mitochondria77
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I need some advice...I failed step 1 3rd time...should I try again?
I am old grad, graduated in 2001.
Please help me to make my decision. If I pass on 4 th attempt will I have a chance to find residency?
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| DRFP
Forum Elite
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I hope so, I hope to get a residency with three times
my self...........
If you can try again I would, but not try as Yoda says........ Do!
Now do what we all have to do who do not pass more then once, look and see what you did and now you need to do it different because it did not work before!
One piece of advice, Do not take the real thing until you are doing really well at the NBME tests.
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| mitochondria77
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Thank you DRFP!
And good luck to you!
I will work harder, and I will try to pass. Maybe, if I passed with good score my chances will be better..
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| csi842
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Hi Mitochondria77,
We are in the same boat!!! I graduate in 2001. I've taken the test twice and failed. Its been really hard for me to have the courage to take the exam again, but I am starting to study again (I've started many times but haven't take it)
Good luck to you!!! We will make it this time!!!! 
csi842
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| mitochondria77
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Yes I will try again...will take step 1 4th time.((( Because I dont know what else to do. I have been trying to find any job in medical field. I applied for many positions like medical assistant, lab. tech., tried to get into clinical research, but it seams like nobody wants to hire foreign MD without US experience.
CSI842, good luck to you too!!
We should fight for our dream!!!!!!!!!
How ifight
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| hottie99
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best of luck guys, nothing beats the feeling once you have passed (and u will pass!) after the persistance and endurance you guys have put in already, dont let it all go to waste, pick urselves up and get back to it! i know, i was there, and i know if i would have failed the second time i would have picked back up and gotten it thru it... i have been there to get other jobs, no luck.. i have tried to work as anything in medical field, no luck.. so just be patient, u will pass once u have mastered the materials..
dont keep on stuyding the way you were before bc it obv isn't working, so find another way to get the materials solid in u head, or realize if its an anxiety issue (as it turned out for me, not saying im genius in materials but as of my phobia turned out to be anxiety and guilt of just not being done yet & a lot of it from my exbf, so not good!!!).. and nothing replaces questions, i just feel like we read materials over and over but w/o questions, it is all useless.. so do as many diff types of questions as u can, and get the concepts down, and def do first aid, i swear on my life, i hated stp 1 more than anything (yes more than my ex, and he's a total jacka**!!) but once ur done with it, nothing brings more smiles to my face than knowing i got over that dumb exam.. im not any 99er, so i can't give u pointers on that, but all i can give pointers on is just dont drag the studying out too long, keep it short time period, sign up for ur exam, give it all the time u can afford (i know some ppl got families and jobs and etc..) and then just take those nbmes (besides FA, u must do nbme's ONLINE!! and then go over them after learning u weaknesses) those things should get u over this huge hurdles.. best of luck buddies, i wish u nothing but the best!! good luck and god willing we all get to where we want to be in our careers in medicine!
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| Never2old
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Hi, Guy,
I am older than you. Try to prepare the step1. Your experience may really affact me, encorage or disappoint? If I can continue, hope I do not go three times. The question is why do not take all the stimulating tests to test yourself before the real exam. If the pre-tests show you can get 90 above, then schedule the real exam. By that way you do not need to go three or more times, right? Please prepare well this time, then take the test, go get 99. Watching you for great news. I would expect to be excited.
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| toolazy2study
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keep trying!! gd luck to u guyz, ull make it
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| mitochondria77
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Thank you for all your support, guys!!!
Answer for " never2old": I thought that I was ready, because on pre-tests, like Kaplan Q&A, Lange Q&A, Fist aid, I did approx.80 % correct answers. But ,probably I was too scared and too nervous, and also depressed, because of taking test 3rd time and my ability to concentrate on the real exam was low....
But it's OK, I need to be more optimistic! I'll try again. But my 4th time will be my last attempt because after that it will be no reason to continue this.
