Advice for an "average" med student aiming to get an above average score

[sswang00]

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[lildave2586]

I didn't do DIT, but a lot of people in my class are doing it and they really love it. I think it definitely has it's merit. If I were you, I would go ahead and do it now to lay the foundation for your further studying. Maybe even get through the thing twice. Save the Uworld questions until a month out from your test, and maybe consider buying Kaplan or Rx to do while you work through DIT. I'd hold off on the NBME, it's just a waste of 4 hours and you need a stronger foundation first. You've got all the time in the world to bring this thing up to 230s+. Make a plan and stick to it. You'll be fine.

 

[dienekes88]

I think your resources are the right ones. UWorld, RR Path, FA, and BRS Physio are the core of my study materials. It's about the repetition and constantly try to actively remember (from class from previous runs) what you're about to read each time you go through. Some people like flashcards, I like to re-read. It's a matter of preference.

I don't get the "save UWorld for the end!"-mentality. Screw that. I finished my first pass when classes ended, and I'm working on my second run through. If I memorize all the questions and most of the explanations, well that means I learned a lot doesn't it? Just make sure you read the explanations at the very least for the ones you got wrong and weren't sure about. Ideally, you'd even read the explanations of the ones you got right.

 

[cushie]

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[DRJJ1]

I also think that DIT could be a great idea for you. I also consider myself a pretty average student, I have only gotten honors in one class (and it was a soft one- psych) in the first two years. I'm through 8 days of DIT and it's so helpful. All the quizzes that are built in really help solidify the knowledge.

I have heard all good things about DIT course but you never hear about the people who took it and fail the step 1 well I know one who failed first time step 1 took dit and barely passed 2nd time another one took dit pass kaplan and still failed step 1 thats the stories I have heard and they are true but how many others did bad after taking these courses,,,evaluate carefully before you take any of these courses and your money to spend budget cause as you know there are no for sure ways and we seem to only hear posts here of people who passed and with highhh grades too which I find to be inflated for some im sure,,,,,,,,think aboud dattttt😱

 

[username456789]

That's a long sentence.

 

[kryptik]

if a student takes pass, dit and kaplan and fails, i dont think the review courses are to be blamed, maybe anxiety or some other factor inherent to the student is responsible

 

[PokerDoc]

if you find yourself asking yourself 'what should i do today' or 'did I just waste 3 hrs today organizing and figuring out the answer to question #1'

DIT will be great for you.. this is pretty much why I signed up for it. If I don't give myself a specific objective for a particular day it'll get away from me and itll be 6pm at night and I haven't done crap.

But if you are putting in all this hard work and you really believe you're putting inthe hard work and still aren't seeing an improvement, I can't speak for DIT as the answer to the problem in that situation.

 

[badasshairday]

Study 12-15 hours a day, 7 days a week. Do it for 4-5 weeks, then take the exam. By cramming it into a shorter study perioid you are less likely to forget the stuff you studied in the beginning. Just keep it high intensity. Remember during medical school, you studied hard everyday, but the last 3 days before the exam you kicked it up to an extreme level and crammed everything in. Similar concept. At least that is how I do it.

 

[sswang00]

Thanks alot for the input everybody. I hope the information solidifies alot more during my second pass.
I also forgot to mention that I had to take a medical leave of absence between MS1 and MS2. During my year not in school I wasn't able to review much of anything. So alot of the MS1 subjects seem very distant to me (Biochem, Neuro, Anatomy, Physio, Micro)

I am seriously considering doing DIT twice. Considering I don't have a very solid base as compared to others, I am trying to figure out a plan that will work for me...and stick to it.
At this point, I will begin the DIT course, then do one block of 48 Questions on UWorld a day.

 

[badasshairday]

One more tip. Do UWORLD on random blocks as well. That way you will be hit by everything so you don't get a chance to forget things.

 

[PokerDoc]

Study 12-15 hours a day, 7 days a week. Do it for 4-5 weeks, then take the exam. By cramming it into a shorter study perioid you are less likely to forget the stuff you studied in the beginning. Just keep it high intensity. Remember during medical school, you studied hard everyday, but the last 3 days before the exam you kicked it up to an extreme level and crammed everything in. Similar concept. At least that is how I do it.

man I tried so hard I couldn't reach 12 hrs.. i used the little clock on my iphone as a little experiment to see how many hrs I was actually doing something, and I was at around 8:15hrs.

I was probably sitting in my chair for over 12 hrs, btu I stopped that timer every second I came on SDN, every second i went to the bathroom, if someone came to talk to me etc.

