clockwork orange torture aka kaplan video prep

[Boulderunner]

So us fifth semester students have completed our coursework and are now in the last phase of our time on saba; the kaplan video prep course. This semester the schedule has been change and now we have the entire course condensed into 5 weeks (although this week is a bit of a write off since we have clinical med finals this weekend). We are watching the videos from 8-4 on 1.4 speed and covering vast amounts of material in such speed that i dont really have enough time to write notes or absorb it. And when we're done im so tired i feel like i cant get much done at home. So now Im torn between trying to just watch all the videos and get bits and pieces, and trying to just study two or three of the big topics (like pharm, physio, and biochem) really well here and then continue on when i get back home. So im curious if any students looking back have any insight into how they would approach this, and how best to take advantage of this month in prepping for the step.

[rdecastro]

Do they still require 'passing' the Kaplan evaluation?

Sounds like a great plan to make certain a number of students will remain to take the course next semester.

[golfman]

Do they still require 'passing' the Kaplan evaluation?

Sounds like a great plan to make certain a number of students will remain to take the course next semester.

We do not take the Kaplan exam at the end anymore. Starting this semester, we will be taking the NBME as an exit exam. I disagree with you on your assumption that it is to keep students on the island. To be honest, if I can't achieve a pass rate on that exam then I have no business moving on and throwing darts at the USMLE. Although it seems harsh, it is a standard exam that isn't written for the specific purpose of failing a student as you imply. It is administered as a very accurate tool to show the student where they are in their level of understanding the course material. I know many students who have just written the USMLE and their NBME exam score was within 5 pts of their actual score.

[rdecastro]

We do not take the Kaplan exam at the end anymore. Starting this semester, we will be taking the NBME as an exit exam. I disagree with you on your assumption that it is to keep students on the island. To be honest, if I can't achieve a pass rate on that exam then I have no business moving on and throwing darts at the USMLE. Although it seems harsh, it is a standard exam that isn't written for the specific purpose of failing a student as you imply. It is administered as a very accurate tool to show the student where they are in their level of understanding the course material. I know many students who have just written the USMLE and their NBME exam score was within 5 pts of their actual score.

Well, my point was that watching videos at 1.4x speed for 8 hours a day isn't exactly the optimal way to learn anything - and the only reason for requiring that would be to deliberately fail people: Completion of a prep course is NOT a requirement for licensure by any regulating body. So, why do [rep courses? To help students pass legitimate licensure exams.

But, I'm glad that Saba isn't requiring passing the kaplan exam any more. As you say, your education should be enough without any such course to pass. Good luck to all there.

[Tellingitlikeitis]

my question is why the heck is redecastro still posting advice, especially since he got kicked out before ever making it to 5th semster. my god, just let the saba dream go

[golfman]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but didn't you also leave Saba?

my question is why the heck is redecastro still posting advice, especially since he got kicked out before ever making it to 5th semster. my god, just let the saba dream go

[sr12]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but didn't you also leave Saba?

Why did they leave Saba?

[icesage]

I do not know why rdecastro (http://www.valuemd.com/members/rdecastro.html) left, I talked to him a few times about upper semester courses and he was pretty chill and gave decent advice. I got no problem with him. But Tellingitlikeitis (http://www.valuemd.com/members/tellingitlikeitis.html) is a straight up SABA hater, I have been watching his posts over the past few weeks. It is one thing pointing out certain faults with SABA but he is malicious and just blindly goes after SABA. Well, Tellingitlikeitis (http://www.valuemd.com/members/tellingitlikeitis.html), I'm gonna tell you like it is...we don't want you posting your unsubstantiated garbage about SABA here. You don't know anything, you do not go here anymore and considering your attitude, I can see why SABA kicked your rear end out. Good luck, whereever the hell you are, you worthless you know what.

