redddd
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 92
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Today is the happiest day of my life, I passed step 3 with 85 after failing once before with 73. Just like other applicants I took exam in between my interviews, I could give 2 weeks in toto to step3. When I failed I was shocked, my step1 and step2 are 90+, so a failure was devastating for me. My confidence was blown off and I felt Incompetent for this field. My family was my biggest support. Touchwood I am so lucky my spouse woke up so many nights to help me practice CCS and support me in this struggle.
I am writing this to help all those who may have fallen prey to failure.
1. DONOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS EXAM, most of the times the thought process of IMGs(who take this exam for visa purpose) is just to pass. But me after having 90+ scores in step1 and step2 failed in first attempt so donot underestimate it at all. Its the toughest USMLE exam. Give it enough time and effort . I spent 2.5 months before I passed.
2. Donot underestimate the importance of CCs in the exam. The reason I got 85 is because my Score report shows very high performance in CCS and first time when I got 73 my CCS performance was very low. Though I know 85 isnt very very good score but all I wanted was 75+, so for me its a good score. :-)
3. Kaplan Q bank is excellent also UW exaplanations(mind you not only the answers but the EXPLANATIONS) are very important source of preparation. I did USMLE step 123, I won't call it a high yield but do it if you have loads of time like 3-4 months.
4. NBME isnt a very good predictor, my score in NBME was very low 1 week before exam.
5. Practice CCS day and night.. its an easily scoring topic where you increase your chances of passing the exam with less effort.
6. NO mater what you do MCQs will be very vague very very vague. At least I had no clue in 40% of MCQs, in 20% i was 100% sure and in rest I just made an educated guess.
7. You will never know how good or bad you performed... First time I failed I thought my exam went fine second time when I passed I thought my exam was horrible. so Bottomline, forget about how you feel after the exam.
8. Read UW CCS theory by heart, they have explained some topics in depth with beautiful management. Read the 88 CCS cases theory at least twice.
9. Need to say this again, do CCS as many times as much it takes to master them, dont lose the easy chance of scoring high.
10. Party after the exam No MATTER WHAT!!!
Edited by redddd on 04/29/08 - 10:14 PM
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| redddd
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 92
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thanks nikki, gatita and prep4step3... for all the support!
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| kotikoti
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 23
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Well done. Your perseverance has paid off. Have a nice residency!
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| redddd
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 92
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Now after a long time I can celebrate the success of matching. Thank you so much!
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| dn25
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 92
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Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy Your LifeNow!!!!!!!!!! I just got my result,soooo Happy to pass!
Good Luck!
___________________
"Trust yourself.You know more than you think you do"
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| damian33
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 81
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Congrats Reddd and thanks for your advice and input well done it is actually a nice score
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Expect the worst and you won't be disappointed
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| Drtweetie
Forum Elite
Topics: 17
Posts: 301
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Congrats Redddd! All your hard word paid really paid off. Thank you for sharing your experience. 
___________________
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall." --Confucius
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| dr_vandy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 13
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congrats reddd, i am so happy for you ... Enjoy your next couple months to the fullest ..
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| redddd
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 92
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Thanks vandy, u must be knowing the feeling I'm having!!! good luck to you too and yes I'm enjoying the time before residency begins...
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| deoriveraMD
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 21
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BTW CONGRATULATIONS!!!!My question is what did you do to pass?what was your prepration tools-books,qbank-UW&kaplan or kaplan or uw only w/ or w/o CCS?how many weeks?thanks a lot in advanc&again CONGRATULATIONS!!!
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| ram3
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 510
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congratulations
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