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I've always wanted to start one of these...So here we go!
My stats:
M2
Test time: June 2018
Goal score: 270
My stats:
M2
Test time: June 2018
Goal score: 270
Last edited:
Paying it forward for anyone who is still studying and thinks their goal is too far to reach. I'm a below average student who just barely passed my coursework my first two years. I only started studying for step during dedicated (told myself I would start earlier, but my fellow procrastinators know what's up).
Goal: 230
Pre-dedicated CBSE (12 weeks out): <145, my score was so low, it didn't even register on the scale lol
NBME 13 (9 weeks out): 184
NBME 17 (8 weeks out): 200
UWSA 1 (7 weeks out): 232
NBME 18 (6 weeks out): 211
NBME 16 (3 weeks out): 234
UWSA 2 (2 weeks out): 239
NBME 19 (1 week out): 232
UW average: 63%
Actual: 243. Whatever you dream, it can happen!! Just keep pushing through!
Also my advice to any M1/2s out there, let this be a lesson: CRAMMING IS NOT FUN, YOU WILL REGRET IT. These were the absolute most miserable 3 months of my life. Even if you're a genius, there is no harm in starting your studying early.
The same people who think my score is "terrible" are the same ones who said I'd never get in.Only on SDN where 90% of posts will have 90th+ percentile scores lol
People are just afraid of looking dumb or being judged by their scores on here.
I'm not ashamed of my score at all.
I tried my best and I got caught on a bad day. I really do feel like I got ****ed over but I'm over it.
**** happens.
It's how you deal with it that matters.
People will get the courage and post more on here as they see fit.
@Foot Fetish still out here talking about brute force when he prepared an entire year for this exam. Ever thought maybe it wasnt how much you were studying, but rather the way you were studying? You still did very well, but i think its time you stop propagating this nonsense. Not sure if it makes you feel better about yourself, but when you make posts like that its not about you - its about future test takers. M1s are gonna read your posts and think its wise to ignore their classes from day 1 and just do anki and first aid every second.
@docksan too many people do medicine to impress their colleagues...
Hahahaha. Im bitter with my >265? Yea youre right i really wish i wouldve spent every waking minute doing 4 billion flash cards instead of hanging out with my friends. Keep using flashcards instead of going to class bro let us know how that goes for youEven a cursory glance at r/medicalschool shows that most of the 260+ scores listed Zanki as one of their primary reasons for scoring highly. I think it's kind of hilarious how you are trying to use a n=1 example to try and discredit something that has so much data behind it. The funny part is, OP didn't even do badly. He actually did extremely well compared to the field. I think deep down you're just bitter that Zanki wasn't around when you took step 1.
Hahahaha. Im bitter with my >265? Yea youre right i really wish i wouldve spent every waking minute doing 4 billion flash cards instead of hanging out with my friends. Keep using flashcards instead of going to class bro let us know how that goes for you
@Foot Fetish still out here talking about brute force when he prepared an entire year for this exam. Ever thought maybe it wasnt how much you were studying, but rather the way you were studying? You still did very well, but i think its time you stop propagating this nonsense. Not sure if it makes you feel better about yourself, but when you make posts like that its not about you - its about future test takers. M1s are gonna read your posts and think its wise to ignore their classes from day 1 and just do anki and first aid every second.
@docksan too many people do medicine to impress their colleagues...
now dont exaggerate his studying over a year or so. we ALL study a certain number of hours DAILY or pretty much so during the med school. it just so happens that @FF chose what is considered most board relevant and did just that exclusively and was open about it. Whether you read your professor's notes or read UW explanations.... does it really matter? a 3 hr studying is still a 3 hr studying. a 12 hr per day study is uncommon but i assure you there are others out there too. and dude, the number of hours @FF spent on the forums is probably equal to the number of hours, other high scorers (maybe you ;-)) spend to decompress, elsewhere.@Foot Fetish still out here talking about brute force when he prepared an entire year for this exam. Ever thought maybe it wasnt how much you were studying, but rather the way you were studying? You still did very well, but i think its time you stop propagating this nonsense. Not sure if it makes you feel better about yourself, but when you make posts like that its not about you - its about future test takers. M1s are gonna read your posts and think its wise to ignore their classes from day 1 and just do anki and first aid every second.
@docksan too many people do medicine to impress their colleagues...
Oh man same thing is bugging me. My average was a 270 and ended up with a 264 so yeah I'm bitter and sad about those who had a lower average and ended up scoring more than meTo be brutally honest, the only thing that continues to make me feel bad about my score is when I compare myself to other people, like @Blocked by James . First of all, I congratule this individual and am in no way trying to detract from their score, which they worked hard for and earned. I just want to use this as an example. This person's NBME average was a 249 , and they ended up with a 263. My NBME average was a 257, and I ended up with a 257. On the one hand, I did exactly as predicted, but it definitely burns when I compare myself to people who outdid their NBME average by a wide margin. This is precisely why people say there is an element of luck involved. That's life I guess.
