- Joined
- Sep 25, 2009
- Messages
- 40
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I want to use this as an opportunity to state what I have done so far, and assess my plan going forward. Psychologically, I know I will be more likely to stick to my plan if I write it down--even more if I announce it to the world. I hope you all won't mind indulging me. If you have any feedback, positive or negative, it would be much appreciated.
Background:
I am an American at a foreign medical school. Typically, I perform in the top 10% of the class on quizzes and NBME customized shelf exams and I have earned honors in every organ system so far. (The latter probably doesn't say too much coming from my school.) I'm a decent test taker (2260 SAT and 33R MCAT) and depite the stress, the rigors and the monotony, I still love learning.
At the expense of time efficiency, I often prefer gaining a solid, organized understanding of the etiology, pathophysiology and clinical presentation of disease rather than memorizing mnemonics and isolated facts. For this reason, I have been somewhat critical of First Aid lately. Nevertheless, I realize it is important to fill the short and medium term memory with key associations.
Other than bi-weekly sessions to review microbiology with a friend, I have not dedicated too much time preparing specifically for Step I. (My friend and I recently finished reviewing all the bacteria and viruses listed in FA; fungi and parasites remain.)
Strong points - immunology, micro, pathology, physiology, biochem/mol bio
Weak points - embryology, anatomy, general and specific pharmacology, biostatistics
I took NBME Form 3 just to see where I stand and I scored a 520 which they say is equivalent to a 226.
I am aiming for above a 250 on the real deal.
My plan:
I have used Robbins and other textbooks to fill in FA. And I have been doing Webpath and World questions all along the way. I don't use Goljan and I recently purchased USMLE Step I secrets.
I have 5 weeks to study for the real deal and I plan to dedicate 10-12 hours a day. I want to use one day a week for practice tests. I am modeling my study plan more or less after what Armin Kamyab recommended in "How to Study for the USMLE."
During the first weeks, my plan is to do randomized world question blocks in the morning and to review two or three specific subjects in the afternoon. At night, I will do a specific subject block of questions (i.e. biochem questions) unrelated to any subject reviewed that day.
In the last few weeks, I will do randomized question blocks or an NBME CBSSA practice exam in the morning and afternoon and I will review only one or two subjects in the evening. That is, my question to pure review ratio will increase as I get closer to test day.
I hope to be able to set aside some time for exercise each day during the 5 weeks, and I will keep eating healthy during my prep time. I am also going to isolate myself more or less from my classmates, as the majority have a tendency to stress me out.
I will keep updating this as I have more data! I hope it doesn't put everyone to
Thanks,
HS
Background:
I am an American at a foreign medical school. Typically, I perform in the top 10% of the class on quizzes and NBME customized shelf exams and I have earned honors in every organ system so far. (The latter probably doesn't say too much coming from my school.) I'm a decent test taker (2260 SAT and 33R MCAT) and depite the stress, the rigors and the monotony, I still love learning.
At the expense of time efficiency, I often prefer gaining a solid, organized understanding of the etiology, pathophysiology and clinical presentation of disease rather than memorizing mnemonics and isolated facts. For this reason, I have been somewhat critical of First Aid lately. Nevertheless, I realize it is important to fill the short and medium term memory with key associations.
Other than bi-weekly sessions to review microbiology with a friend, I have not dedicated too much time preparing specifically for Step I. (My friend and I recently finished reviewing all the bacteria and viruses listed in FA; fungi and parasites remain.)
Strong points - immunology, micro, pathology, physiology, biochem/mol bio
Weak points - embryology, anatomy, general and specific pharmacology, biostatistics
I took NBME Form 3 just to see where I stand and I scored a 520 which they say is equivalent to a 226.
I am aiming for above a 250 on the real deal.
My plan:
I have used Robbins and other textbooks to fill in FA. And I have been doing Webpath and World questions all along the way. I don't use Goljan and I recently purchased USMLE Step I secrets.
I have 5 weeks to study for the real deal and I plan to dedicate 10-12 hours a day. I want to use one day a week for practice tests. I am modeling my study plan more or less after what Armin Kamyab recommended in "How to Study for the USMLE."
During the first weeks, my plan is to do randomized world question blocks in the morning and to review two or three specific subjects in the afternoon. At night, I will do a specific subject block of questions (i.e. biochem questions) unrelated to any subject reviewed that day.
In the last few weeks, I will do randomized question blocks or an NBME CBSSA practice exam in the morning and afternoon and I will review only one or two subjects in the evening. That is, my question to pure review ratio will increase as I get closer to test day.
I hope to be able to set aside some time for exercise each day during the 5 weeks, and I will keep eating healthy during my prep time. I am also going to isolate myself more or less from my classmates, as the majority have a tendency to stress me out.
I will keep updating this as I have more data! I hope it doesn't put everyone to
Thanks,
HS