Need Major Step 1 Help

[flga]

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Ive been studying for 2 months and nothing is sinking in. A little background info: went to a Caribbean school and am scheduled to take the test this Wed. I am most likely to push that back till December though.

Anyway, my Qbank score has stayed the same since I started it-around 40%-ive done about 500 questions. I cannot seem to get over this hump. My retention feels like it has gone to crap. I started off using Medpass, but found that the videos were taking way too long too watch, then I decided to just use First Aid. I was hurrying to take the test before I start clinicals on October 28th. Since I do not feel prepared for this test at all, I will start clinicals without Step 1 and will take it over Xmas break.

I do not think I am stupid or anything (maybe I am though) - did average on the MCAT (30) and did ok in basic sciences. If anyone has gone through something like this and has made it with flying colors or knows someone who did, I would greatly appreciate your advice on what I should do within the next 60 days. I was planning on using First Aid, BRS Physio, BRS Path, Micro Made Ridiculously...., and either High Yield or BRS Behavioral. I am just at a loss for words right now. Maybe seeing this stuff in the hospital will make it sink in better.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ESU_MD]

hey buddy, at this point you are at risk for info overload.

1st step is to realize you CAN NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING!! think about that for awhile, then take a deep breath. If you get 60-65% correct, not only will you pass, you will have a decent score.

2nd is to focus on hi-yield stuff only: First Aid- read it over and over again. Read the high yield series: concise thin books- esp path, pharm and behavioral.

good luck

 

[Stockholm]

flga,

Did you take Step 1 that Wednesday? I studied for S1 three months this summer and felt just like you're describing: I would sit with my books and go through First Aid a million times and still feel that nothing had sunken in.

I'm writing to you from Sweden. This year we had a beautiful August which was a critical month for me since I took Step 1 in September. I was so stressed out that I turned down all invitations to barbecue evenings, sailing trips in the archipelago etc, and spent most evenings trying to work through questions over and over again. Looking back, I regret not having done those things. It would probably have made it easier to concentrate on the texts while studying. I guess that's part of the test - to deal with test stress!

 

[flga]

I know exactly what u are saying when u say that u should not have missed spending time with family and friends and the like. I took it that Wednesday and Im glad that I did. Whatever happens now, its up to God I guess. In all honesty, even if u know your material inside and out, nothing really prepares you for that fateful day. The testing conditions are much different than taking a practice test on your own-much much more stress. Im in London doing my 3rd year now. Hopefully everything turns out well.