[DRFP]

Yes the Step one is getting harder.
Passing score raised (see related news)
Questions are all longer now (read related news)
The material is updated every 3 months

Yes its getting harder, the NBME has its aim to make it difficult for non US medical Grads.
The structure of questions are geared towards US students and they way they are taught and tested. That is why over 85% of them pass the first time and over 40% of FMG's fail. I truly think the NBME would like to see at least 50% of FMG's fail.

This should not scare you but should be a wake up call.

Its only a test. But too many people do not properly prepare and take very very bad advice.

The key

Latest FA
Latest Kaplan material
Latest Kaplan course or Videos
Q banks for months
NBME practice exams
Months of prep

the review material to read and reread
Questions for exercise of the thought processes used on the tests

you cannot download questions and expect the same experience, you must do the online Questions through a service. Don't have the money then forget the whole thing, you are gambling with passing or getting a decent score.

I'm doing an online Qbank for step two and I have to say it helps tremendously

GL

 

[tootsie]

Won't they need more MD's eventually??

With the new health reform kicking in on 2014, will they not need extra helping hands?? This really confuses me.

 

[DRFP]

To be a Doctor in the USA

With the new health reform kicking in on 2014, will they not need extra helping hands?? This really confuses me.

To be a Doctor in the USA is to join a club.
When you go to medical school outside the US you have already bypassed some of the Hazing that is premed and the MCAT. You then must pass the same test as the US students. This test used to be about medicine but is evolving into a test that is geared more to US style of medicine and less of what is practiced around the world.

Its a test of theory and rare conditions more than everyday medicine.

A test that questions have 2 right answers, one is "More right" then the other, and at times its argumentative.

A test of not enough information and you must assume the right answer at times. Yes even though in real life you want tests and evidence for treatments on the USMLE you can have very little information, so little the at the answer is completely luck and a guess.

A test that after you pass it the Attendings tell you, Now we will teach you medicine.

We need more Doctors in the US? Sure, the US medical schools are increasing by 30% in enrollment but how many are retiring or leaving the profession?

Its a strange place the US. After 46 years being a US born native I still do not understand why its so messed up.

 

[Peewee]

To be a Doctor in the USA is to join a club.
When you go to medical school outside the US you have already bypassed some of the Hazing that is premed and the MCAT. You then must pass the same test as the US students. This test used to be about medicine but is evolving into a test that is geared more to US style of medicine and less of what is practiced around the world.

Its a test of theory and rare conditions more than everyday medicine.

A test that questions have 2 right answers, one is "More right" then the other, and at times its argumentative.

A test of not enough information and you must assume the right answer at times. Yes even though in real life you want tests and evidence for treatments on the USMLE you can have very little information, so little the at the answer is completely luck and a guess.

A test that after you pass it the Attendings tell you, Now we will teach you medicine.

We need more Doctors in the US? Sure, the US medical schools are increasing by 30% in enrollment but how many are retiring or leaving the profession?

Its a strange place the US. After 46 years being a US born native I still do not understand why its so messed up.

I could not agree more. The reason why you get a high USA pass rate is that the USA school teach toward the exam.

The powers that be in the USA see foreign med students as bypassing the system, taking a short cut and they want to make you pay. You gotta play their game in order to get into the club, so that make you pay your "dues" one way or another.

FIGHT THE SYSTEM!