Ive never once said to trust the process. I acknowledge that school curriculum is limited and i always advise to supplement with high quality material like pathoma, costanzo, what have you.Honestly I find @Foot Fetish 's posts and strategy comforting in the fact that if you grind for your time, you will achieve an excellent score.
I would put more stock in this method than in 'trusting the process' of school curriculum. Yes, @Newyawk , it worked for you, but there are some of us who do not have an excellent pre-clinical curriculum, and are better off cramming flashcards and learning from board prep materials.
Have you ever wondered why the number one cited factor / correlative factor for USMLE performance ISN'T school material / preclinical performance in classes?
Taking a look at my school's curriculum vs board prep resources, it seems we only cover the majority of physiology (not all of it covered in board prep resources) and sometimes only HALF the pathology. I have learned more from these resources and hammered them in from flashcards than from my school material, and typically the only way to understand fully my school material is to hear it or read it from other resources.
I feel like I got kind of lucky, never really been considered a "smart" personUWSA1 - 266
UWSA2 - 262
Free 150 - 92%
NBME 19 - 252
NBME 18 - 244
Real Deal - 255
Of course in an ideal world we would have teachers like Sattar teaching us all live but generally speaking USMLE curriculum does closely correlate with school material. That is precisely why top students start their dedicated with a 240+/250+/even 260+. Also, top students (like you) are way smarter than the rest of the class AND have the ability to do both the classwork AND the supplemental material. An average student is happy to manage the one or the other. An average student also ends up cracking FA open about 3 months before the exam and starts "reading through it".Ive never once said to trust the process. I acknowledge that school curriculum is limited and i always advise to supplement with high quality material like pathoma, costanzo, what have you.
When you ignore your school, however, you are just hurting yourself. Preclinical course performance is absolutely correlated with step 1 score. Ask anyone who scored over a 240 and the majority did at least well in their courses if not top of their class.
Yes, working hard is vital to scoring well. The longer and harder you work the better your results will be. But working harder and working smarter are not the same.
ut EM is also one of my interests and I was trying to avoid having to fight an uphill battle for that.
Congrats on the score. EM is not an uphill battle for you...... 93% of USMDs with between a 220-230 matched.
I think the score cutoff for this week was June 22nd, so I think you should be out next week. Good luck!Took my exam 06/29. SHOULD MY PERMIT LINK HAVE DISAPPEARED BY NOW??
omg
Even a cursory glance at r/medicalschool shows that most of the 260+ scores listed Zanki as one of their primary reasons for scoring highly. I think it's kind of hilarious how you are trying to use a n=1 example to try and discredit something that has so much data behind it. The funny part is, OP didn't even do badly. He actually did extremely well compared to the field. I think deep down you're just bitter that Zanki wasn't around when you took step 1.
I am still in shock from my score results yesterday!
NBME 13 (2.5 months out): 184
CBSE (5 weeks): 222
NBME 15: (3 weeks): 238
UWSA 2 (2 weeks): 243
NBME 18 (5 days): 230
Step 1: 254!!!
Felt terrible after finishing the test. I had question flashbacks and restless nights for 2 weeks. I was convinced I scored between 220 and 235. My goal score was 240, so I don’t know what to do with myself now!
These dudes love talking about the success stories that used zanki. How many others used zanki and didnt do well? How many never touched zanki and killed it (me and a friend who scored >270 as 2 examples)...Just to put it out there, I did half of zanki for biochem only. Never touched it until right before dedicated. Got 260. Zanki is great, but its not the end all be all. I truly believe 260+ scores are possible without crushing zanki every night after your lectures during M1/M2
I tried it but not a fan. Too long of stems to be very useful imo. Stick with Bros or zanki if you want to study using spaced repetition. It will stick much better and hammer home the necessary points more efficiently .Plus it's freeWhat are this years test-taker's opinion on Firecracker? Would you start from Day 1 of m1 and stretch it out
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you my friend SHOWED UP on game day!! congrats!I am still in shock from my score results yesterday!
NBME 13 (2.5 months out): 184
CBSE (5 weeks): 222
NBME 15: (3 weeks): 238
UWSA 2 (2 weeks): 243
NBME 18 (5 days): 230
Step 1: 254!!!
Felt terrible after finishing the test. I had question flashbacks and restless nights for 2 weeks. I was convinced I scored between 220 and 235. My goal score was 240, so I don’t know what to do with myself now!
NBME 13: 200 - 12 weeks out, baseline before any studyingTook UWSA #2 today, definitely harder than UWSA1. That said I'm pretty stoked because it's basically in line with NBME 18, which makes it hard to brush 18 off as a fluke.
At this point I just can't wait to be done with the damn thing lol. All I need is 230+ so that I can comfortably match EM without having to "explain" my score or try to "compensate."
Of course with all the recent doom and gloom in this thread I could technically still drop 50 points and pass by 1, so thats good I guess...
