gr8doc
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 210
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Alas, relieved. Guys it is not hard to get this score but at the same time you can not take the exam lightly. It is a very well balanced exam covering almost everything you know about medicine. I am a little numb today and really don't know what to write.
Let me thank everyone on this forum without their intelligent and thought provoking inputs things would not have been possible.
I'll be happy to answer any querries. Guys let me take a Day off to enjoy my success.
Good Luck to everyone.
Edited by gr8doc on 12/06/07 - 05:02 AM
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| mytime
Kick my butt!
Topics: 39
Posts: 3,174
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Yeaaaaaaaaaa! CONGRATS!
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| docsuccess
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 30
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Congrats gr8doc! That's a gr8 Score!!!
Thanks for giving hope to people like me! I hope i pass second time around...
Could you please detail your prep...
Good luck on the match!
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| smalley
Forum Elite
Topics: 51
Posts: 284
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congrats
pls do share ur study methods
have a nice day
tc
___________________
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint-Isaiah 40:31
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| gr8doc
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 210
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Thanks Guys,
I will keep it simple.
I first finished Kaplan notes which ofcourse are a little inadequate but are a must. I started with Psych and Ethics,which i considered my weakest of all. then did surgery and Gynec which are my strongest and gave me a little more confidence. The next was Peds which again I was not very comfortable. Then at the end was the Internal med which i kept purposely for the end so that I am relatively fresh with it at the time of exam.
I started doing UW when I was reading Peds. I would strongly recommend doing UW over a period of 3 months and ofcourse as everyone else in their posts have suggested, taking down notes from it. UW is complementary to the Kaplan Notes without which, forget about scoring, i would think even passing is difficult.
My UW score ranged from 46-84 with an average of 61. As everyone else, even I would look up at the expected score based on the UW performances on various websites, & I would really get depressed but at the end of the day I knew that I didn't know so much, now after reading the explanations, I know that much more & this attitude and approach really helped me. So all those who are not really doing good at the UW, don't loose hopes, I am sure you all can do it.
I did everything except the internal med from Q Book ( Its a good book to keep you stimulated and also it has a feel good factor when you score 80% on that )
I solved only 2 blocks from the Kaplan Q bank just on the previous day of exam & scored 70 with some more new concepts (I would recommend doing Kaplan Q bank if you have time )
Also, there is this pocket book called "Boards and Wards", its a very nice and compact book for last minute revision. Do it if you have time and try to see as many pics as possible from Harrison, Dermatlas, or whichever source you have.
I started my first ( & Only ) revision three weeks prior to the exam and was very comfy at the time of exam.
My best Tip will be , "DO NOT PANIC or GET ANXIOUS". You know it all, you have read it all so just go there with an open mind set. have a good time. Enjoy those nine hours with taking adequate and as required breaks & I am sure you'll do well.
I'll be happy to answer any more querries.
Wish you all Good Luck and " May the Force be With You ".
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| neuroblastoma
Forum Guru
Topics: 99
Posts: 1,015
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Congratts buddy!!!! thanks for sharing your experience. have a enjoyfull time now!!!
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| Rx
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 28
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Hey gr8doc! CONGRATS for great accomplishment! Did you do FA? Do you suggest to going for it? Also did you do DVDs? Is that a must to pass? And lastly tell me when you say you made notes from UW. Does that mean the notes were about only those points missing in Kaplan notes or about those Qs that you answered wrong? Or separate notes for each should be made instead? What do you say? Thanks for sparing your time to help us.
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| gr8doc
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 210
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Thanks,
I didn't even see FA, so i won't be able to say whether it is good or bad, whatever reviews I had got from this forum is that it is not as good as the STEP 1 FA, so I didn't bother to see it.
I don't have DVDs & didn't feel the need for doing them as the notes are self explanatory & really Really good.
When I say that make notes from UW, it means obviously of the points not covered in the Kaplan notes. And for obvious reasons, those were the wrong answers. What I had done was find some little space on the side of the kaplan notes & either write there or put sticky notes there. I am an OCD who wants all the related topics at the same place and not spreaded all over. I know some people even make notes in a separate book and read it while doing the topic, however, I preferred keeping everything at the same place.
Hope this helps.
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| Rx
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 28
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Thank you so much buddie for answering in detail. That's what I had guessed but I wanted to confirm it. I myself have planned not to go for DVDs at all. But finding many people recommending it badly makes me feel worried that it might make me score low. But then examples like you really helps. I myself also believe in having all notes in same book so that its easier to review everything in one place in last moments. Anyway, I pray that may God bless you with a bright successful future. GL!
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| falcon
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 196
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Hi, gr8doc
Congratulation on ur dream score. I wanted to ask about the importance of DVDs, but I just read that u already said those r not that helpful. So I am also not listening DVDs.
GL for ur other exam
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| multifactorial
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 546
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hey!great score and especially great preparation strategy.the way you did it is so simple and straightforward that it makes many of us extremely hopeful and confident about our prep.
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| srita
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 67
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hearty congratulatoins, iam new on this forum, just want to congratulate you for great accomplishment
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| oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 53
Posts: 889
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Congrats again and thanks for sharing
___________________
Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
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| supra
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 358
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Hey gr8doc! CONGRATS for da great accomplishment
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| gr8doc
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 210
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Thanks everyone.
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| drdt
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 10
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Hi gr8doc,
I did 1 reading of Kaplan then took UW got average 45% after completing whole UW (all timed,unused,46 Q block)
I read kaplan again and started UW again,now in 8 timed unused 46 Q blocks got average of 63%.
I still have 20 days in my exam but I m doing a full time job so can spare effectively only evening time and weekends.
 Please suggest me is this UW score now is OK to take the exam after 20 days?
I need just to clear my exam. of course better to have good score but not worried about the score because my aim is to get ECFMG certificate and not going for match or residency.
Please reply soon. Highly appreciate ur advise.
Thank u
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| gr8doc
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 210
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drdt,
in my view, you can go ahead and smash the exam, however, I would advise you to write the NBME ( which ofcourse I didn't write ) which according to everyone on this forum is the best predictor. Since you still have 20 dys, I would suggest you to take that and see where you stand.
Good Luck !!!
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| MRMAVERICK
Forum Guru
Topics: 40
Posts: 719
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congrats
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| gr8doc
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 210
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Thanks MRMAVERICK.
Just to add to the the list of things I studied,
"Goljan's Pathology". I really don't know how I forgot to mention about it, but believe me, His book is the Ultimate Bible, and there were atleast 10 -12 questions which were directly from step 1. His book also gives you a lot of understanding of the subject, so I would strongly recommend everyone to go though it atleast once before the exam. It won't take much time if you've read it earlier.
GL everyone.
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