USMLE Official 2017 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

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WeedForLunch

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I know this is quite early but most American Students have finished giving the test for this year.
I am an IMG and have been prepping for the steps since quite some time and have seen Phloston, Transposony's and others' threads for their respective years and how helpful they have been.

I intend on giving step in Jan.. let's share timetables, plans and other stuff on how everyone intends on taking on this beast.

P.S. : I think it is not that early.. the 2015/2016 threads were started in September/October.. but in true SDN gunner style..i wanna start it in August.. 🙂
 
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Surgeria said:
If a person with 18 IV's doesn't match I bet there is so big personal problem that scores can't overcome it. Imagine 18 interviews? ... And emergency medicine is very competitive comparing to internal and even general surgery. For example I am going to apply to every single general surgery program and there is 250, not because I have much money (trust me I don't) just because I know it's only one chance, one day, one match, sell everything and apply to every single program! Go with brain. Steps, electives, lors, statement, strong contacts. But if person doesn't fit - he/she doesn't fit. For example I don't fit into astronauts, I get nauseus. First of all figure out do you fit? But most of people fool their self. If you don't match - it means that you don't fit for any criteria, it can be scores, lors, or shaky hands when suturing skin. Every component counts, you lose one? - you lose everything.
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i guarantee its a personality/interview issue. I agree with you. If you heard some of the stuff kids say in interviews its not a shocker no one wanted them!


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Dr.Jekyll75 said:
Well good luck with that sounds extremely pricey. Plus interviews. I hope you got a butt load of money . But I'm going to be realistic here . How many of those interviews are you gonna go on? It's a tremendous amount of places to apply even if you have an avg score


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my friend applied to 300 and got 20 interviews and got his first choice for residency in radiology as an IMG. If you want to spend 10s of thousands on your education and be cheap now at the last "step" for a career that will make you millions it doesn't make sense to me.


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Surgeria said:
Olga that's what I am about, it's about interview, and on that damn interview PD's thought that they don't match. For example you are not surgical personality and you apply to it, he will get it, he is like an xray with 30 years of experience, you can't fool the x-ray.

Jekyll I don't have money trust me, I am going to sell my house lol ) Sounds crazy? Yes it is ) all or nothing )))) Get your dream whatever it costs. And you can easily attend 15 IV's. If that guy attended 18, you can also.

Anyway you can't fool anyone, we are just little tiny fishes, and they are big sharks ) be nice, stay cool, and you will match with average credentials.
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you know what it takes and how to get it done!


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I know a lot of you are stressed out, I'm hoping for the best for you.

It's been a week since my exam. I've mentally blocked out everything in my mind. Looking up questions to see if I got them right/wrong sounds mental to me.

I felt okay after the exam, and now I'm worried if that is a bad thing. Reading through these threads, it seems like everyone who felt they bombed did well, and then those that felt good, didn't do as well as they thought. I don't know, idle mind maybe.
 
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Anti-PD1 said:
I know a lot of you are stressed out, I'm hoping for the best for you.

It's been a week since my exam. I've mentally blocked out everything in my mind. Looking up questions to see if I got them right/wrong sounds mental to me.

I felt okay after the exam, and now I'm worried if that is a bad thing. Reading through these threads, it seems like everyone who felt they bombed did well, and then those that felt good, didn't do as well as they thought. I don't know, idle mind maybe.
Click to expand...

Im with you on that, i also felt i did pretty good and that seems to be a bad sign. tomorrow I hope i can put your mind at ease!


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Anti-PD1 said:
I know a lot of you are stressed out, I'm hoping for the best for you.

It's been a week since my exam. I've mentally blocked out everything in my mind. Looking up questions to see if I got them right/wrong sounds mental to me.

I felt okay after the exam, and now I'm worried if that is a bad thing. Reading through these threads, it seems like everyone who felt they bombed did well, and then those that felt good, didn't do as well as they thought. I don't know, idle mind maybe.
Click to expand...


There is no way to predict how you did on your exam. The feeling you have, good or bad, is purely subjective and means nothing.
Your NBMEs were impressive. You both did very well!
 
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Anti-PD1 said:
I felt okay after the exam, and now I'm worried if that is a bad thing. Reading through these threads, it seems like everyone who felt they bombed did well, and then those that felt good, didn't do as well as they thought. I don't know, idle mind maybe.
Click to expand...

