1/ Many folks have messaged me asking for guidance regarding #USMLE, so I figured I might create a thread on how I was able to take all exams (except step3) while still in #medicalschool.
The following 🧵 is what I found useful for me, obviously doesn't apply to everyone.
👇
The following 🧵 is what I found useful for me, obviously doesn't apply to everyone.
👇
2/ Disclaimer, I was an average #medicalstudent, no genius or prodigy.
I put in the extra effort and it paid dividends.
I graduated in Nov 2012, as an #IMG and matched into surgery in Mar 2013. If I can do it, so can you, just remember no shortcuts in life.
I put in the extra effort and it paid dividends.
I graduated in Nov 2012, as an #IMG and matched into surgery in Mar 2013. If I can do it, so can you, just remember no shortcuts in life.
3/ The first time I heard of #USMLE was in Dec 2010, when my buddy was studying for it.
It was around that time I looked into studying for this "international exam" as I would falsely assume.
Once I did some digging, I realized, everyone has to take it to practice in the US.
It was around that time I looked into studying for this "international exam" as I would falsely assume.
Once I did some digging, I realized, everyone has to take it to practice in the US.
4/ Once I understood that #USMLE is also taken by AMGs, for me the playing field was leveled (false assumption on my part at that time).
I had made up my mind that I was going to emulate AMGs and take all steps before graduation.
I picked my exam date in January 2011.
I had made up my mind that I was going to emulate AMGs and take all steps before graduation.
I picked my exam date in January 2011.
5/ This date was not to be changed, it was sort of a deadline for me and thus I began my journey with the #USMLE in January 2011.
My overall timeline was as follows:
Step1 Aug 2011
Step2 CK Mar 2012
Step2 CS (not done anymore) May 2012
Step 3 June 2013, before residency.
My overall timeline was as follows:
Step1 Aug 2011
Step2 CK Mar 2012
Step2 CS (not done anymore) May 2012
Step 3 June 2013, before residency.
6/ In about ~7 months each, I was able to study for #step1 and #step2CK while still in #medicalschool and did better than people that spend years studying for #USMLE.
My strategy was to focus on limited amount of resources and do them well.
That really worked for me.
My strategy was to focus on limited amount of resources and do them well.
That really worked for me.
7/ For #Step1 & #Step2: Kaplan books, First Aid, UWorld and Goljan lectures.
Those were my resources, I was able to go over each MULTIPLE times, so that by the end I was so familiar with them.
I annotated EVERYTHING I found important into FA, reviewing became easier at the end.
Those were my resources, I was able to go over each MULTIPLE times, so that by the end I was so familiar with them.
I annotated EVERYTHING I found important into FA, reviewing became easier at the end.
8/ This is where I was different from others, because I get raised eyebrows everytime I mention it.
My preparation "STARTED" in Jan 2011 with UW self assessment.
That exam showed me my weak areas and my strengths.
I worked harder on my weak areas right from the beginning.
My preparation "STARTED" in Jan 2011 with UW self assessment.
That exam showed me my weak areas and my strengths.
I worked harder on my weak areas right from the beginning.
9/ I also utilized multiple modality to learn, as I just couldn't stare at a book page and waste time.
Books, Online lectures, Flash cards and Questions.
This was also the order of which I spent more time on as I got nearer the exam, eg doing more and more Qs and less books.
Books, Online lectures, Flash cards and Questions.
This was also the order of which I spent more time on as I got nearer the exam, eg doing more and more Qs and less books.
10/ I did a LOT of questions & I got a LOT of them wrong, it didn't matter.
My goal was to learn from these questions & not test myself.
The more mistakes I made BEFORE the exam, the more I realized how to not answer ON the exam.
I failed so many blocks on UW, but kept learning.
My goal was to learn from these questions & not test myself.
The more mistakes I made BEFORE the exam, the more I realized how to not answer ON the exam.
I failed so many blocks on UW, but kept learning.
11/ I was still a MS4 & had to attend didactics, clinics, OR etc.
So I had to utilize my time efficiently & that's where the flash cards & Goljan lectures came in handy.
Any downtime I had, I was either going through my card or listening to Goljan.
Covered so much like this.
So I had to utilize my time efficiently & that's where the flash cards & Goljan lectures came in handy.
Any downtime I had, I was either going through my card or listening to Goljan.