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| tg250
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Hello mitochondria,
Heres my advice . We are in the same situation, but i passed it on my 3rd attempt.Old Graduate too. 11 years ago. Yes i did consider not getting a residency spot when the time comes. I decided to take up short term courses related to medicine(ultrasonography on student loan). This is my back up career. In case i give up on becoming a doctor , I have a career with a good salary. Right now i am still reviewing for step 2 and eventually will be able to finish all the exam while studying. My wife supports all my decisions. So finances right now is not a problem for me. I dont know in your case.i plan to get matched hopefully 5 years from now. Work for 2 to 3 years as a sonographer and save some money. After that i will stop working/get a vacation and concentrate on the exams/residency application.
Try to take up any stable career with a good salary.Get education or training(EMT or emergency medical technician, radiology tech or MRI tech, medical assistant, nurse, LVN , CNA, what else?)This is not totally giving up on your MD career. You are just delaying it cause your situation is not "ideal" Then work on your USMLE , residency while working.
Sit down get a pen and do long term planning.
Dont lose hope.
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| pipi99
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I am currently doing phlebotomy (need for current job in reserach) so that might also be one of the choices?!Full cousre cost about $2300, four weeks and you can have decent salary (not to good though). so what is ultrasonography and how much and how long taht is?
Thank you!
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| Never2old
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M77,
Beg you pass by the 4th, try useing UW or some tool test yourself (from others experience) and get ready for the exam, take it easy to take the exam, you will get good score. It is not the point to think about other career, after passs step1 and get a good score, you will have your plan like tg250.
Beg you pass, you are our sparks.
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| DRFP
Forum Elite
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I cannot fail, I have loans and family and my own happiness to contend with, This will be a pass the third time, yea I'm scared and I'm worried, who would not be, I never thought I would screw up so much
Time to get it right now!
watching Kaplan 2007 videos today, pass the popcorn!
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| hottie99
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no one's a screw up, just focus on this, once u have passed, yes it will be an uphill battle, but u will be done, and that is all that matters.. dont focus on how many times u've taken or will take, just focus on the current exm u are prepping for and plces understnd that you need to work to support your family and living expenses, they may be demanding program dircctors, but they are human at the end of the day, best of luck buddies, just keep up the hard work and it will pay off
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| mitochondria77
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Thanks guys!!!
I am 100% sure now, that I will take that step again, 4th time.
But , like doctor tg250, I am going to make some back up career. Not decided what exactly I will do... Thinking about RN degree, I found some MN program , 16 month duration,( master degree in nursing), this is for people, who already have a bachelor degree or equivalent. I did send my medical diploma to one of evaluation services (ece.org), did not get my record still, have to wait approx. 3-4 weeks, so we'll see how they evaluate it
This program requires to have 9 prerequisite courses (like anatomy, physiology, microbiology, etc), but all this courses must have been taken no longer that 10 years ago. Well I graduated in 2001, but I took all required courses during my first year in med. school, so it will be 12 years ago. Now I am kinda a little bit worry, how they gonna look at this, either they will count 2001, or 1996..
Just don't want to re take anatomy and spent money for that.))))
Question for doctor tg250, how long is ultrasonography course, what are requirements to attend that course and how much approximately do you think it's gonna cost????
Thank you, Pipi99, I have been thinking about phlebotomy too, it's fast to get and than earn about 12 $ an hr. for temp. period. Because right now I have a job, which totally not related to medicine.... and it's frustrating.
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| DRFP
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I dunno I'm still an RN and just found it unfulfilling, Don't think about that option for now just focus on the Pass! If a Doc is what you want then do not think about other things it just messes with the Focus.
Think Doc and Be Doc!
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| Mcqueen
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I guess RN is pretty demanding, studies & the job itself. If U are not supporting the whole family or something find an easier alternative like medical assistant or even LPN ,phleboltomist , CNA probably. Work PT & the rest of days devote all ur time to studies. These exams are hard to pass with demanding jobs , It wil make u more stressed out. just focus on the exams if U really wanna be a doctor.Good luck buddy!
