fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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what can i say...
the fact that i 'm extremely happy - might be not so interesting for you,therefore i 'll mention my "preparation pearls":
1)the clinical basis as a student trough my 4-6th yrs. - i mean the daily job(even as a student) really helps to approach , integrate and memorize the fundamentals for the exam.Therefore i think the questions with images,ECG,etc were the easiest for me.
2)pass trough the MCQs in manner -you get used to(probably you all are after step-1,so you know well the preparation system).I made the following q-banks:
a.during 6 mo - i made books(MCQs): Applt & Lange + NMS in O&G,Surgery,Psychiatry,Pediatrics and Internal med. from Harrison's & Cecil. Applt' and NMS build the basic background - i mean really comfortable MCQs.Harrison's & Cecil MCQs for Internal med. are a bit harder,but very close to the online q-banks in the structure of question(+images) and explanations.
b.2 mo before the exam i took 2 online q-banks:"USMLEWORLD.COM" & Kaplan's.I liked much more USMLEWORLD.First of all because of their explanation way(easy and discussion like) and at the end of each explanation "the educational subjective" and second,it includes ~1800MCQs in comparison to Kaplan's.
But if you want to take just one from the above ,that's fine - and i'd choose USMLEWORLD.
This is just my way.I know many-many people who prepared really well within 3-4mo.
And who made step-1(especially) ,dont need to worry at all.
Good Luck,
Leon.
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| xmihaela
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 51
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Congratulation! You worked really hard and the result shows it.
Thanks for sharing your experience on the forum.
Good luck.
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| meg
Forum Guru
Topics: 62
Posts: 806
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Congrats fetus 
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| rod
Forum Newbie
Topics: 7
Posts: 11
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Hi, guy!!!
Congratulations!!! :lol:
Celebrate such a tremendous score!!! You deserve it!
rod
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| bluesman78
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 8
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Fetus - how did you feel after test? I felt the test was impossible!!! Good job on score. Also, are you in the US? How long agto did you take test? When do them mail it usually?
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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As you know,the're 8 blocks ,each one includes 46q. ,so it's difficult to memorize.
My general feeling was , that the first 2 blocks were very difficult.(it depends - what you define "difficult".. I define a difficult block when most of the questions require integration of knowledge for clinical DECISION or clinical thinking).
Then 3-4 blocks were with fair questions and just few difficult.And the last 2 were easier.It seems paradoxically,because most of USMLE-takers get tired on the last blocks.But this is just my experience.
Regarding the score report - i got it exactly at the end of 5th week after the exam.
Now,i'd like to ask you regarding step-1.I'm currently reading from Kaplan's lecture notes and i plann to pass trough "BSS" too.Could you share please about your step-1 experience..
thanks,
Leon
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| msashraf
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 156
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hello, Fetus,I have recently become a member of this site.I was really impressed by ur scores. U did a marvellous job.I have taken my step 1 last week and i would suggest that kaplan's lecture notes are very good.But for micro kaplan is verly lenghty and i think in the end it bcomes very difficult to reveiw micro from there.I did it from jawetz, micro made ridiculosly simple is good as well.u can try what ever suites ur style of study.as far as the mcqs are concerned i would suggest u to do kaplan's Q book, q bank and kaplan's simulated exam.bcoz they are very much similar to those in the actual exams. I also did BSS but u can do it for assessing ur knowledge otherwise the qs are very outdated. I also did nms and pretest.Pretest was good as well .But if u do mcqs from kaplan only that will be more that enuff.
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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how many MCQs q-bookKaplan's simulated contains?
I know - that for step-1 there are many details to memorize,so i want to pass trough as many as possible questions.I take Kaplan's lecture notes just for superficial refreshing and then i plann to work on MCQs.
As i understand you dont recommend BSS,because these are not updated?What alternative MCQs book would you recommend?
