USMLE step 1 experience

Egyptians Can Do it too!!!For long time, I was surprised, why most of people who get above 90s esp 99in the USMLE mostly are Indians or Pakis (Pakistani). Till, I did it, andscored about 90!!Do they have better brains than us? sure no. Did they study more in medicalschool than us? also no, as USMLE system has different approach than theEngland system which Pakistan, India and Egypt follow in their medicalschools.So what? I met a paki girl, and we became very good friends, and she beganto show me how she studies, and most of her people do. She scored 92, and 94in Step 1 and 2 respectively. I was wondering how did she do it?First, she told me,STUDY step 1 first!!!!!!Most egyptians, make the mistake of studying step 2, as it is easier, andmore clinical bla bla bla. All this is nonsense!Much of step 2, need good base understanding of the physiology, and thepathology happened, what is the most common organism did this, or what isthe metabolic error..etc. without this BASE, u will never score above 82, 85at most.so start with step 1, it will take a lot of time and effort, but it worthit, it is as if u r putting the bases of a skytower, the deeper and strongerthe columns u don't see under surface, the higher u can get.usually step 1 takes from 6-9 months, if u study everyday for 6-8 hours.sometimes more, as happened to me.after that step 2 can take from 3-6 months. see the difference?Second,What is your ambitions? ur goals?most egyptians, when u ask them, what is ur aim when u enter the exam, theyreply "I just want to pass and go to USA" . Going to USA is their mainconcern, not getting a high score, that will help them much in finding aresidency. Without ambition and goal, u r looking no further than ur feet. Uhave to look further... what if u get a low score? u will suffer a lot tofind a residency. Ur goal then should be set, to learning more, showing upur knowledge, and acing the exam.ThridThe material u study from and the scheduleThe best source I found till now, is Kaplan lecture notes + their LIVElecture audio. Those will take u hand by hand through the most difficultparts in step 1, like the tough Biochemical reactions, or how to memorizethe organisms, or to understand the physiology of an organ. U can spend aweek studying just the Kreb's cycle, but if u listen to the audio lecture,it will not take more than 45 min!! it is as if having a private teachertaking ur hand through the jungles. By this, u will save a week for otherstuff, and ur study will be more effective & productive.The material I used, and mostly used and helpful1- Kaplan Live lecture + their audio in all subjects, the complete course.2- Pathology:Goljan Review; Goljan is a mastermind, his book is condensed, but veryhelpful not for step 1, but for step 2 too.It worth mastering this book. I love this guy.or u can use BRS Pathology by Schneider, it is good and concise (PLEASEDON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF STUDYING FROM BIG SOURCES THAT U WILL NEVER SKIMTHE 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE EXAM). Yes, BRS is enough for 90% of Pathology, if udon't undestand something, just refer to a text, then return to this greatbook. I studied Blood, Lymphoma and Leukemia from this book, as it was toodetailed in Goljan.3- Physiology:BRS Physiology is great, simple tell u in simple words the most importantconcepts. I only studied the Endocrine section from Kaplan Lectures, as ithas there lot of clinical scenarios.4-Microbiology:Kaplan Lectures, and don't panic if u don;t see lot of info under everyorganism, THIS IS THE ONLY THINGS U NEED TO KNOW FOR USMLE. Don't get sodetailed in Jawetz textbook, it is just a waste of time and effort. U willnot review it before the exam.Another book vey nice is MICROBIOLOGY MADE REDICULOUSLY SIMPLE. This book ishilarious! as if u r reading a comic, u will never forget it. I used thepictures in it and there is wonderful tables and charts, esp theclassification of Viruses. I photocopoied the tables and put them beside meon the desk, and in just 2 hours, I review the whole microbiology by goingthru this table. and it is almost complete.5- Immunology:from the Jawetz textbook, it well written there, concise. This part needsUNDERSTANDING not memorizing, so I suggest u listen to Kaplan Live lectureswhile studying it. Once u understood it, u will never forget it.6- Pharmacology:Kaplan Lectures + Audio is enough, don't kill urself with