04-29-2009, 03:55 PM
Passed and so relieved. I learned a lot from this forum now I would like to contribute.
Prepare for 2 month. I think with careful preparation and right strategy, 2 month should be enough.
My preparation materials: FA A+++, UW A, some on line notes are OK you don™t have to read them but they are definitely helpful.
Advantage
1st and biggest: I am very very lucky that I have a live-in partner and we had a similar exam date. We practiced every weekend for 3-4h/day. During weekday, as I am a full time worker I can™t spend much time about it. But I did read a little bit here and there.
2nd: I cleared my step 1 and step 2CK and both scores are very high so I am good with basic science part. Also I have been in US long enough and I am totally confident with my English.
Disadvantage
1st: I am an old grad and not familiar with clinic for quite long. Actually I have no clue when I first picked up the book.
My impression to the exam
1st and most important: The exam is extremely fair. There are no odd and weird cases at all. As a matter of fact they are all very common symptoms and if you dig you will found useful information. The SPs are very nice there are no difficult SPs. To my impression SPs do not want to trick you and they are eager to give you the information if you ask the correct questions.
2nd. Even I practiced with a live in partner for quite a while; I forget tons of stuff to do in the exam, mostly the physical exams (interestingly I donot think I was nervous at that time, it just happened). However, I did do the pulm and cardio exam for all he patients. So I suggest that you do the cardio and pulm for most if not all of them. Also I forgot the PE but I never forgot washing hands, drape smiling and I never missed the closure.
3rd. Nearly all SPs took some medication and I don™t know how to spell out a lot of them, some of them I even never heard of (I guess it is because that I have not been in Clinic for a while). During the SP encounter I pretended to know them since I have no time to ask spelling out. Also I am afraid that it gives a bad impression if I ask them to do so. During PN writing I don™t know what drug to write. Also during PN writing, I tended to remember things I missed during PE. But believe me or not, you don™t have time to regret during PN writing.
4th. I said the cases are very fair. I get most potential diagnosis. One case I have no clue at all. Even that case, the symptom is common I just go through all potential possibilities and the answers are all no. Even I felt terrible during this encounter; I kept smiling not rushing the SP. I would rather missed something in data gathering than communicating skills.
5th. I went to a workshop in NJ. It was weekend workshop perfect for full-time worker as me and it is significantly cheaper comparing to others. Most of all, they taught me a lot and I was very happy with the experience. I do this only because that I think it can help some IMGs especially some old grads. However I have to say that it is my own experience. I don™t know and no one knows which workshop is the best for you. Since I don™t want to make this like a commercial ad, I won™t put the workshop name here. If you want to know the name just post your e-mail I will e-mail you.
I will check post later and be happy to answer any Qs regarding preparation. Good luck to everyone.
Prepare for 2 month. I think with careful preparation and right strategy, 2 month should be enough.
My preparation materials: FA A+++, UW A, some on line notes are OK you don™t have to read them but they are definitely helpful.
Advantage
1st and biggest: I am very very lucky that I have a live-in partner and we had a similar exam date. We practiced every weekend for 3-4h/day. During weekday, as I am a full time worker I can™t spend much time about it. But I did read a little bit here and there.
2nd: I cleared my step 1 and step 2CK and both scores are very high so I am good with basic science part. Also I have been in US long enough and I am totally confident with my English.
Disadvantage
1st: I am an old grad and not familiar with clinic for quite long. Actually I have no clue when I first picked up the book.
My impression to the exam
1st and most important: The exam is extremely fair. There are no odd and weird cases at all. As a matter of fact they are all very common symptoms and if you dig you will found useful information. The SPs are very nice there are no difficult SPs. To my impression SPs do not want to trick you and they are eager to give you the information if you ask the correct questions.
2nd. Even I practiced with a live in partner for quite a while; I forget tons of stuff to do in the exam, mostly the physical exams (interestingly I donot think I was nervous at that time, it just happened). However, I did do the pulm and cardio exam for all he patients. So I suggest that you do the cardio and pulm for most if not all of them. Also I forgot the PE but I never forgot washing hands, drape smiling and I never missed the closure.
3rd. Nearly all SPs took some medication and I don™t know how to spell out a lot of them, some of them I even never heard of (I guess it is because that I have not been in Clinic for a while). During the SP encounter I pretended to know them since I have no time to ask spelling out. Also I am afraid that it gives a bad impression if I ask them to do so. During PN writing I don™t know what drug to write. Also during PN writing, I tended to remember things I missed during PE. But believe me or not, you don™t have time to regret during PN writing.
4th. I said the cases are very fair. I get most potential diagnosis. One case I have no clue at all. Even that case, the symptom is common I just go through all potential possibilities and the answers are all no. Even I felt terrible during this encounter; I kept smiling not rushing the SP. I would rather missed something in data gathering than communicating skills.
5th. I went to a workshop in NJ. It was weekend workshop perfect for full-time worker as me and it is significantly cheaper comparing to others. Most of all, they taught me a lot and I was very happy with the experience. I do this only because that I think it can help some IMGs especially some old grads. However I have to say that it is my own experience. I don™t know and no one knows which workshop is the best for you. Since I don™t want to make this like a commercial ad, I won™t put the workshop name here. If you want to know the name just post your e-mail I will e-mail you.
I will check post later and be happy to answer any Qs regarding preparation. Good luck to everyone.