Sophia
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 20
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Hola 
It would be nice if we "latin doctors" could share our strategies, tips, mnemonics, etc... and support our IMG latin community on this forum. I am from South America, no names because is the same "Latin Heart" /
Count on me with anything you may need.
Suerte para todos y sigan adelante :icon_thumb:
Sophia.
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Sophia.
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| Perudoc
Forum Junior
Topics: 16
Posts: 33
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Hi Sophia,
I am also from Southamerica, where are you located? when do you plan to take the exam?
Take care
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| Sophia
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 20
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I am planning to take the exam on August 30, I am still struggling doing my 1st my Kaplan review, almost done, then I'll do it again and then well as everybody does, Q-bank and FA and more reviews. I am located in Milwaukee, WI.
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Sophia.
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| Colombia
Forum Guru
Topics: 85
Posts: 438
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Hello.
I enjoy the idea of share our experiences. I plan to take my exam in one month. Where are you Sophia?
Hi to Perudoc (IAN)
see you.
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| Sophia
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 20
|
I got this website,
Schedule for 3 weeks, just take a look...
http://www.mdtool.com/step1guide.html
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Also check this.....from:
http://jeffline.tju.edu/JMCstudents...SMLE-Step-1... but I think is not available anymore, anyway the most important from that information is here....
Jefferson Medical College Alpha Omega Alpha
Guide to USMLE Step 1
Introduction
Step I of the USMLE, or "the boards." Although this examination can seem pretty intimidating, a logical and well thought out approach to studying helps the great majority of students here at Jefferson to pass on their first try. So first and foremost, don't panic!
This guide is meant to provide a framework and some simple suggestions for studying for Step 1. Remember, these are just suggestions and no one approach to studying is right for everyone. The key to success is to think about the topics and issues that need to be covered, make a realistic study plan, and then do your best.
To organize this guide, we've separated it into 3 major sections:
- The first answers some commonly asked questions about the boards.
- The second section deals with scheduling your study time wisely and efficiently.
- Finally, the third section discusses the review books that are available within each major subject. Take a deep breath, and let's get started.
Commonly asked questions about Step 1
How important is the score anyway?
For better or for worse, residency programs do look at your USMLE scores as part of their evaluation of resident candidates. It is however just one aspect of your application, which will also include your clinical evaluations, letters of recommendation, basic science grades, and Dean's Letter.
The more competitive the specialty (i.e., Neurosurgery, ENT, and Radiology), the more likely the scores will be used to screen students for interviews. If you are leaning towards a particular field(s), ask residents or attendings about the relative importance of Step 1. Overall, just keep in mind that while your score does matter, it is only one of many criteria that will help determine your success in matching at the residency of your choice, so keep things in perspective.
When should I start studying?
The truth is that you started studying for Step I the first day of medical school, since this exam is basically a cumulative exam of the first two years. In terms of focused studying for the boards, however, most students find that 3-4 weeks is sufficient.
Review Courses
Keep in mind that there are also many review courses (Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc.) that can help you organize your studying if you are willing to spend the time and money. If you feel you may benefit from a review course, the best thing to do is to ask someone who has taken these courses to see what they are really about.
What topics are more/less emphasized on the boards?
This question is so important, as it will determine how much time you should spend reviewing each subject.
Generally, among first year classes, the most heavily emphasized is Physiology. There are also a fair number of questions in Neuroanatomy/Neurophysiology, Biochemistry and Behavioral Sciences, so spend a decent amount of time on these subjects as well (see scheduling section below for more detail). Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology are considerably less emphasized in Step 1, so spend less time studying them but please, please, please do yourself a favor and do not ignore any subject altogether.
As for second year courses, spend the most time with Pathology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology. Pathology is probably the most important single subject, since it ties in all of the other topics; dont be daunted, though, because the preparation you have received in going through ICM and Pathology in the second year has provided you with a strong foundation when it comes time for Step 1 prep. By devoting the appropriate time and energy and utilizing the right resources, conquering all of these subjects will be well within your reach. Also, don't forget the basics of Biostatistics, as sensitivity and specificity and positive and negative predictive values are favorites for the USMLE. Just knowing these will be worth several extra questions answered correctly.