I actually felt downright good after the exam and worried about it for the same reason. As it turned out, scored 10 points higher than my NBME average, and about 20 points higher than the correlate of my UWorld average. Trust your feelings.
 
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OlgaW007 said:
So I felt horrible. Should I expect a failure?
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I'm not clairvoyant. Just sharing my N=1 experience to make that point that not everyone comes out of that exam feeling horrible. Of course, as you know, it seems the vast majority of people who report their experiences do indeed feel awful after the exam, and most of them do just as NBME predicted anyway.
 
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Exam in a couple of weeks and feeling pretty uneasy about it. My last 4 NBMEs and UWSAs have been solid (right where I want them to be), but theres still stuff I feel I don't know as well as I should, and it scares me. My objective was knowing everything cold, like a computer that could just access any page in the book at whim. Didn't happen! And I'm scared of being one of those guys who score 20 points below their average. On top of that, in all the practice tests I've taken so far, I've felt luck has been on my side. Not sure how to get over this feeling of uncertainty!

Can I ask what you guys do for histopath btw? I'm planning on spending half a day looking at all FA and then UW histopath pics. Should that be enough?

Would also like some advice on ECGs. Whats the scope of what can be asked? CAD, AV blocks, brugada, hyperkalemia, WPW... is that about it?
 
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Rahas said:
Exam in a couple of weeks and feeling pretty uneasy about it. My last 4 NBMEs and UWSAs have been solid (right where I want them to be), but theres still stuff I feel I don't know as well as I should, and it scares me. My objective was knowing everything cold, like a computer that could just access any page in the book at whim. Didn't happen! And I'm scared of being one of those guys who score 20 points below their average. On top of that, in all the practice tests I've taken so far, I've felt luck has been on my side. Not sure how to get over this feeling of uncertainty!

Can I ask what you guys do for histopath btw? I'm planning on spending half a day looking at all FA and then UW histopath pics. Should that be enough?

Would also like some advice on ECGs. Whats the scope of what can be asked? CAD, AV blocks, brugada, hyperkalemia, WPW... is that about it?
Click to expand...
I believe FA ECG are enough, just make sure you can recognize what they look like, you might get a similar image. For example what happens in pericarditis on ECG *hint hint*
 
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Thanks! Any advice about histopath? Is the exam stuff simple and recognizable, or should I invest some serious time into it?

As reference, I would classify the pictures in NBMEs 16 and 17 as "simple and recognizable".
 
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Rahas said:
Thanks! Any advice about histopath? Is the exam stuff simple and recognizable, or should I invest some serious time into it?

As reference, I would classify the pictures in NBMEs 16 and 17 as "simple and recognizable".
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I would say images are simple and recognizable (on test they have a new feature where you can blow up the image, use that!), definitely had a lot of histopath images on real deal, very very few radiology pics.

I would know FA images and if you have time spend some time to google additional pics, make sure you know micro organism pics!

If you went through pathoma and spent time on images, along with FA images and take a look at micro images, I personally think its enough. I did do them like 5 times so I felt good about images at least.

You will never know everything or feel ready, trust your NBME's and your preparation. scoring less than 20 is not normal, those are outliers.

Try to be calm, focused, confident on test day and take it question by question and dial in. Forget everything else cause it won't matter. What matters is the moment and clear thinking. Everything else is just fear that you dont have time for!:beat:(whooping fears ass)
 
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OlgaW007 said:
So I felt horrible. Should I expect a failure?

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How are you holding up? I can't sleep, I keep checking my email every 20 mins lol because i know people get emails the night before saying there score will be out in morning. I have not got anything yet :uhno:
 
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Thanks! Can you offer me some specifics and what sort of micro pics? Stuff like parasites/eggs, gram/acid fast staining, close up pictures of bacteria etc?
 
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Major procrastinator said:
How are you holding up? I can't sleep, I keep checking my email every 20 mins lol because i know people get emails the night before saying there score will be out in morning. I have not got anything yet :uhno:
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I did not get anything yet. Just checked my profile. I was able to get some sleep with clonazepam help.

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Rahas said:
Thanks! Can you offer me some specifics and what sort of micro pics? Stuff like parasites/eggs, gram/acid fast staining, close up pictures of bacteria etc?
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close up pics, hemolytic pics, special stains (silver stain, PAS, india ink, etc). I can't really give specifics, the pics in FA are all HY, you should know alternate pics as well.
 