 

[PokerDoc]

Thanks alot for the input everybody. I hope the information solidifies alot more during my second pass.
I also forgot to mention that I had to take a medical leave of absence between MS1 and MS2. During my year not in school I wasn't able to review much of anything. So alot of the MS1 subjects seem very distant to me (Biochem, Neuro, Anatomy, Physio, Micro)

I am seriously considering doing DIT twice. Considering I don't have a very solid base as compared to others, I am trying to figure out a plan that will work for me...and stick to it.
At this point, I will begin the DIT course, then do one block of 48 Questions on UWorld a day.

this changes my opinion a little bit.. DIT isnt a comprehensive review course, I am led to believe the Kaplan course is more suited to your situation since it is a much more comprehensive review of EVERYTHING, including first year stuff. I wonder what others say about this

 

[BenCarson]

really the key to this exam is to master the 3Ps everything else can be memorized without understanding. However the 3Ps require memorization and understanding. So why don't you get Kaplan physio and Pharm notes read them carefully then do BRS physio one more time. In addition read RR with the audio carefully, this guy really explains the mechanisms well. after this I would say take the DIT. Bottimline solidify your 3PS very crucial!

As someone mentioned earlier, taking too long for this exam can make some forget alot, this is exactly why FMGs read so many months then foregt everything then start all over again. They call this the "read-forget-read cycle". The key is foundation then intense cramming in short time.
good luck man.

I would consider myself an "average" med student..definitely below average by SDN standards!

I have been studying on my own for about 1.5 months (using FA, Goljan Audio & Rapid Review. I wrote relevant info into my FA from BRS Physio/HY Neuro/Kaplan Biochem as I went thru my first run of those subjects). Along with my first run, I was doing USMLERX based on what I just studied. Completed about 1000 questions at 60%.
I just started doing some UWorld questions (again on topics I have just studied) and have been scoring at around 55%. I have only been thru 20% of UWorld.
I also gave a CBSE required by my school about a month ago and scored a 180 :-/

I am very dissatisfied with these scores. Considering I am doing questions on topics I have JUST studied, they are pretty low... Sometimes when I get a Biochem/Neuro question mixed into my block I am completely thrown off (although I studied those subjects at the start of my study time, I feel like I barely remember them). At the pace I am going, I will be done with my first pass of FA in about a week. I am giving my exam in late July, and am not sure what route to take after I complete my first pass.

I really want to give the DIT course a shot. They recommend completing the course about 2 weeks before your exam date. Considering my date is in a little under 2 months, would it be a bad idea to take it now?
Also, would it be a good idea for me to take one of the NMBE practice exams right now?

 

[lildave2586]

One more tip. Do UWORLD on random blocks as well. That way you will be hit by everything so you don't get a chance to forget things.

👍 This is what I did and I think it helped me a lot.

 

[username456789]

One more tip. Do UWORLD on random blocks as well. That way you will be hit by everything so you don't get a chance to forget things.

Agreed. I've talked with a few classmates who choose not to do random questions, and ONLY do questions on what they just studied that day/the previous day (including an obnoxious girl who updates her facebook status periodically with "OMG, I just got a 80%.....on WORLD!!! Who's a rockstar?!")

I think this is a mistake (the no random question thing, I mean.....the obnoxious facebook status part is just a personality flaw that won't be fixed). First of all, like Badass said, doing random questions helps periodically reinforce concepts from all different parts of FA. It can be great to have a few biochem questions on a random block, not having looked at biochem for two weeks, and still get them right. Conversely, if you realize you have no clue, it's an eye opener that "oh crap, I need to try to retain this stuff better."

Doing random blocks also helps you avoid overconfidence ("oh, look I'm at 75% for UW, I should be able to hit 250 easy" when every block you've taken has been on info fresh in your mind from just a few hours ago). Some people don't like reality to smack them in the face and avoid practice exams and randomized blocks. But the reality is, reality is going to smack you in the face sooner or later.

Would you rather it be today on a 48 question block on UW? Or on July 14th via email?

 

[metalrex]

Would you rather it be today on a 48 question block on UW? Or on July 14th via email?

I got 'smacked in the face' until 80% of UW was done, only then my scores started climbing-having worked on those weak areas.

Random paced, preferably timed on last few blocks to fasten thinking works like Midas's touch.

Well said guy.

 

[hartbot]

Agree with guy.

Fact-You're not going to remember everything on test day.

I like being put in these uncomfortable positions where I have to reason my way thru a question since I can't just regurgitate what I learned 30 mins ago.