Thanks
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| | 03/21/08 - 02:33 PM
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| #1 |
I am glad that eventually I have time to share my experiences in USMLE exams. I have always been thankful to this very useful forum from which I got information and inspiration.
At this point I can tell everyone pursuing a medical career in US is definitely possible and doable. The main thing is you need to be PREPARED. Be prepared means you need to prepare for the match the time you start taking the exams. The same to find any kinds of job, networking is very important for residency application. At least you need strong letters of recommendation for your application. So you need to prepare your supporting network the time you are seriously taking the exams. I am not an expert in networking, but one thing I can assure you is this: if you work hard and show people your abilities and passion, you will earn the respect and support from people.
A little bit of my profile:
USMLE step 1, 99/245; step 2 CK 99/248; CS pass; Matched for 7/2008
Here are my experiences on the exams:
First of all, I feel USMLE are exams for primary care. So there are two things you need to pay attention to all the time you are preparing for the exams: most common diseases and the diseases that may lead to very serious consequences. For example, you need to know everything about hypertension, DM, smoking, alcoholic. Things like these are just so important. Probably this is also why aortic dissection is USMLE big time favorite.
Step 1:
Studies materials:
First Aid
Kaplan notes for all subjects other that Pathology.
Pathology: BRS review of pathology.
Kaplan Q book
Robbins and Cotran Review of Pathology, Second Edition
First aid is very important. You do need to read it several times. But if you aim at a high score, first aid is not enough. A good way is to make notes on your first aid, such as important things from the Q book. I read before some guy claimed that there were not empty margins in his first aid. Probably you really need to do this. My first aid is also full of notes too. In this way, you can use your FA to do intense review just before exam.
The Kaplan notes are sufficient for the exam. I didn’t read the Kaplan pathology notes. I used BRS review pathology just because someone else told me it is better than Kaplan notes. BRS pathology offers an excellent big picture. When using the BRS review, bear in your mind to get the bigger picture it offers, which is very clear and helpful. However, you may need to go extra to get the details. The questions in BRS are basically like jokes, just too easy for the exam.
The Kaplan Q book is very good, and it is necessary to do the Q book because many important points are not covered in the notes, but only in the explanation of the questions. The Q book is also similar to the really exam. So are the sample questions from USMLE step 1! I was so stupid to think that the sample Qs might be too easy, and didn’t do it at all. But later I found out in the real exam, there were several similar Qs as the samples.
Robbins and Cotran Review of Pathology is a great book, especially the general pathology part (cell death, inflammation, immunopathology, et al). It is a must done. The organ and system part seems too difficult and too detailed. You don’t have to do these Qs if you don’t have enough time.
About the Kaplan Audio and Dr. Goljan’s lecture.
The biochemistry audio from Kaplan is very good. Pharmacology is good too. Anatomy is basically just reading notes. Many people said Dr. Goljan’s lectures was very helpful, but the Goljan notes are definitely not readable. The bottom line is if you enjoy the way he taught, you will get more from the lectures.
MOD EDIT: The info relevant to the sub-forum has been kept and rest deleted as there is a similar thread on the CK forum
Edited by new_n_lost on 03/21/08 - 02:57 PM. Reason: Reason supplied in the post.
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| Ali 200736
Forum Junior
Topics: 3
Posts: 50
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Hey ur experience was really helpful i have my exam on 17th of june n interestingly i have followed the same books as u have..just wanted to know that wud it be wise to revise my annotated FIRST AID goljan audios n my USMLE WORLD questions in the last 3 weeks n take nbmes every 4th day or so what do u say?
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| Thanks
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 4
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HI, Ali.
Most people review FA during the last weeks. I think it will be helpful if you have time to review the questions you marked UW questions (mark questions you were not sure about or you did wrong). I did not do UW for step 1 though.
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| mr.lonely
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 29
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hi .congrats! can u tell me are electives before graduation is necessary for an img in usa to get early match or some alternate is there?
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| dream2liv
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 14
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congratulations ...for ur great performance ...but u never said..how long u took to prepare for step 1 like how many months and how many revisions
 waiting for a reply
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| dr_puma
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 142
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congrats
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| Compassion_MD
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 13
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What residency did you match into? If you don't mind me asking.. =D
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