Greetings SDN,
SEEKING HELP PLEASE READ.
A few things out the way. Yes I know this is a topic thats been covered extensively. I know should have used the search tool. If your irritated by this then don't post on my thread.
About me:
Studying in Australia. Want to start early prep for USMLE. I am overwhelmed with the amount of resources for this exam. I have started formulating approaches but instead I thought I might seek some advice from people who may have been in my situation. I am 6 months into year 1.
To give you an idea of my aptitude. One of the reasons I applied to an Australian program was because I thought they might not require the MCAT. Some of my courses like chem and bio were taken 9 years prior so I was a little shaky on that. The administration told me they actually wanted an MCAT score of at least 500. Bought a giant 1200 page book had plans to tackle it over 2 months and then take the exam. Quickly realized that was foolish. Bought a q bank of 300 or 400 questions went through all of them 3 times took 2 full length practice tests and then the exam. I never took biochem or 2nd semester orgo. My first practiced exam I scored in 20 percentile the second one 65th percentile. Managed to get in the 60th percentile on actual exam which I didn't think was too bad for like a month and a half maybe 2 months max of prep. I know it was skewed a little bit because I got in 85th percentile for critical reading. I share this as possible insight into my test taking abilities. With practice and effort I think I am almost a competent test taker which considering the hurdles I have in front of me to come home is why I want to start an early prep.
My plan so far: Buy Kaplan q bank do dedicated 45 min to 1 hour review a day. Thinking about purchasing a yearly subscription. Would focus on questions in whatever block I am in. Additionally would be working through USMLE FA as it relates to my current block. Then 6 months from now I have an 8 week break. Planned on going through Uworld q bank and possibly taking an intensive 6 week prep course. I am not too familiar with prep sources like pathoma, lecturio and sketchy though. I was thinking at the end of the intense prep course if I score well on practice tests to then schedule to sit the exam 6 months later after I finish the basic sciences. Our basic sciences are 18 months here. I might be too ambitious here and giving myself more credit then I deserve. My target score is 240 which in last couple years is a score that has been within 1 standard deviation of the mean. Slightly ambitious maybe but I believe feasible even for some like me of average intelligence and test taking ability.
Thanks ahead of time for reading this!
SEEKING HELP PLEASE READ.
A few things out the way. Yes I know this is a topic thats been covered extensively. I know should have used the search tool. If your irritated by this then don't post on my thread.
About me:
Studying in Australia. Want to start early prep for USMLE. I am overwhelmed with the amount of resources for this exam. I have started formulating approaches but instead I thought I might seek some advice from people who may have been in my situation. I am 6 months into year 1.
To give you an idea of my aptitude. One of the reasons I applied to an Australian program was because I thought they might not require the MCAT. Some of my courses like chem and bio were taken 9 years prior so I was a little shaky on that. The administration told me they actually wanted an MCAT score of at least 500. Bought a giant 1200 page book had plans to tackle it over 2 months and then take the exam. Quickly realized that was foolish. Bought a q bank of 300 or 400 questions went through all of them 3 times took 2 full length practice tests and then the exam. I never took biochem or 2nd semester orgo. My first practiced exam I scored in 20 percentile the second one 65th percentile. Managed to get in the 60th percentile on actual exam which I didn't think was too bad for like a month and a half maybe 2 months max of prep. I know it was skewed a little bit because I got in 85th percentile for critical reading. I share this as possible insight into my test taking abilities. With practice and effort I think I am almost a competent test taker which considering the hurdles I have in front of me to come home is why I want to start an early prep.
My plan so far: Buy Kaplan q bank do dedicated 45 min to 1 hour review a day. Thinking about purchasing a yearly subscription. Would focus on questions in whatever block I am in. Additionally would be working through USMLE FA as it relates to my current block. Then 6 months from now I have an 8 week break. Planned on going through Uworld q bank and possibly taking an intensive 6 week prep course. I am not too familiar with prep sources like pathoma, lecturio and sketchy though. I was thinking at the end of the intense prep course if I score well on practice tests to then schedule to sit the exam 6 months later after I finish the basic sciences. Our basic sciences are 18 months here. I might be too ambitious here and giving myself more credit then I deserve. My target score is 240 which in last couple years is a score that has been within 1 standard deviation of the mean. Slightly ambitious maybe but I believe feasible even for some like me of average intelligence and test taking ability.
Thanks ahead of time for reading this!
