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- Jul 22, 2013
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Hi everyone,
I'm a 3rd year DO student who took the COMLEX level 1 last July and got a 468. I had initially planned on taking both tests, but I decided after receiving consecutive scores of 188-190-192 on three different NBME exams in June, to just not sit for the USMLE as I was not feeling comfortable.
I did about 80% of Uworld question bank (which I had access to for a year) and was feeling like I was getting annihilated most of the time. My weaknesses were with Immunology, Micro lab techniques, Genetics and Biochem metabolism pathways, as well as biostatistics. I felt that there was no way I would be able to pass the test and did not want to risk failing it.
Originally I thought I wanted to do ER, however I have had the opportunity to work closely with an anesthesiologist during my surgery rotation and it seems like another desirable option, especially since I like pharmacology so much. However, that is besides the point. I have a desire to come back to California for residency as I am going through a lot of familial changes right now and it might bee good to be back home.
At heart, I would really like to the take the exam and study as much as I can. However, with rotation hours and other stuff going on, it is a little difficult to memorize first aid and do 100 Uworld questions everyday. Our shelf exams for third year clinicals are also NBME and I feel like I see a fair amount of step 1 material there but sometimes I also remember that theres a lot of basic science minutia like urea cycle, or glycogen storage diseases and biostatistics that is just a pain to revise being away from it so long. That being said, I have tried to reference first aid as much as possible during third year thus far when reviewing pathophysiology of some of the things I have seen in the clinic.
I started our winter vacation by reviewing a little bit of things here and there and I did a uworld self assessment form 1 (got a 200) and then I took NBME form 11 (got 188). I would be happy with anything over a 200 as a realistic goal considering how far I am from the basic sciences. I am just wondering if anyone has any realistic advice as to how I can get from where I am (188) to that range?
I have extended my uworld subscription, but honestly, it takes me forever to get through even one block and I don't feel like I retain a whole lot doing that. However, what I do love is the Pathoma book and the videos. I feel like I gain a lot when he draws things in his videos (I know it is passive learning) but I feel productive as I never have been much of a reader. I feel truly lost when trying to get through First Aid on my own and read it page by page.
When I started studying for COMLEX last May/June I did DIT and got through First Aid once, and then did Pathoma a few days before my test. I feel like Pathoma is pure gold in terms of laying out the framework ("especially when he says this is particularly high yield" examiners love to go after this"). I felt that Pharmacology is particularly my strong point for the basic sciences with pathology as a second.
I realize that this post makes me seem "lazy" or an underacheiver by some standards, however I just need a clear practical resource given my circumstances that can get me to the area I need to be. I know that this test is getting harder with the passing score raised but I don't think it is impossible.
As a side note, I think our school gives us about 2 months off at the end of April to start our audition rotations and prepare for COMLEX Level 2 CE and PE but I'm not so sure I can distribute that time to prepare for this test. I know I made a big blunder by not requesting time off originally (which I may or may not have been granted), but what's done is done and I really would appreciate any feedback you guys have.
I truly thank you for any advice you guys can give me.
I'm a 3rd year DO student who took the COMLEX level 1 last July and got a 468. I had initially planned on taking both tests, but I decided after receiving consecutive scores of 188-190-192 on three different NBME exams in June, to just not sit for the USMLE as I was not feeling comfortable.
I did about 80% of Uworld question bank (which I had access to for a year) and was feeling like I was getting annihilated most of the time. My weaknesses were with Immunology, Micro lab techniques, Genetics and Biochem metabolism pathways, as well as biostatistics. I felt that there was no way I would be able to pass the test and did not want to risk failing it.
Originally I thought I wanted to do ER, however I have had the opportunity to work closely with an anesthesiologist during my surgery rotation and it seems like another desirable option, especially since I like pharmacology so much. However, that is besides the point. I have a desire to come back to California for residency as I am going through a lot of familial changes right now and it might bee good to be back home.
At heart, I would really like to the take the exam and study as much as I can. However, with rotation hours and other stuff going on, it is a little difficult to memorize first aid and do 100 Uworld questions everyday. Our shelf exams for third year clinicals are also NBME and I feel like I see a fair amount of step 1 material there but sometimes I also remember that theres a lot of basic science minutia like urea cycle, or glycogen storage diseases and biostatistics that is just a pain to revise being away from it so long. That being said, I have tried to reference first aid as much as possible during third year thus far when reviewing pathophysiology of some of the things I have seen in the clinic.
I started our winter vacation by reviewing a little bit of things here and there and I did a uworld self assessment form 1 (got a 200) and then I took NBME form 11 (got 188). I would be happy with anything over a 200 as a realistic goal considering how far I am from the basic sciences. I am just wondering if anyone has any realistic advice as to how I can get from where I am (188) to that range?
I have extended my uworld subscription, but honestly, it takes me forever to get through even one block and I don't feel like I retain a whole lot doing that. However, what I do love is the Pathoma book and the videos. I feel like I gain a lot when he draws things in his videos (I know it is passive learning) but I feel productive as I never have been much of a reader. I feel truly lost when trying to get through First Aid on my own and read it page by page.
When I started studying for COMLEX last May/June I did DIT and got through First Aid once, and then did Pathoma a few days before my test. I feel like Pathoma is pure gold in terms of laying out the framework ("especially when he says this is particularly high yield" examiners love to go after this"). I felt that Pharmacology is particularly my strong point for the basic sciences with pathology as a second.
I realize that this post makes me seem "lazy" or an underacheiver by some standards, however I just need a clear practical resource given my circumstances that can get me to the area I need to be. I know that this test is getting harder with the passing score raised but I don't think it is impossible.
As a side note, I think our school gives us about 2 months off at the end of April to start our audition rotations and prepare for COMLEX Level 2 CE and PE but I'm not so sure I can distribute that time to prepare for this test. I know I made a big blunder by not requesting time off originally (which I may or may not have been granted), but what's done is done and I really would appreciate any feedback you guys have.
I truly thank you for any advice you guys can give me.
