arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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Dear colleagues and friends:
I read First Aid, some of usmleworld, that CS blog and practiced with 13 different people (both doctors and non-doctors). The test was exactly what I was expecting. Not easier, not more difficult. No different CC, no different challenging questions, nothing at all! Even my flaws were what I expected! Good surprise: the space in the PN was a little bigger than the FA's. And I finished the history part before the "5 minutes left" warning, which I never did in practice. The SPs are very quick in answering "no".
The big mistery now is how much of my good doing counts for my "pass", and how much of my errors count for a "fail". I was far from perfect, but I did my best. Even if I had practiced one more month, I wouldn't have been much better than that. Not in such a hurry... I stuttered a little in the first case, but after the third I was pretty much myself, accent and all, but using eight years of experience as a doctor and seven years living in USA in my favor. And it felt very good counseling about things I am so sure about.
I want to give a big public "thank you" to Dr. Ana Maria Garcia, for so much couching she did to me, having passed the test already, meaning she was not getting anything from it, only spending her time helping someone in need. That showed me how good a doctor she is, a true caring person. And to Lily: meeting a person like you was one of the many positive things that happened during the preparation for this tests. I really wish you the best.
Be careful with whom you practice with. I talked to a guy I hope I'll never meet in person. He made me feel terrible, as if I was a kindergartener trying to pass a rock science test. Horrible experience! He tried to defeat me, not to help me... at all! He should try and be a good human being before being a doctor! Oh, well... Life isn't always fair...
I am available to answer any question. I'll post the result on March 26th. Please, don't ask what the cases were, I won't take the risk of having an irregular behavior and loosing everything at this point! I hope you know, it's nothing personal, and I believe nobody really needs that kind of information. 
Edited by arlete on 04/17/08 - 05:20 AM
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| silver
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what do you consider is the most important and absolute must thing(s) to do while studying for CS?
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| wasedf
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Thanks arlete for your experience. Just for you to know, you are a huge inspiration. I am still preparing for CK and your tips are really handy.
Is it best to practise with a medically oriented person or just with anybody? And how long preparation time is typically needed?
Wish you all the best in your results and the match!
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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silver: practice, practice, practice! The improvement you'll have in one month studying and practicing for it is amazing! You'll see how the pertinent questions start coming to your mind, how flexible you become to chief complaints you didn't study for, and how secure you start feeling once you get what the test is about. 
wasedf: Had I dedicated only to this test, 3 weeks to one month would have been more than enough. I practiced with both medical and non-medical people. They oriented me in different aspects: the non-medical more about accent, demeanor, empathy, even a word I invented ("considerating" instead of "considering"), and the medical about more professional things. Medical people are tougher to please, once they start saying you're doing good, you probably are. Non-medical people go: "I wish all the doctors treated me like that!", and you can only laugh, because you know in a daily basis no doctor says so many "I am sorry"s, which, by the way, if said too much, sound completelly fake! 
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| jole
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All the best Arlete.Am sure u'll do just fine.
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| caduceus_indya
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good post arlete....
u r right about selecting study partner...
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| silver
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good luck arlete!
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| dokidok
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How did you find the people you practised with?
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| ing
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Good luck arlete.
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| drdg
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Hi, arlete,
Congratulations! At least you have done with your test. Of course, thank you for your sharing!
You will definetly pass this test. You are right, the only way to pass this test for IMG like us is practice.
Good luck for your residency!
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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dokidoc: I used Skype, after finding people in this forum and usmleforum that wanted to practice with me. I found a girl in orkut and we practiced by phone. Then I had my husband and a few friends that came over and even made a new friend, a girl that works at a Starbucks near my house that was a wonderful help!
Thank you for your wishes, guys!
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| draashna
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Hey arlete..
Congrats for being done with the exam. I am sure you will pass..I had read a few of your posts and it seemed taht you were well prepared.
I had a few ques to ask from you.
How much time did you dedicate to this exam??
I am studying with my 6mnth old and all i have done is barely finished reading FA. N o practise at all.Can you advice me if it wud be possible with a kid. Given my exam is in april end ( but i wanted to get over it sooner tahn that)
Did you read the minicases in FA?? As in did you memorise them quite well. My brain is quite resistant to them and i feel they are not well written.?
Did you watch all the videos?
How did you generally proceed with the case...I mean things taht you did in all...like did you show empathy in every case like when the patient mentioned his HPI. Did you always say Ohh I am sorry to hear that.
Did you talk to them while washing hands?
What were so many I am sorry's were about??
Did you watch the UW videos?
Huhhh I think lots of questions for you. Its like another exam lol!!
Anws all the best for your result
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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draashna:
I don't know if my way of doing things is the right way, since I don't know the result yet, but I'll answer your questions. If I don't pass, then you do the opposite I did, OK?
I studied for 6 weeks. But I have three kids. I got some people in this forum and usmleforum that wanted to practice and added them to my Skype. But I never knew when I would be able to practice, so I didn't set dates and times, I told them if they were online and available, they would invite me, and vice-versa. Sometimes the kids got too playful and I had to stop what I was doing and apologize. I had a few friends coming to my house when the kids were at school/daycare. So, yes, it is possible, even with three kids!
