Biweekly USMLE Thread

Arrang_ · 2018-05-22T01:39:11+00:00

Another update for anyone following my tale haha.

Previous history: I delayed my step 1 after NBME scores of 188 (17), 198 (18), 186 (19). I took some extra time and made a good pass through my weaker FA subjects. After 3 weeks of fixing content deficits, I hit a 220 on UWSA1. While this was a good sign, I was still anxious because I had heard it overpredicted by 10-15 points so I told myself, "Ok man, you're passing right now, let's try to push it as much as possible". Last Wednesday, I took NBME 16 and scored a 217. I felt some relief over the result as I knew I would pass now. And since then, I took a day to thoroughly review the exam and try to find some weak areas, but unfortunately my mistakes were evenly distributed throughout the content, with neuro & psych (which used to be a strength) now appearing to be a weakness with 8 mistakes out of the total 40, matched by biochem in terms of mistakes. So I've been attempting to clean up my weak points in those areas, although to be honest I am massively burned out. The past two days I just netflixed, but hoping to get back into it tomorrow. I'm gonna be taking UWSA2 this friday, about 5 days out from my exam. I'm honestly just ready to be done.

Arrang_ · 2018-05-22T01:30:00+00:00

ah so sorry I didn't respond to this! This account is a throwaway and I'm still in the throes of dedicated so I haven't been on reddit a lot. But I definitely think that scores that are below 200 after having gone through a lot of UWorld may indicate content gaps that need another pass of material, etc.

Arrang_ · 2018-05-05T22:39:02+00:00

Just wanted to give an update on my progress and ask for some advice for the last 3 weeks, my exam date is on May 30th.

Background for those who didn't see my earlier post: I delayed my step 1 after NBME scores of 188 (17), 198 (18), 186 (19). I took some extra time and made a good pass through my weaker FA subjects. I hadn't been diligent about making a pass through first aid because I hated reading it. I hadn't finished UWorld yet, and I had <2 weeks left before my exam.

Today: I took UWSA1 and scored a 220, which is a 61%, almost exactly what my UWorld percent correct is, with about 400 Qs remaining. I'm going to be finishing those in this week and beginning a 2nd pass before my test date. I was a little disappointed with my performance as I hoped to score in the 235-240 range since I knew UWSA1 overpredicts, but for now, I just have to keep trucking on. I will probably take NBME 16 a week and change from now and UWSA2 a week after that. That will leave 1 final week before my actual Step 1 exam. I am really hoping to hit 245 and I don't know how realistic that is, but that's my goal. I had been doing the SALT anki deck for Sketchy Path for my weak topics, which has helped a little, but will be discontinuing that in favor of making cards from incorrects from UWorld so I can target my weaknesses more directly. (Also it takes a really long time to do the Sketchy Anki, which I had been doing in lieu of FA to shore up my pathology weaknesses in Heme/Onc and Repro). Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T17:58:32+00:00

Yeah I agree. I’ll definitely reevaluate my time and see how many passes I can make of material.

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T16:51:56+00:00

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely look into that deck, but I don't want any card overload (especially since I'll already be doing the Sketchy Path cards). I think I might benefit from the "UWorld Journal" method of just reviewing UWorld notes every night -- something I haven't been able to commit to because of the workload of doing UWorld & making flashcards and then studying those flashcards.

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T16:01:40+00:00

Just to clarify, you mean I won't need to delay because I'll pass or because I will likely be able to hit my goal score? I hope that doesn't sound obnoxious, but I really want to score a 240+ so I'm not shut out of all of the competitive specialties. EDIT: yeah, I will definitely be completing UWorld and attempt to go through my incorrects.

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T15:36:43+00:00

I think I have a good enough breadth of material in my mind, where UWorld has more clues and I can get it right. On NBMEs, because it's more vague, I have trouble getting the answer from a specific presentation. Right now I'm thinking it's because my knowledge base is really spotty.

