I am very sad

[Seetal]

some have been waiting for my score. i screwed up the exam real bad. crying before the exam n feeling nervous did not help. at least usmleguy managed a 99 still. i had 62% for UWSA2, 60% kaplan, 83 NBME7 n here's the deal breaker:

a 75/188 for my step 1.

this is y it took me a while to post it up. my reaction to it was... even harder to explain. i feel like i wasted my entire preparation for the exam. i must've screwed up the real exam real badly. i was not prepared for an 8hr struggle at all. i did my first NBME 1 2 months before the exam n postponed my exam by one month because i had a 78 (n i tot that was real bad). a 78 is MUCH better than a 75. but my parents are supportive of me. they said that i can do it again if i feel like it. so i guess i will. looks like my step 1 journey hasnt ended. i feel overwhelmed when i think of how much i need to study again. but if i dont do this, its like ive wasted gettting a 62% on my UWSA n even an 83 on my NBME 7. and yes, my weakest point was physiology for the exam.

so i guess i felt right after the exam. the paper was indeed difficult for me. for the first time, i passed but feel like i failed my efforts BIG TIME.

im sorry if ive disappointed so many of u. i hope no one gets discouraged because of me. it doesnt mean a 62% UWSA isnt enough to be able to sit for the exam, but i had done something real bad (perhaps i wasnt in the rigth state of mind) during my exam to be responsible for it myself.

please be sure that ur 62% UWSA means u will be getting a 90. it just didnt work for me.

thanks for all the encouragement you all have given me after i felt i failed the exam.

[noone_123i]

Hi, Seetal...it will be okay, hang in there. I have heard about a lot of people that have gotten residencies with the scores similar to yours...I am not saying it will be an easy task, but it is definitely doable one!

But as far as it goes for you retaking the exam...I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THIS (so, can someone confirm this)...but I thought that you are not allowed to retake the exam once you PASS (and a 75 is a passing score!). Can someone please let Seetal, me and the rest of us know what the exact ruling is about retaking the exam. Once again Seetal don't be disappointed you gave it your hardest try and will succeed in getting residency...hang in there!

[Seetal]

Originally Posted by noone_123i

Hi, Seetal...it will be okay, hang in there. I have heard about a lot of people that have gotten residencies with the scores similar to yours...I am not saying it will be an easy task, but it is definitely doable one!

But as far as it goes for you retaking the exam...I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THIS (so, can someone confirm this)...but I thought that you are not allowed to retake the exam once you PASS (and a 75 is a passing score!). Can someone please let Seetal, me and the rest of us know what the exact ruling is about retaking the exam. Once again Seetal don't be disappointed you gave it your hardest try and will succeed in getting residency...hang in there!

no pls no... i hope u're wrong. nothing else can make me feel better now. this is real bad. come on. i got a 62% for UWSA. my NBME 7 was an 83 for crying out loud. it is my money, so i should be able to take it as many times i want right???

[Seetal]

Originally Posted by fin-84

Yes. They don't allow you to re-do the exam once you have passed. But they also don't like if you haven't passed for the first try. So while your points may not be as good as you hoped - you managed to pass the first try and that will be counted.

Still there is lot you can do. Research in US is highly valued and if you get to know program director you multiply your chances to get residency. My coursemate's friend had residency (I don't know how much he scored) because every member of interviewing board could decide one resident.

So cheer up and keep little break and then focus on step 2.

oh no..... oh no... my whole life i will have to live with a 75? from a 62% UWSA n 83 NBME 7?? can u understand even remotely how i feel? can u? what would u do in my shoes?

[ashishkabir]

Originally Posted by Seetal

oh no..... oh no... my whole life i will have to live with a 75? from a 62% UWSA n 83 NBME 7?? can u understand even remotely how i feel? can u? what would u do in my shoes?

I PMed you Seetal. Don't worry.