How important are sample questions and practice exams?
Generally speaking, doing practice questions and exams is definitely helpful for many reasons: it directs your emphasis towards certain topics, identifies your strengths and weaknesses, and gets you in the right frame-of-mind for taking this exam. Many people have found it helpful to do 25-50 questions each night to review the subjects they studied earlier in the day. As the test day approaches, it is probably a good idea to take some longer test blocks back to back to build up your mental stamina for test day.
Regardless of how you approach it, practice questions of the proper caliber will be a big help in your review, especially in regard to timing and mental endurance. Also, if you count yourself among the computer-phobic, it may be wise to get some other computer testing resources just to get used to reading off a screen rather than a book.
How has computer testing changed the exam?
Many people have wondered about how administering the test on computers at Sylvan Learning Centers has changed the boards experience. Though there was much concern among students about the transition from paper to computer, there have been few complaints about the computer format. In fact, many find it much easier to point and click than to fiddle with finding the answer booklet and filling in the bubble.
For those of you who like to circle every word in the question or cross off every wrong answer choice, you will be given a dry erase board, though you may be surprised at how readily you adjust to life without a pencil. There are also relatively easy mechanisms to review unanswered questions or to mark a question to which you want to return, and you should familiarize yourself with these beforehand by using the CD practice test and tutorial you will get in the mail.
If you have had little experience with computers, it would probably be a good idea to use computer based testing resources in your studying so as to familiarize yourself with the basics of answering questions on the computer. Also, as mentioned already, the CD that comes with your packet mirrors the format of the exam and will help you be more comfortable as you approach the test. For the motivated or concerned among you, it is also possible to schedule a practice exam at the Sylvan Centers.
EXAM DAY
What is the testing day like?
There is no denying the fact that the testing day is long. Just be sure to remind yourself that it used to be two days!!
There are seven one-hour blocks of 50 questions, and you are allotted eight hours to complete the test.
In addition to the exam blocks, your test experience begins with a 15 minute computer tutorial. However, this is identical to the one on the CD sent in your packet, so it is best to skip it on test day and take the 15 minutes as break time. If you do this, you begin with 1 hour of break time, which you are able to take between sections at any point during the day.
Some people complete a couple of sections at a time and then take a prolonged break, while others choose to take a 5 minute break at the end of each section. You can always access a screen on the computer which tells you your total time remaining both for your current section and for the test day as well as how many sections you have left, so time management is not a major issue as long as you pay attention.
Putting Together a Schedule
Obviously, the more time you put into studying, the better the results you will most likely see. So if you are organized enough and willing, spend as much time as you feel necessary, and simply alter the schedule we are suggesting based on your own desired preparation time.
Keep in mind that this time of studying is really just a comprehensive review of material that you already know. You will not learn many things for the first time, though you will notice that as you synthesize information they may seem new since you finally make sense of them! At first it may seem as though you need to go through everything again and this may very well be true, especially for biochem, but the rate at which you relearn things is quite rapid, so don't panic.
As you plan your study time, it is important for you to establish your goals for the boards-to borrow terms from First Aid, do you want to just pass, to beat the mean, or to go for the gold. Your decision will be important in deciding how intensely you approach your studies. The following is a schedule for someone who wants to do well, but who wants to have a reasonable study schedule for about 3 weeks.
Before we begin, let's just lay out a couple of general principles:
Make your schedule and stick to it. Many have benefited from approaching studying for the boards as a job. Punch the clock for a set number of hours per day and then, provided you actually worked in that time, let yourself leave it behind when the time is up.
Include breaks in your schedule. This can be a grueling month of studying, so schedule in a day off per week, an hour a day for exercise, time to hang with friends and family, or whatever else you want to do. Your motivation level and overall efficiency will be enhanced by adequate rest periods.
