USMLE Official 2017 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

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WeedForLunch

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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well i wanna say 90% of uworld is in FA that other 10 percent is the stuff that seems to come on kaplan. I just finished my first run on uworld. according to my time i have 87 days left to go through it again :lame:. This second time i hope i can improve my score
 
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Dr.Jekyll75 said:
well i wanna say 90% of uworld is in FA that other 10 percent is the stuff that seems to come on kaplan. I just finished my first run on uworld. according to my time i have 87 days left to go through it again :lame:. This second time i hope i can improve my score
Click to expand...

why do you care what your score is?

your repeating a qbank, your gonna remember answers.

unless you can explain each answer its pointless.

do another qbank


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for people who have a tough time with antibiotics, i have some advise.

im great at pharm and micro

but antibiotics is my weakness

memorize MOA and Resistance, and UNiQUE SE.

you dont need to worry about use of the drug if your having a rough time.

you rarely see a antibiotic use question
except for special cases like cef/doxy for chalmydia or gonorrhea, doxy for lyme, rickettsia etc

i literally could never get the drugs down and i read through FA MOA, and resistance and i could answer all my step questions and most nbme

step 2, you have to know all uses


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Major procrastinator said:
why do you care what your score is?

your repeating a qbank, your gonna remember answers.

unless you can explain each answer its pointless.

do another qbank


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Click to expand...

For me it's not about the score it's about the explanations, I got many questions right by bad thinking, if I do remember a question I'm gonna try to rational think why the correct answer is what it is


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This might be a little weird question, but...
Where do you guys study? Particularly during the last 2-3 months before the exam. At home or at the library?

The thing is, when I study at home, I feel like I'm able to give it more hours but I lose my focus every now and then. Even after a couple of productive study days at home, I feel the need of taking a break.
When I go to the library, I can focus much better but the number of hours are significantly less. And I don't feel the need of a break because I'm getting kinda short break every time I'm going to grab lunch and just by getting out of home!

The difference is like: if 10 hrs at home (with loss of focus every now and then due to unavoidable things), 5 focused hrs at the library.
 
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I tried the library, barnes and noble, starbucks, university and my home study.

you just have to do trial and error and see what works for you and is most efficient. The most important thing is your own self desire and motivation. If you have that it shouldnt matter where in the world you are.

the reason i ended up staying home is
1) No time wasted traveling
2) Faster internet
3) More comfortable
4) Can Vape
5) Food and bathroom always a few steps away
6) can take 1-3 hour naps when sleepy
7) dont have to wear headphones for videos
8) overall just a lot of time saved from traveling and breaks at library.




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Major procrastinator said:
I tried the library, barnes and noble, starbucks, university and my home study.

you just have to do trial and error and see what works for you and is most efficient. The most important thing is your own self desire and motivation. If you have that it shouldnt matter where in the world you are.

the reason i ended up staying home is
1) No time wasted traveling
2) Faster internet
3) More comfortable
4) Can Vape
5) Food and bathroom always a few steps away
6) can take 1-3 hour naps when sleepy
7) dont have to wear headphones for videos
8) overall just a lot of time saved from traveling and breaks at library.




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Click to expand...

I agree with the staying at home part because I hated wasting time getting to and from places. However, the constant food is a problem for people like me who love to snack/procrastinate by making meals, tea, coffee, etc. I guess it's a "healthy" break but I do get distracted at home by foooood...

Anyways, I have 2 weeks left and I feel like my brain is fried and I still don't have a perfect grasp of MANY concepts... 🙁 I have like 200 uworld questions left, getting 70-80% on most of them except for that random 65% that happened yesterday. Finding it hard to memorize all the drugs and MOAs , some I know perfectly and others I just can't commit to memory. I'm worried, starting to have problems by waking up at 3am with stomach problems due to stress.
 
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blueforest said:
I agree with the staying at home part because I hated wasting time getting to and from places. However, the constant food is a problem for people like me who love to snack/procrastinate by making meals, tea, coffee, etc. I guess it's a "healthy" break but I do get distracted at home by foooood...

