cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 583
|
Hi zursha,
Thanks for the reply.
I love to share my experience with other people. I consider myself a strategic exam taker and hope my experience can help those who struggle with the exam prep. I would be happy if you can benefit from it. Good luck for your exam.
___________________
99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
|
| simran2008
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 66
|
thanks a lot cherryho for ur advice i was out of forum so late reply i am bk starting with first aid and uw qbank want to give nbme in 20 days do u think it is ok . i want to see where i stand  pl reply
|
| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 583
|
simran2008,
What you meant "NBME" was the simulated exam not the actual exam, correct? (Just want to make sure you are not taking the exam in 20 days). Surely you can, but I'd prefer to hold it till the last week to use it as an evaluation tool. UW can't really reflect your ability coz you improve over time. Usu you do better later in Qbank.
Edited by cherryho on 07/11/08 - 07:37 PM
___________________
99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
|
| virgipccARG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 4
|
CONGRATULATIONS!! you said you r a foreign doctor, where r u from?? Can u tell me which topics were more frequent? I´m from Argentina and I´ll probably take the exam in about 4 months. I´m studying biochemistry right now, but there are some formulas that I don´t remember very well (purines, for instance) and I´m not sure If I have to waste my time studying things like that. Thanks for your help and congratulations again!!!!!!!
|
| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 583
|
virgipccARG,
I am from Taiwan originally.
In my exam (and maybe everyone's exam), PATHOLOGY was the big focus. Generally, questions are more step 2 style (e.g. MRIs for neuroanatomy). Several pharmakodynamics/kinetics Qs (you should be able to catch that. only several pages in FA or Kaplan LNs). I got 6-7 Qs on neurodegenerative disease (sort of weird).
Unfortunately, biochem was a little bit hard. Quite a few medical genetics (but pretty easy). The pure biochem Qs seemed twisted somehow. You have to know Kaplan LNs well.
Medical ethics were also heavily tested on. Others were pretty evenly distributed and manageable.
Good luck.
___________________
99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
|
| fengpeony
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 4
|
H cherryho, I really like to read your story esp how you can manage to finish the exam in such a short term part time. You mentioned that you have 5-6 hours after work. I just wonder how could you sequeeze 5-6 hour after work? Do you feel tired after fulltime work?Do you mind to share how to manage the time in details. I have full time job and I really can't sequeeze more than 3 hours. Do you learn your medicine degree in English or other language? Thank you in advanceDo you have any moment to feel bored to read those facts/knowledge which really need pure memorization? How could you solve that problem? for your reply.
|
| virgipccARG
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 4
|
thanks for ur advice cherryho!! I´m sorry but I don´t understand the meaning of KAPLAN LNs. I´m studying with Kaplan text books, is it the same? I HOPE SO!! thanks for taking time to reply our qs. Good luck to u too! virgipccarg
|
| hitesh
.
Topics: 64
Posts: 1,084
|
LNs = Lecture notes. It's the same.
___________________
13/30
|
| Levin
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 14
|
this is excellent advise. thanks.
___________________
You do, or you do not do. There is no try. Yoda
|
| dr_puma
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 527
|
great post thanks a zillion
___________________
do whatever u want,but do it wholeheartedly...never hold back.
|
| ranaibraheem
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
|
hey thank u very much for your advice. ill look forward to ur books.
congrats on ur score. but honestly speaking. i didnt understand it as im a beginner. what is 251/99. is it 251 by 99 or 99 by 251. doesnt fit in either way
|
| usmlekiller
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 1,010
|
99 is a 2 digit score.....highest u can get.......and 251 is a 3 digit score......
___________________
FUTURE 99ER
|
| crj
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 8
|
Does anyone have the answers for NBME 1 n 2 for step 2??please I am taking my test in a month
thank you
cesarreis@hotmail.com
|
| usmlekiller
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 1,010
|
this iss step 1 forum
___________________
FUTURE 99ER
|
| dr_puma
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 527
|
your maturity level and gen intelligence has amazed me.........u r good with people that much I can tell about u and also u r very honest...like when u said u didnt take many tips fm hubby n his sis.The way u have advised each person with any querry is amazing.God has indded blessed u with a good heart and mind.Best of luck you r on ur way to the very top.
___________________
do whatever u want,but do it wholeheartedly...never hold back.
|
| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 583
|
fengpeony,
I used to work long hours (up to 12-13 h) in the lab so I am very used to having a full schedule. Around the time when I started to prep for the test, I was about to graduate (from graduate school). My workload became much less. I came home @ ~ 5, 6 pm instead of 10, 11 pm. That means I had 5-6 h extra time. I dedicated them fully to studying. Like I mentioned, I read or did Qs during these hrs and took breaks only AFTER each section/session. I used the break time to eat dinner, make phone calls, do house chores, go to the bath room, watch a little bit of TV. Just have to be very disciplined. Do absolutely nothing else until you finish a section/session.
I don't feel tired very easily coz I sleep a lot. If you feel tired, take a 30 min nap then you are ready to go again.
Trust me. If you review your schedule carefully, you can find lots of down time to use. You can read on the bus/train, in the bath or even when you are walking (I wasn't that extreme though). Just keep a habit of bringing the book wherever you go.
The classes in my med school were taught in Chinese (my native language) but we used English textbooks. However I have an edge because my English is better than most foreigners here or my med school classmates (my mom is an English teacher, I've been here for 5 years for an advanced degree, my hubby is American who doesn't speak my native language....). I read as fast as a native speaker and that helps.
I get bored by studying of course.  But you just have to keep going whether you are bored or not. If you get bored very easily, my suggestion is to go through the books as fast as you can and then do multiple Qbanks. Doing Qs is a little bit more fun and challenging.
Edited by cherryho on 07/17/08 - 04:09 PM
___________________
99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
|
| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 583
|
Thank you guys all for your warm msgs.
As a FMG, I realized the challeges we have to face on the way to residency are really overwhelming. I've been through a similar path when I applied to graduate school. I know the helplessness people can feel and hope my experience can encourage or help those who struggle.
___________________
99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
|
| fengpeony
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 4
|
Hi cherryho, thank you for your response. I really appreciate it. I got lots of encourage from your words. It is true that if we are positive and active, we all can conquer some problems. Really big thank to you!!
|
| fengpeony
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 4
|
Hi Cherryho, another question I would like to ask you is how you memorize those stuff like pharmacology, microbiology ,genetic disease all single factors. I found it is very boring to remember them. Sometimes the memory is very short and is not in the brain for a long time.
|
| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 583
|
fengpeony,
My suggestions:
1. Use mnemonics from FA.
2. Doing Qs can help. There're some facts that are frequently tested on, e.g. side effects of ACEi.
3. Try to shorten the total prep time (< 6 mon) and crank up for the test.
4. Make flashcards of your own. Ask somebody to use them to quiz you.
___________________
99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
