25 yrs gap and USMLE 1 now

[tootheye]

Hi
I am kind of non traditional here -time point of view! I am an IMG and I came out of my med school in 1990. I completed residency in Ophthalmology in 1994 and worked in the same speciality. I tried taking usmle in 1998 both parts in a gap of 2 months with inadequate prep. I landed with a score of 73.I didn't pursue again.

Now I live in the US and would like to get into the stream again starting with usmle1.
In '98 when I took the exams I found things changed so much and imagine the advances now 20 yrs after med school ! My foundation memory seems ok(Remote!) from what I've learnt over med school but things have changed.Immunologu etc looks soooo different!
I tried doing some diagnostic tests to see where I stand. I seem to be doing ok in the things that I remember and those that have clinical application- being in clinical practice in my speciality. At the same time I feel inadequate largely for obvious reasons. My basic sciences are 25 yrs old.
I was looking at these forums and wanted opinions from others.
My Study plan goes like this- FA 2009( dry facts memorization),UW 3 months subscr,Goljan RR. I do have some review books if FA isn't making sense to me at any point. i want to take the test in 4 months time.
Pl help. I am looking for constructive inputs. Thanks.

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[McGillGrad]

You should seriously consider a prep course for your final month of study if your NBME scores are lacking. The more you know about clinical medicine, the more the details make sense, but you still have review the details to fill in the blanks in your basic science knowledge.

Consider studying on your own for 3 months and then 1 month at the PASS program. You could also consider the DIT program that helps you conquer FA.

 

[Nellyakgo]

Tootheye, i'm so gald for your post. I'm in the exact same boat. Slightly (or significantly) worse because (1)I never practiced after graduation (2)I've been dithering over this decision or the past 1 or 2 years. Decided to start 2 months ago, started studying kaplan books for 2 weeks then stopped for various (stupid) reasons. No I need focus and personal strenght to study. And a convinction that I'm taking the right study path.

McGill, please would you open up the abbreviations (I'm so unfamiliar to these territories). What is PASS and what is DIT? Is FA First Aid?
Thanks all you good supportive fellas around! 🙂

 

[tootheye]

Thank you. I am looking into DIT(unaware till you told!) and think it'll supplement my FA as it claims so. I am doing my first reading on FA and halfway thru' now. Should I subscribe for U world simultaneously or do you suggest I wait till I read once and then do Qns.

You should seriously consider a prep course for your final month of study if your NBME scores are lacking. The more you know about clinical medicine, the more the details make sense, but you still have review the details to fill in the blanks in your basic science knowledge.

Consider studying on your own for 3 months and then 1 month at the PASS program. You could also consider the DIT program that helps you conquer FA.

 

[tootheye]

Yes. Its the attitude that matters. See we made a beginning without givingup afterall. Google all the abbreviations and there you are.

 

[alesa]

Tootheye,

All the power to U,

I think a prep course would be good for u, perhaps kaplan web prep or the course in itself, to strengthen ur foundation....If u think u may need to.

DIT course is probably good, it helps u go through FA, but his speed maybe to fast to start off with.

UW and FA awesome resources, if good background ...Probably most of the material is apparantly there.

Good Luck in your studies.

 

[NRAI2001]

Hi
I am kind of non traditional here -time point of view! I am an IMG and I came out of my med school in 1990. I completed residency in Ophthalmology in 1994 and worked in the same speciality. I tried taking usmle in 1998 both parts in a gap of 2 months with inadequate prep. I landed with a score of 73.I didn't pursue again.

Now I live in the US and would like to get into the stream again starting with usmle1.
In '98 when I took the exams I found things changed so much and imagine the advances now 20 yrs after med school ! My foundation memory seems ok(Remote!) from what I've learnt over med school but things have changed.Immunologu etc looks soooo different!
I tried doing some diagnostic tests to see where I stand. I seem to be doing ok in the things that I remember and those that have clinical application- being in clinical practice in my speciality. At the same time I feel inadequate largely for obvious reasons. My basic sciences are 25 yrs old.
I was looking at these forums and wanted opinions from others.
My Study plan goes like this- FA 2009( dry facts memorization),UW 3 months subscr,Goljan RR. I do have some review books if FA isn't making sense to me at any point. i want to take the test in 4 months time.
Pl help. I am looking for constructive inputs. Thanks.

Wow 25yrs since basic science.. so much has probably changed in the basic sciences. You probably need to spend a month or 2 just reading robbins a few times; a review course maybe a waste of money for you.

 

[vicinihil]

I think a prep course is the best bang for your buck. It is expensive, however it also provides you majority of the resources you need to do well and get back into the groove of things. It's structures and proven to work for the majority of the students.

I think FA, Goljan, and BRS Phys are great outside resources to start with Uworld and/or Qbank (depending if you take the class) to add on to it.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Wait a minute guys.