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| DRFP
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There is no way to Go to nursing school and study for the USMLE, its not compatible, plus you have Nursing Boards, this goes for RN and LPN. I would just get a Job as a Monitor Tech or something if you need to work till You pass. I may have to do a job Next year, it may not be as Doc but as Nurse until I can get into a Residency.
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| mitochondria77
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Well here is my plan, guys:
Apply for the program, wait till program start. While waiting, study and study for step 1. Like I wrote, I considering MN program, if I will be accepted to it I will have to start it in fall 2009( they taking applications for the next year only)
So, I will have the whole year, during which I will re-take step 1.
And I think I should pass it with minimum score 90 , because of my 4th attempt...:
I heard from many people that is very hard to match if you have multiple attempts, so if I'll do it well I will have some chances.
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| sigh
Forum Elite
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I just like this post...I feel that finally I found real would not all these 99s...or 99.9s...I am on my second try now and I wish all you real people to pass your steps.
I think I can put some input here... about jobs/training. Some can consider optician job, it is not a lot of training and it is not bad paid + it is very clean job. About RN... If somebody would tell you that for your credits to be accepted you have to be graduated 10 or less years ago... do not stop, talk to people, I mean college staff, it still can be ok...To became an RN with MD diploma you only need Nursing credits, so it can be done for 6 month on-line... if you get MS in nursing they will pay you only $1.000 per year more in the hospital ONLY, or you can teach but pay is not good as in the hospital + hospital is much better for your MD future...So, do not spend time/money on MS...If you need a job get AS in nursing in 6 month and continue you preparation for steps. RN can have very flexible schedule, like do 12 hours only on weekend what will give you around $3000 per month easily...then you can study Mon to Fr...Just want to let you know that my sis did it that's how I know all info...so she worked as RN in a big teaching hospital and passed her boards...now she is in residency Where? The same hospital...
So, it can be good for LORs and more. You can became ultrasound technitian, good money, I think you need around 12 mo of education with MD diploma...You also can go to physical therapy or occupation therapy...
Personally, I think you better study only but we all have life so sometimes we need to work and it is not easy but possible
I wish all you luck and I mean it !!!
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| mitochondria77
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Thank you sigh, thanks never2old, DRFP and thanks for all your support!!!
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| DrChivago
Forum Junior
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Finally I found a thread where I fit.
I have four attempts in the 96-98 period. I wish ECFMG could delete those attempts since they are more than 10 years old.
Anyways I have decided to give one more shot and I hope I will make it this time. Do you think I will find a residency with 5 attempts in step 1?
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| sigh
Forum Elite
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Posts: 245
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Hi there! It does not make any sence to think about residency at this point... just pass your steps and then start to think...Every product has a buyer...Right?
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| Melu
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Posts: 120
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A very realistic thread!!.I had attempted Step 2, 6yrs ago and had failed.I have made up my mind to take my USMLE again.
In between I had tried to get an AS in Radiology or Ultrasound from a community college, unfortunately could not complete education as we needed to move.
I had a lot of pre-requistes courses to do.It definitely was depresssing to realise that after spending so many years in med school your degree is not vaild and you need to start from scratch .Not too bad though.... they had waived my anat and physio.
All those IT people enjoy during their college dayswhile we work hard and get into universities and jobs with eas while we are slogg.......
But Ultrasound has a waiting list anywhere, obivously since it is hot.I was hopful of getting into Radiology tech atleast.Anyways here I am trying my best again.
All the best mitochondria!!!
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| DRFP
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I want to be honest here, thinking about "What if I cannot" just makes me depressed and want to jump off a cliff, so I think we all need to stop this type of thinking ( me included) and concentrate on the boards, all the time thinking about problems takes brain power away from our goal.
To be physicians! 
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