Lippincott. Justthe drug name, mechanism of action, and side effect.7- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology:Kaplan Lectures + Audio, don't go to Lippincott, u will waste ur time!8- Behavioral Science:Kaplan Lectures + Audio... u will not find BETTER source, people sometimesstudy from High Yield Behavioral Science, but the Kaplan Lecture is better.9- Neuroanatomy, Anatomy, EmbryologyHigh Yield series by Dudek, or Kaplan Lectures. Know Neuroanatomy like urname, very important. and it is not difficult at all, if u listen to theaudio lectures (this is the trick!!) otherwise, u will spend days and weeksand still overwhelmed.Other reviews Sources:1- First Aid, this book is not for studying, it is for summarize most ofwhat u studied, read it only after u study well, otherwise, u will not knowhow important the info their.2- Do Questions only after u know ur theory, after u study. Don' t beginwith it, or it will be useless. Qbank, is good, Board Simulator is good, 2blocks of the exam was same style as NMS exams, by Lazo. Long and nonunderstandable questions. Otherwise, the questions are answerable.3- Underground Clinical Vignettes..... in my opinion, not important, as allthe clinical vigenettes will be covered in Kaplan, and they will never ask uin the same way they put it in UCV.Schedule of Studyingthat is the most common question, what to begin and how?First, START with ur weak subjects, if u hate Bio, then start with it, if ucan't memorize the names of organisms, then it is time to START that. YES, uhave to do ur homework and start studying what u don't like. Also u alwaysforget the names of Drugs, then, u must study pharmacology first. All IMGSare good in pathology and physiology, cuz we studied it later in clinicalyears, but Bio, Micro, Pharma...are dropped down all the way.So I suggest the following schedule:1- Start With Biochemistry: it is difficult and easy at same time! it needstime to DIGEST the concepts and names of cycles and enzymes, so u shouldstudy it early in the course (All of us never studied Bio that way in ourmedical schools, so don't panic). The main concept is: what happens when weeat carbo, lipid, and protien? and what happens when we are hungry? Alsomolecular biology is very high yield. BEST WAY TO MASTER IT? KaplanLectures+ Live Audio Lectures . Take my word, Don't look any further.2- Then, study Microbiology and Immunology: u will have hard timepronouncing the name of organism, but with repitition, u will know it likeur friends names! REMEMBER IT IS PRACTICE THAT MAKES THE BEST FOOTBALLPLAYERS, BEST GUITARIST, AND BEST SCORES IN USMLE. Repeat the names over andover, before u go to bed, when u wake up, after lunch.... then u will masterit.3- Thirds most difficult subject for IMGs is BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE: u will notdiscover how important and sweet this is, except at the end. Our retardedmedical education system, never showed us the importance of it, and HERE inUSMLE, u will discover that. Epidemiology, Statistics, Defensive Mechanism,Personality Disorders. All explained perfectly in Kaplan Lectures + Audio. Ilove this guy who teaches it, he is from Rush University in Chicago.... If uhear this guy once, u will never forget him.After u finish those 3 subjects, the rest are moderate difficulty. Go forPhysiology first, as u will take time to get the concepts in ur mind.Pharmacology should be done with Physiology, cuz that is the way we inventdrugs, by mimicking, or antagonizing physilogical effect. E.g, when u studyaction potenital and role of Na channels, u will realize how Carbamazepineand Phynotoin works, by blocking Na channels, so no action potential, so nofiring focus of epilepsy, see how sweet it is ??Then, Pathology will be the sum of all above!! abnormal physiology is there,abnormal metabolism is there, genetic disorder is there, infections arethere.Last to do, is Neuroanatomy, Anatomy and Embryology. Study Neuroanatomy withCNS Pathology, closely related, adn HIGH Yield. Use always atlas to memorizedifferent parts of brain (globus pallidus, substantia Nigra, hippocampus,etc.......) with practice, everything will be easy.Remember that people who win the Olympic medals, have practices many years(of course u will not spend years to study step1!!!) for that day. U can'tget any boy from the street and threw him in the race, and asks him to win.Repeat ur material, till u first understand, then memorize it.