OP, that you graduated in 1990 will make it VERY VERY difficult for you to land a residency spot. Most residency programs have a cut-off graduation date of 5 years (some even 3).

I'd think long and hard about investing so much time and money into taking the USMLEs if it won't get you to the next step -- residency in the U.S.

Since you're already trained in ophthalmology overseas, perhaps you can get involved in research of some sort. You probably won't make as much money as a clinician but at least you're still part of the healthcare "team" (tangentally).

 

[tootheye]

Yes I agree. There is a fond hope as one of my batchmates could get into IM 5 yrs ago and went for fellowship too.I am such a clinician at heart with little interest in resrearch. With due respect to research I'll consider it a compromise if I need to get into it. But who knows if choices aren't there thats where I may endup!

Wait a minute guys.

OP, that you graduated in 1990 will make it VERY VERY difficult for you to land a residency spot. Most residency programs have a cut-off graduation date of 5 years (some even 3).

I'd think long and hard about investing so much time and money into taking the USMLEs if it won't get you to the next step -- residency in the U.S.

Since you're already trained in ophthalmology overseas, perhaps you can get involved in research of some sort. You probably won't make as much money as a clinician but at least you're still part of the healthcare "team" (tangentally).

 

[Nellyakgo]

Wait a minute guys.

OP, that you graduated in 1990 will make it VERY VERY difficult for you to land a residency spot. Most residency programs have a cut-off graduation date of 5 years (some even 3).

I'd think long and hard about investing so much time and money into taking the USMLEs if it won't get you to the next step -- residency in the U.S.

Since you're already trained in ophthalmology overseas, perhaps you can get involved in research of some sort. You probably won't make as much money as a clinician but at least you're still part of the healthcare "team" (tangentally).

Hi Doctorsaib, you make a definitive statement. What is it specifically that you've seen or are there official policies that makes you write the above?

 

[NRAI2001]

Some of the more competitive places may have time limits from graduating.. I m thinking some of the community FP and IM places probably dont have these time limits... why not go for it👍

 

[tootheye]

Can any one help me with these ?s pl

1.What would be a good time to subscribe for U world while doing FA. I am about to start with systems. I prefer a 3 m subscrp.

2. How are the questions organized in U world-those of you who've taken UW. Are they system wise or subject wise?

3. If any one has taken prep courses- how are the lectures placed. Would the lecture go before reading the material or after?

4. I have a goljan2002 ed (hand me down) Should I go for the newer ed or will the Uworld do for updates.I need to decide now before I start with systems.

 

[tarlovcyst]

1.What would be a good time to subscribe for U world while doing FA. I am about to start with systems. I prefer a 3 m subscrp.

You can do FA in 1-2 months. I can't tell you how to study, but you need to correlate UW with FA. You know best.

2. How are the questions organized in U world-those of you who've taken UW. Are they system wise or subject wise?

Both ways. First by subject, and then further broken by system.

3. If any one has taken prep courses- how are the lectures placed. Would the lecture go before reading the material or after?

Personally, I don't recommend any prep courses. Nobody can teach you how to beat a test that relies solely on knowledge and your application of the material. USMLE is not beatable like the SAT. You need to know your material. From the IMGs I know that have been through this, they said the prep courses were paced too slow.

4. I have a goljan2002 ed (hand me down) Should I go for the newer ed or will the Uworld do for updates.I need to decide now before I start with systems.

There are so many who used UW without knowing what or who Goljan is. It really depends what type of studier you are. Goljan audio is mainly for those who learn by listening or learn by lectures. It's not for everyone. I tell all med students the same advice - study the same way that has gotten you this far in life. Don't switch up how you study just because you've been away from the material for so long or because the test is the biggest of your life.

The last thing you need to know is this graduation issue. Many, many residencies these days will only look at candidates who graduated within the last 5 years. It varies, but most programs have an official cutoff. The rest have an unannounced cutoff.

 

[tootheye]

Thank you tarlovcyst for your constructive reply. With regards to the gap I had, the general medical, esp the basic science concepts have changed like no comparison to what I did in med school in 1985. This is esp true of some branches like immunology,cell bio etc.
Having said that, my branch of specialization being Ophthal in which I am quite updated I became highly polarized due to the nature of the speciality.
For these reasons and after having gone thru FA I felt I might benefit better with review books understanding concepts before I memorize dry HY facts of FA.
Between prep courses and review material/books I just consider the former audio and the latter visual! It doesnt matter to me much. As you said its ones personal choice.
Passing step 1 is imp to me bc I want to give every possible trial before I've to quit out of no choice settling for the less interesting public health/research to me.
I still have a question!

Is U world a good alternative for review material if studied in an organized way coordinating with FA.