oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 40
Posts: 826
|
Dear Friends, there are many 99ers on the forum who can give you better advice than me but here is my humble contribution:
I started off with Kaplan LN as usual and did them cover to cover two times. Then I realized that I can't sum up this much info few days before the exam and also I didn't like the format of the book as I could easily lose my concentration. So, I shifted to Boards n Wards. Though it is a good book but too concise and not enough for the purpose so i gave it up after two weeks i guess. The only choice left for me was FA. I was afraid becoz of lot of negative comments about the book but I picked it up and liked the format. It was accurate but little less on psychiatry and surgery for which I kept referring to Kaplan.
I subscribed for UW and started doing it online so it told me where I lacked. My subscription ended about a month before my exam date. Then I started reading FA over and over. Also, I was off duty so I started reading Secrets and to my utter surprise I found it an excellent book as it cleared a lot of concepts. I did NBME and scored around 60-70% but there were a lot of mistakes on the printed format that I had so I just quit it. Earlier, when I started preparing I had done most of the Kaplan qbook but I couldn't do qbank and also didn't like its questions which were not as challenging as UW. I made notes from UW and Kaplan which I wasn't anle to read but just glanced through them in the end. I also downloaded UW notes which DrRuman had posted but couldn't read all of them. They were excellent too.
I drove 500km 3 days before the exam. Rested that day and next day I went to library with my dentist and studied till 7pm. I went to bed around 10-11pm and woke up at 5 am. After prayers, I took off to the centre.
When I put ear plugs I could only hear my heart beating wild, then I consolidated myself and carried on. I took break after first three blocks each for 5 minutes to have tea. They were rather doable. Then the next two were mind blowers. I took 15 minutes break after them. 6 &7 I took in a row and then took 20 minutes break. Then I carried on till the end. Last two were not that tough but my mind was totally exhausted and I wanted it to finish.
I got loads of psychiatry and trauma questions. IM was as expected. UW was a great help and yes please do look at secrets you'll find it very helpful.
That evening after the exam I went to dinner aboard ship with my dentist ( wife) and I tried to forget the exam till yesterday when the result showed up. It was next day to my wedding anniversary, another milestone to remember!!!
My best wishes and prayers for everyone who are struggling and studying. No matter what the odds are keep going, God will reward you in the end.
___________________
Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
|
| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 150
Posts: 1,979
|
Looks like having a dentist by your side is crucial to doing well in this test! My dentist is excellent at his job and good-looking too, but happily married as well. 
Good, clear write-up, okotb. Thanks a lot!
___________________
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. Success is the best revenge! He's my boyf! And, yea, I'm lying...:-(
|
| hir
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 157
|
thanks a lot, its really helpful.......congratulaitons once again, enjoy!!!!!!
|
| USMLEGladiator
Forum Elite
Topics: 62
Posts: 258
|
congrats
___________________
Be positive. Get some experience. Do observation at least. Get strong LoRs. More importantly-focus on your scores.
|
| USMLEGladiator
Forum Elite
Topics: 62
Posts: 258
|
congrats
___________________
Be positive. Get some experience. Do observation at least. Get strong LoRs. More importantly-focus on your scores.
|
| Mydream
Forum Elite
Topics: 10
Posts: 327
|
Thanks for the post....Congrats !!
___________________
"your results in life are always directly proportional to the amount of effort and hard-work that you put in"
|
| nany
Forum Guru
Topics: 13
Posts: 1,055
|
great post oldkid
congratulations and best of luck with your next move
___________________
" You Are Limited Only By What You Think " .........Dr.Sharvil (99er forum member)
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | |
