Hello.
After about a year of using SDN as a resource of knowledge I thought, that maybe it is my turn to give something.
I am studying in Europe and about 2 years ago I decided wth my girlfriend, that we will try to take USMLE.
Lots of doubt along the way, no one knew how, no one had gone this way before. I had to explain everything, and lead my Deans Office step by step in what should they do. I have been 2nd student to ever take USMLE in my uni.
So here is what I have done:
1. About a year of reading all the Kaplans in 3-4 week periods dedicated to given subject. Not that much, maybe 4-5h each week. Started with less-clinical ones (anatomy, biochemistry), and ended with pharm and path. I have been doing 1-2 tests (Robbins, BRS) weekly.
2. 2 months before my mandatory (required by uni) NMBE test I have started to focus more on First Aid. Last month was time of dedicated study - 8am to 17pm with FA and UWorld. I have been doing about 2 45 question tests daily, reading explanations of hard questions. I know that people recommend reading it all religiously, but it was not my style, also I have been quite short on time. Resources used - solely FA and UW. First time UWorld mean about 80% (started with 65, in 3 tests went to 70+, ended with 85-90, although there were quite a few drops in my scores).
3. NMBE - I have been shocked. It turned out pretty easy, like 2x easier than UW. I had almost no doubts. I have never done NMBE before (2nd thing people recommend). Score arrived 3 days after - 260, I was all in heaven. Lots of fuss with paperwork, I was lost, Deans Office was lost, but after like 1 week my Certification was sent to ECFMG and I was waiting for all the necessary confirmations to schedule my USMLE.
4. I still had a bit more than 1 month of holidays left and was desperate to take my step before rotations and lectures start. While waiting for ECFMG to process my Certification I was studying once again. This time I have been doing UW from the beginning, it was a lot easier. 4 tests daily, mean for second pass was about 90%. The only other resource was FA, I swear, that by this time I knew every letter of this book. I started having doubts, if FA will be enough. Maybe I should include another book?
5. My application was processed by ECFMG, I still had more than 2 weeks of holidays left. Scheduled an appointment one week before rotations start. I had to take train to another country to take USMLE, there are only a few Prometric Centers in Europe.
6. The big day! I was shocked once again. The questions were a way less specific, blurred, required a way less knowledge and a way more "feeling" than any test I have taken so far. Some topics (exact same background, same answers) reoccurred 2 times. I had maybe 2 direct biochemistry questions. Microbiology only on basic level. I left knowing, that I have done well, but deep down there was dissapointed - I had a feeling, that I had so much more knowledge to present, but there was no opportunity. Questions rarely addressed specific facts, complex relationships that I knew and could rock if an opportunity presented.
7. 3 weeks forward I have been deep into my 6th and final year of med school when the results arrived. 260 once more. Ecstatic feeling. As for an IMG, studying in my native language, 3 years deep into clinics I still managed to rock this basic sciences test. It was my great fear. I have been really good with basic sciences, but I have passed anatomy was 4 years ago, biochemistry 3, how much knowledge could I possibly retain?
Time for conclusion:
1. Study companion - for me support of my girlfriend, feeling that we are going through it together was crucial.
2. First Aid IS enough.
3. Taking 100 NMBE tests before is an option, but you can do it without.
4. UW is a grat resource.
5. Even thou european standards of education focus a way more on clinics, than on basic sciences - it is not a great gap. Clinical knowledge helps a lot.
Time to ditch Krebs cycle and finally focus on clinical subjects.
Hope I have brought some hope into your hearts, fellow IMGs. In case of any questions - feel free to ask.
See you on the wards!
After about a year of using SDN as a resource of knowledge I thought, that maybe it is my turn to give something.
I am studying in Europe and about 2 years ago I decided wth my girlfriend, that we will try to take USMLE.
Lots of doubt along the way, no one knew how, no one had gone this way before. I had to explain everything, and lead my Deans Office step by step in what should they do. I have been 2nd student to ever take USMLE in my uni.
So here is what I have done:
1. About a year of reading all the Kaplans in 3-4 week periods dedicated to given subject. Not that much, maybe 4-5h each week. Started with less-clinical ones (anatomy, biochemistry), and ended with pharm and path. I have been doing 1-2 tests (Robbins, BRS) weekly.
2. 2 months before my mandatory (required by uni) NMBE test I have started to focus more on First Aid. Last month was time of dedicated study - 8am to 17pm with FA and UWorld. I have been doing about 2 45 question tests daily, reading explanations of hard questions. I know that people recommend reading it all religiously, but it was not my style, also I have been quite short on time. Resources used - solely FA and UW. First time UWorld mean about 80% (started with 65, in 3 tests went to 70+, ended with 85-90, although there were quite a few drops in my scores).
3. NMBE - I have been shocked. It turned out pretty easy, like 2x easier than UW. I had almost no doubts. I have never done NMBE before (2nd thing people recommend). Score arrived 3 days after - 260, I was all in heaven. Lots of fuss with paperwork, I was lost, Deans Office was lost, but after like 1 week my Certification was sent to ECFMG and I was waiting for all the necessary confirmations to schedule my USMLE.
4. I still had a bit more than 1 month of holidays left and was desperate to take my step before rotations and lectures start. While waiting for ECFMG to process my Certification I was studying once again. This time I have been doing UW from the beginning, it was a lot easier. 4 tests daily, mean for second pass was about 90%. The only other resource was FA, I swear, that by this time I knew every letter of this book. I started having doubts, if FA will be enough. Maybe I should include another book?
5. My application was processed by ECFMG, I still had more than 2 weeks of holidays left. Scheduled an appointment one week before rotations start. I had to take train to another country to take USMLE, there are only a few Prometric Centers in Europe.
6. The big day! I was shocked once again. The questions were a way less specific, blurred, required a way less knowledge and a way more "feeling" than any test I have taken so far. Some topics (exact same background, same answers) reoccurred 2 times. I had maybe 2 direct biochemistry questions. Microbiology only on basic level. I left knowing, that I have done well, but deep down there was dissapointed - I had a feeling, that I had so much more knowledge to present, but there was no opportunity. Questions rarely addressed specific facts, complex relationships that I knew and could rock if an opportunity presented.
7. 3 weeks forward I have been deep into my 6th and final year of med school when the results arrived. 260 once more. Ecstatic feeling. As for an IMG, studying in my native language, 3 years deep into clinics I still managed to rock this basic sciences test. It was my great fear. I have been really good with basic sciences, but I have passed anatomy was 4 years ago, biochemistry 3, how much knowledge could I possibly retain?
Time for conclusion:
1. Study companion - for me support of my girlfriend, feeling that we are going through it together was crucial.
2. First Aid IS enough.
3. Taking 100 NMBE tests before is an option, but you can do it without.
4. UW is a grat resource.
5. Even thou european standards of education focus a way more on clinics, than on basic sciences - it is not a great gap. Clinical knowledge helps a lot.
Time to ditch Krebs cycle and finally focus on clinical subjects.
Hope I have brought some hope into your hearts, fellow IMGs. In case of any questions - feel free to ask.
See you on the wards!
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