[patelMD]

Hi Guys,

So I've started prepping and need to write Step 1 by May 2011, and don't have that much time left on my hands!

Materials:

1. Goljan RR Pathology
2. Kaplan (everything except Pathology)
3. FA
4. UW

My study plan:

Revise everything, read all subjects within 3 months (currently half way through Goljan RR in about 12 days thus far, will need another 7 to finish from front to back).

Month 1:
Finish Goljan RR & Kaplan Pharmacology (No audio & Video respectively)

Month 2:
Finish Anatomy & Behavioral Science (No Audio or Video)

Month 3:
Finish Physiology & Microbiology / Immuno & Biochemistry (No Audio or Video)

Months 4 to 6:

I want to utilize the resources that I haven't used during the first time around:

1. Videos
2. Audio
3. FA
4. UW

How can I do this optimally? Perhaps I need to skip some Videos? I'm willing to work 16 hours a day!

Only reason I am reviewing the material the first time around without the audio / video is I want to get comfortable with the material before I start zooming through it with FA & UW.

Please Help!

 

[evavar]

Why are you running so much?????, this process is not a race you have to take it easy and learn your stuff good. The plan is not bad, is basically what everyone else do.
Right now just passing the exam is not enough, you have to go for the best grade possible. Me myself I don't want just to passed I want a really good grade, hopefully a 99 with a good 3 digit score.
My advice is not rush yourself, enjoy the process (wich is hard)) and try to go for as high score as you can.
Honestly 16 h a day is very hard to do, but if you can go for it and good luck.
Wish you the best.:happy::happy::happy:

 

[patelMD]

Why are you running so much?????, this process is not a race you have to take it easy and learn your stuff good. The plan is not bad, is basically what everyone else do.
Right now just passing the exam is not enough, you have to go for the best grade possible. Me myself I don't want just to passed I want a really good grade, hopefully a 99 with a good 3 digit score.
My advice is not rush yourself, enjoy the process (wich is hard)) and try to go for as high score as you can.
Honestly 16 h a day is very hard to do, but if you can go for it and good luck.
Wish you the best.:happy::happy::happy:

Yes, like you I am aiming for a high score too, but my medical school wont give me more then 6 months to prep for the exam, so I have a deadline!

 

[evavar]

Well in that case go for it, study as hard as you can. Honestly I did kaplan videos and let me tell you that with the books is pretty much enough. What is not in kaplan is in FA and viceversa, you will also reinforce details with the qbanks.
Wish you the best of luck, you will do great.
Study those kaplan books good and master the FA.
FA FA FA FA FA FA FA that is very important.

 

[ashishkabir]

Evavar's right.. don't kill yourself. It is a lot of material with a lot of concepts to cover and if you are limited to time thats fine and you should try and maximise your use of time. Just make sure you actually are ready when you write the exam.

Remember, however, what you're trying to do. Reading over stuff again and again will not let you absorb concepts so make sure you leave adequate time in your schedule to ask for help when you need it.

Your plan is sound. You might want to look at the TAUS method. That has been recommended by many students. Also, maybe add an additional qbank and definitely time for NBME's so that you can gauge your progress.

http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-s...s-method-usmle-preparation-plan-schedule.html

I found this forum really helpful, hopefully you will to over the next few months! Good luck.

 

[patelMD]

I've heard about TAUS method before (from SDN), I like the plan, its very good, but Im a bit weary of it simply because it introduces questions at a very early step. I dont know if im ready to be 'disappointed', I feel like I would loose confidence simply because I don't know cant remember a detail based on a 1st reading.

His concept of reviewing everything in 3 months is very good, I would like to do the same, also the resources that I am using are different, anyway to offset the difference?

So I think I will do this now:

1. Finish the remaining Goljan RR (300 pages) without Audio and no questions (Month 1)
2. Watch Kaplan Lecture videos w/ Pharmacology & Do Practice Questions at the end of day (Month 1)
3. Watch Kaplan Lecture videos w/ All other subjects & Do Practice Questions at end of day. (Months 2-3)

Finish First run within 3 months.

Next 2 - 3 months, will do everything simultaneously w/ FA & do NBME or UW question bank.

Is it really imperative to do NBME or can I just stick to UW only?

 

[ashishkabir]

I've heard about TAUS method before (from SDN), I like the plan, its very good, but Im a bit weary of it simply because it introduces questions at a very early step. I dont know if im ready to be 'disappointed', I feel like I would loose confidence simply because I don't know cant remember a detail based on a 1st reading.

His concept of reviewing everything in 3 months is very good, I would like to do the same, also the resources that I am using are different, anyway to offset the difference?

So I think I will do this now:

1. Finish the remaining Goljan RR (300 pages) without Audio and no questions (Month 1)
2. Watch Kaplan Lecture videos w/ Pharmacology & Do Practice Questions at the end of day (Month 1)
3. Watch Kaplan Lecture videos w/ All other subjects & Do Practice Questions at end of day. (Months 2-3)

Finish First run within 3 months.

Next 2 - 3 months, will do everything simultaneously w/ FA & do NBME or UW question bank.

Is it really imperative to do NBME or can I just stick to UW only?

Well, I don't know if you should worry about feeling bad about not getting questions at the beginning It'll get you used to the system. I look at UW as really another textbook and not really an analysis of how much you know, but to each his own - if you'd rather do material first completely that might work for you.

Don't worry about the resources. Unless you don't understand what you're reading from Kaplan don't switch a resource that you've already chosen. It's far better to know something well than to get things from many different places.

That being said. You *have* to add NBMEs to your schedule. Without them you have NO reliable predictor of your actual performance. I'd like to suggest that you should do one at the end of your first read because it might give you a better idea of how realistically you're keeping up with your schedule.

 

[Thrax_usmle]

Exam on 18th march

I am takin step 1 on 18th march. I am done with 30% uworld questions, and m doing FA sidy by side with uworld. What do you suggest how i should proceed with rest of my preparation to be ready. And when should i take nbme and how am i supposed to kno if i am ready for nbme exams.
Any views, guidance, experience is much much appreciated.