[priyanka1]

I kind of got confused!
Few of my friends feel that we don't need to study so deeply for USMLE they say I am wasting time memorizing Kaplan each word by word!
They say there are only few topics that we need to do deeply otherwise just study superficial and fast.

But one of my friends say he feel that doing Kaplan with DVDs first and memorizing most is important then we could try question banks he feels that first its imp we spend time study and grasp Kaplan notes deeply then we can start my studies with question.

I am confused whom should I choose my study partner I know very stupidly question to ask one of my group of friend planning to finish studying in 2 to 3 month on other hand my another friend want to give at least 6 month for studies and another 1 or 2 month just practicing questions

What is the right choice to do?

 

[doctorF]

Dude... who is telling you to study superficially is a stupid!!! learn each and every word of Kaplan.. even it is not enough take my word... USMLE is damn difficult u need to work hard.... you must do Goljan, FA, and high yield as well!!!
Plus practice around 5000- 7000 questions is a must!!! otherwise u ll be screwed up on the exam day!!!
God forbid!!!

And practice questions along with study.... I m sure u r a doc... u already have done these things in ur med skool.... u r just sharpening urself in the way USMLE wants u.... so after completing your first read of Kaplan start doing questions... first kaplan qbank, then USMLEWorld, then if u feel u still lack do another qbank (3rd bank z just a choice), don't just do reading reading n reading for 6 months and then ques ques ques another 6 months, this will make u forget things, do both side by side, questions in the morning and studying in the evening and vice versa

 

[Dr. N Elham]

The strategy you mentioned will not work

As I already mentioned in my post, the exam is not easy, however do not waste your time by memorization kaplan word by word.. If you do this even for five years only for Step 1, you bet , you won't be able to memorize it.
Try to understand the meaning of each explanation for example, when you study the JG apparatus of kidney you have to understand the histology of kidney first. Once you are done with this then you will not face any problem in its physio and when you know physio you will enjoy studying its patho and pharmaco ... I'd like to mention an example of a question regarding this topic.
Q: A 66 year old man with known history of essential hypertension presents to your office. You prescribe him Lisinopril for continuous therapy. What changes do you expect in blood levels of Angiotensin I , Angiotensin II, and Renin?
Analyze this question!!!... I'm sure now you have to think that how, where and when are these three chemical substances produced and where do they work..
Could you answer this kind of questions by merely studying the Kaplan superficially or memorizing it? I'm sure No...
However, I would like to remind you that when you study Kaplan notes even with good understanding you will definitely realize that there are some topics that are not covered in these books.

The solution for this is that when you finish your lecture note, start studying its relevant UWorld questions. Many topics are covered by UW that kaplan doesn't cover. When you do UW, you will realize that " HEY I REALLY KNOW THE FACTS AND CAN HAVE A GOOD SCORE.... ". This is the reality.

 

[doctorF]

lolz!!! yeah that was what I meant to say that knowing all da facts of kaplan, of course no one can memorize word by word and I meant understanding everything it says.... not leaving a single fact.... and remember "WHY" is imp at USMLE, "WHAT" is less important (goljan's words) and also detailed here
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-articles/1173-its-not-what-its-why.html

 

[priyanka1]

thank u all for ur help

 

[Seetal]

may i also add

i think yr superficial friend is trying to either make u feel stupid (for studying so hard) or is just plain lazy which isnt gonna get him far in life.

work hard girl and when the results are out, there wont be anyone happier than u.

come on, we're all in this together. it is safe to say that all the students in this forum are working very hard as i speak.

 

[doctorF]

yes seetal is ryt.... there are guys who misguide you or they themselves r misguided..... you myt feel everyone in usmle z getting in 90s but itsnt da fact... pl get less marks as well and fail as well bt those guys just hide their results and dont come and tell.... high graders offcourse hav reason to boast!!! so dont take this easy.... it isn't

 

[Seetal]

yes seetal is ryt.... there are guys who misguide you or they themselves r misguided..... you myt feel everyone in usmle z getting in 90s but itsnt da fact... pl get less marks as well and fail as well bt those guys just hide their results and dont come and tell.... high graders offcourse hav reason to boast!!! so dont take this easy.... it isn't

let us be high graders as well and boast about our high scores too aye?

 

[doctorF]

YEP!!! high aspirations + hard work give high results... we'll put in both

 

[priyanka1]

thank u all

sometimes i feel i just ask so many stupid question but i will really say thank to u all as it really helps me and i hope others

 

[Seetal]

no question is a stupid question

no question is a stupid question priyanka. to move forward we have to ASK, ASK and ASK always.

 

[priyanka1]

good ppl have started replying to post more bcoz of Gunner Training Contest i was wondering how come so many reply coming lol

 

[Dr. N Elham]

Hi..doc F

I agree u ..
I'd like to quoute steptaker's one sentence that he posted to a new starter of USMLE journey...

USMLE is not easy, it's like crossing a mountian and not the ordinary montian, The Mount Everest.

You have to utilize all your potential on this and try the best way you can prepare for it..however pace of the preparation is also imortant and lengthy preparation makes one exhausted... one should be able to complete the step 1 preparation within 12-14 months if he/she is looking at nineties.

 

[Seetal]

good ppl have started replying to post more bcoz of gurnner contest i was wondering how come so many reply coming lol

actually priyanka, my huge replies started off not because of this contest. but last year when i registered as a member here there was this different contest for kaplan online subscription i think. and i was only a new user. so i missed it and i tot oh well, i have u guys and that'll do for me. so everytime i logged in and saw someone's reputation get higher, i'd be wondering how he/she got there and try my best to increase mine for no apparent reason. i started using this forum more than facebook. u can see how big a loser i am now. and coincidentally they have this contest now, so u can bet that several other ppl and myself are in a hurry to grab it!!

 

[silakan_isi]

Friends . .

Yes , and have a great partner is also the part to acing the test . . Not just for study but also for aspiring you . . When your down and feel pity . . And here in this forum you can find it , hehehehe cheers up guys . . .

You're not alone . . hehehehe