mjmj
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 2
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Dear Friends,
My husband is a fmg who has been preparing for USMLEs for over 3.5 years. He failed step 1 twice and has yet to take step 2 for which he has studied for almost two years. He has all the USMLE material he needs. He has taken Kaplan video lectures a long time ago. Even now when he is preparing for step 2, he has a very hard time focusing on his studies. I see him doing USMLE World and after a couple of hours, he is done reviewing 7 questions or so. It has become very difficult for both of us and it is harder and harder as his medical knowledge becomes older.
If any of you have been there before and/or have any suggestions or even just some encouragement or kind words, they would be highly appreciated.
Thanks for reading.
Worried Wife
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,125
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Get motivation by studying with a partner, or participate in discussing in any USMLE forum.
Good luck.
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The Key to Succeed is Patience.
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| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
Posts: 767
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For actual step by step guidance and inspiration: please look up this thread by Askdoc, helped many of us old IMGs: http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/34492
If no time to read through the entire thread, please read this attached summary doc: efforts of Praying4a99, and Mydream (not sure who else, but some kind soul/s in this forum) so credit goes to them....
Good luck and keep telling him NEVER GIVE UP. So nice of you to try to help him!! so you on your own part, just be there to support and push him, never LET HIM GIVE UP (if this is where his heart lies). 
Attached Files:
askdoc_step1.doc (135 KB, 21 downloads)
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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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| Doc750
transfer:step 3 prison
Topics: 52
Posts: 636
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I had a similiar problem where I couldn't really study medicine for more then 20-30 min. It would take me forever to come back from a study break and when I did, it would be very slow reading. I had taken Kaplan live lectures twice, and still no good. I couldn't even pay attention to the lecturer after the second week b/c he would basically stand at the top of the room and read the kaplan notes back to me.
One day one of my fellow students recommended a program out in Illinois (PASS program). The course is taught by Dr. Francis, and he claims it's for step I, II, and III. Though most of the foucs is on step I. The biggest thing I got out of the course was that now I actually UNDERSTOOD medicine. Before this course I would just sit down and try to memorize everything. After awhile I would hit a point, where I just couldn't memorize anymore, and everything I had reviewed in the begining was now gone. Pharmacology and Mirco were the worst. The way he teaches the course is that there are only about a half a dozen disease processes in medicine, and that every single disease known to man falls into one of these 7 disease processes. Once you catogorize the disease, your quickly able to know what the mech of action is, what the complications are, what test to run, and how to treat. In addition he sits down with each student and does questions with you. He points out the pitfalls and traps to look out for. He teaches you how to read a question stem and to quickly go through and pickout the relevant information.
Before the course I would pickup First Aid or kaplan notes, and it would take me all day to read 10 pages. Now I'm able to pick up a review book and knock out an entire section in an afternoon like I was reading a regular novel, and actually RETAIN the information in a useful manner.
The first time I took step one I studied for an entire year, took kaplan and failed. I had then started my third yr rotations, and had taken the kaplan course again and it still didn't help. When I finally went and took the course, two months after completeing the four week program I took step one and passed in the low 80's.
I'm studying for step II now and it's going much easier, and I'm able to do the work without the kaplan live lectures. I do have the notes though and review them from time to time. But mostly I just do questions. I'm giving my step II prep 3-4 months as well.
My recomendation to you is to tell him to attend the course there for four weeks. Then stay in champaign, IL for an additional two months and then take the test. The great thing about that place is that it's in the middle of 100's of miles of cornfields. There is very little to nothing to do there other then study. Plus you don't have all the distractions of home to keep you from your studies. Everyone around you who attends that course is in a similiar boat as you. And together you get the work done quickly. good luck to you and your husband. I have been in his shoes, and it sucks being there.
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Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.
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| Harji
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 24
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Hi! MjMj, know its hard but its not impossible. I’m 2002 graduate and I took my step in 2006 and CS in 2007. When I started USMLE prep after 4 yr.of graduation .I was basically out of touch with the books . It was hard to concentrate and sit for long time with the USMLE books .I did this dance for 1month ( sit on table for 15-20 min and have brake of 10-15 min ). Then I sit for a whole day without books in my room and come up with the idea why not start with some intrusting book ( any he like’s to read ) in my case it was noble ,that stabled my sitting then I started with my intrusting subject ( Physiology ) . After that it was going smooth . There is no guaranty that what is worked for going to work for every body ,he can create his own way to make it more intrusting. 1. THE KEY IS YOUR SUPPORT HE NEEDS THAT ,I KNOW YOU MAY BE TIRED OF ALL THIS .WHAT YOU HAVE TO PUSH HIM AND PUSH HIM HARD .I’M SURE YOU DOING IT BUT NEVER GIVE UP YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE NOW WHO CAN PUSH EM AND HE IS GONG TO LISTEN . 2. SEND HIM BACK TO KAPLAN I KNOW ITS EXPENCIVE BUT THEY HAVE PERFECT ENVIORMENT FOR STUDY AND HE NOT GOING TO DO IT AT HOME AS HE TRING FROM LONG TIME AND TELL HIM, THIS IS HIS CHANCE TO PROOF HIM SELF. I WISH YOU AND YOUR HASBAND GOOD LUCK . JUST TELL HIM HE CAN DO IT ,
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| sureshrx
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 33
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never never never give up. if he is a doctor already it was n t easy getting here was it? my close friend failed step 1 thrice. he was close to giving up...but decided to go for one last try ...and guess what came out with flying colors.. so dont worry. he ll ge through.
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| AAzad
Forum Guru
Topics: 55
Posts: 457
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Motivation????????
it is your life. take it serious , you have to underestand the need of this , ruin all the bridges behind you and let just pass exam..it is difficult but much easier than real life .All of us really have and had the same difficult time and distraction , but there is only one goal, to pass the exam when there are other doors closed then you realize you have to do it , I wish him good luck , and I encourage him to study hard and believe on him self ,and know that he can do it and he must do it
Good luck
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AAzad
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| mjmj
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 2
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Thank you all for your encouraging responses. I hope that we get through this hurdle once and for all. God bless you all.
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