I think I just failed Pathology!

[ussdfiant]

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Well, the shelf exam this morning put the final nail in my coffin (although I did well on my Path final yesterday)! I don't know how you guys aren't going crazy over the difficultly of the shelf exam in Path (or maybe I'm just stupid. It took me every bit of the 2.5 hours we are allotted and I still had a long row of "C"s at the end). I should be happy that year 2 is over, but I'm feeling really worried about Path and Step I. Excuse me now while I grab Big Robbins and start studying for the remediation which I am sure I will be notified about soon.

 

[Lara]

I'm with you - that path shelf was absolutely brutal. 🙁 I hope it wasn't bad enough to make me fail, but I won't feel safe until I get confirmation from path, pathophys *and* pharm (I just passed the final, but the shelf may have failed me even though it's just worth five points...arrgh).

I'm so glad this week is over - I only hope that's it because I really can't take another exam besides Step One.

 

[AlexRusso]

Completely agree w. both of you. The path shelf this year was horrible. Some people on SDN were saying that BRS was enough. I read it 2x and did most of Qbank path and FA. Still thought that thing was really hard. Way too much micro and immun for which i was completely unprepared. Can't wait to get my grade back. Probably Tue-Wed of next week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Bevo]

don't sweat it.

you probably came out doing a lot better than you thought. I felt the same way with my local finals in micro and pathology last term and was pleasantly suprised with my scores.

Cross that bridge when it comes, but no sense in worrying about it in the mean time.

 

[fernj1975]

Don't sweat it, you probably did a lot better than you think. I took the Path Shelf about 3 weeks ago and did not feel too confident about it. I didn't think I failed it but I was pleasantly surprised with my score (84). I used Robbins review, brs and first aid which I annotated throughout the year. Something like 30 people have to take it over at my school cause the new inhouse required passing grade is 70 which is the national average. Good luck.

 

[tv1]

what would you guys have done differently to study for it? anything I should concentrate on? thanks so much!

 

[Stinger86]

what would you guys have done differently to study for it? anything I should concentrate on? thanks so much!

I used BRS Path and Robbin's Review of Pathology to study for mine, and just today found out that I made an 89. I think the biggest mistake people mistake about the Path NBME is they don't study Microbiology and Immunology. Micro, Immuno and Path are intimately related and I bet about 30-40% of the shelf deals directly with identifying microorganisms, diagnosing infectious diseases, and explaining why and how the immune system works the way it does (immune response in every situation, how the cells interact with one another, etc.)

Also, as a final bit of advice, make sure you pay attention to general pathology, such as cell injury, inflammation, tissue repair. That's getting to be a huge part of these exams, and it doesn't just pay to be able to diagnose diseases anymore.... you have to know why the occur and what's happening at a cellular level. Good luck!

 

[SolidGold]

Thanks stinger for the advice. I don't have to worry about path for a little while but knowing this ahead of time will come in handy when I have to take the path shelf test.

 

[12R34Y]

I just found out i got a 96 on the path shelf and all i used was robbin's qbook and BRS path.

thought everything was covered well from those sources. However, now that i'm board studying i've found that most everything in qbank and the shelf i thought was found somewhere in first aid.

later

 

[Lara]

Definitely know cell path, ie. the "what would you expect to see upon examination" questions. And I agree there was a lot of micro/immuno.

I can't imagine cracking the mean on this, but we'll see. 🙁 There really was a lot less straightforward diagnosis than I'd expected.

 

[tv1]

thanks for all the advice guys!
did anyone use the Pretest? it looks pretty complete to me...

 

[AlexRusso]

As some other have mentioned....I would definatelly brush up on Micro/Immuno before the path shelf, as those two seem to be a very big part of the exam. Knowing the organisms causing certain types of pathology as well as immune system reactions to pathological proceses is VERY high yield in terms of the shelf. General path is pretty big too. I just took this last week and am still waiting for my grade. But I wish I'd known all this before I took the exam. Would have helped a lot.

 

[ussdfiant]

Well it looks like I passed Path and can now focus 100% on Step 1! With that being said, I think a change of signature is in order!

 

[Stinger86]

Well it looks like I passed Path and can now focus 100% on Step 1! With that being said, I think a change of signature is in order!

Congratulations! Welcome to the "recently changed signature" club! 😀

 

[Lara]

Congrats ussd!!!

I'm out of town and still waiting for my score to be emailed. The class average and SD for the final exam rather freaked me out, so here's hoping. I want to be an official MSIII too!

 

[Lara]

Yay - I officially passed and am done with second year!!! It feels good to be an MSIII. 😀

 

[phllystyl]

Anyone wait to get theirs in the mail? i didnt make it in on wednesday.