I read the minicases twice, but the ones at the end of the book helped me more. They were the ones I practiced. I didn't memorize anything except "PAMHUGSFOSS-SODA" , "LIQORAAA", "ONCALLIDIOT". But I learned what to order in each case (and forgot a few things as well, during the test).
I listened to the Kaplan course and watched the Virginia videos and Illinois head to toe physical exam.
What I did in all cases: knocked at the door, introduced myself, told I was the resident who would take care of them and said "nice to meet you", shaking hands. I asked permission to write down the history. I sat and crossed my legs to write down in 10 of the cases. Some of them I draped right away, some before the PE (because I had forgotten). I talked to all of them while washing hands, sometimes about the weather, sometimes asking a little detail, sometimes saying I would need to do a rectal/genital/pelvic exam later. Sometimes I asked a few questions during the PE (but I don't think one should) or even before summarizing. I summarized for everybody, gave a few possibilities for diagnosis, talked about the tests and asked if they had any questions. Only one patient I had to shake hands before this last question, because the encounter ended.
I said "I am sorry to hear that" once, after the chief complaint, and if the patient had had a recent difficult, emotional event. What I noticed practicing is that some colleagues hear the patient say "I am a widow, my husband died 5 years ago", and they say "Oh, I am sorry". It's not wrong, but it sounds very fake, since the patient must have been over it a long, long time ago. So I showed empathy in other ways, for example, giving lots of praise to people who quit smoking ("Oh, I know how difficult it must have been, my husband did the same and it was so hard. I admire you, you must have a very strong will), and "Congratulations, it sounds like you take good care of yourself, having such a good, balanced diet! Keep up the good work!". And when they asked the challenging question: "Yes, I understand your concern about the possibility of being... (the diagnosis they are concerned about) but I am not sure about it at the moment, but even if it is, you and I can work together and make the best of it, shall we?" And I apologized every time I ellicited pain during the PE.
Sometimes I counseled while doing the history or even during PE, so I don't know if they said I was disorganized, maybe they did, but from the second patient on I started being so spontaneous, as if I was working in my clinic, that I didn't let every counselling for the end, and risk forgetting about it. Well, let's see how it goes. I think one should practice to be organized and do things in a systematic way, but if I say I did, I'll be lying! I tried my best to, though...
And I made a lot of eye contact and smiled a looooot, but that's how I am in real life, never needed practice!
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| njcjzy
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Arlete, I am sure you will pass. Rest assured for that. And thanks for your sharing. Best wishes with your future endeavours.
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
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 Thanks!
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| yendor
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hi arlete!
nice post... got a question for you... what mistakes do you think you made during the exam?
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
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Well... the more I think, the more I find them.
I wasn't able to write down everything on the PN, for example, scars on the abdomen, some signs, such as Murphy, CVA tenderness, that I did on the PE but forgot when writing. I think I forgot to write "VS: WNL" in a few. I forgot to order a pretty important and basic test for work up in at least one patient.
I was talking to a patient and wanted to ask about erectile dysfunction, so I asked if he had morning penile "intumescence", he didn't understand it at all, and I don't even know if I said it right, so he noticed I had some trouble there, and I was very quick to fix the situation, but it was embarassing.
A few patients told me "I beg your pardon" and I am not sure if it was my accent was if I was speaking not loud enough.
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| draashna
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Thanks a lot arlete!! You really took your time to reply and were so honest. I sincerely wish you all the best for cs result and residency too! Thanks again.
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| doc_clotaire
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Congrats Alerte !
Your exam experience is pretty similar as mine . I took it january 28th and will be wating for result on the same date as you .
Let s hope for the best and good luck to you
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| yendor
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thanks for your prompt and honest reply arlete! i wish you good luck and God speed!
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
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Thank you guys!
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| srita
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dear arlete , my exam in 4 weeks time and iam getting a lot of silly doubts, iam going to wear a formal shirt and pants for the exam , but what i want to know is it ok if i wear some light make up like lipstick, foundation and eyeliner or i should not wear. please clarify, thanks in advance.
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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I don't think it matters a lot, if it's light and shows good taste, it's fine. The lab coat covers must of your clothes anyway... Comfortable shoes are important.
I had a huge pimple on my chin that appeared two days before the test and it freaked me out, I started using mupirocin ointment and it helped, but I certainly didn't look my best! 
I think it's not about it, anyway...
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
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OK, I got the results, I passed!!!
Now I feel much more comfortable to offer coaching to you, guys. I can't be somebody's buddy for practicing because I am a busy mom, but if somebody wants to do case with me through Skype every now and then, I promise I'll be very sincere and try to help with some tips. Send me a PM if it's the case.
It feels good to be ECFMG certified at last, feels like kind of a Graduation Day again!
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| new_n_lost
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Congrats Arlete. Job well done will be bugging you when my time comes to give the exam,
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