USMLE Made Easy

Along with 35,968 applicants for this season's match, I waited with bated breath for what would probably be the most important email of my life. At 10:55 am on March 13, 2017, a myriad of emotions filled me as I read those highly coveted words from NRMP - "Congratulations! You have matched!". My mind was confused whether I should laugh or cry, so I just did a little bit of both. I could not believe that I matched during my first try, not because I did not believe in my abilities, but because my application was more of the exception than the norm. I was not the perfect applicant. I am an old international medical graduate, 5 years to be exact. Although I performed very well in medical school, my step scores were left to be desired. I took my step 1 back in 2013, right after passing the medical boards in my home country. My over-confidence became my kryptonite. I failed step 1. To say that was a deathly blow to my ego is an understatement. I did not let that deter m...

Thank you Shanny for your amazing story. Respect for you my dear. You are source of inspiration.  Of the 75 doctors in my internal medicine residency program, I am a minority. There are 14 of us who are American Medical Graduates (AMGs), while 61 of our residents proudly studied in some of the most elite universities from around the world (International Medical Graduates, abbreviated IMGs). And no, there is no exaggeration when I use the term "around the world." The current residents in my program obtained their medical degrees from the following countries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Jordan, England, Georgia, Thailand, Venezuela, Greece, Ecuador, South Africa, The Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Korea, China, & Iran (not to mention my previous co-residents who have since completed training, having graduated from Mexico, Argentina, & Tanzania. I think that about covers it.) A medical student once told me that residency programs were recruit...

Dr Adnan Yousaf is my Senior and he is really a source of inspiration. May You live long and be a mentor for us.  "Graduating from the best college in the country in 2005, and like any highly ambitious chap around I aspired to get my training in the USA. I didn’t start a job obviously and my family set aside a sum for my STEP 1 exams. But circumstances changed and my family faced financial constraints so I had to let go of my fees to help with the education of my siblings. I had to display being responsible a nd earn enough so I could support them which meant I could not do a house job and had to indulge in private medical jobs to make up for the needs. I supplemented this by writing articles on international relations and economics. I had touched depths of my faith when I had to write stories for children for a publishing firm in Lahore to support my family." "As my siblings graduated and the financial situation improved, I turned to my dream but I still had to me...

This post is for you if, you: Have been preparing for the USMLE step 1 for over 2 years Have had several breaks and had to pick up from scratch again every time Have other responsibilities that you cannot excuse yourself from (by this i am pointing towards desi married girls) Were not an academically exceptional student in medical school I always told myself that when i score well on the Step 1, i shall reach out to everyone who maybe (even remotely) are in a place similar to mine. I want to encourage you to keep working at it, to not lose hope and to know it will pay off. Before i start off, i want to stress that Step 1 is NO JOKE. It’s an exam that truly tests you on every level. It tests your memory, understanding, concepts, concentration and patience. Do not take it lightly, do not disregard an mcq or topic thinking less of it (for lack of better words lol) or thinking it’s beyond your comprehension. That said, also engrave it into your mind- there is NO shortcu...

Artush Grigoryan    Step 1 score- 269 I’m from Armenia, Yerevan , 22 y.o. Studying in Yerevan State Medical University (7 th (the last year) year medical student) Started my preparation in September 2015 (total 11 months) . Before that I red Biochemistry , Anatomy , and Immuno+Micro Kaplan LNs, without paying attention to details ,, (just red once) . On Sep 1 started Biochemistry Kaplan classroom anywhere 2014 and LNs– 11 days Then 2 days for Biochemistry section from FA and DIT 2014 Then 3 days for Histology (Kaplan LNs) + 8days for Anatomy (Gross+Neuro) Kaplan classroom anywhere + LNs + UW Biochemistry section (22 questions a day /total-11 days) A day for watching Test taking strategies and Managing your USMLE study timeline videos from Kaplan classroom anywhere 2014 (KCA-2014) Then 3 days for Immunology (KCA-2014)+ LNs ,   + Anatomy UW (20 Qs/day) A day for FA+DIT2014 Immunology (first videos(DIT) then FA) Then 7 days for Microbiology (KCA-201...

ABOUT ME :I am final year student of nishtar medical university,Pakistan & made up my mind in 2nd year to take step1 exam in 4th year. ABOUT THE EXAM: taking this exam during your med school is no doubt very difficult as it`s not a smooth journey(u have professional exam(prof) to handle and other things) but it`s worth doing it and it`s doable. U have many advantages of taking this during your undergrad period ,the most important of which is FRESH KNOWLEDGE of almost every discipline. BACKGROUND: There are many things I done during my 1st and 2nd year of med school which I found very useful later on.like;  Listened to najeeb`s lectures for biochemistry,neuroanatomy, renal physiology embryology. For Those topics I didn’t listen najeeb lectures, I regreted afterwards like CVS and respiratory physiology which are very highyeild(HY) topic.  Read good textbooks like guyton,harper(lipin is as usefull but I liked the harpers flow charts more) and keith L. moore (klm) for physiol...

Hi everyoneee! Im the girl was posting days ago that I was going crazy while waiting for the score report  :( I got my score today, It it not a high score but I wanted to share my experience for those out there that freak out during nbmes! Step 1: 211 (June 30) Score report: JULY 25 NBME 13: 194 ( January 24) NBME: 15 offline (I do not remember the date and mistakes) UWSA1: 212 (January) UWSA2: 227 ( January) Nbme 19: 205 (June 28) I studied for 2 years while doing my internship and social service (current), sometimes I used to study for 8 -10 hours a day or Skipped 2 weeks without studying. I planned to take step 1 on Feb 17 but I had to reschedule because I freaked out doing the nbmes and uwsa. During these practice tests I used to cry for 1-2 hours and shake, had to go to the restroom due to nausea and funny bowel movements:(, I chose to reschedule, start the journey again, and look for help! My doctor gave me alprazolam just to take during the practice te...