acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
Posts: 763
| | 06/04/08 - 10:02 AM
1 of 1 forum leaders found this post helpful
| #1 |
Test date: May 14, 2008
Result: June 4, 2008: 212/88
Graduated: 2001, IMG
Prep Time: 4 months to watch Kaplan videos (had to drive 3 hours a day to another city) Had 6 months gap—could not study (personal issues to deal with)
Focused study 4 months
NBME 1: 4 months out: 420/198
NBME 2: 2 months out: 490/216
NBME 3: 1 month out: 480/ 214
USMLE CD: 2 weeks out: 34, 37, 41
UW Simulated: 1 week out: 560 ?? (wonder about this correlation)
UW: 58% cumulative
Kaplan Q bank: 59% cumulative, other Kaplan users=58% (25 % remaining)
Prep Materials:
Introductory round:
-Kaplan videos, Kaplan notes, Kaplan Q bank, helped me to get into the groove and get re-introduced to medicine as I am an old grad.
-Goljan Audio and Goljan Rapid Review made me relish and enjoy medicine.
After the gap of 6 months (during which time I could only skim through FA on and off) I had to do something drastic to get myself into an environment where I can study and not get distracted with other responsibilities in life, so I went to the PASS program in IL.
Those 4 weeks with Dr. Francis put things together for me. I was already in the passing range (NBME 1: 420/198 before the course) but he is an amazing teacher, and really made me look at medicine in a whole new light. I had a fantastic group of friends to study with and tutors (I thank one special tutor whom I found here on the forum, he was the main reason I even made it so far!).
After the course, I switched to FA and UW completely for second read. I also looked at Goljan slides. I did not look at any of the Kaplan notes or Goljan RR again. I could have taken the exam in a few weeks after the course, as my NBME 2 said I was ready, but some fear pulled me back. And I kept postponing the exam several times, and finally forced myself to take it on May 14.
My thoughts:
-Get concepts from Kaplan and Goljan, get a good hold of the big picture and then use FA to consolidate facts for easy recall.
-Something that helped me immensely was having my friends studying with me, so try to get a good study partner/group. My study partner motivated me to do better, and not to give up. Have a friend drill you on FA, at least Pharm and Micro, as that brought my score up. Although one may think concepts are everything on this exam, which is true, but one also needs to have memorized some things at least.
-Use UW as a learning tool, to guide you to work on your weaknesses, and also learn the art of answering questions in a timed way. I did both banks in blocks of 50, random timed mode every time, so I could get the hang of it.
-The exam is really fair and doable. It tests your ability to maintain your calm through the length of the test and attack each question as you would a patient at a time. If I had maintained my cool during the exam, I am sure I could have scratched off a few more points. Anyway, no regrets, I am glad its over and I passed.
-One thing that pulls us back is our own mind. If you let your mind tell you that you are not capable of passing, no one can help you. But if you let your mind be your friend, convince yourself that YOU CAN AND YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS, understand your strengths and weaknesses and go about fixing things in the right way, then the battle is won!
On a final note, prep4usmle: YOU ROCK! Without you guys, I would never have had the motivation to get this far. From tips to succeed, to past experiences, to resources, to helping me make some life long friendships…..EVERYTHING! You all have been my family during this journey, pushing me on when I did not want to drive so long to get to Kaplan, cheering me for every small accomplishment, helping me through those rough times when I had given up…..I can go on…Thank you nnl, doc750, milee99, LilInjnDatCould, Gogeta, Isther, Goodgirl, Feyza, Shwe, Paheli, Medocuk, Mytime, Edie, study499, p4a99, Mydream, Novak75, starbrite520, glycogen, multifactorial, Faraym, SOS….gosh this list is so long cos I have been here on the forum for more than a year! Sorry if I missed someone.....please know that I am truly grateful! Thanks to God and my family for finally getting me through this first step! I would be happy to answer any questions…..good luck everybody!
Edited by acintya on 06/06/08 - 10:32 AM
___________________
Life is a Mind Game! Remember, obstacles aren't meant to prevent your success; they only slow you down and show you where you must work harder.
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| hottie99
Forum Guru
Topics: 34
Posts: 820
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awesome my friend. on to the next... 
i agree pass put everything together for me too... glad u did so well!!!