[Experienced]

I do not know why rdecastro (http://www.valuemd.com/members/rdecastro.html) left, I talked to him a few times about upper semester courses and he was pretty chill and gave decent advice. I got no problem with him. But Tellingitlikeitis (http://www.valuemd.com/members/tellingitlikeitis.html) is a straight up SABA hater, I have been watching his posts over the past few weeks. It is one thing pointing out certain faults with SABA but he is malicious and just blindly goes after SABA. Well, Tellingitlikeitis (http://www.valuemd.com/members/tellingitlikeitis.html), I'm gonna tell you like it is...we don't want you posting your unsubstantiated garbage about SABA here. You don't know anything, you do not go here anymore and considering your attitude, I can see why SABA kicked your rear end out. Good luck, whereever the hell you are, you worthless you know what.

Ahh, Icesage, you must have also got one of his choice obscene PMs. What do you think... Axis II?

E.
-

[aspiringmedstudent]

I finished last semester - and the bulk of my studying was in 3 weeks.

I am glad that they have changed the policy to take an NBME! Very fair.

I would concentrate on Path, Pharm, Physio, Biochem, Micro, and Neuro. (My personal order of importance for the exam.. but as you know, each is different!) I think you can get through these videos in 3-4 weeks. Don't take my word for it - I could be off target here.... You can add up the hours to see!

But just to give you an idea, I did the Path, Pharm, Biochem, and Biostats videos in 13 days. (These are the only videos I watched on my own... I did watch the Physio ones during class, so I am not sure how many days that would take.)

If you think you won't have time to get through everything, watch videos for 3-4 of your weakest subjects. Review the books for your better subjects.

Set aside a couple to a few days to go over high yield Behavioral and Anatomy. It really doesn't make up a huge portion of the tests (generally), so I think it's better to put your attention at more high yield subjects. Things not to neglect though, are: Biostats, defense mechanisms, ethics, peripheral neuropathies and neuroanatomy.

I've done NBME Forms 1, 2, 3, and 4 - and they are decent compared to the other forms of questions and tests I have come across. (ie: USMLE World) (And this is coming from someone who wasn't #1 in the class) The real exam is a different story though ;-) At least my particular exam was.....

Anyway. Good luck. Just get through as much as you can. Do as many questions as you can to practice! There are NBME forms floating around the internet (if you know what I mean ;-) So just check out the questions and you'll understand where I'm coming from.

[icesage]

Ahh, Icesage, you must have also got one of his choice obscene PMs. What do you think... Axis II?

E.
-
No, Experienced, I wish I had gotten one of his choice obscene PMs. Tellingitlikeitis (http://www.valuemd.com/members/tellingitlikeitis.html) is very obviously a loser and a sore one at that. I am glad SABA excised that cancer from its student body.
Axis II :)

I.

[JLea]

What does "Axis II" mean? I didn't learn anything in Psych!

Telling... I just personally spoke with rdecastro, who is my roommate, and he said to tell you hi!

Unfortunately, he can't get any more of your obscenity-laden PM's because he chose to ignore you... maybe we all should.

[JLea]

my question is why the heck is redecastro still posting advice, especially since he got kicked out before ever making it to 5th semster. my god, just let the saba dream go

My question is, "why can't Tellingitlikeitis use a shift key?" :confused:

[JLea]

Actually, I do remember something from Psych...

Tellingitlikeitis, your problem is entirely supratentorial.

[rdecastro]

My question is, "why can't Tellingitlikeitis use a shift key?" :confused:

Neurosyphilis is a terrible disease process.

[cattyjane]

does school provide the complete kaplan dvd set to students for studying at own time? The pace for watching the video seems rather fast. If one cannot grasp all the material, then it's better to review the video at a later time. Especially thinking that we have paid $8K for a semester, shouldn't we get a dvd set of $600?

[rdecastro]

does school provide the complete kaplan dvd set to students for studying at own time? The pace for watching the video seems rather fast. If one cannot grasp all the material, then it's better to review the video at a later time. Especially thinking that we have paid $8K for a semester, shouldn't we get a dvd set of $600?

