Failed step one - should i continue

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peanut691

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Little about me: I'm a 23 year old IMG from Canada. Went to the caribbean for premed+MD. Did well passed all my semesters. I thought i would at least pass but i didn't on my first attempt. 🙁. I was wondering if i should even give it another shot? I'm reading too many stories about how it is extremely hard. I did everything 3 times (kaplan,uworld,first aid,nbme) i think i may of over studied. If there is no chance for me to get residency i don't want to waste money or time. I tried my hardest and it sucks.

Thanks
 
Don't give up. You are still young. Really evaluate what you did wrong and determine how to address it. Why do you think you "over studied"? (Did you watch the Kaplan videos 3 times or Kaplan Qbank?)
Plenty of people fail every single year and go on to pass.
(As I'm not an IMG, I'm not really sure how a fail looks like on an application. I know for AMGs that it will diminish some opportunities, but wouldn't exclude you from matching at all)
 
Don't give up. You are still young. Really evaluate what you did wrong and determine how to address it. Why do you think you "over studied"? (Did you watch the Kaplan videos 3 times or Kaplan Qbank?)
Plenty of people fail every single year and go on to pass.
(As I'm not an IMG, I'm not really sure how a fail looks like on an application. I know for AMGs that it will diminish some opportunities, but wouldn't exclude you from matching at all)

I watched the videos about 3 times. As crazy as that sounds. I do understand the concepts and after the exam i realized all my mistakes while flipping through my annotated first aid. My family is very negative though but i don't want to blame this failure on them. Test date was really hectic for us. I just felt uncomfortable. I read so many horror stories about matching, how you need connects and how a fail is a big red flag.
 
Wow, you watched the Kaplan videos 3 times! Kaplan videos are very popular among IMGs. I have used some and regret it bc it is very poor for Step 1 preparation. Watching it even once all the way through is a not a good idea, but watching it 3x was a HUGE time sink for you. That time that should have been spent studying better, more efficient material. Search the SDN forums for what people use (ex. look at the above post by Cherry)

IMO, you need to UNDERSTAND that watching Kaplan three-times is not OVER-STUDYING. Instead, it is IMPROPER studying. As an analogy, if you sat down and read the Physician's Desk Reference, all of Grays Anatomy, and the big Robbins you would indeed be covering material needed for Step 1. But, you would not be well prepared for step 1.
 
What else did you do for prep besides the Kaplan videos? Did you go through First Aid, UWorld, Pathoma, etc.?

Yes i did pathoma back in medical school, just went through it once more only for cardio/renal. Things i needed to refresh my memory on. Did a bit of golijan audio too. Path was my strongest
 
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