Edited by hottie99 on 06/04/08 - 10:26 AM
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ask me if u wanna know, thanks!
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| paheli
It'sAllAboutGoodKarma
Topics: 197
Posts: 2,720
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Yippeeee!! 
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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. Internship, Here I come!!
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| vwilldoit
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 175
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congrats acintya!! well done
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just do it .....
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| 5fluorouracil
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 293
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congratulations on a great score! i especially liked your thoughts about exam and your "speech" at the end about this forum..... it indeed rocks!!!
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Yes we can.... and yes we will!!!!!
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| study499
live@ur full potential
Topics: 5
Posts: 589
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Well done Acintya... A big congraaaats...
go and enjoy now...
u made my day  so happy for u.
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Anousheh Ansari who was born in Iran is the First Female Private Space Explorer & First Space Ambassador.
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| luck08
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 60
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Congratulations!!!
Did you do the Kaplan &Goljan with Kap qbank at the start of your prep?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
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| milee99
Forum Guru
Topics: 54
Posts: 1,300
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Hey Dear!
COngratulations!
Its done, and its over..and you are one step closer to the match!
waiting for you in the CK forum.
celebrate for a while now!
___________________
If you really want something, you will find a way. If you don't, you will find an excuse.
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| kingsof2005
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 208
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congrats!!!!!!!
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| P4a99
Moderator
Topics: 50
Posts: 2,504
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Congratulations Paheli! --- Congratulations Feyza! ..... Good Luck drnaik-faraym-Gogeta-Bioguy-arlete
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| GoodGirl
.
Topics: 124
Posts: 1,781
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Congratulations !
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Prioritize & simplify
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| match2010
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 482
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congratulations good luck for step 1 .....
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Rather the pain of discipline than the pain of regret.
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| sigh
Forum Guru
Topics: 36
Posts: 461
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Good Job! And good luck for your next step!
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| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
Posts: 763
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Thank you hottie99, Paheli, vwilldoit, 4flurouracil, s499, luck08, milee99, kingsof2005, p4a99, GG, match2010, and sigh.
luck08: I did kaplan, kaplan q bank and Goljan in my first read, because I had lost touch with medicine, and it helped me get an overall picture. But at that time, I did not memorize anything, I only tried to understand it. Most of my time went in watching the dvds and driving back and forth to the kaplan center. So in my opinion, it can be accomplished in half the time I spent on it.....And its not absolutely necessary to do Kaplan qbank, UW is the BEST and covers everything very well, in fact if u can do it twice, even better. I did kaplan qbank in the initial stages because i did not know anything, and because I did not look at it for like 8 months after I did it, it was as if I did not do it at all!
Hope this helps! Good luck and feel free to ask!
___________________
Life is a Mind Game! Remember, obstacles aren't meant to prevent your success; they only slow you down and show you where you must work harder.
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| mytime
Go Marching in!
Topics: 40
Posts: 3,166
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Ah ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So ur are done! CONGRTULATIONSSSSSSS! Am so happy for u! Get the next one done fast as well bith CS n CK.
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| Doc750
transfer:step 3 prison
Topics: 52
Posts: 634
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CONGRADS!!!!
good luck on CS, I'm sure you'll do fine there as well
Dont wait to long to jump into ck
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Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.
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| acintya
FOCUS on your Goal!
Topics: 7
Posts: 763
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Heyyy Mytime! Its been so long since I saw you around....thanks for the wishes! I tried calling you ...is the number the same?
Yo Doc750!! Aye Aye Captain thanks again!
___________________
Life is a Mind Game! Remember, obstacles aren't meant to prevent your success; they only slow you down and show you where you must work harder.
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| oldkidontheblock
Forum Guru
Topics: 61
Posts: 955
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congrats !!!!!!
___________________
Malcolm Forbes: Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat
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| drdrdr
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 14
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i wanted to conratulate you earlier but have been bz with prep for part 1 which is on next saturday. well done, despite all my efforts my nbme is 330 to 390 but i am still taking it hoping that i will just pass.
thanks very much for the kaplan questions and best of luck in your future.
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| girldoc
Forum Junior
Topics: 3
Posts: 81
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acintya
MANY MANY CONGRATS .
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