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From: cocky
Date: 12 Jan 2005
Time: 15:38:06 -0500
Remote Name: 192.30.202.28
Hello e'one! I got my score today -252/99. I was expecting 260+ but nonetheless,I am thankful to God !What more can I say? Regarding me,I am an IMG from India &graduated in '99.I also completed my POST-GRADUATION back there in Pediatrics early 2004 & came to US ard mid-year.So having to go back to the basic-sciences was an uphill task but obviously,one has to do it ,like it or not!So why not try to study for it in a relaxed manner without panicking & with a BELIEF in urself..It is not as much difficult to clear the test as is to study for it.So keep the courage(with courage &conviction,U can conquer any destination!) I studied for > 6 months,studying for abt 5/6 hrs a day for the 1st few months(not saturdays/sundays) & then ,may b 8/9 hrs a day twds the end.I studied the texts 3 times-1st reading took abt 21/2 months,the 2nd one abt 2 months(this time I also did ques from BSS& THE Q-BOOK. The 3rd reading was a quicker one-abt a month.By this time, I had also got the Goljan audio c.d &webpath c.d which helped me a lot to say the least.After this,I bought Kaplan online Q-Bank & also,solved Qs from NMS.Ard this time,I started going thru 'First-AID ' as well to brush -up what I had learned. I remember how difficult it was for me to just sit down to read earlier on but as days went by,my concen started gaining momentum. So my advice to e'body is not to worry if U can't focus too much on studies to begin with coz ur mind automatically switches to a higher gear as the D-day approaches.Also,learn to renew ur zeal & zest by taking l'il breaks ,now & then as our brains need some relaxation &entertainment as well along with the taxing study work-outs. The material that I used for the prep ================================== *Anatomy HY +Road-map to gross anatomy(a real good book with gr8 diagrams) *Neuroanatomy HY( supplemented by pictures,illustrationS,radiologic slides from anatomy sites mentioned in the Anatomy resources of this forum) *Histology-Kaplan+WEBPATH *Physiology-Kaplan(lecture notes*) + BRS(both are equally good but since,there is some difference B/W THE 2,I used both. *Microbio-I started with MRS( in fact,it was the book that I started my prep of the step with as it seemed simple & easy) but 2nd reading onwards,I switched to Kaplan only.I think it is a gr8 book esp the flow charts & all at the end which help U TEST urself as well. *Immunology-Kaplan notes were good &sufficient. *Biochem-Kaplan + online resources *Pharma-1st time,I studied it frm Lippincotts but after that ,it was all Kaplan( with may b occasional references to the former)-Good enuf! *Pathology / Pathophysio- this has always been one of my strongholds .I did it frm both Kaplan & BRS.Also,Webpath & Goljan Audio( Absolute -must).Do try to listen to Dr Goljan just days b4 exam.Does help quite a bit.Also'tis a good idea to revise pathology slides in the last few days along with the audio lectures *Genetics/cell bio- Again,one of my stronger subjects.HY/ online resources given on this forum *Behavior Sciences -BRS( was one of my weaker subjects to start-with but Kaplan q-bank qs made quite a difference). Also,I wd like to mention that this forum has been of gr8 help to me.Thanx to e'body for helping each other out! Abt the exam-day ========== I took my exam on 2ND OF DEC. I went to bed at 11 p.m on the eve of the exam but even though I wasn't overtly anxious,cldn't fall asleep even till 2/3 a.m.Here,I wd like to say that U must have some mild sedative( say chlorpheniramine the night b4 the exam to help U sleep well). I tried to do without it but finally decided to have the med to at least sleep a few hrs.I still wasn't fresh in the morn & so was a bit sceptical but once U start with the test,ur adrenalin sails U thru. Started at 9A.M.All the blocks were equally difficult/easy.But mostly the stuff was all that U prepare from the books ;may b needed to b applied to difft situations.2/3 Qs/concepts got repeated in difft blocks.Mostly pathophysio ( graphs etc-may b not that U get to C anywhere but having the concepts,U can ace them);lots of pharma,genetics qs& behavior sciences. Time was not a problem for me as I finished each block with abt 20-25 mts to spare so that I cld comfortably not only revise the marked qs but also revise all of the others as well(which helped me correct any silly mistakes that I had made in the Ist go). Breaks- I took a break of abt 5 mts after the 2nd block,5 after 3rd one & a 30-min break after the 4th one ( during which I had light lunch-a sandwich& some juice).I took another break after the 6th block for 5 mts ( &during these mini-breaks ,had chocolates to keep my energy -levels up).As I had skipped the tutorial section,I finished the exam with abt 30 mts to spare. Another thing,if U r a believer,do pray on the exam morn & also,during the breaks as it is a gr8 stress-buster. Leaving the exam center,I knew I had done well & so wasn't that anxious but my,my........as the days went by & there was no sign of OASIS update,I grew restless but finally thank GOD ,my results arrived. Final Thought ===================== Life has many tests to put us thru,Step 1 being just a miniscule one.So if U r armed with self-belief & hard-work,nothing on earth can stop U frm achieving ur goal.GL to all for life ahead(including STEP 1 OF-COURSE)! F.A- TWICE,LAST ONE ON THE DAY B4 EXAM-QUICK REV SCORES ======== kaplan q-bank 81%( did it only once) kaplan simulated c.d- 82%usmle c.d 42,44,41NBME 1-660 NBME 2-630 BLACKWELL ONLINE SIMULATED EXAM-80% Rest of the info U can get frm my exam-exp