You can't have a set and you can't make your own (copyright laws).

however, just about every med student has a copy.

[KingMo]

does school provide the complete kaplan dvd set to students for studying at own time? The pace for watching the video seems rather fast. If one cannot grasp all the material, then it's better to review the video at a later time. Especially thinking that we have paid $8K for a semester, shouldn't we get a dvd set of $600?

Even if you purchasd the video course from Kaplan directly, even they don't give you the DVDs. You have to go to their Kaplan Center and watch them...in fact, you can't leave with them or even check them out. Although maybe they now have a feature where you can stream them from Kaplan's website portal.

[darkmansaad]

The old system of kaplan before this semester I liked more aka 2 hours of kaplan everyday to sort of get some material in your head then switch to 8 hours for the last 4-5 weeks. Going from 0 to 8 hours must be the worst form of torture on earth esp with the stories that idiot physio guy tells.....at least with 2 hours you build up some sort of stamina plus under the old system if you saved up enough absences for the last 4 weeks you could just watch the videos in the library at your own pace and not show up to kaplan cuz you had enough attendances.....i liked that option better perseonally

[amyames]

well at least you guys don't have to be in class all day for Kaplan. I hear they are letting the 5ths just stick around campus and watch the videos on their own time. It worked out really well last semester, and I'm sure this semester won't be any different.

as for the videos, some are definitely better than others. The gold standard of Kaplan that I def. liked were biochemistry, microbiology, and physiology.

The pharmacology guy is fantastic, too...gotta love the french, but if you are pressed for time, his section on alpha, beta, and what G-protein they work on, and how they work on the various parts of the body is really brilliant, and the best section to watch out of all the pharmacology videos.

other than kaplan videos, it's all about doing questions. UW is the best out there, and it really helped me bump up an NMBE score or two! :)

if you want free resources, the USMLE website has a free 150 USMLE questions you can do. just download the program. Unfortunately, although they provide the correct answers, they do not provide explainations here is the link

USMLE™ : Test Content & Practice Materials (http://www.usmle.org/Examinations/practice_materials.html)

if you want to see what the free score would turn into step wise then go to med friends dot org. and they will "estimate" a score for you. I don't know how accurate it is, but it's at least something.

oh and of course there are NBMEs floating around with answers that you can take for practice before you take the comp. the problem with the free NMBEs? the answers are sometimes wrong because the real NMBEs you pay for don't provide the answers....so if that worries ya then just go to the NBME website and pay 45 bucks...the good thing about the NBME site is that it does not lock your computer so if you wanted to screen capture the images for later study using a program such as snagit, you could.

good luck to all the 5ths on the island, you guys are almost through with basic. whoo-hoo!

[GrignardMonster]

I agree with Boulder - as a former 5th with a poor attention span, I HATED Kaplan videos. 2 hrs, 8hrs, it didn't matter much to me.
My preference was to do questions on my own, from the Kaplan site, Qbook, and UW.


My recommendation is that if the videos aren't working for you, don't force it just because you're paying for the course. Move on to a different study approach. </p>

Being more efficient now will allow you to take the Step 1 sooner and get started on clinicals sooner.
Btw, I feel that the NBME exams very accurately predict performance on the real test, so take advantage of the opportunity to take one.You are the expert on how you learn best!

[cattyjane]

you guys are absolutely awesome!! We need more experienced people like you for tips to study!

[darkmansaad]

under no circumstances should anyone take nbme Form 3 ...it misinterpreted my score by 24 points and the standard deviation on my exam was 17. It mis analyzed my score by ONE STANDARD DEVIATION!!! Not to mention it is 40% molecular bio...save ur money on that one = gold tip

[gianefiasco]

the videos are torture but theres alot of good stuff in some of them.
Id focus on PAth, biochem, and pharm from the videos. ALso the embryo is really good. But the physio and micor were terrible in my opinion and ur time is better invested in reading BRS/ micro ridiculously simple for those topics.