Therefore,please can you give me the ISBN of the q-books which you recommend..
thanks,
Leon
p.s. congratulations for finishing your step-1 exam!
wish you the best of luck in the results.
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| msashraf
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 156
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hello, kaplans q bank has 2100 mcqs, simulated exam has 350 mcqs divided into 7 blocks just like the real exam.plus q book has additional 850 mcqs. i forgot to mention last time that i also did A&L mcq book but i found the mcqs quite easy while i was doin them easier than the exam.
the ISBN number of the books are as follows
A&L review ISBN 0-07-137742-5
PRETEST ISBN0-07-137376-4
NMS ISBN 0-7817-3292-1
U can get q book from kaplan's site if u enroll for any program.
good luck.
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| lucky
Forum Guru
Topics: 23
Posts: 505
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fetus this is an excellent score , cograts. we'll like to have more of ur 'pearls'.
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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Hi,Lucky
Regarding the exam - i can say , that almost all subjects were examined equally(more or less) + few miscellaneous topics,like 1 question on heat exhaustion.I was prepared very well on infectious diseases(from USMLEWORLD),but i got no questions on this topic.The same was with developmental milestones.
Some questions on immunizations in adults - basic(age related,COPD,etc) immuniz' and in settings of immunodefiency states.On this topic i was well trained from Kaplan's q-bank.
Questions on clinical decision: old person with long story of background dieases has abdominal pain,the question asks what first test to do(first priority) according the story.
Pediatrics MCQs, i think part of them were in manner of step-1.They describe the disease and ask what enzyme is deficient.
Surgery is integrated in Int.med.
O&G - i studied hard obstetrics,but mainly i got MCQs on gynaecologic endocrinology- which were easy.Know well Tamoxifen & Raloxifen(this USMLEWORD recommended too)
Regarding my prep' pearls i can speak hours about each subject,so ask more specific and i'll be happy to help.
p.s. I'm looking for Kaplan's step-1 q-book(used,unmarked)& BSS,if you know someone who sells please let me know.
thanks,
Leon
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| lucky
Forum Guru
Topics: 23
Posts: 505
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thaks leon,
i'm doing paeds and am finding it very frustrating esp the milestones and vaccinations. these i have to memorize and i'm no good at memorizing. i'mdoing it from kaplan. what do u suggest.
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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you probably passed step-1,right?
if yes,so you remember how you probably suffered with Biochemistry,Pharm',Immuno.
So,here i use saying of 1 smart guy(who got 95 in step-1)who told me:
"things you hate - study them till you love them".
This message is the main drive for me.So,what i suggest,is to take more time for the topics,which require memorizing.
I was trained on this topic(MCQs of Immunizations in children & adults and immuniz' in different settings) mainly from Kaplans' & USMLWORLD q-banks.They provide very concise info'
In exam I got 1-2 questions of immuniz' for HIV patients & 1 question in pediatrics.Regarding Pediatric immuniz' - i read the table in NMS,each time i encounter some MCQ on this topic.
hope this helps.
Leon
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| lucky
Forum Guru
Topics: 23
Posts: 505
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hey leon ,
are there different nms books on different subjects, i have on e nms q book which contains different tests. the subjects are mixed.
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| crossingmyfingers
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 41
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Hi fetus. Congratulations on the great step 2 grade. I'm taking my step 2 on mid-july and still have not decided on what books to read! Can you tell me what reviewers you read aside from the mcq's that you did? Thanks so much!
I'm done with step 1. I did really well, 99/246. I studied the kaplan notes, did the qbook, nms questions and read USMLE First AID for step 1 THREE times. I'd have to say it was well worth it. Good luck!
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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Wow! Your score is amazing!
Now I m studying for step-1 and i see the info' from Kaplan's lecture notes and the comments,which people tell about step-1,it seems much harder than step-2.
Did you make only the sources,you mentioned in your message?(Kaplan's lecture notes,NMS,q-bank and FA).It seems you are a very smart guy... because people in forum speak about much more sources,i.e - BSS,BRS,NBWE.I mean the same person passes trough much more sources for step-1 in order to get above 90.