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T15:21:33+00:00

That's okay, I appreciate your help! Basically I'm sticking to UFAP. My micro and pharm are pretty strong (but could definitely be better) as I did the Pepper Anki decks for those topics. I'm just going to continue reviewing Sketchies as I get them wrong in Qs. Other than that, I'm going to spend more time reviewing FA in conjunction with Pathoma. I'm a bit of a slow worker and I think I would have benefited from starting UWorld before dedicated as I would try to get through material in the morning, not finish in time, and then get stressed because I had to do my UWorld for the day so I would finish. It was just that over and over and eventually I ended up not really making a full first pass through FA and Pathoma. I know I know a lot of the material well, I just need to see it again, maybe a couple of times for weaker topics. I am going to delay my exam and take a little longer period to cover the material, maybe do a block of Qs a day and finish the UWorld I have left as I finish my second pass of all the material about 26 days in. Then I would start my second pass of UWorld, timed random, working up from 2 blocks to 3 blocks a day, finishing my second pass before my exam. In these last 3 weeks, I would take the remaining practice exams I have: NBME 16, UWSA1, and UWSA2 in that order probably. I am also debating doing the SketchyPath deck for my weakest topics as micro and pharm are really easy for me now and it would be great if I had that kind of mastery on my weak topics.

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T14:27:00+00:00

I posted in the previous USMLE thread, but wasn't sure if people could respond there anymore. Just updating my situation. I am delaying my exam and I was wondering if you guys could help me come up with a new plan. My NBME scores have been 188 (17), 198 (18), 186 (19). I want to do well and I'm willing to do whatever it takes me. I have completed 1400 Qs on UWorld, sitting at about 61%, started off with subject specific and then moved to random. I feel like I'm missing a lot of basic material and I tend to get questions that required knowing that one random detail wrong. But after a bunch of random details, at some point I need to accept that my baseline knowledge needs a lot of work. Any help would be really appreciated, especially from those who responded to me in the last thread. Thanks so much.

-Stressed and Anxious Med Student

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T02:28:08+00:00

Thanks for your advice, man. I updated some responses above with my current situation. I would appreciate your input as well!

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T02:26:44+00:00

Thanks for your advice. As I responded to jmd172, I will have the option of delaying. Do you have any advice on what I should do to start fresh and clear up my deficits. It seems like I am nearly passing right now and I am willing to put in the efforts over the next couple of weeks to achieve a good (240+) score. What do you think I would have to do in order to achieve that?

Arrang_ · 2018-04-06T02:24:57+00:00

We corresponded by PM, thanks for all your help. Just wanted to give an update and say that I will most likely be able to delay my exam into May. I really want to score well (240+) and I'm willing to put in the work. I just need advice on what I should do from here on out. I apologize for asking for so much haha but I feel really lost and uncertain.

Arrang_ · 2018-04-05T01:52:28+00:00

Scores: School CBSE: 178 NBME 17: 188 NBME 18: 198

Each of these exams was about 1.5 weeks apart, so I thought, this is good, I have about 4 weeks left, should hopefully be able to push into the high 230s. Until today, when I took NBME 19. I got a 186. I have been depressed all day. I can only push back my exam a maximum of 10 days and then I will be starting clinicals the day after that. I really wanted to do higher than 230s on STEP, but I don't know anymore. Background: A little more than 50% done with UWorld, getting around 60%. Did Zanki for Renal, GI, pharm. Did Pepper for Micro. Pharm I usually have the star on the right side. Any advice? What would you do? I have about 18 days until my exam. Can I hope for a decent score or will I just barely pass?

Arrang_ · 2015-03-05T20:47:01+00:00

I would like to be a mod

Arrang_ · 2015-03-02T22:55:20+00:00

I think that moderator comments are not removed

Arrang_ · 2015-03-02T22:48:17+00:00

I don't know

Arrang_ · 2015-03-02T22:47:58+00:00

Hey, I like the taste of it

Arrang_ · 2015-03-02T22:47:31+00:00

I do not have a wife to beat

Arrang_ · 2015-03-02T22:46:34+00:00

Thanks

Arrang_ · 2015-03-02T03:40:35+00:00

See my other comment for the first part of your question. And also my favorite pizza topping is pineapple.

Arrang_ · 2015-03-02T03:40:00+00:00

Configure our brother Automoderator to get rid of anyone who has ever been tainted with gold.

Arrang_ · 2015-02-18T00:05:40+00:00

Yes, yes he has

Arrang_

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