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+--- Thread: advice for all my fellows. - polocueto (/showthread.php?tid=395979)
advice for all my fellows. - polocueto - ArchivalUser - 03-25-2009
I just took my step 3 last week. Firstable I have learned this:
EVERYTHING, but EVERYTHING you need is free online. I could not believe that my friend from Pakistan had even the first aid 2008 in his flashcard (by the way, Internal medicine is not good from First Aid step 3, but OBGYN and PEDS are).
Step 3 is all about "CRITICAL and CLINICAL THINKING". You need to know very well all your step 2 (CK and CS) because the combination of those two make the step 3. You need to know your "when and where to do a focused and complete Physical examination (virtually speaking)" and also your diagnosis and treatment. To these add the monitoring part and counseling because this is what makes the step 3 different to the other steps.
Then, if you have passed already your step 2ck and you did well, just go through the material again, and this time make diagrams of decisions (trees), meaning graphycs with what to do and what not to do in case of X problem. This is speacially important for internal medicine and obgyn. Please, please, please Get familiar with the exam; go to usmle.org and look for the PDF version of Step 3 content description and sample test materials, read what the exam is about and start your "warm up" with the 93 questions in that content. That is going to give to you a vision of how the exam is.
I am telling you, STUDY YOUR STEP 2 CK from whatever book you feel confortable with, I personally advice to you to study from Kaplan (those book are online for free, I have seen them) plus the monitoring part and counseling that you could take from your Harrison or any book you want.
For the CCS cases (similar to CS cases but "VIRTUAL"), just buy USMLEWORLD and "DO THEM ALL" they are 83 cases. just DO THEM!! and get familiar with the software.
DON'T LISTEN ANYTHING ELSE because you are going to get confused. USMLEWORLD is good enough and the best option. It is important to do also de Q'bank, at least for "getting your brain in shape", but do ALL Q'S, and I mean to say ALL including studying and understanding the answers. The bad news are that USMLEWORLD step 3 Q' bank do not have similar questions to the real ones. I think they are (UW) a little bit more difficult and some how DIFFERENT.
After you are done, take the NBME. See how you did and then just go through your weak points and do not get upset if you did not do well in the NMBE, again, just go through your weak points because this is what is this exam for, it is for screening your weak points and not for checking what a good doctor you are.
DO NOT BUY THE EXAM UNTIL YOU ARE READY, unless you are the kind of person that loves to be pushed by someone or something, In this case TIME. Or YOU HAVE TO take it.
I hope this info to be usefull for you, but If you have any doubt plese e-mail me, I will provide you with my phone.
Best regards
Mr. Polo
PD: MY CCS cases: 1) Normal Pregnancy, 2)Hypothyroidism, 3)Overweight with HTN and OA 4) Pancreatic Ca 5)Post surgical abdominal abcess 6) Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding 7)Temporal Arteritis 8) Domestic Violence (rib fracture) 9)Multiple Sclerosis.
0 - ArchivalUser - 03-25-2009
Thank you Mr polo.
can you plz send me the link for kaplan step3 notes
anithaplzhelp
0 - ArchivalUser - 03-25-2009
please Mr polo also send me the link for kaplan step3 notes ziapeace.Thankyou
0 - ArchivalUser - 03-25-2009
I know I was so shocked by this material available online because i was paying a very expensive kaplan course and everything was free ..you have just to go to the right website and download....it has a good advantages and disadvantages....but very usefullll when you cant buy them....so thank you internet!
0 - ArchivalUser - 03-25-2009
thank you very much, mr polo for this eye opener. unfortunately you didn't leave your e-mail address.
0 - ArchivalUser - 03-25-2009
Yes, everything is online:
look at this for example: (First aid step 3 2008)
http://www.4shared.com/network/search.jsp?searchName=usmle+step+3&searchExtention=&searchmode=2
http://www.scribd.com/search?cx=007890693382555206581%3A7fgc6et2hmk&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&c=all&q=usmle+step+3#1209
or this one: Just write USMLE step 3 or 2 ck and see: NICE Flashcards
http://www.flashcardexchange.com/
So, anything!!
0 - ArchivalUser - 03-25-2009
mr polo thank u so much fr everything u posted,my email is areena_sam642
i want some help...thanks.