![]() ![]() I got through all of Sketchy micro and pharm once thoughout prep. Resources I used and things I did differently towards the end: I used B&B consistently throughout which in retrospect was probably too detailed for boards prep - I just couldn't retain that amount of information in the end. In retrospect I probably should have taken more of a full day off before but I don't regret it because it kept my mind preoccupied and I got like 8 questions correct the next day thanks to listening to Pathoma chapters 1-3 and 1x speed the entire drive over to my testing site. I watched a movie, had a good dinner and got a full 8 hours of peaceful sleep. I took the last half of the afternoon off before my exam. I purposely made a conscious effort to only talk to my hype people in the days leading up to the exam and didn't even talk to my educational specialist before taking the test because I knew she'd probably tell me not to take it. I knew I could keep beating my head against a wall and improve a few more points but I also knew I could burn myself out and move backwards. ![]() I liked that my free 120 was at a good percentage, I also preferred NBME's percent likelihood of passing and thought an 89% was acceptable. Taking the exam with my practice score was risky but also not really. On the flipside I also had friends that were scoring consistent 210's and above who were postponing their exam etc. I really wanted to move on and I had people in my life that believed in me and encouraged me to take it. I also don't generally get anxious during the actual test day so I knew that wouldn't get in my way. but the thing is - at this point I was so over it all. I read some posts on here written by people who did just that which always made me feel like it was possible, but of course the comments are all about how big their balls must be. ![]() NBME 28 (5 days out): Pass, 63% correct with an 89% chance of passing Step 1įor a lot of people I know they wouldn't dare take the test with one low pass under their belt. ~ freak out, cry all night, feel like a failure, feel better in the morning, move my test date back one week ~ UWORLD 2 (1.5 weeks out): 175 followed by free 120: 76% correct **Scores:**Diagnostic (proctored by my school and before our last block): 140 Seriously I did everything I could and my last two NBMEs were borderline which was discouraging but guess what - passing STEP 1 is an INCREDIBLE accomplishment and nothing can take that away. It was painful and I doubted myself a lot but I just kept going back to that initial seed of belief in myself that chose to take a 140 and run with it and that is what got me through every day and that is why I never regretted sitting for the exam on time no matter the outcome. I just wanted to get past it and get it done. The biggest reason being I didn't want to be one of those people that just fall into this toxic cycle of making STEP 1 their life for the next 6 or 12 or more months. I know I'm not stupid but it's hard not to feel like that when you're in the throws of STEP 1.Īfter thinking about it for a few days (although to be honest I already knew in my heart there was no way I was postponing) I ultimately decided to just go for it. I felt truly blindsided because after all my hard work I felt none of it had payed off and honestly the whole thing just shot my confidence down to about a 0 and left me feeling sad and stupid. I got an invitation by the dean to participate in a two month review course which would mean I'd postpone starting clerkships by about four months, forgo all my extra time off that's meant for signing up for electives and go without holiday for essentially the rest of 3rd year (if I wanted to graduate on time that is). That being said I was honestly shocked when I realized this score put me in the bottom 10% of my class and essentially on the faculty "radar". I work hard, probably harder than most which is kind of embarrassing at times but whatever, I've learned how to do it and put in the time and it's always paid off in my favor. I am an average to above average student at a top ten MD program. Baseline diagnostic score taken before my last block as an MS2: 140. ![]()
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