Remember that First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 is your gold standard! Before you study each subject, spend a brief time reading over the high yield facts in First Aid, and return to it again when you are finished to emphasize the important tidbits. KNOW THIS BOOK INSIDE AND OUT!!! In a survey of the class of 2002 asking for the greatest piece of advice they could offer future Step 1 takers, the most popular answer was "memorize First Aid."
If you used a review book during the class, use it now. There are so many books from which to choose, so if you have one with which you are familiar, use that one.
Be sure to hit the large, important subjects:
Patho, Pharm, Micro, Physio, and Biochem) ... more than once during your preparations. Hit them hard in the beginning for two days or so, then come back at some point in the last week for a 1 day speedy, thorough review. You will be amazed how much you pick up that second time through.
Use practice tests to your advantage Schedule them into your evening time or use them whenever you get tired of studying during the day. As the test approaches, try to do several back-to-back one hour blocks to ready yourself for the exam.
Don't completely blow off any subject. It is silly to miss some easy points in something like Biostatistics when the information can be picked up in just a little bit of time. At the minimum, at least read the high-yield facts in First Aid.
One last time for emphasis -- especially during those last couple days, be sure to come back to First Aid
A Sample Schedule
Its Saturday, 1 PM, and you just awoke from the post-exam party last night. What was the exam on? It doesn't matter, put that behind you, and.........relax. Yes, relax. Should you start studying for the boards? Go wild and take a weekend off. You deserve the break. See you Monday.
Monday morning: consider taking a practice exam to see where you stand. Pay special attention and note areas of obvious weakness.
Here is what we have to cover and how long it should probably take
Topic Estimated time Comment
Behavioral Science 1 to 1.5 days Actually tested and fairly easy questions you need to cash in on, but you have a book, Fadem (BRS), which is short and has questions.
Biochemistry 3-4 days Perhaps the most tedious of the subjects review early (1-2 days) and late (1-2 days), saving the questions for the later time. Lippincott is a heroic effort, but an excellent resource, particularly if you used it before.
Physiology 4 days High yield. Perhaps the most important subject. Again, review early and late. Know Costanzo, shockingly effective.
Anatomy/Histology 1-1.5 days Honestly low yield. The focus should be on clinically useful stuff: which fractures relate to which nerves, winging of the scapula, etc. Radiographic images can be emphasized but generally stick to the basics; i.e. you see an x-ray with fracture at the midshaft of the humerus, what nerve is at risk? KNOW the basic X-rays in High Yield Anatomy
Embryology 0.5 days Don't neglect it, but don't blow it out of proportion. First Aid stuff high-yield.
Pharmacology 3-4 days Enormous volumes of material. Remember to think categorically. You have to know your autonomics. Know major side affects if they are bad, i.e. agranulocytosis, cardiotoxicity. A lot of people applaud the flip book.
Microbiology 2-3 days Sorry guys, it's in there, even the worms, but not enough to justify slaving over them. Know the parasites in First Aid. Try to combine micro with your antibiotics review, they are related in real life and surprisingly on the boards too.
Immunology 1-2 days Fairly good yield. Glance over immuno- deficiencies-in First Aid the day before the exam. Principles more than details.
Pathology 4-5 days One of the big-hitters on the exam, should also be a big-hitter in your prep. Another subject you want to hit both early and late. The BRS path book (Schneider) is a time-tested favorite.
So, that is an approximate time schedule for the material you need to cover. Remember this is a test that reflects 2 years of hard work, so hours, though important, are of limited gain. Again, during the last couple of days, look at First Aid, review those areas with which you feel uncomfortable, take practice exams, or relax. If you have prepared diligently, your work is done.
Rejoice! The end is coming.
We hope this guide can be of some help to you as you make your first step of three to freedom!
BE FOCUSED!
BE CONFIDENT!
BE SMART!
DON'T WORRY!
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I hope this helps you a little Colombia 
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Sophia.
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| Colombia
Forum Guru
Topics: 85
Posts: 438
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Thanks sophia It was very helpful........
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