Covered so much like this.
12/ I did #medicalschool in #karachi & traffic was (probably still is) horrible. My traffic miseries we're made easier by Goljan lectures.
Was able to continue to learn and ended up listening to those lectures around 3x.
By the end, I knew what joke Dr.Goljan cracks and when...
Was able to continue to learn and ended up listening to those lectures around 3x.
By the end, I knew what joke Dr.Goljan cracks and when...
13/ As I got nearer the exam, I really got to doing questions at least 100-150 daily (going over questions that I marked or mistakes).
I always did timed, random, new questions on UW.
It was as if I was taking the actual exam over & over again.
This increased my mental stamina.
I always did timed, random, new questions on UW.
It was as if I was taking the actual exam over & over again.
This increased my mental stamina.
14/ The more questions I did, the more I realized a pattern.
Every block had easy, 1-2 step thought process, and difficult/outright ridiculous questions.
My exam strategy was clear to me:
Easy Qs ✅
Difficult/outright ridiculous Qs 🤦🏽♂️
1-2 step thought process Q 🎯.
Every block had easy, 1-2 step thought process, and difficult/outright ridiculous questions.
My exam strategy was clear to me:
Easy Qs ✅
Difficult/outright ridiculous Qs 🤦🏽♂️
1-2 step thought process Q 🎯.
15/ When I reviewed my blocks:
I was getting easy Qs correct.
Difficult Qs wrong.
All over the place with 1-2 step thought process Qs, that I should've gotten correct. These were the mistakes I learned from and they decreased as time went on.
I was learning HOW to answer Qs.
I was getting easy Qs correct.
Difficult Qs wrong.
All over the place with 1-2 step thought process Qs, that I should've gotten correct. These were the mistakes I learned from and they decreased as time went on.
I was learning HOW to answer Qs.
16/If I encountered a difficult Q, I spent LESS time on it.
I simple chose an answer to the best of my abilities, marked the Q and MOVED ON.
This allowed me to finish ALL blocks on time, let me review all Qs and sometimes able to come to a correct answer on the difficult Qs.
I simple chose an answer to the best of my abilities, marked the Q and MOVED ON.
This allowed me to finish ALL blocks on time, let me review all Qs and sometimes able to come to a correct answer on the difficult Qs.
17/ Your goal should be to spend more time on a question you can get right, less time on a question you will probably get wrong (#USMLE has experimental questions that hold no value).
Work on getting easy & 1-2 step thought process Qs correct...those mistakes hurt the most!
Work on getting easy & 1-2 step thought process Qs correct...those mistakes hurt the most!
18/ Probably more pertinent to Step2.
When you see a long clinical vignette, STOP!
Scroll down & read the actual question/ answer choices. This will give you an idea as to what to look for in the long vignette. Sometimes the vignette is irrelevant to the actual Q being asked. 🤷🏽♂️
When you see a long clinical vignette, STOP!
Scroll down & read the actual question/ answer choices. This will give you an idea as to what to look for in the long vignette. Sometimes the vignette is irrelevant to the actual Q being asked. 🤷🏽♂️
19/ In the last month of your preparation, focus on high yield stuff in your FA notes, no need to read textbooks.
Last week is going over wrong UW questions, reading up on recent medical issues like COVID-19.
Last day is for memory dump stuff like Krebs cycle 🤢
SLEEP EARLY!!!
Last week is going over wrong UW questions, reading up on recent medical issues like COVID-19.
Last day is for memory dump stuff like Krebs cycle 🤢
SLEEP EARLY!!!
20/ Step1,2 & 3 overlap in content. It is in your interest to take these exams as close as possible so that you don't have to re-learn the content (sometimes which so useless)
At the end just remember:
"Days are long, years are short"
You will too look back & smile one day! 😊
At the end just remember:
"Days are long, years are short"
You will too look back & smile one day! 😊
21/ Hope this 🧵 helped you get an idea of how I did things.
You know yourself best, so figure out what you need to do early and go for it.
Hard work = worth it
I will be sharing my #ERAS #MatchDay experience in another 🧵 soon, so you can learn from some of my mistakes.
CIAO
You know yourself best, so figure out what you need to do early and go for it.
Hard work = worth it
I will be sharing my #ERAS #MatchDay experience in another 🧵 soon, so you can learn from some of my mistakes.
CIAO
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