Thread: USMLE: PASSED - no review course! Hope this helps!

Well, as you may have seen, I passed STEP I on the first attempt. I didn't use a prep course. My prep course was really learning the information diligently while I was in school. BUT, I did put together a pretty rigorous schedule for 6 days/week, 6-8 hours/day. Here was my schedule:

Materials I used:
(and yes, I read all of it,
some more than once, some >3x)

First Aid for step I(FA)
-BRS path (BRSp)
-BRS phys (BRSph)
-Lippincott's pharm (LP)
-Langman's embryology (LE)
-Web PATH (don't got it? GET IT!)
-Dr. Van wormer's notes (pwrpoint)
-Anatomy made ridic. simple
-Netter anatomy
-Behav. science made simple.
-Kaplan path and phys. lectures in mp3 format. (MP3)
-med school amnesia document. (I will put this on the
home page for download)
-an empty comp book to bullet information that
I thought was important.
-many, many, practice questions computer format

every day - listened to lectures to and from my study place - usually 2/day (there were 60 total or so)

first 2 weeks:
FA - 2 hours, 10 pgs/hr
15 min. break
BRSp - 1hr
BRSph or LP (alternated days)- 1hr
lunch (30min-1/2 hr)
50 questions
Grade questions, even most of the correct ones
Web path (if I was up to it!)

at this rate, FA was done twice in 2 weeks and BRS were completed once each along with over 600 or so questions.

second 2 weeks:
Systemic preparation:
endocrinology, resp, cardiac, CNS, skin, genito-urinary, GI, special senses, musculoskeletal, reproduction, hematology

every day was one subject following this:
L. embryo,
Netter anatomy,
BRS phys,
Lippincotts pharm,
BRS path with cross reference to Van Wormer's slides.
Web path (corresponding system)
questions only for the system covered (and grading)

At this rate you are tired and kicking butt!

Last 2 weeks: Weeks 5 and 6
Microbiology (FA)-know back and forth!, Pharmacology (2 days)
Anatomy made simple, Behav. science made simple
(2 days)
at this rate - anatomy was complete, and Behav. sci. is done!
FA and web path
FA and web path
and all the rest FA with a last day review of med students amnesia!!!!!!

There you go. The test was ok. some more difficult than others. BUT BY TEST DAY, you have done 1800 or so questions and are as ready as you can be. It will feel like the USMLE is another practice test, assuming you do enough work. Nonethelss, it still is quite challenging, and definetely the biggest hurdle in your career to date.

For some people, the test was crazy-hard. Not because they weren't prepared, but because the USMLE'ers wrote one hell of an exam...

I hope this helps. REMEMBER, this is just my schedule, and it worked for me! I do only recommend a self-study for those who KNOW they have the discipline and trust in themselves to sit for 6-8 hours/day including saturdays. BTW, I did go out while I was studying, and had a pint or 3. It is what you do when you are not studying that sometimes makes all the difference (not necessarily drinking pints though!!!!)

Cheers


Warmest Regards and Respect,
Michael

Check more out at:
www.network54.com/hide/forum/101862

Congrats, Michael,

Now the hardest part is over. G

Way to go Michael!

I just saw your post on your own forum yesterday, and was gonna drop you a line. Way to go, man, I am proud to know you. Someday, I'll be in your shoes, too.... I hope!

So what's next, man? Where you goin for clinicals? Are you ready to strangle Phil Green yet? I hear alotta folks down here aren't too happy with him, and the clinical fair last week was a joke, but that's life, eh?

Good luck, and keep us up to date! Time to go read some more Physio.... you know how Blevins likes his big words.

Later!

Thanks for the nice thoughts.

I am here in Kingston Hospital in England and thus far the experience has been pretty good. Just finished 3 weeks of cardiology and starting GI tomorrow. Lots to learn. It is a very self driven part of our learning experience. If you want to come - come. If you want to leave - leave. I don't see what good that will do you though?

Nevertheless, for the oneswho are wondering...This was my choice to come here. We have 19 students here throughout 5 hospitals, about 1/2 of those were from my class; There were about 105 in my class.

So, that is all I have to say about that. Actually, I just don't feel like typing right now. I will talk with you all soon.

Great job with this forum.........so you're the reason my forum is alil slow!!!!!!!! haha Cheers!

Respectuflly,
Michael

mrlpro, could you give me a hint on how well you did? For example, did you barely pass? Were you 95+?

I am curious how effective your method was for you.


dt.

Wasn't the storngest I have seen - 80%

Go figure, I thought I did better than that! But I'm not complaining - It is now behind me - far behind me!

Cheers
MRL

Thanks mlrpro.

80 is a very respectable score. You beat the average for US students. Keep up the good work. You have the right atitude regarding clinicals too. There are so many people who slack off and don't go. You can still pass step 2, but you miss out on so much clinical experience that way. You can't learn medicine by reading it. It's hands on. Way to go. You'll be paying off your loans before you know it! G

Enjoy your clinicals, and thanks for the motivation!

ALoha,

Originally Posted by mrlpro

Great job with this forum.........so you're the reason my forum is alil slow!!!!!!!! haha Cheers!

Hey Michael, CONGRATS!!!!! I checked back quite a few times on your board to see if the status was updated from the blurb about your test prep and that pic of your desk area(I see you were ICQing!!! haha)

Congrats again, I learned quite a great deal from your webpage before deciding to attend AUC this sept.