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My advice for the Step 2CK- 185 to 258 - the28shogun
#41
Easy points, please don't miss any of the following studying tips:

1. Google images! Use it for anything that you can't picture in your head. ALL of the dermatology conditions. You should know exactly what psoriasis looks like, the questions in UWorld are good but you need to see several pictures of these things, not just one or two. For the derm questions there will hardly ever be an answer in the description or physical exam, the answer will be in the image definitely. Google image search for all the common skin conditions, you won't regret it.

2. ALL of the antibodies. Seriously you can't afford to mix these up. Know which ones are specific, know if they actually matter for the diagnosis or not. You might get questions on them.

3. Vaccinations tip- use the cdc website, you need to know everything for TB, everything for HIV, everything for Malaria, Influenza, Hepatitis, and even less common things like RSV.

4. Ophthalmology - again you will need to use some images to revise some of the conditions. Like retinal detachment, CRVO, Uveitis, etc.

5. General study guideline: If you read something, like everything there is to know about a leukemia or syphilis or lupus, just remember you need to always ask, did it mention how this differs in children? Elderly? Pregnant patients? Always ask if you know the guidelines for ALL patient types, that will make a huge different in how well you know a disease. My exam was honestly like someone had written every common and typical case, and then gave that exam to someone who took a red pen and removed ALL of the hints and common things. Instead of a 50 year old it was a 5 year old, instead of a child, it was a fetus, instead of a man with arthritis, it was a pregnant woman with arthritis, etc etc. There is no such thing as a common case anymore... (or rather, there is, but they will try hard to make it seem uncommon, when really they just took away the hints.)

I just remembered these things again this morning and felt I should include them. Hope it helps someone! Good luck everyone, keep studying and learning more than what you already know.
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#42
ur an inspiration!
when u said 186 to 258?
Was it a previous attempt?
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#43
You are my hero.. I wish I can meet you in real life, I just got my score for ck and I failed. I want to cry.
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#44
Hi Friends,
Can you share me Uworld questions online for 10 days ?
Thanks
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#45
@ cantgiveup23

Yes it was a previous attempt. I failed and under utilized the resources and all faults were my own. It was nothing to do with difficult test or new format, it was simply under preparation and not understanding the exam, it is not just about memorization of facts.

@ withdoctor

If I can do it then anyone can, I'm not special in any way. You will do great too just read the strategy again and see if you can find anything helpful. Analyze your weaknesses and try to find out what went wrong. If you just start studying again without doing anything differently that won't be enough. I know you can do great if you try, but focus on working smarter, not just working harder.
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#46
hey thanks for writing this post ..
please can you advice me
if i am preparing from kaplan lecture notes do i need to study the master of boards as well ?
is kaplan lecture notes sufficient plus of course u world ?
can i skip mtb ?
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#47
Pls guide me how to study for cardiology ,it's the toughest for me
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#48
the28shogun, you did amazing job!!!! Congratulations!!!
Which Kaplan video do you recommend? Live online for $3400? Or High Yeld for $600?
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#49
@ shajiazima
I genuinely think Kaplan lecture notes are too basic. They provide you with a good fundamental knowledge, but they are nowhere near enough detail and really are only good if you have forgotten completely about a subject and are starting from zero. I don't think they are helpful in my opinion. MTB2 and MTB3 are DEFINITELY more helpful than kaplan lecture notes. You should do MTB2 and MTB3 + Uworld. If you need more specific help and want a better understanding plus distinguishing features, then do Kaplan VIDEOS, but NOT lecture notes, the notes are really too basic for this exam and have not been updated properly. Compare them and see what you think.

@ drreenajohn
I also hated the cardiology questions, seriously. I felt like there was a gap between what I learned and then a jump to the kind of questions that are asked. To prepare, just make sure you can identify ALL of the basic and common EKG rhythms. You can check the common ones via any ACLS algorithm and also make sure you look at the emergency section in MTB2 and MTB 3. They give straightforward ways to handle the EKG questions. As for the valve disorders, you will get those from Uworld, and it will be plenty, but make sure you fully memorize the tables for maneuvers of heart sounds. When it comes to congenital heart diseases, have a very clear organization in your heard- which ones are cyanotic, which ones are not? Which present at birth, and which present later? If you can organize them in your head this way it will be a huge help. You don't need to learn cardiology so much as you just need to learn how to address these cardiology questions and which clues can help you the most. Don't worry too much about the drugs, but make sure you know the mechanisms for the major classes and remember any of the ones that you see in questions along the way. Anything else you'd like to know for cardio please let me know- I will try to help, cardio was difficult for me as well.

@ innlake
The high yield is all you need. Their qbank is not helpful at all. You just want access to the videos, nothing else.
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#50
Hi that's great advice...I recently got my result and failed by 5 measly points!!
I did Kaplan qbanks, couple of kaplan videos, read STUM, and semi memorized secrets
I did uworld qbank last month before exam.
The exam was very difficult, I won't lie.
I thought I did bad ,even suspected I failed as soon as I left.
My concern is that I am an IMG, what are my chances for a match in residency?
Shall I continue or shall I give up cold turkey?
My step 1 score is also laughably low....thought?
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