's wth me all the time
dr ruman... about ur query... 4 weeks is not a short time before the exam. U can revise it all. Regarding goljan audios, i'd say if u hv done his notes twice and know the matter, u r well set. The audios do make it easier to recall and he creates some gr8 cross-subject associations too. The question is... have u got the time? If u have some time fr path review, i'd advise u to listen to his lects before u review his notes. Its not like u'd be doing something new before ur exam. He just elaborates on the notes and makes them funny n easy. What u don't wanna do is go into the exam with a worrying thought of "i haven't done this n that" Just go with a level head.. "Whatever i have done, i hv done it well" whether u do the audios or not.
Good luck.
___________________
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!" ~ Henry Ford
|
| indidoc1
Forum Guru
Topics: 50
Posts: 978
|
my avi represents me taking the exam... The 1st bounce is the tutorial n then the Qs hitting me one after the other n flattening me
___________________
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!" ~ Henry Ford
|
| hedieh
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 438
|
Congrats and goodluck for your score!
___________________
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
|
| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
|
OH, INDI, what a surprise !!!!! Hadn't heard from you in long time and so nice to see you back with a bang !!!!!!
All the best for a great score. Sounds like you did great. Good luck !!!!
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
|
| dr ruman
Forum Elite
Topics: 29
Posts: 412
|
thx 4 replying back.....
yeah u r so right and honst in ur opinion,yup finally i got a satisfying decision i will finish my 3rd review and with 4 revision i will try to listn but reminding myself its all ur wellness and grip of knowledge that matters,thx doc
and gud explanation of avatar ,yeah its real same experience in day to day prep
___________________
Living each day as a preparation for the next is an exciting way to live. Looking forward to something is much more fun than looking back at something—so lets do it together
|
| target
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 531
|
Good show indi, hats off for getting through !
___________________
In Him I trust !
|
| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,600
|
INDI , thought I have congratulate to u here already , guess not , I did at other main thread .
You're welcome re; ur thank you note, all I did is like other families at main thread , destress or have sense of humor & support , encourage, wish , pray for each others , especially u too , when ever runs into good & bad or sick time , days .
Congratulation , GL in ur score , & next steps .
GL
|
| indidoc1
Forum Guru
Topics: 50
Posts: 978
|
Thank u hedieh,unique, dr ruman, target,& shwe
___________________
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!" ~ Henry Ford
|
| maxartem
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
|
congrates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
| dr_student
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 45
|
CONGRATES
u did a great job....
Have u done UW only or kaplan also? How did u score?
|
| indidoc1
Forum Guru
Topics: 50
Posts: 978
|
Thank u maxartem & dr_student..
dr_student... i did UW only. To be very honest, i hd wanted to do kaplan also but just didn't have time in the end.
___________________
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!" ~ Henry Ford
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