Anyways, I have 2 weeks left and I feel like my brain is fried and I still don't have a perfect grasp of MANY concepts... 🙁 I have like 200 uworld questions left, getting 70-80% on most of them except for that random 65% that happened yesterday. Finding it hard to memorize all the drugs and MOAs , some I know perfectly and others I just can't commit to memory. I'm worried, starting to have problems by waking up at 3am with stomach problems due to stress.
Click to expand...
how far out are you ? and completely agree with you on staying home , its more efficient
 
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Major procrastinator said:
I tried the library, barnes and noble, starbucks, university and my home study.

you just have to do trial and error and see what works for you and is most efficient. The most important thing is your own self desire and motivation. If you have that it shouldnt matter where in the world you are.

the reason i ended up staying home is
1) No time wasted traveling
2) Faster internet
3) More comfortable
4) Can Vape
5) Food and bathroom always a few steps away
6) can take 1-3 hour naps when sleepy
7) dont have to wear headphones for videos
8) overall just a lot of time saved from traveling and breaks at library.




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Click to expand...
+1. Home was very convenient
 
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blueforest said:
I agree with the staying at home part because I hated wasting time getting to and from places. However, the constant food is a problem for people like me who love to snack/procrastinate by making meals, tea, coffee, etc. I guess it's a "healthy" break but I do get distracted at home by foooood...

Anyways, I have 2 weeks left and I feel like my brain is fried and I still don't have a perfect grasp of MANY concepts... 🙁 I have like 200 uworld questions left, getting 70-80% on most of them except for that random 65% that happened yesterday. Finding it hard to memorize all the drugs and MOAs , some I know perfectly and others I just can't commit to memory. I'm worried, starting to have problems by waking up at 3am with stomach problems due to stress.
Click to expand...


Im having the same stress problems, i dont know what to do
 
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kb0275 said:
Im having the same stress problems, i dont know what to do
Click to expand...
If you're getting your target score then just remember that you have a lottttt less worry than people who are far from their target. I'm like 40 points from my target right now. And I have to essentially study everything over again
 
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blueforest said:
My exam is on the 27th :arghh:
Click to expand...

All I can say is good luck and keep trucking . Take a nbme this week. See where you fall. If you aren't happy with what you're getting back then I suggest you push it back but that depends on how long you've been studying too because eventually you get negative returns if you've been going to at it for 4+ months


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TheOther said:
I've never consumed so much caffeine during the day to focus and study.
I've never consumed melatonin so often to help me stay asleep and not wake up stressing about UWorld problems.
Click to expand...

Ha. Same here.
I recently started using melatonin to be able to fall asleep.
I'm taking Step 1 on Thursday and somewhere between thinking that I FORGOT EVERYTHING and trying to study I totally lost the ability to fall asleep.

Btw, wanted to take melatonin before the test but I think it makes me super sleepy during the day :/ Damn.
 
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ImageUploadedBySDN1489448469.168821.jpg



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this is how crazy im going lol

failing or even being close is not an option but anything is possible til its official
 
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Joanna1987 said:
Ha. Same here.
I recently started using melatonin to be able to fall asleep.
I'm taking Step 1 on Thursday and somewhere between thinking that I FORGOT EVERYTHING and trying to study I totally lost the ability to fall asleep.

Btw, wanted to take melatonin before the test but I think it makes me super sleepy during the day :/ Damn.
Click to expand...
You got this!!!
 
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Dr.Jekyll75 said:
guys if you need motivation to study look at the soap 2017 form, its put the fear of god into me to study harder
Click to expand...


what does this mean more in detail? Things always get harder after 1990's years, way too much graduates and not enough residency slots (actually nobody needs so much doctors, but med schools are opening like a bars, lol) what about soap 2017?
 
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kb0275 said:
Do you or anyone get racing thoughts at night which screws up sleep
Click to expand...

During sleep? I get them while studying and i'm learning how to deal with them everyday. I take valerian root before bedtime and sometimes melatonin. Both work for me! 🙂

Joanna1987 said:
Ha. Same here.
I recently started using melatonin to be able to fall asleep.
I'm taking Step 1 on Thursday and somewhere between thinking that I FORGOT EVERYTHING and trying to study I totally lost the ability to fall asleep.

Btw, wanted to take melatonin before the test but I think it makes me super sleepy during the day :/ Damn.
Click to expand...


Did you take a new NBME recently? What's your plan leading up to the exam?
 
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Surgeria said:
what does this mean more in detail? Things always get harder after 1990's years, way too much graduates and not enough residency slots (actually nobody needs so much doctors, but med schools are opening like a bars, lol) what about soap 2017?
Click to expand...

