Failed Step 1 twice and need info...please

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fjn2k4

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kaplan has this 15 week intense program called Kaplan Medical Institute advertised for IMG has anyone heard of it? Theres another program in kansas city for four months. I got 179/73.
 
fjn2k4 said:
kaplan has this 15 week intense program called Kaplan Medical Institute advertised for IMG has anyone heard of it? Theres another program in kansas city for four months. I got 179/73.

My school strongly advises against taking Kaplan if one fails step one. The reasoning for my school's stance is that Kaplan focuses on test-taking skills and not relearning AND integrating what you have learned. I don't know the name of the Kansas City program, but I think my school does highly recommend that program. There is also a program that goes by the name Pass (I think 😕 ).

I wouldn't go with Kaplan if I were you. A longer program that is structured around integration will most likely serve you best. Good luck :luck:
 
fjn2k4 said:
kaplan has this 15 week intense program called Kaplan Medical Institute advertised for IMG has anyone heard of it? Theres another program in kansas city for four months. I got 179/73.

I heard Chicago Medical School or the Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine has a great prep course for the Step 1 and 2. Why don't you check out there website (just google Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine)? I have known people who have taken this course after failing the boards and came out doing quite well.

Best wishes,
psychedoc2b
 
daisygirl said:
My school strongly advises against taking Kaplan if one fails step one. The reasoning for my school's stance is that Kaplan focuses on test-taking skills and not relearning AND integrating what you have learned. I don't know the name of the Kansas City program, but I think my school does highly recommend that program. There is also a program that goes by the name Pass (I think 😕 ).

I wouldn't go with Kaplan if I were you. A longer program that is structured around integration will most likely serve you best. Good luck :luck:

actually there were a few US med students in the Kaplan courses that I have taken thus far, including the USMLE Step I extended prep 13 week course, and they were repeating the exam. I would not go so strongly against Kaplan for step I, its highly recommended for step I actually, you are the first person I have ever heard of so vehemently disregarding it. 😕 I think that doing that course (and STAYIN AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM THOSE WORTHLESS SMALL GROUP STUDY SESSIONS, A TRUE WASTE OF VALUABLE TIME AND NOT TO MENTION MONEY), and following Qbank, and Qbook, and WebPath, from the U of Utah site, and that should suffice, and if you have already mastered Kaplan multiple choice materials, you can go for NMS or Board Simulator Series, and comb through First Aid again along with the lectures and Kaplan notes. Never heard of this Kansas City program..... my study advice sounds painful I know... but its youre future on the line.. it will get interesting as you follow along believe me.. just stay strong and motivated.. the key is time management, and utilizing the proper study materials.
GL!
 
I know of 2 people that went to Kansas City after 2 failed attempts. Both passed their third time.

You only live once. If you fail again, you will not be a doctor...start checking in to Kansas City and best of luck to you.
 
i would not recommend doing kaplan... i took it for my first round and failed. i think the big problem with the kaplan course is that they don't encourage integration - something that is absolutely key to the exam. i have heard, however, excellent things about the PASS program in chicago...
hope that helps...
 
kellysmith said:
i would not recommend doing kaplan... i took it for my first round and failed. i think the big problem with the kaplan course is that they don't encourage integration - something that is absolutely key to the exam. i have heard, however, excellent things about the PASS program in chicago...
hope that helps...

I have not heard of a PASS program in chicago, looks like something that would be worthwhile looking into..... but their Qbanks are pretty good to say the least.. as far as integration, well that would be stellar is a program exists that could help med students do that.... and sounds like the PASS program is the way to go...but Kaplan was good too, however maybe you are correct, no significant integration... but maybe that was good a few years ago... when I took the boards that is..
 
The PASS Program is in Champaign, Illinois (about 120 miles south of Chicago). You can find out more at www.passprogram.net.

I did not participate in the PASS Program, but I have several friends who did and loved it.
 
From what I hear Dr. Francis at the Pass Program has unique ways of intergrating the clinically oriented Step1-**(Supposedly this is the "real deal" especially if someone has only missed by only a point or 2)

Kansas City ranked extremely high before the Pass Program, but may currently be playing second fiddle.

Kaplan -Id say they are not bad, they often revise their course, and do more then just teach test taking strategies although they could improve on intergrating the basic sciences for step 1. I wont knock Kaplan. Their strong points are: ( Itook the video course) Robert Dunn for Physio, the Biochem, with a professor who ironically had a strong French accent is probably their strongest course it encompasses[Genetics, Molecular and Biochem] Goljan seems more favored by IMGs. Dougherty who teaches Behavioral, Stat, Pt /Doc
relationship and Psyche for Step 2 is worthy of mentioning. As mentioned the Q banks are good. Although Kaplan has a Monoply in Step 1 Test Prep Id say they are surviving.
Also from what I hear the Kaplan Institute Progrnam(15 weeks) is actually suppose to be the Last resort (when you have exhausted all options). But as said in reading and going meticuously over the explanations/questions in BSSx5books and NMS should put someone in this type of situation (like myself I got 180/74) clearly over the hurdle. Hope this helps.
 
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