genbot
Almost sweet...
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Hi,
Its about 10 days now since i took my exam at the Chicago center.
This is probably the most nervy i've felt at an exam...heart pounding and the thoughts cluttered. Because as an AMG u've never been a part of something like this before there is no experience to fall back on. And so as u walk out when the exam's done its generally a vague feeling u carry out with u. Getting tested on interpersonal skills was never on my mind when I took up medicine as my career. But here I was concentrating on being the most pleasant person I could be, while the rest generally took a backseat. Not that i'm rude when it comes to my daily life but this exam sometimes feels too much labour lost.
Accomodation was not a problem at all. I stayed with a family friend and he was kind enough to drop me at the exam center in the morning. I arrived pretty early and all this while I sat watching the rest of the exam takers for any clues of nervousness. The AMGs looked absolutely calm and cheerful. Probably they never ever feel like failing this exam, for them this is just a walk in the park. Not for me. I felt nervous, not sure I showed it but boy I did feel jittery.
The instructions they give u before u get started took a long time gettin done and after a while I was staring at my first door. With the staring done i started smiling at it and then knock knock knock....scary! First case I went in OK...all greetings and stuff, but when I tried to unfold the drape it opened up all over the place...man I did take some time draping my first patient, but I apologized and the SP seemed fine with it. The actual encounter went well from thereon. The diagnostic part looked fairly simple but I dont know if I was convincing with my interpersonal skills first up. Anyways I managed to finish just in the nick of time and I went out feeling hugely relieved. The patient note was OK, wrote it down pretty logical and in time.
From my second case on I started feeling a lot more comfortable. All my skills seemed to improve from thereon, and most times i would come out a few minutes early and finish my PN well in time. I did make a few mistakes here n there, like missing out on the surgical history in one, ommitting a coupla questions to rule out some important differentials, and even forgetting to write down one important differential, but generally I felt in control. Just treat them as patients and be nice, thats all I felt I needed to do.
The cases were generally fairly simple and usually straight from FA. A couple were slightly off track but I knew enough medicine to work them out on my own. The questions the SPs asked were nearly carbon copies of wat they have in FA, so I had a fair idea of how to answer them. I usually finished each case well, the closure I felt was my best piece.
The only thing that worries me is whether I smiled enough. The rest went kinda ok. No major blunders except some apparently minor mistakes (from wat i read in the experiences here).
My actual prep was very fragmented. I first started out by reading FA, finishing it fast. Then I just sat and did nothing except working on a framework on how to approach each case....how to start, wat transitions to use, how to end...i went thru this stuff over n over in my mind. With about 10 days left for the prep I started practicing cases, first over the phone and then finally face to face. I did this only once each. Also practiced a few patient notes, I felt confident I could write a good patient note and come up with good differentials and work ups based on my previous exp as a resident...so I dint work very hard on those. What I did concentrate on during my practice was following a routine each time, draping and PE included, and finishing each case within the alloted time. I usually managed to finish within 15 mins during my practice and so was the case in the actual exam.
For 2 days prior I did nothing. I could not bring myself to practice cases all over again or go thru FA. The night before I went to sleep easily but woke up at around 2.30 am, and there i went thru my routine mentally! In another hour's time I was asleep again...and journeying in the morning towards the exam center...
Edited by genbot on 05/23/08 - 11:14 AM
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| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
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Thanks for the writeup, genbot.
New avi, huh. Good! [I refuse to see the other message in it!]
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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. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
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hehe. yep. good!
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| yarab99
Forum Elite
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Good genbot
thx for sharing
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| milee99
Forum Guru
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Hi genbot,
thanks for the experience!!
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If you really want something, you will find a way. If you don't, you will find an excuse.
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
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Ur welcome guys!
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| myeloma
Forum Junior
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paheli wrote:
Thanks for the writeup, genbot.
New avi, huh. Good! [I refuse to see the other message in it!]
paheli what other msg??i can't even see one msg..let alone..ANOTHER??  my visual comprehension is impaired or what??
and nice of u to write ur experience genbot.thanx.
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
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U r welcome myeloma.
But strange u can see no message!
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| P4a99
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What a nice read. I wish all exam experinces are like this! Hopefully you will hear good news real soon.
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
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Thanks prayin4a99.
I'm a positive person generally and it usually reflects in everything i write.
Hopin for a good finish.
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| myeloma
Forum Junior
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genbot wrote:U r welcome myeloma. But strange u can see no message!
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
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Posts: 942
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Keep looking!
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| kleovoulos
Forum Junior
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genbot thanx for sharing your experiene.
I think that reading nicely presented experiences like yours is a kind of ''desensitization'' for the anxious candidates like me
I wish u ( though I'm sure) the best result. 
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| hgheith
Forum Elite
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Thanx for sharing, it does help relieve some of the anxiety that comes with preparing for such an important exam. I'm glad you mentioned that FA coverd all the Q's the sp's asked, that also helps limit the sources I might use!
Good luck and I'm sure u'll be hearing good news
Thanks again!
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| hgheith
Forum Elite
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oh and the messege is two words in one myeloma, look at it again, closely then move away.
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| HILFIGER
Forum Senior
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Thanks for sharing. I think FA patient notes are a bit longer than it's possible to write during the exam. Have you had neuro cases? Is 5 minutes enough for physical exam for neuro cases? Is there a chance to carry out partial MMSE? Thanks
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| myeloma
Forum Junior
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hgheith wrote:
oh and the messege is two words in one myeloma, look at it again, closely then move away.
is it "GooD" and "civic"? i feel like a dork! any one else having trouble reading it??am i the only dyslexic here??
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| ing
Forum Guru
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Everything has two sides, good and bad. When you get something good, becareful, it might also comes with something that you don't like. You might not see it now, but you'll see it sometimes in the future.
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Never give up!!
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| hgheith
Forum Elite
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it's the Nemesis of good ( like in comics) = Evil
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
Topics: 19
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Ma pleasure kleovoulus, hgheith.
And thanks for the wishes.
Hilfiger, I think 5 mins is sufficient for the PE usually but u need to practice in order to get a proper feel for that. I dint have any neuro cases so cant really tell. If u learn to follow a quick routine with neuro finishing within 5 mins should be possible. Also I think an abbreviated MMSE is sufficient.
Myeloma, this is 'good' and 'evil' all in one.
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| milee99
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what is abbreviated mmse?
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If you really want something, you will find a way. If you don't, you will find an excuse.
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
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check orientation (time, place, person), memory, registration and attention (name objects and serial 7s). the rest is not especially useful for CS.
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| milee99
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thanks!
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| supra
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goodluck 4 ur scores buddy
Supra
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| genbot
Almost sweet...
Topics: 19
Posts: 942
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Thanks supra!
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