Just go to the 2017 soap thread and read and you'll see


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blueforest said:
During sleep? I get them while studying and i'm learning how to deal with them everyday. I take valerian root before bedtime and sometimes melatonin. Both work for me! 🙂




Did you take a new NBME recently? What's your plan leading up to the exam?
Click to expand...

I used up all my NBMEs last year, around December... I was supposed to take my exam on Dec 19th but didn't sleep for 2 NIGHTS before the exam and I was just too exhausted 🙁

So, I was out of NBMEs.
My scores weren't crazy, somewhere between 220-238.
I took UWSA2 a few days ago with a score 247 (although I take 15 away cause I had done it before - no, I didn't remember the questions cause it had been like 7 months 😛 but just in case).

I could take NBME 19 but it came out like 1 week ago and I didn't want to go through the additional stress, so I just did the questions without checking the score. Maybe not too smart but I've done so many self-assessment and I just didn't want to stress myself up.

I've been reading FA and my notes for the past few days and finishing reviewing biochemistry, micro, behavioral and few other things today.

Went through NBME 18 yesterday to make sure I understood my mistakes and that's it.
I was gonna do way more but I just wasn't able to. I hope for the best.

Kind of scared now that I don't have any recent self-assessments but I know this ****, like I read it many times so I'm hoping I'm still good (I was gonna take it earlier but went home, to Europe for almost 2 months and didn't do anything there😛).
 
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Joanna1987 said:
I used up all my NBMEs last year, around December... I was supposed to take my exam on Dec 19th but didn't sleep for 2 NIGHTS before the exam and I was just too exhausted 🙁

So, I was out of NBMEs.
My scores weren't crazy, somewhere between 220-238.
I took UWSA2 a few days ago with a score 247 (although I take 15 away cause I had done it before - no, I didn't remember the questions cause it had been like 7 months 😛 but just in case).

I could take NBME 19 but it came out like 1 week ago and I didn't want to go through the additional stress, so I just did the questions without checking the score. Maybe not too smart but I've done so many self-assessment and I just didn't want to stress myself up.

I've been reading FA and my notes for the past few days and finishing reviewing biochemistry, micro, behavioral and few other things today.

Went through NBME 18 yesterday to make sure I understood my mistakes and that's it.
I was gonna do way more but I just wasn't able to. I hope for the best.

Kind of scared now that I don't have any recent self-assessments but I know this ****, like I read it many times so I'm hoping I'm still good (I was gonna take it earlier but went home, to Europe for almost 2 months and didn't do anything there😛).
Click to expand...
It's the final count down!!!!....I think its important that you did the questions for NBME 19 rather than seeing your score, after all UWSA is saying 240+ whooop. For the free 120 they dont grade for you so you can just do tutor mode ( i would do timed) so you can feel confident in what you know and be ready for any repeats 🙂

Start relaxing a little!
 
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Major procrastinator said:
It's the final count down!!!!....I think its important that you did the questions for NBME 19 rather than seeing your score, after all UWSA is saying 240+ whooop. For the free 120 they dont grade for you so you can just do tutor mode ( i would do timed) so you can feel confident in what you know and be ready for any repeats 🙂

Start relaxing a little!
Click to expand...

I did free 120 and got 88%.
I will go through the questions tonight 🙂

I think there is still lots of things I want to at least read and then tomorrow I will just relax.
Nothing can be done at this point.

I made the biggest mistake ever and went to read the SOAP thread lol

I got so freaked out.
Don't do it. Especially if you're an IMG who doesn't score 250 and more 😛

Last day of reading and let's see what happens! 🙂


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Does anybody know what time will be a score release? I know that they release score before an email comes. It seems like I won't be able to sleep this night. Just wondering.

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OlgaW007 said:
Does anybody know what time will be a score release? I know that they release score before an email comes. It seems like I won't be able to sleep this night. Just wondering.

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Just 22 hours. Wether you slept or not nothing will change, your score is determined most probably from the minute you left the center so just hope for the best and I think that's what you will get.
 
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Joanna1987 said:
I did free 120 and got 88%.
I will go through the questions tonight 🙂

I think there is still lots of things I want to at least read and then tomorrow I will just relax.
Nothing can be done at this point.

