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Step 1 unprepared
- Thread starter DrBaby11
- Start date
After reading this, I was going to suggest that you take a year off to get your issues under control and prepare for step 1, but....
I'm going to be honest with you. You are at very high risk of failing step 1, by a lot. 225 is not a realistic score for what you have described. I scored less than that with 6 solid weeks of prep coming right off of classes. I thought I would fall right in my school's average score of 235 or so. The truth is, that is a very hard score to get, and the only way you can get it is with an insane amount of prep. Then why does everyone get that score? Because everyone actually does study 12 hours a day for 8 weeks solid. With 4 weeks of 12 hour days (which doesn't sound like you will be able to do), you could pass this exam by going through first aid 3 times and doing half of Uworld. But it would just be a passing score. This is an incredibly important exam. Trust me you don't want to be in my shoes trying to get into competitive residences with a middle of the road step 1 score.
Your study plan also is not good. Kaplan videos are for people who have many months to study (namely, IMGs who are already doctors in other countries and are trying to come here) and need to learn the basics. It's passive learning and you don't have time for that. Forget DIT, forget kaplan videos. You need to hit first aid and Uworld. And spend as much time focused as you can. If you need to get a prescription for ritalin to be able to sit still and focus for 10-12 hours a day, then do it. Your thought process still sounds kind of screwed up. You can't take an NBME a week before the exam to see "what's up." This reflects very poor planning.
If I were you, I would bag the research opportunity, and spend a solid 3 months studying for this exam. Not on and off studying, but 200 questions a day and a couple chapters in first aid = 10 hours. Take the exam in November/December. Forget about your parents and your girlfriend. I had a girlfriend in med school during my step 1 study prep who dragged me down and kept me from studying as much as I could have. Guess what, I didn't end up marrying her and we broke up anyway. I'd rather have a better step 1 score.
You've got a whole year off. It is insane to try and push the most important exam of your career up as far as possible. Just don't fall into the trap of pushing it back and thinking, "oh I can just study an hour today and then go to the beach with my gf, I can make it up later"
You can't really prepare for the exam part time. It's too much information. It starts to leak out. You need to do it full-time. Doing well on this exam is infinitely more important than your research project. Stick with UWorld as your primary study source. When you review the questions, open up the relevant section in first aid and make some notes. When you hit another question you missed on the same topic, you'll open up first aid and see your old notes and it will stick in your head when you are constantly opening to the same section. Repetition, repetition, repetition. If it doesn't hurt, you're not doing it right. A friend of mine studied for this exam by going for walks and listening to kaplan or DIT audio lectures on the iPod. I was kind of annoyed that it was so easy and enjoyable for her while the rest of us were miserably locking ourselves in our rooms doing mental bench presses trying not to rip our eyes out. Her result = failed step 1.
I am sure someone has, but you seem to be looking for a way to halfass this exam and still do well. I'm sorry, but it's not going to happen. I was in a similar boat and had a girlfriend and other responsibilities and the only reason I didn't fail it is because I literally left town for the last two weeks after half-assing the first 6 and locked myself in a room.
Forget the research
Forget your family
Forget your girlfriend
The only way you will do well on this exam is if you give it 100% of your attention. If your goal is to simply pass and you are content with a 195, then you may be able to get away with less. But you need to have realistic expectations. I have gone through similar stuff like you and I am trying to warn you. Stop trying to find people to tell you what you want to hear and instead start studying as hard as you possibly can and put everything else in your life on the back burner until it's done. If you screw up your research opportunity, your relationship, whatever, deal with the aftermath and put the pieces back together when this test is behind you.
D
deleted566604
I'm glad you have a positive attitude about this. My opinion is study intensely and then when the test is over you definitely need to address your anxiety issues.
I was in a very similar situation. Every day I elected to spend all of my time studying and had to neglect my relationship. I felt horrible but sometimes you just need to prioritize. If the relationship is toxic, it may be time to get out or at least take a break anyway.
Family was definitely important for me. Lol oh my god, for some reason I remember having panic attacks every Friday night and mumbling nonsense between my tears. Mom always made me tea and calmed me down. No one knows this because I always act like an annoying, tough, hardened b though.
The point of all of this is 1. It's possible to get a good score but you have to sacrifice, 2. stay calm, and 3. it gets better.
Dr.Phil out!
I was in a very similar situation. Every day I elected to spend all of my time studying and had to neglect my relationship. I felt horrible but sometimes you just need to prioritize. If the relationship is toxic, it may be time to get out or at least take a break anyway.
Family was definitely important for me. Lol oh my god, for some reason I remember having panic attacks every Friday night and mumbling nonsense between my tears. Mom always made me tea and calmed me down. No one knows this because I always act like an annoying, tough, hardened b though.
The point of all of this is 1. It's possible to get a good score but you have to sacrifice, 2. stay calm, and 3. it gets better.
Dr.Phil out!
First of all, on positive side you are insightful and honest which puts you miles ahead of the ones who lack these.
I agree with most of the advice you have been given sofar
what I can add in a telegraphic manner is:
1) Completely cut off with the gf, she will screw your mind and life.
2)Do at least 5 minutes a day of meditation and mindfullness practice
3)Dont smoke , stop drinking too much coffee, no red bull, make sure you get enough sleep
4)If you are not in mood to absorb first aid, use kaplan high yield series, basically it reads first aid to you
but make sure you use it actively while your first aid is open in front of you.
Good luck
I agree with most of the advice you have been given sofar
what I can add in a telegraphic manner is:
1) Completely cut off with the gf, she will screw your mind and life.
2)Do at least 5 minutes a day of meditation and mindfullness practice
3)Dont smoke , stop drinking too much coffee, no red bull, make sure you get enough sleep
4)If you are not in mood to absorb first aid, use kaplan high yield series, basically it reads first aid to you
but make sure you use it actively while your first aid is open in front of you.
Good luck
Good job.Holy crap, that's fantastic! I'm in a similar situation figuring out what to do and I'm really glad to see your honestly inspirational success story. Great Job, and go kick the living crap out of 3rd year! BTW, perhaps take a look at firecracker, you can get 1 month for free. It's something i wholeheartedly wish I had done during the first 2 years, and it looks like it may be good for 3rd year and your new crazy successful style of active learning. Perhaps browse it.
Either way congrats again! 🙂