mmoghbelli
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 180
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Hello to all, this is my first forum im in, I just graduated from med school from Iran, there we do 2.5 years of basic science work, 1 year transitional pathophisiology, 2.5 clinical science observation, and 1.5 years of supervised internship. I am a US citizen and am currently in Texas, and have been in the US since december, that I graduated. I had to leave Iran because of wrongful prosecution involving a divorce, which devestated me and is continuing to this day, I feel very lost and alone, and its been the roughest time of my life. I was boen in USA and stayed here till 1992 when my parents took me back to learnt he culture and all....I had 3 years to learn the language, and prepare for an exam that was 1 million participants and 100,000 got accepted, and I wanted medicine which only 1 in 1000 is accepted, so with the help of all family and god, I was able to do a miracle and get accepted. Now I am in US, with these problems that I left behind me, and I wont be able to go back to Iran, and I want to start a residency in the USA. I love surgury and internal medicine, and am a very hard worker. My parents are supporting me now, like always, and I have everyday I want to study for my exams.
I didnt study hard in med school, as I had 2 other jobs to support my wife. Now I am reading these reviews and everyone is so pesemistic about going into residency and the step 1 that somehow I think maybe I should consider changing to different major, or worse yet, going back to Iran and not being allowed to go out of the country for the next 20 years....Please, can anyone tell me what to study for USMLE and what to do for residency here? I have all High Yield Books, First Aid, Rypins Basic science review and questions, Board review series, undergroung clinical vignettes, and bedside for the usmle 1. What else do I need, what of these should I study, just thinking of all the material in front of me makes me feel like vomiting, excuse me. Anyones help is sincerely appreciated.[/b]
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| rida
Forum Guru
Topics: 109
Posts: 721
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Hello mmoghbelli and welcome to this forum. First i just wanna say that don't FREAK OUT PLEASE!!! Trust me thats the worst thing you can do, you have come a long way, you can't give up now. You say yourself that you are a very hard worker, well than no doubt you can pass the step one and get the residency you are interested in without a doubt specially surgery. One of my friends failed the step once and second time didn't do all that, and he is a third year resident at a really nice hospital in the surgery ward. Again, your materials are great, and if you check out this forum, you'll find out its really not what books, as long as you have the concepts down. It seems to me you have a good medical backgroud, just organize yourself and figure out which subjects you will start with and how much time you will spend on each subject. Kaplan is amazing but if you have high yields, and BRS's, learn the subjects, and then do questions from various sources like kaplan q bank, NBME, as questions are the key to this exam. As others have posten on these forums, high yield is good for anatomy, embryo, and histo, BRS physio, path and behavioral are my personal fav. For micro and immuno, there are highyeields and BRS's, whichever you are comfortable with. And in the last few weeks, review everything through first aid. Again i haven' taken the exam, so the best advice is to read the posts of people who have, i just didn't want you to give up. We are all in the same boat, just don't make this exam your life, and study hard, and leave the rest to God, He helps those who help themselves. I with you all the luck, and you'll do great on the boards!!!! 
___________________
"If He takes you to it, He'll take you through it."
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| DiaHuq
Forum Elite
Topics: 46
Posts: 402
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Hey relax.It is overwhelming but don't panic.Look at all you've gone through and survived!! 
I was also born here and went back to bangladesh to learn about my culture after high school while going to medschool as well.I got married right after i graduated last july.And my last two years of medschool unfortunately didn't get to study much for various reasons.
I also just moved to texas(dallas) and took a break for a while(after all i was a newlywed) but started to study a couple of weeks ago and felt so lost even now i feel frustrated.
But this forum is wonderful,and you have all good books.Just pick them up and read them and you'll get through.Residencies come later just try to study and take in all the information.
There are many people going through the same struggles you are and making it.So don't give up.
Just yesterday i got so frustrated i threw my book at the wall across the room.But yet here i am again studying.
Where in Texas are you?
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| mmoghbelli
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 180
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Thanks for the support, I feel very overwhelmed at the timebeing, I am in College Station, Texas, and my parents both teach at Texas A & M, and my entire family is into medicine, so there is great expectation in the family for preforming well, but the sound of the USMLE makes me terrified, I tried the practice test CD for USMLE from their website and got a 43 of 50, but am terrified I wont have enough time to finish for my exam in 6 months, and I dont have much research in my CV, some have even reccomended me to go back ot my country, but I want to make it here, make it work somehow. Does anyone have anyidea if 6 months 8 hours a day is enough, or should I reschedule? And what score should I aim for, will I have any chance for a residency with an 85 or so?
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| DiaHuq
Forum Elite
Topics: 46
Posts: 402
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I just started and I'm also aiming for 6 months.I don't study on weekends and study maybe 3-4 hours a day(working up to 8 hours hopefully).It should be enough i've known people to study years and fail and some study onlu3-4 months and pass.
I have nothing on my CV,i didn't even do my internship.Two of my seniors in med school had the same background,graduated and then studied without internships or research they are now doing their residencies in good hospitals.
You seem to know you stuff.Just read and do lots of questions.i heard that after finishing everything twice you should do qbank.
A score of 75-80% on q-bank usually correalates pretty well with a score 85% and above(usually in 90%) from what i've seen and heard.
Expectations from family?We have alot of docters in our families.I have so many cousins who have graduated from american medschools.My younger cousin just graduated from Harvard and is now entering Duke med school.So in a family of overachievers, i just happen to have the so-called handicap of going to a foreign med college as my mother wanted me to learn our culture.But i don't think of it has a handicap.We have alot of experiences that american med students don't.I've seen many diseases not prevalent here as i'm sure you have.
Just relax,study,work hard and the rest leave to God.
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| Malaysian
Forum Guru
Topics: 28
Posts: 778
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DON'T PANIC.Just pick up any book infront of you and begin your studies.The books you mentioned are the recommended ones so now you just have to read them....thats all.If you still feel trouble in starting then I would advice you to join a prep-course with lectures....either live or video.This will encourage you to study.Also to help your wandering mind you may want to join a study group so that you remain focussed.Don't worry about research etc......Its not an important criteria.And since you're an US citizen.....it will be easier for you to get a residency.So happy studying.
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| PsychDr2B
Forum Elite
Topics: 35
Posts: 197
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mmogbhelli, FOCUSING seems to be the underlying theme in all our advice. Let's do just that. Focus on Step 1. Everything else should be temporarily on hold. I also have family obligations and mental distractions; but I know that PASSING this exam is my thing to do for myself. Stay positive is the other theme. Avoid negative statements from anyone about the exam YOU are going to take.
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