NBME 13: 200 - 12 weeks out, baseline before any studying
CBSE: 213 - 8 weeks out (studying with classes for 1 month)
NBME 15: 217 - 8 weeks out (back to back with CBSE)
NBME 16: 221 - 4 weeks out (1 week into dedicated)
UW SIM 1: 249 - 3 weeks out
NBME 18: 242 - 2 weeks out
UW SIM 2: 245 - 1 week out
Thought I'd share my results since I've gotten a lot of advice from this site. Had to take a day to decompress from the shock
NBME 13 (8 weeks out): 240
UWSA 1 (6 weeks out): 260
NBME CBSE (school exam; 4.5 weeks out): 248
NBME 15 (3.5 weeks out): 244
NBME 16 (3 weeks out): 250
NBME 17 (15 days out): 257
UWSA 2 (12 days out): 264
NBME 18 (8 days out): 250
Free 120 (4 days out): 91%
Step 1 (June 15th): 257
Some info about me...I've always been an okay, but never a super amazing standardized test taker. I scored a 506 on my MCAT and barely got into a "bottom of the barrel" school. But I think this was a big source of motivation for me.
I started FA and UW in January, followed along M2 classes with pathoma and sketchymicro/pharm. Those are the only resources I used. Up until January, I only focused on doing well in class. Same story with M1 year, only focused on class notes and didn't use any supplemental material besides some BRS physio here and there.
I walked out of test day feeling like I got hit by a truck. I probably flagged 15-20 questions per block on average. It felt like I was guessing on half the exam. Probably 35/40 of my stems on each block were huge paragraphs (longer than UW). I actually ran out of time on 1 block and randomly clicked answers for 2 questions without even reading the stem. I spent 4 weeks contemplating the possibility that I failed.
I hope this can be a source of motivation for those who didn't do well on the MCAT, go to a "low tier school", or walked out of that test feeling like they just took a log up their rear. It is possible!
Congrats to everyone who took this beast! And if you didn't hit your goal score, don't throw in the towel. I know the feeling of a disappointing test score, and as much as it may feel right now that it's the end of the world, it isn't. Keep your chin high and continue trying to become the best version of yourself you can be!
NBME 13: 200 - 12 weeks out, baseline before any studying
CBSE: 213 - 8 weeks out (studying with classes for 1 month)
NBME 15: 217 - 8 weeks out (back to back with CBSE)
NBME 16: 221 - 4 weeks out (1 week into dedicated)
UW SIM 1: 249 - 3 weeks out
NBME 18: 242 - 2 weeks out
UW SIM 2: 245 - 1 week out
USMLE: 240 - 0 weeks out
All in all very happy with my score.
I came out of the test feeling absolutely terrible so I’m really happy I didn’t bomb. It’s not a score that will turn heads, but it won’t hold me back at all but the most competitive of programs/fields. I went in just hoping for a 220 so I could do EM, and I got that.
I guess if I could say one thing about this whole process, it’s that I don’t like it. In a tough-to-put-my-finger-on-way, it just seems wrong to have so much tied up in one score, one number, or one day. It seems wrong to me, both as an applicant and for the system overall, to put such weight in any lone criteria. And I say that as someone with an good score. People aren’t numbers.
Congrats to everyone who got their scores yesterday, I’m happy for you all.
Too many people have this high MCAT high STEP1 fallacy. The two are VERY different
Just one data point. 516 MCAT and 260 step 1.
Too many people have this high MCAT high STEP1 fallacy. The two are VERY different
might not be the answer you're looking for, but there are these things in medical school called lectures, and I learned from them.Hi everyone!! @Lannister and everyone else who didn't use Anki as a primary source to learn material, how did you learn the Pharm that's not in Sketchy videos (asking in particular about Reproductive Pharm). Sketchy has been all I have used and it has worked well for me, and I'm struggling with how to learn Pharm without it. I know I need to make Anki cards for myself, but I'm not sure how to format the material, etc. I'm also open to learning without Anki! Any help would be so appreciated! Thanks, AND HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE ON HERE BEING DONE WITH STEP 1!!! All of you are so inspirational.
Hi everyone!! @Lannister and everyone else who didn't use Anki as a primary source to learn material, how did you learn the Pharm that's not in Sketchy videos (asking in particular about Reproductive Pharm). Sketchy has been all I have used and it has worked well for me, and I'm struggling with how to learn Pharm without it. I know I need to make Anki cards for myself, but I'm not sure how to format the material, etc. I'm also open to learning without Anki! Any help would be so appreciated! Thanks, AND HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE ON HERE BEING DONE WITH STEP 1!!! All of you are so inspirational.
might not be the answer you're looking for, but there are these things in medical school called lectures, and I learned from them.
(seriously, this is how I learned it, though, no fancy decks or anything - lectures + sketchy).
For me it was 100% questions. Rx taught me pretty much every drug in FA. As long as I saw a drug in at least two different questions, I was able to remember it. Just gotta read those explanations every time!
Ah ok!! Thank you, I'll do that!!
Sorry I know it's not the most helpful advice, I'm lucky to have a good memory so pharm and micro were fairly easy for me. It's those critical thinking questions that I struggled with!