In dire need of help for Step I!!

[2sweet4this]

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Hi there,

This is my first time on this site. Anyways, I am an FMG taking step one in about a month. My studying hasn't been too intense so far. I definately need to pick up the pace. I was wondering if anyone has some inspiring words of wisdom or advice on how to tackle so many subjects in such little time and manage a decent score. I wanted to know the average studying time per day of most people and maybe which subjects I should concentrate on more. I have already taken the Kaplan Live Lecture but haven't been too intense on the studying bit. PLEASE HELP!!! any advice would be much appreciated.

thank you so much.

 

[2sweet4this]

actually, i just read through some of the threads, so i have a better idea, but what i really want to know, is 4-5 weeks enough time to manage a good score. and how many hours do i have to put in to get there? i mean i think i am probably an average student. i just want to know the type of intensity i need to have the next couple of weeks to get a good score. and should i read material more or do more questions? once again, HELP ME PLEASE!!

 

[DrQuinn]

I did not take the USMLE, but the DO counterpart, the COMLEX... I studied about 3-4 weeks, usually got up at 9, went to the library until about 3-4 (with breaks every 20-30 minutes), and continued to study at home off and on... I did very well on it...

Q

 

[jayhawk]

From what I have heard, one of the best things you can do to prepare yourself is to do questions, questions and more questions. Book work is the foundation, but in order to get in the mind set for this exam you need to be doing lots of questions that are similar to the format on Step 1. So, I am doing Q-bank for one month and will also do questions that are in my review books. I will also take the mini-exam that the usmle has for download that you can do on your computer (it's modeled after the actual computer program you will take the exam on). I hope I was of help, if you want to talk more or need more advice...just email @ [email protected] (we're in the same boat, my boards are in about 5 weeks!)

Good luck!

 

[ktat72]

hey jayhawk, what the webpage for the mini-exam that you are talking about?

 

[G-Man]

I understand what you are feeling and going through. I have looked high and low and everywhere in between for the magic formula for success on the boards as well.

So far, this is what I have heard:
1. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 ... really know this book inside and out, it is the MINIMUM you should know
2. Kaplan Qbank ... online question bank provided by Kaplan
3. At least one of any of the following:

a. Kaplan review book series ... if you have the time they provide a thorough coverage of what you should have already learned while in medical school ... the only problem is you can only get these books by attending one of the Kaplan live lecture courses

b. Buzzwords for the Boards ... it works for some, but not for others ... supposedly the authors of the boards know that we study buzzwords so they attempt to trick us with false buzzwords ... oh, it only got a "B" rating in First Aid

c. WebPath ... online pathology review course with tons of great questions

 

[jayhawk]

www.usmle.org/step1/default.htm

from there you click on the "download software to run Step 1 tutorial and sample test materials"

hope this helps!

 

[Surgery4life]

register with www.valuemd.com and come to the usmle chat room starting at 7pm eastern time.

Bring questions and answers with you. This week the review will be Pharm.

 

[RussianCzar]

I AM ALSO AN FMG, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. I JUST TOOK MY STEP 1 ON MAY 2, AND I STUDIED ALMOST 5 MONTHS FOR IT. SINCE I AM MAINLY AN AUDITORY LEARNER, I PURCHASED THE GOLDSTANDARD SERIES, AND IT WAS OKAY FOR ME. I ALSO STUDIED THROUGH REGULAR TEXT BOOKS AND OF COURSE, FIRST AID. I STUDIED AT FIRST AN AVERAGE OF 8 - 10 HOURS A DAY, AND TOWARDS THE END I WAS PUTTING SOME 12 - 15 HOURS A DAY!

I GOT 3 MONTHS OF Q-BANK, AND THAT WAS AN AWESOME TOOL. MY ONLY PROBLEM WITH IT WAS THAT I FINISHED ALL THE 2104 QUESTIONS BEFORE MY SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRED, AND AFTER THE QUESTIONS HAD ALL BEEN USED UP, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE WAY THE EXAMS WERE COMPILED, AND UNFORTUNATELY, A CERTAIN GROUP OF QUESTIONS JUST KEEP ON COMING OVER AND OVER. I COMPLAINED, BUT KAPLAN DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT - THEY COMFORTED ME BY OFFERING SOMETHING ELSE TO APPEASE MY ANGER...

MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS TO USE MORE THAN ONE SOURCE FOR YOUR STUDYING. ALSO, YOU SHOULD PLAN ON GETTING Q-BANK, AND GET ONLY WHAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO USE. WHATEVER YOU GET, DON'T USE IT ALL UP BEFORE THE DUE DATE, OR YOU MIGHT BE DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED!

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I AM HERE FOR YOU. NOW, I AM WAITING FOR MY RESULTS AND STUDYING FOR STEP 2.

RUSSIANCZAR

 

[2sweet4this]

hey there,

well i just wanted to thank everyone for all the great advice i've been getting. now the hard part...studying! i never expected so many people in the world to be so helpful to a complete stranger. it is very much appreciated.

thank you.