[mpz013]

i sent you a message

[evavar]

Originally Posted by mpz013

i sent you a message

If you pass there's no more chances, once you pass you can't take it again, that's what I've heard before. Please call the ECFMG center and check it out by yourself. And confirm

[noone_123i]

I am sorry Seetal that I had to break the news to you...but like I said I was just telling you what I heard (and seems like that most of other people heard that samething)...but to confirm please call ECFMG and they will inform you what is the truth! Like everyone else is saying and as I have said before...be glad that you PASSED...it is better to pass on 1st try then to fail and then take it 2nd time! Good luck and please don't be sad, keep your hope and dreams alive. I know you are in a tough position, but once again I say hang in there!

[whocares13]

Always look at the good side. You are atleast pass. There are people struggling to get through this exam. Now if you are thinking for residency, then let me make you clear that there are people who have got residency with just pass marks and there are people who have not instead scoring in 90's. It all depends upon your luck also.

Exams are not meant to judge people. It is different thing people judge themselves by exam.

I would say just relax, prepare for next step and leave other things for GOD to decide about your future.

[Haisook]

I'm sorry to hear that Seetal -- You seemed like you would do better than this, but... c'est la vie. It must have been anxiety as I read your exam experience and you seemed to had been very anxious. You can't take the exam again once you pass, so the good thing to do now is throw this behind your back, and look forward to Step 2.

Best of luck.

[Peewee]

Dude, In this moment it may seem like a bad thing, but you passed. Lots of people haven't done that and will drop out. You made it, you're 1 step closer to being a doctor.

Put it into prespective, how many doctors 3 years into residency really care about the steps? not one!

So you got a 75-pass, ok, now you want to improve, go get a 99 on step 2.

Steps don't define you as a doctor, you define yourself. So, you have to ask yourself- Do I want to be known as the guy who got a 99 on step 1? or do I want my patients to come out of the office saying "wow, I love this doctor". To me the answer is simple- I'll take the 75 on my step 1 and be known as a kick ass doctor to my patients!

[Pixie]

seetal dear, please do try to get a hold on ur self.u might regard this 75 as a failure or u might just take this as a big lesson.
no body's life is without hardships and such challenges.have heart and be kind on your self.forget step 1 and move onto step 2 or if possible do some us clinical experience before giving step 2 ck and cs.this will give u hope and take u away from books for some time.and step 1 is just a TEST!!!
i know u must be thinking that it is so easy for me to stand over here and give u advice because it hasn't happened to me but believe me i have also been through my share of terrible times and now when i look back i seem to have become stronger and wiser.so,have faith in your own talent and intelligence.

[fin-84]

Originally Posted by Seetal

oh no..... oh no... my whole life i will have to live with a 75? from a 62% UWSA n 83 NBME 7?? can u understand even remotely how i feel? can u? what would u do in my shoes?

It is always very sad when things like this happen. But, still there are people who don't pass with the first attempt. Some programs say categorically that steps must be passed at first attempt. You have still exams left. Give little time for you to settle and then have double effort to those. And try to get research experience in US. That won't harm either.

Average scores you see are just avarage. And one friend said that if you get to interviews they want to know if they like you. He went to interview with forgetting every dresscodes there are in USA - and still get the residency.

So definetly you have chance... there are lots of things you can compensate.

[Seetal]

im feeling much better today. thanks for the personal PMs too. after hearing stories from other forum members, im now just glad i passed the exam with my 1st attempt. failing it would've crushed my spirits no doubt. only i still feel like i terribly wasted my efforts of trying to reach that 60% mark on UW and kaplan. its just that ive always been that person that judged myself based on the marks i get. it is wrong i know. marks dont prove im incompetent. its better if i choose to be a good doctor like peewee.

when i was contemplating to put my results up this forum, my sister tried telling me not to (coz she tot i might feel worse when others know). BUt i knew that if i wanted any help in feeling better, u guys just needed to know my marks so u can help me in understanding my situation better. so im glad i did. and OMG, the amount of times i re-checked my name to see if the marks were actually mine, u wont believe. anyways, it is what it is.

ill take a longer time for step 2ck. ill finish FA (even when others say its not necessary) kaplan, n do plenty of questions till im definitely calm. n im NOT doing my exam in Indonesia ever again (where the i had to shush the invigilators twice during my exam--> who still did not completely shut up).

but yeah, this is a lesson to learn. i hope others take home this lesson too. dont be nervous during the exam. n i also feel i should say this, i was NOT ready for an 8 hr exam. my UWSA n Kaplan, i did 2 hrs, had lunch, watched a movie, then continued 2 hrs. so when u are relaxed, u can score better. hence, for other exam takers, pls dont do what i did. sit for ur mock exams 4 hrs in a row (with a max of 5 mins break in between each block). u can guarantee ill be doing just that for my step 2ck (which is LONGER).

good luck to other exam takers. and since i dont feel stupid at all with my 75 , i will still be posting replies to questions n discussions in this step 1 forum every now n then.

