A student who struggles...

[MedStud1984]

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Friends on SDN,

Although more of a "lurker" on these pages than a poster, I have a few questions that I really need answers to, and I would appreciate your time in answering them. This is a longer post, but I think that students who are lurkers will appreciate it.

I go to a "state school" in the midwest, am a 2nd year student, came in as an English major, and have struggled since I walked through the door of medical school (my undergrad GPA was 3.95, MCAT 30 ) as I did not have a strong background in the sciences like my peers.

I am below average (significantly, although I haven't failed any courses) and I am looking for answers to boards preparation. Not so I can "rock the boards" but rather to prove to myself that I ama good student because I love this profession of medicine, and although the work is grueling and unrewarding after I see my exam grades, I am still thrilled to be a part of it.

I want to do well on boards, because I am a hard worker, and I want to prove to myself that I am more than capable of learning the material just like my classmates


My questions follow below: I would appreciate your feedback

1. I have purchased my board review books ( mostly rapid review), and am currently planning on doing all the problems in the back of the books+online Let me know if you felt rapid review questions were helpful for boards review vs a resource like kaplan qbank
2. I am also currently using Robbin's QBOOK and will complete USMLE WORLD

Please let me know if you would recommend any additional resources or have any guidance etc. for students like me

Thank you for your time

MedStud1984

 

[smq123]

I go to a "state school" in the midwest, am a 2nd year student, came in as an English major, and have struggled since I walked through the door of medical school (my undergrad GPA was 3.95, MCAT 30 ) as I did not have a strong background in the sciences like my peers.

I am below average (significantly, although I haven't failed any courses) and I am looking for answers to boards preparation. Not so I can "rock the boards" but rather to prove to myself that I ama good student because I love this profession of medicine, and although the work is grueling and unrewarding after I see my exam grades, I am still thrilled to be a part of it.

I want to do well on boards, because I am a hard worker, and I want to prove to myself that I am more than capable of learning the material just like my classmates


My questions follow below: I would appreciate your feedback

1. I have purchased my board review books ( mostly rapid review), and am currently planning on doing all the problems in the back of the books+online Let me know if you felt rapid review questions were helpful for boards review vs a resource like kaplan qbank
2. I am also currently using Robbin's QBOOK and will complete USMLE WORLD

Please let me know if you would recommend any additional resources or have any guidance etc. for students like me

Thank you for your time

MedStud1984

Hi -

It's great that you're starting this process relatively early. Keep going - keep studying a little bit each week, without detracting from your current studies. It'll give you time to get comfortable with your review books, and help you figure out which ones really seem to help you, and which ones just bog you down. It may mean a little less free time each weekend, but that's okay. But, like I said, don't do this at the detriment of your 2nd year classes - FINISH STRONG!

Buy First Aid. Right away. And start using it. It'll help with 2nd year classes too.

Don't use too many books. You'll just start confusing yourself and driving yourself crazy. Find a few books that you really like, and use them over and over again.

Do practice questions, from the very first week that you really start studying for the boards in earnest. You need to get comfortable with the types of questions that will be asked on the boards.

Finally, make a study schedule and stick to it.

Good luck!

 

[PenguinHead]

Friends on SDN,

Although more of a "lurker" on these pages than a poster, I have a few questions that I really need answers to, and I would appreciate your time in answering them. This is a longer post, but I think that students who are lurkers will appreciate it.

I go to a "state school" in the midwest, am a 2nd year student, came in as an English major, and have struggled since I walked through the door of medical school (my undergrad GPA was 3.95, MCAT 30 ) as I did not have a strong background in the sciences like my peers.

I am below average (significantly, although I haven't failed any courses) and I am looking for answers to boards preparation. Not so I can "rock the boards" but rather to prove to myself that I ama good student because I love this profession of medicine, and although the work is grueling and unrewarding after I see my exam grades, I am still thrilled to be a part of it.

I want to do well on boards, because I am a hard worker, and I want to prove to myself that I am more than capable of learning the material just like my classmates


My questions follow below: I would appreciate your feedback

1. I have purchased my board review books ( mostly rapid review), and am currently planning on doing all the problems in the back of the books+online Let me know if you felt rapid review questions were helpful for boards review vs a resource like kaplan qbank
2. I am also currently using Robbin's QBOOK and will complete USMLE WORLD

Please let me know if you would recommend any additional resources or have any guidance etc. for students like me

Thank you for your time

MedStud1984

I don't have much advice, but I'm in the same boat so I thought I'd share.

I had a decent GPA, 31 MCAT, and I've been below class average fairly consistently. I would be thrilled with 220 (although I'm setting my goals higher), but I figure I'll have to work extra hard to make up for what I didn't learn during class. I'll take the step in May, so I tried to ease into studying over the holidays. I started reading FA in depth in mid December. I won the Qbank deal so I've been doing random 25 question blocks every couple of days. I organized a "book list" for each subject (largely based on advice from SDN, thanks everyone), and created a schedule for balancing class work and studying for the step on a day by day basis through mid-february.

My plan is stick mostly with FA until we get out in April to prepare for the Step. Hopefully, I'll have a really good grasp on FA by then and will be able to supplement that knowledge with BRS/HY/RR/Kaplan for the next 4-5 weeks. I also will have finished Qbank by March and will switch to Uworld.

Anyway, best of luck to you.

 

[MedStud1984]

thanks, any more responses would be appreciated, particularly about people who struggled in medicine and did well on the boards (present 3rd+4th years)