I made the biggest mistake ever and went to read the SOAP thread lol

I got so freaked out.
Don't do it. Especially if you're an IMG who doesn't score 250 and more 😛

Last day of reading and let's see what happens! 🙂


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Click to expand...

lol it's bad even for DOs and AMGs that really good scores but couldn't match. Part of I think is because everyone and their mother wanted EM


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Dr.Jekyll75 said:
Just go to the 2017 soap thread and read and you'll see


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Click to expand...

personally I think its stupid thread

1) apply broadly and smartly
2) apply based on your scores
3) don't think your too good for any one place
4) take time to get solid LOR and personal statment
5) practice interviewing

people apply minimally and locally and then cry.

i know lots
of people average or below that matched cause they spent the money to apply everywhere and didnt take anything for granted


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Major procrastinator said:
5) practice interviewing

people apply minimally and locally and then cry.
Click to expand...
The ppl Jekyll refers to applied to EM. Many of them applied 50-100 programs. There is 1 guy with 15 interviews didn't match. There is another person with 18 interviews (in EM SOAP thread) didn't match. Many ppl didn't even get 2 digits of interviews b/c of the rise of competition in EM. It's not b/c they didn't apply broadly enough unless you think everyone should apply 100+ programs from now. Yeah sure practice interviewing help, but it's hard to f*** it up in EM when you can swear at a resident and still get ranked #1 (see EM interview thread).
personally I think its stupid thread
Click to expand...
LOL, you better hope that you don't have to post on there in the future.
 
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kenjixshadow said:
The ppl Jekyll refers to applied to EM. Many of them applied 50-100 programs. There is 1 guy with 15 interviews didn't match. There is another person with 18 interviews (in EM SOAP thread) didn't match. Many ppl didn't even get 2 digits of interviews b/c of the rise of competition in EM. It's not b/c they didn't apply broadly enough unless you think everyone should apply 100+ programs from now. Yeah sure practice interviewing help, but it's hard to f*** it up in EM when you can swear at a resident and still get ranked #1 (see EM interview thread).

LOL, you better hope that you don't have to post on there in the future.
Click to expand...

have a backup plan, do IM/FM then fellow in EM.

I wont be posting, don't worry


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kenjixshadow said:
The ppl Jekyll refers to applied to EM. Many of them applied 50-100 programs. There is 1 guy with 15 interviews didn't match. There is another person with 18 interviews (in EM SOAP thread) didn't match. Many ppl didn't even get 2 digits of interviews b/c of the rise of competition in EM. It's not b/c they didn't apply broadly enough unless you think everyone should apply 100+ programs from now. Yeah sure practice interviewing help, but it's hard to f*** it up in EM when you can swear at a resident and still get ranked #1 (see EM interview thread).

LOL, you better hope that you don't have to post on there in the future.
Click to expand...

Didn't mean to start a war on this topic. I was just saying it's super competitive in Em, also I agree with the last step .... cry


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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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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.
Click to expand...

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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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.
Click to expand...
How in your opinion program can check if you fit with your personal skills? They can't check if your hands shake 🙂 If they wanted to see you it means you fit with criterias. Something went wrong during the interview I think. Friend of mine matched 4 years ago as IMG. He had a 3 interview. And matched where he wanted to match. I think it depends on how you can represent yourself.

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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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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.
Click to expand...

Lol im about to sell my first born for that neurosurg spot if it works(jk) well good luck dude.


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Dr Turkelton said:
Yep took the free 120 on saturday and got 243, 259 on nbme 19 on sunday. My scores have been all over the place so I don't really know what to expect.

What about you?
Click to expand...

My scores range from 220/232/238 to 247 lol.
Free 120: 88%
So, no clue.

😛

I just hope the test is not gonna be super difficult.

Btw, your NBME 19 is perfect. You will be more than fine!!!!
 
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Dr.Jekyll75 said:
Lol im about to sell my first born for that neurosurg spot if it works(jk) well good luck dude.


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Click to expand...

I bet you will get it, You can feel the personality even from 10 000 km distance! Every joke has a little joke in it, the other part is true. Of course you are not going to sell your first born, but seems that you will do everything and sacrifice everything for it. Let's see how lucky we are, because hard work will be nothing if the fortune is not a little bit smiling for you. I know people who matched today, they graduated 15 years ago in our country. It's about luckiness, scores, contacts, money. 2 persons, graduated 15 years ago, nothing is impossible, just know how to use your cards.
 
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