[Pixie]

Originally Posted by Seetal

im feeling much better today. .... i will still be posting replies to questions n discussions in this step 1 forum every now n then.

THREE CHEERS FOR SEETAL!!! ONE OF OUR OWN... HIP HIP HOORAY...

[harlesmd]

Dear Seetal,
I'm truly sorry to hear that, but as others have said : this is not the end of your career. I believe there many technical factors that have caused you to end with this result. Well, I havent taken the test yet, so I have no idea how you felt at that time. Maybe I'm not the right person to say this but I think this is time for you to focus on the next exam and other factors that will increase ur competitiveness for getting residency (doing research and have a good publication OR taking electives in US, etc etc).

Anyway, dont forget that u still deserve a break, hey...you passed the exam !!!! Congrats yah...

[tunde michael]

Originally Posted by Seetal

im feeling much better today.... i will still be posting replies to questions n discussions in this step 1 forum every now n then.

Seetal,
Glad u are movin on... thats the spirit, challenges may come, but overcoming them gives us strength to even surmount greater hurdles.
take a break, strategize for the next step and u will succeed.

[ashishkabir]

Originally Posted by faith

THREE CHEERS FOR SEETAL!!! ONE OF OUR OWN... HIP HIP HOORAY...

Hip Hip Hooray! Thats the spirit.

[appu]

WAY TO GO GIRL!
the first thing is to realize that these exams test our ability to remember, and recall, and to a certain extent apply the materials which they have provided in a short span of time. in other words, THEY NEVER EVALUATE HOW GOOD WE FUNCTION AS DOCTORS, which is a complete different ball game. so gear up Seetal, this exam is just one step closer towards proving to the world what a wonderful doc u would be. get it over with.. so when u look back probably ten years down the lane, ul realise that probably everything happened for a reason..
all the best for ur step2ck preparation. attack em with vengence

"I walked a mile with pleasure,
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser,
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with sorrow,
And ne'er a word said she;
But oh! the things i learnt from her,
When sorrow walked with me."

[heights]

Originally Posted by Seetal

im feeling much better today..... i will still be posting replies to questions n discussions in this step 1 forum every now n then.

Congratulations Seetal! Glad you're feeling better today, you are very strong and you are a great inspiration. Take some time to relax, then on to the next step

[silakan_isi]

As we know before . . You'd still our best sister and inspirator that keep us for the track in USMLE. Thanks Seet, and please don't give up. Because we all know that seetal is a superhero. hehehe, Everybody believe that you gonna reach your dream as soon as possible. Here your family in Malang, sent best regard and cheers up just for you. Heheheh Good luck, and keep Smile.

Thank you seet for all those time, heheheh You're the best.

[tootsie]

Seetal, I hope that today (Saturday) you feel even better than yesterday and the day before. Forget about that experience (even if it were a good one) because it's a bitter bitter taste, one that us as student doctors dread to take. Instead, put in all your forces into the ck now, this is your 2nd step, you already passed your first.

We all meet people with 4.0 GPA in school that are excellent students, excellent professionals, and for one reason or another they failed on their 1st try. It's a hard, very hard exam where not only your abilities to remember our tested, but we are tested on our intellect, knowledge, resistance, perseverance, etc. etc., and on top of that our nerves feel like taking a bite in that as well.

Raise your chin and remember, God never gives us more than we can bear.

[Seetal]

i hope i havent forgotten to thank anyone.

im so glad im a member of this forum. being the only one done this exam in my uni, i dont feel lost or alone at all with all of u around.

thank u, u guys! and i hope u all do well in ur step 1!!