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Major procrastinator said:
How are you holding up? I can't sleep, I keep checking my email every 20 mins lol because i know people get emails the night before saying there score will be out in morning. I have not got anything yet :uhno:
Click to expand...

OlgaW007 said:
I did not get anything yet. Just checked my profile. I was able to get some sleep with clonazepam help.

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Click to expand...
I'm from Egypt and received mine at 3 pm local time it's 11 now so you still have like 4 hours and most people taking USMLEs get their target score so thinking about how would you celebrate it is what you should be doing.
Good luck.
 
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Major procrastinator said:
close up pics, hemolytic pics, special stains (silver stain, PAS, india ink, etc). I can't really give specifics, the pics in FA are all HY, you should know alternate pics as well.
Click to expand...

Thank a bunch, glad I asked since I still have time. A bit surprised though, I assumed the sparsity of pictures in NBMEs 16 & 17 was reflective of the exam.

Best of luck for your result!
 
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OlgaW007 said:
I did not get anything yet. Just checked my profile. I was able to get some sleep with clonazepam help.

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Click to expand...
and people say doctors get paid too much, haha
Rahas said:
Thank a bunch, glad I asked since I still have time. A bit surprised though, I assumed the sparsity of pictures in NBMEs 16 & 17 was reflective of the exam.

Best of luck for your result!
Click to expand...
every exam is different, so who knows. I am just saying my experience. They use a lot of pics though. from histopath to drawing out a simple drawing to graphs, charts.

FA could answer 90% of my exam easily
 
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Hey guys! Just received my score. It's 192. Very depressed. My last nbme 17 showed 269 before that nbme 18 235. My uworld was 72% correct and 84 percentile.
I think even if I won't match to the residency I can go to a clinical research as a MD. So I will continue prepare myself for the step 2. What do you think?
My test was loaded with micro and statistics and these subjects are very low on my profile.
 
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OlgaW007 said:
Hey guys! Just received my score. It's 192. Very depressed. My last nbme 17 showed 269 before that nbme 18 235. My uworld was 72% correct and 84 percentile.
I think even if I won't match to the residency I can go to a clinical research as a MD. So I will continue prepare myself for the step 2. What do you think?
My test was loaded with micro and statistics and these subjects are very low on my profile.
Click to expand...

You passed! Hang in there, don't count out residency just yet, you still have Step 2 to take.

Were your NBMEs timed?
 
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OlgaW007 said:
Hey guys! Just received my score. It's 192. Very depressed. My last nbme 17 showed 269 before that nbme 18 235. My uworld was 72% correct and 84 percentile.
I think even if I won't match to the residency I can go to a clinical research as a MD. So I will continue prepare myself for the step 2. What do you think?
My test was loaded with micro and statistics and these subjects are very low on my profile.
Click to expand...
im so sorry, how did you feel on test day
 
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Anti-PD1 said:
You passed! Hang in there, don't count out residency just yet, you still have Step 2 to take.

Were your NBMEs timed?
Click to expand...
Yes, my NBMEs were timed.
What's the point to count on residency with that kinda score? There is no chance. Even if I'll get 250 on step2 I will not go through the filter in the programs. My only chance is clinical research I think. Road to the residency is closed.
 
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OlgaW007 said:
I already feel bad so you're not going to make anything worse.
Click to expand...

ok

well Im so happy and in shock im shaking

i got a 232
ImageUploadedBySDN1489584684.358897.jpg


i cant believe it, i knew i felt good during test!!!


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OlgaW007 said:
Yes, my NBMEs were timed.
What's the point to count on residency with that kinda score? There is no chance. Even if I'll get 250 on step2 I will not go through the filter in the programs. My only chance is clinical research I think. Road to the residency is closed.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. You can still acquire family med residencies in more rural parts of the states


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OlgaW007 said:
Yes, my NBMEs were timed.
What's the point to count on residency with that kinda score? There is no chance. Even if I'll get 250 on step2 I will not go through the filter in the programs. My only chance is clinical research I think. Road to the residency is closed.
Click to expand...

Are you willing to train in any specialty, in any city? If yes, then there is still hope for you.

Plenty of people have scored where you did and still matched into a residency program. To give your some perspective, there are FM residency positions that go unfilled every year. These are funded positions.

Search SDN, there are a number of inspiring stories, for example this person who failed the first time, then got 195.

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...d-some-optimism-for-those-struggling.1062917/
 
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OlgaW007 said:
Yes, my NBMEs were timed.
What's the point to count on residency with that kinda score? There is no chance. Even if I'll get 250 on step2 I will not go through the filter in the programs. My only chance is clinical research I think. Road to the residency is closed.
Click to expand...

