seven_fingers
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I thought I would post my USMLE Step1 and 2 CK experiences since I have both results in my hands.
I am an IMG, studied in Russia. Basically went there coz I was too bad a student to study in India.
I got 262/99 in Step1 and a 251/99 in Step2. if you are an averages student don’t stop reading here for reasons I stated above.
WHAT I THINK I DID RIGHT ABOUT STEP1 and 2
Time of Step1 March
Start of preparation : December
Time of Step2: July end
Start of prep: April end
• Pray
• Kaplan, Kaplan and Kaplan.
Their notes are the absolute must have. You can buy them second hand from someone who has already been through the course.
The web-prep videos are good in the sense that it leaves with you a lot of visual imagery and audio cues.
What do I mean by that?
Means when you see a question you go : “Oh I remember him drawing that on the board..” or “oh yes, I can hear is irritating, sleepy voice telling me this point over and over again.”
• Dr.Goljan’s audio lectures are also a must have. I heard them thrice over by the time I sat the test. The high yields are really that. I couldn’t believe the number of questions I got from it.
• Start making flash cards from Day1 preparation, of any information that needs to be memorized. Especially pharma.
Carry it with you everywhere. I used to sit in the loo and go over flashcards. Flashcards while walking down the street.
Flashcards in the bus. If you died from studying too hard, you better have flashcards on your person when they do an autopsy.
p.s: for those who don’t know – flashcards are rectangular pieces of chart paper about 3x2 inches. One side goes medical condition other side goes drug of choice or whtever. Make them yourselves and save money. it uses less memory to use flashcards than to memorise conventionally. Trust me I did a lotta reading about this one.
• USMLEWORLD – don’t copy the pirated screen captures. Spend the money and sign up at the site. You get to assess how your studying is going. I did them in timed mode subject wise. Then did all the ones I got incorrect in tutor mode. Read all the q’s and answers. Yes even the ones you got right. Very useful resource (no I don’t get paid to say this- no conflict of interest either)
METHOD IN THE MADNESS
I used to be up at around 10ish. Do sundry stuff till 11.
In my quiet time pray and ask God to help me accomplish whatever I needed to that day while studying.
Went straight from 11 a.m till 7.30p.m. - one 30 minute break for sandwiches and a 15min power nap.
Dinner and family time from 7.30 p.m – 10p.m
Then from 10 p.m to midnight used to do the USMLEWORLD q’s (I took one month subscription, starting one month ten days before the exam.)
Used to fool around on all these USMLE forums from midnight to 2 am. Didn’t bother studying in this shift coz I would have to repeat it anyways.
I picked up a lot of decent tips and encouragement from these forums. Which is why I’m taking time to write this.
Dosent mean to say that all of you should spend 2 hrs a day on internet. I used to also listen to the Goljan lectures at that time.
Sundays off. Saturdays half day off. Weekdays and Saturdays, no TV. Not even a little.
Before the last ten days appear on the scene you should have finished going through your notes twice – first time slowly getting a big picture and understanding, second time memorizing and making up mnemonics. You should also be done with your USMLE WORLD and listening to the Goljan lectures.
Do the above and you should beat my score. I don’t care what type of student you are. I played Age of Empires 3 and wasted a otta time on step1 and played warcraft and wasted a lotta time on Step2. Buy God gives grace.
Am applying for the 2009 Match. So those who pray, keep it in prayer.
in Christ
-Seven Fingers
Edited by seven_fingers on 08/14/08 - 03:11 AM
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| dr_puma
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great job seven fingers.thanks for the tips!u r a very bright mind.
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| seven_fingers
Forum Junior
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haha puma.. like i said in the beginning.... i studied abrod coz i didnt make the cut in my country... its just Grace and Hard Work - the ultimate combo
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| jaisurana
Forum Senior
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congrats!!! great score. n all kudos for ur grit n perseverance. how will u go about the matching process. share ur insight as i will also b applying this year
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| zen08
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What an inspiring story sevenfingers Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I agree so much with the flashcards, especially when you are a visual learner and most of us are tables. algorithms...do the trick for me...
I wouldn't go anywhere if not for the prayers . I'm a firm believer in that
A well deserved score and what a fantastic story. You are not average by a long shot. We sometimes just need a better fitting medium...system.. to shine trough. It's always been there and USMLE was the portal..
Good luck with the match
Thanks!!!
Edited by zen08 on 08/14/08 - 08:34 AM
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| godfather1212m
Forum Elite
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congrats 7 fingers,
can u tell us pls what were ur scores in UW?
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WE MIGHT HAVE COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT WE ARE HEADING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
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| seven_fingers
Forum Junior
Topics: 6
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yo zen. i maintain that i am average. i havent got anything that i havent been given from above - treasures in jars of clay so taht we know that its not of us 
godfather - step2 UW score was around 75% getting a 85th percentile.
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| dr.gabby
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sevenfingers, you're amazing. congrats. i admire your humility as well. i need your advice on something very important..
i have to take by the end of september (an extension from my original eligibility which is april-june). i dont know what is wrong or what went wrong.
i started to read january and was doing very well in my readings except for this recent months that i have a hard time concentrating and focusing.
to address this, i took breaks, etc...
still...im having the same problem..
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| nany
Forum Guru
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...you deserve the best...
really nothing more to say...,
congratulations
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| esther216
Forum Newbie
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hi, how did the usmleworld questions compare to the actual exam?
congratulations on passing and good luck with the match
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| seven_fingers
Forum Junior
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sorry for the delayed reply:
dr.gabby - keep telling yourself "my mind is alert and my heart is steadfast. Thank you Jesus for my mind." its not some mantra or something - but it definitely helped me focus.
thanks nany... looking out for that best that is coming my way ; thanks for the good word...
Esther216 - the UW questions were pretty close to the actual exam. i recognised a lot of questions on the test that i distinctly knew I saw on UW..
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| Tuscani
Forum Guru
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congrats...great score....!!!
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| seven_fingers
Forum Junior
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thanks
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| seven_fingers
Forum Junior
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yoikes!
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| jigi
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Congratulations, great job. Hope that you will have a successful match as well. I agree with you that watching videos really helps to memorize stuff.
Is there any possibility that I can get a copy or purchase the videos for step2 Ck from you? Please help me. My e-mail add. is jigi0412@hotmail.com
Thanks.
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jigi
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| seven_fingers
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sorry jigi...
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