The books which i read for step-2 - were just in case i wanted to review some topic(shortly).Here are the books(from some of them i 've studied being a student):
1)internal -Washington manual of therapeutics
-Current diagnosis & treatment(2003)
2)O&G - Current O&G diagnosis & treatment.
3)Surgery- Current;Clinical surgery- Kumar & Clark
4)Pediatrics - NMS
5)Psychiatry - NMS
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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The NMS books(each book is just on particular subject,i.e-Surgery,Pediatrics therefore) which i had are structured like - theoretical chapters,and in the end of ech chapter the're ~15 MCQs on this particular chapter's topic.At the end of the book,there is about ~ 160 MCQs on all the book.
So,i have no idea about the "mixed NMS" book.
p.s. I'm looking for Kaplan's step-1 q-book(used,unmarked).
Leon
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| asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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Congradulations Fetus ,
Could you advice me plz and give me few hints how to go with step 2 CK preparation . Iam starting with kaplan notes and blue prints.
I also would like to have an advice for CS .
I want to go for 2005 match .Therefore i need to finish both exams before 31st Dec 2004.( needs to get ECFMG certification before 31st Dec)
What would you advice me Leon ?
Thanks in advance
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| fetus
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 128
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I understand,that you have a "deadline" for finishing step-2 & CS.But i dont know how to advice to study faster.As you probably read my above messages,i prepared for step-2 in >8 mo.
In those messages you may find the whole my preparation history(textbooks,q-books,q-banks).
Regarding the CS,i have no idea,as i'm just preparing for step-1.
good luck,
Leon
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| asmi
Forum Hero
Topics: 1043
Posts: 4,609
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Thanks Leon,
Most of my friends prepared for Ck in just 3 to 4 months .
Good Luck for step 1 !
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| lucky
Forum Guru
Topics: 23
Posts: 505
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thanks leon,
i will look for the nms books.
i'm sorry i don't know anyone who has a used q book.
the books u did for exam are frightening. i don't have the stamina to go through them, i wonder if kaplan notes will suffice ?
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| crossingmyfingers
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 41
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Hi fetus. Thanks for the input. The books you mentioned (Current, NMS) are quite long! I don't think i'll have time to go through them but i'll really try!
To study for step one i used ONLY the kaplan notes.My advice is to do as many sample questions as you can. And first aid is indispensable. I read BRS, Lippincot etc.. when i prepared for my country's board exam (in the Philippines). But I read only Kaplan and First Aid for Step one and for me, it was more than enough. I think you'll do just great with step one. From what i hear, step two is harder.
Good Luck!
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| doods
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 33
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Hi. Congrats on a great step 1 Score. Galing!
Since you dont have time to read the long books, i was wondering if you'll like my style, basically since pareho tayong nag boards na sa Pinas. Eto book list ko:
1. Crush the Boards Step 2
2. Swansons Family Practie Review
3. Underground Clinical Vignettes (all volumes)
4. First Aid for Step 2
For questions, i did:
1. NMS Review for USMLE Step 2 (which I found very hard pero sulit)
2. Kaplan qbank
Feeling ko mas manageable to, since you already have a good foundation with your step 1, which i feel is very important. probably 2-3 months of review is enough. I found step 2 harder in terms of test construction and length of questions. But content-wise, step 1 was harder for me.
Hope this helps pare!
Doods
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| doc_17
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 14
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hi fetus,
ur score is really very good.can u tell me hw did u score on usmleworld Q bank..i joined it last wk..& i m really doing very bad.these r very difficult Qs 4 me..i m scoring b/w 50-60%..i m very depressed,can u tell me hw can i improve myself,i hv studied kaplan notes & planning to take my exam within 2 mths.
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| ICU-NUT
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
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doods
thanks for your sugestion
did it work?
your score?
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