Post by Admin on May 2, 2014 2:31:06 GMT -5
MY USMLE STEP 2 CK EXPERIENCE
Ok guys, let’s start;
Intro;
I graduated from Alexandria University dof3et 2009 (but finished the Imtiyaz 3/2011). Got very good with honors and was ranked the 333rd out of 1200-1300 students.
I got into med school by getting 117% in IGCSE.
And before I start with my experience, I want to say that if anybody would like to meet face to face (in Alexandria) for advice or materials, send me an e-mail at;
Bdisturbed1986@hotmail.com
Step 1 score; 253
Step 2 score; 275
Step 2 CS; pass 1st attempt.
I started studying step 2 in September 2011, I had just finished my step 1 two weeks before. Studied for 3 months, then in January started studying for CS and kept studying for it till I took the test in March. After my CS exam I did an observership for a month and a half in Pennsylvania and finally came back to Egypt on the 1st of May.
My step 2 exam was scheduled for the 12th July and I spent everyday studying.
That was my time-line to delineate the gaps in my study. So looking back I guess I studied Step 2 CK for 5 and a half to 6 months solid study time.
Materials;
BOOKS:
1-Kaplan books + Vids. (to build a base)
2-Master the boards 2 and 3(Priceless, your bible for the days before the exam)
3-First Aid for step 2 (almost useless, don’t get it)
4-Step up for step 2 (mediocre at best, don’t get it)
VIDEOS; (I love watching videos, visual + audio memory is the best)
1- Kaplan vids (Step 2 and 3)
2- Doctor’s in training (DIT) ; very concise review from the book “step up”
3- Internal medicine board review (too detailed for this exam, but still fun.)
4- Comprehensive cases (Conrad Fischer’s the man!)
QUESTIONS;
1- First Aid Q&A (I did it chapter by chapter with Kaplan books 1st read.)
2- Kaplan Q book (Did it after finishing every section of Kaplan 1st read.)
3- Kaplan Q bank finished in 1 month, don’t remember score.
4- USMLEWorld, finished in 1 month, score 84% correct.
5- NBME 1.5 months before test; 253
6- UWorld assessment 2 weeks before test; > 265
GENERAL TIPS;
1-Take the USMLE very seriously and put it as your number 1 priority, if you won’t you won’t get good scores, and without good scores, you won’t get interviews.
2-Give yourself enough time to study and don’t rush yourself.
3-Constantly evaluate yourself OBJECTIVELY! Don’t think that because you studied a lot that you’ll automatically do well on the USMLE, it’s a different ballgame and coming out of med schools in Egypt, we’re unfamiliar and unprepared.
4-Ways to evaluate yourself;
1- While doing UWorld or Kaplan put yourself in the real test situation. Do 8 blocks + 1 hour break and at the end add up what you scored. My goal was more than 80% correct. And NO cheating!
2- NBMEs ; they are pretty expensive(50 dollars for 4 hours) but the scores they give you are very predictive of the score you will actually get in the test.
I recommend at least 1, 2 weeks to a month before the test to make sure you’re gonna get the score you want on the test, if you don’t, postpone the exam.
5-Timing; a lot of students have a hard time with this. You have to accept that 1 question should take 1 min. 10 sec. maximum, to finish the block in time. Now don’t go with a stopwatch timing yourself, but practice by doing a lot of questions and doing the online Qbanks always in Timed mode.
6-English; Take an English course, it will help you on the test, you will read faster and there won’t be that many words you’re not familiar with. It will also help on CS, interviews and during the rest of your life if you continue in the USA. Take it NOW !
7-About the debate whether to take step1 or step 2 first, it’s completely up to you.
I took step 1 first and felt that I scored high on step 2 because of that base (specially pathology, from goljan) that I had built from step 1.
STUDY TIPS;
1- I like to study from a lot of different sources, but as there isn’t much time to review everything before the test, I suggest adding the important things to whatever book you will use for revision. Also add the things you didn’t know from the Qbanks.
2- In my opinion, the best book for revision is Master the boards (MTB). The layout is great and it doesn’t let you get bored of reading + there’s enough space for you to add your own notes. The bad thing is that the Surgery, Peds, OBGYN sections are all deficient. What I did was get MTB 3 and studied those sections from there in addition to MTB 2. I felt it was complete after that rather simple solution.
3- Make notes of the things you have difficulty with (ex. Renal tubular acidosis, glycogen storage diseases, developmental milestones, and all those goddamn biostatistics equations) and have them ready, written nicely so you can revise them the day before the test. Maximum 10-15 pages, not more!
4- The week before the exam; your most important job is not to get stressed out and get enough sleep everyday. Exercise and find your relaxation technique and stick to it. Study but don’t overkill.
5- The day before the exam; I suggest finding a hotel in the city you’re taking the test in, unless you already live there obviously. Just go through the important notes you made, nothing else, and relax. I went swimming, to a café and to the movies the day before my test. Have a good night’s sleep and go to the test center early. Please don’t study on the way there, you would only stress yourself out more and you’re going to need your brain working at 100% for the next 9 hours, don’t tire it out before you’ve even begun.
All right, that’s all I can think of for now.
But there is one thing I would like from all of you;
Spread the knowledge, not only medical knowledge, but if you know anyone struggling in med school, tell them about the USMLE, give them hope, give them the USMLE materials (badal el araf el e7na zakerna menno) and help them form a plan for their future, specially if they want to work outside Egypt.
Hope this was useful.
And I’m not going to say good luck, because this test has nothing to due with luck,
Study hard and stay calm, and you’ll do good.
