I was reading the post about the girl that got a 99 on her usmle, and although some of you might say that I'm way over my head and it will never happen, but I'm also planning to get a score in this vicinity as well(99), but i have just started and im finishing the first PREMED semester. so my questions are as follows
What can i do now in premed 1 going to 2 and in med school to get this type of score. How do i need to study, what are some techniques, what can i do to maximize my learning and my score?

And just as important. Is it possible for one to get this score just by relying on the information that you learn in med school? or do you automatically, necessarily must take one of the kaplan or princeton courses that cost an arm and a leg. Can you get that type of score, by relying on your study habits and trying to know absolutely everything that they teach you in UNIBE?

3.Some lady who is a doctor, I believe, and works in the bio department in ciclo basico said that what we were learning in bio 1 now is important for the boards. I know that everything is important. but when will i get exposed to the info that will be on the usmle?

4. And the final question is this. My dream is to become a heart surgeon. I have been to and seen heart surgeries and they are, and I dont want to be out of line, but they are to me fascinating, Is it possible to become an accredited heart surgeon in the U.S.(a great one) coming out of a school like UNIBE, located in the Dominican Republic? What are some good programs in heart surgery that a UNIBE GRAD can get into, and what is the minimum score to become one on the USMLE.

I do not have any of this info, you have to ask the people who know about this.

I'm in a hurry right now so this will be a short reply.
1- You can try to get anywhere you want, it depends on YOU.
2- Will not be easy, but is possible.
3- Start using FA(First Aid for the USMLE step1)
4-If you can read the subject for example if you are going over bioch. try to go over the Kaplan book for bioch. at the same time you are doing the class. It will help.

The guy that score a 96 in UCE did not went to any review course he just put his gluteos in the library of UCE and just study hard. I remember people even mock the guy because he was a local.
At the end everything is possible just put your determination on it.
Very important the guy that got a 96 in UCE said when ask about his grade, that you need to be surround beautiful people, when he said beautiful people he meant positive and good heart people to be with you during the preparation.

Have to go
good luck and you can start going over tommy concepts in the step1 forum, they are free and you start learning for the test.
GOD bless and take care
Yes I love you to.
IMG SURVIVOR

__________________
Moderator: USMLE Step 1 Forums, USMLE Step 2 Forums,USMLE Step 3 Forums.

Some day I will be the next Goljan/Daugherty/fysher for IMG's all over the world.

Let me make a brief response. I sent you a PM.
Believe it or not, the highest grades on the USMLE that I know of were people who studied entirely on their own. No review course work, no splitting semesters, no taking semesters off, just hard cold determination on their part.
I advise students, as does the moderator, to get a review book and compare it with their classes. If the material is not covered in class then they must really study hard on their own. It also shows what is considered important. Remember, a lot of foreign professors have no concept of the USMLE.
And just remember, 40 years ago on 3 January 1967, Dr. Christian Barnard, who graduated from a relatively unknown Medical School in Capetown, South Africa and did surgery training in an equally unknown Medical Center, Groote Shure, prior to going with Norm Shumway in Minnesota, became world famous by doing the first ever human heart transplant. It is not WHERE you go to school but how you apply what you have learned. If you are looking for a prestigious Medical Center to train, Unibe has former students in some of the best, including Mayo Clinic.
It does not take a genius to be a physician, even a good one, but it takes one who is willing to devote the time, effort, blood, sweat and tears that are necessary.
BTW, a reminder…The scores on the USMLE do not insure you a residency position. I know students who received scores in the 90’s! and did not get a position. The scores garner you an invitation to an INTERVIEW with a program director. It is the interview where you sell yourself to the Director and have him believe you are the greatest thing since sliced bread!
Go for the Gold. Best wishes from one who has been there!

__________________
ERNEST C. HOLBROOK, M.D. FACS

please read my next rply

[quote=torocrusher;748971]in my opinion, some things right, some wrong. usmle scores will get you the interview and will favor you all the way down to the finals.it would be of geat benefit if dominican med schools could get US hospitals WITH RESIDENCIES to for their students to do rotations and learn the technologies and methods unavailable there.my best advice to all the people there is to pass the step 1 with high scores as early as possible and apply to an american med school for transfer( Central del Caribe in bayamon PR would accept you) and these people rotate through the main residency centers.Of course your application is a global thing ( reaserch done in the field, voluntary medical service, recommendation letters ect) but the scores and your role as a rotator will make the difference.don't get me wrong, you could land into any residency with an outstanding performance but it will certainly be very hard and in some cases, near to impossble