My friend from NYC matched YESTERDAY with 194 on Step 1 (FM).
It's a true story.
You passed, get the CK and make contacts.

I'm sorry, I can only imagine how you feel.
It scares the **** out of me before tomorrow though. Ugh. You will get through this, Olga,
 
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Anti-PD1 said:
Are you willing to train in any specialty, in any city? If yes, then there is still hope for you.
Click to expand...

I don't want to be a family physician I'll die in this specialty. I used to be a surgeon. When I moved to US I got a neck trauma in the car accident so now I can not be a surgeon (at least this is what my doctor says). But I can not imagine my life without OR. So I decided to go in anesthesiology. But now I guess my dream is over. I need adrenaline in my job. Family medicine and internal medicine would not fit my personality. I won't be happy there.
 
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Get the Step 2 CK done, apply to less competitive specialities and once you are in the system, you will meet people. Meet PDs and more.

Just don't give up...
 
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I know your going through a hard time right now but remember this

with FM you can do fellows in many areas, think about rural medicine, and emergency medicine

if you go to a rural area as a FM, you get to do everything from minor surgeries, EM, OBY, family, psych.

stay positive and make the best out of what you have. You still passed! You have worked hard to get where you are and you can still heal and help people in this world.

Don't give up my friend
 
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Major procrastinator said:
if you go to a rural area as a FM, you get to do everything from minor surgeries, EM, OBY, family, psych.
Click to expand...

I can not go to live in the rural area. My husband is an economist. He works for the government. There will be no job for him in a small town. We need to live in the city even if we'll move.
 
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OlgaW007 said:
I can not go to live in the rural area. My husband is an economist. He works for the government. There will be no job for him in a small town. We need to live in the city even if we'll move.
Click to expand...

I did a C-section with an obstetrics fellow. She did FM then an obstetrics fellowship.

Edit: This was in a major city. There are lots of women who prefer FM trained OBs.
 
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Congrats to everyone who received their score today! Passing is a huge accomplishment, don't be harsh on yourself this exam is extremely difficult and requires sacrifice and determination! You did it!

Also, since I have less than 2 weeks now should I fly through my uworld incorrects in tutor mode just to do as many questions as possible before exam day?
 
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Scheduled my practice session at the testing site 3 days before the actual exam. Do you guys think I should take NBME 19 before or after the practice session? If so, how many days before/after?

I was thinking about just reading/reviewing the day after the practice session and not studying at all the day before.
 
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Brorthopedic said:
Scheduled my practice session at the testing site 3 days before the actual exam. Do you guys think I should take NBME 19 before or after the practice session? If so, how many days before/after?

I was thinking about just reading/reviewing the day after the practice session and not studying at all the day before.
Click to expand...

I would take it after . Word on the street is it has a very steep curve so if your ego can handle it take it after


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Brorthopedic said:
Scheduled my practice session at the testing site 3 days before the actual exam. Do you guys think I should take NBME 19 before or after the practice session? If so, how many days before/after?

I was thinking about just reading/reviewing the day after the practice session and not studying at all the day before.
Click to expand...

i would take free 120 last, do the tutorial nice and slow as well. its similar to real deal and a nice confidence boost. if thats 3 days before i would do nbme 19 -1 week before exam. gives time to work on weaknesses! i worked on my two weaknesses and my score went up 17points in 6 days. i had no weaknesses on my real exam (everything was past midline)
not to mention my weaknesses were my strongest, had stars!! still in shock cardiology has a star

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blueforest said:
Congrats to everyone who received their score today! Passing is a huge accomplishment, don't be harsh on yourself this exam is extremely difficult and requires sacrifice and determination! You did it!

Also, since I have less than 2 weeks now should I fly through my uworld incorrects in tutor mode just to do as many questions as possible before exam day?
Click to expand...

if you have reviewed your qbank already why do it again?

i would do an nbme or if they are all done i would focus on weaknesses (including uworld area), reading FA and spend time reviewing old nbmes and getting right answers down!


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Dr.Jekyll75 said:
I would take it after . Word on the street is it has a very steep curve so if your ego can handle it take it after


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Click to expand...
My reasoning is more in line with @Major procrastinator

What's your reasoning for taking it within 1-2 days before the exam? I just don't think that'll give me enough time to review my deficits
 
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