Monday, March 31, 2008

Is it all about attitude?

So here I am studying as usual and going over my first practice exam. Mind you that I am not looking at the answers (NBME is hard to find them) but looking at my 2nd set of 50. Why didn't I do better? The questions were NOT that hard! I have to preface this by saying that my road to finding a good study strategy is ever winding. I always change it up and it seems to suit me. But before I took my first practice exam I was stressing, anxious and worried. After, I got my first glimpse of where I stood and it calmed me a bit and let me re-evaluate what I should be doing, even though the score was not what I was aiming for at all.

My next exam will be in a few days and I can't help but think that attitude has so much to do with it. I am very good at putting myself down as I am sure some of my classmates can attest to - I could always do better, easily disappointed and comparing myself constantly. Lately though, I am finding more confidence and am interested to know if this plays a role in my performance on practice tests. What do you think? I am always so admirable of others who just have that confidence. I try to say that I have it but as I am told, if you don't believe it - it won't happen. So does that mean if I do believe it, then it will? That is hard for me to believe, but if it does - I believe that one day I will have the perfect balance of work and home - I believe I will be a millionaire - I believe... Okay, I think I have made my point. But to me, it takes more than just believing it. I am traditionally a B+ student and always have been (post-high school that is - man I miss those high school As!), but I am completely fine with that. I have always been that way and I feel that where I lack in my GPA I make up for in other ways quite well. So why with this belief in myself can I jump in my exam scores?

The only thing I can come up with is that this belief in myself will lead me to think more positively, work harder than I thought I could and in turn produce a higher score. So it is time to wear that hat I guess, or permenantly bobby pin it to my head! I will keep holding onto that and see how my next NBME run-around turns out!

So here it goes... I believe I will get a good score!!!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Lazy McGee...

Okay, I'm not lazy - just busy and tired! Sorry for the lack of posts this month but for one, it's been a rough month on me and two, I haven't been sure what to write about lately. The weeks go by and it is the same schedule and nothing too exciting or boring is going on... just another semester. I feel much better lately but earlier in the month I was just going through a rough patch, pretty much just being sad most days. Not the best time to inspire and write happy thoughts on the blog, haha! Anyway, things are a little better now. I am getting ready to take my second practice exam next weekend and hoping that it will go better than the first. I'm sure it will. I have been working hard to figure out my study strategies and then re-figuring them out, lol, but I am looking foward to seeing how much better I will do.

I hear that the next 5th semester was chosen for Michigan? Congrats!!! You will love it! I am so happy I was chosen to be here - I can't say it enough. Just remember that you represent Ross and that even though we set the first impression - the job is now on you guys n' gals to keep it going!!! With applications going out (I think in June?) for the two year program, we will be leaving for home for the summer with hopes of returning in the fall... We will see! Having the rest of my education planned out for me would be such a blessing and the personality of this program just fits so perfectly with me.

Anyhoo - so today I am just sitting in my room studying as much as I can before my next NBME. I really want to go home this weekend but am not sure if that is such a good idea. My next COMP date is set to April 22nd, here in Saginaw. Of course, I am so nervous as alot is riding on this exam. But truthfully, I have put so much work into improving that I feel that I will be okay this time around. I really slacked last time but I was so excited to be home! Being here though really got me cracking the books... Anyway, I better get back to studying and doing more questions!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

What a day today. Great lectures on GI but a long day for sure. There is nothing I would like more than to take a whole day - better yet a week off and just relax. My practice exam is Saturday however and I need to keep studying. I thought I would be happy that I would not be doing Kaplan this week but studying has been hard, although it is getting better.

Tomorrow is a day off, a full day to get in as much studying as I can. It will be my last full day before Saturday so I hope I get alot done. Basically, on this test I just want to pass and score higher than my last one. I still have alot of material to go over but I would just love a good score to bring up my confidence a little. After tomorrow though I am busy busy! Wednesday I have my pediatric rotation in the morning and our midterm is scheduled for the afternoon. Thursday I will be at the nursing home and Friday we are going to another facility to do opthomology exams until noon. Then comes the best part of my week - my baby is coming up for the weekend yay! Luckily we both have to study so I will be able to get work done while he is here. After the exam though - I am calling it quits for the weekend. So I guess I will get my day off after all, haha.


Anyway, I am beat. Today was long and I had a hard kickboxing class last night (so sore but so fun!) This week is jammed with stuff to do but at least it will go by fast. As for now, I am just chillin' in my little hotel room and trying to get some work done... Better get back to it!

Sunday, March 09, 2008

For those interested...

Hi all! Sorry for my lack of posts but between my tiredness and how busy I have been - yeah, I have been slacking. But things are going well. Our weeks are flying by here and I can't believe the end of next month I actually get a summer break! Gasp! What is a summer break? I forgot! Anyway, as for my studying I have been busting my butt to finish my Kaplan lectures for the past 5 weeks. I am proud to say that I am a week away from being done! This week however I am taking a break to study as much as I can over the notes I have made in my First Aid book to get ready for my practice COMP exam I will be taking on Saturday. After that, my studying continues and probably won't take another practice exam for another couple of weeks.

While I do have alot to talk about my own personal experiences here in Saginaw, I wanted to dedicate this post to those wondering about how the program has been working here. So here it goes....

As for us, Mondays are full days of class 9am-5pm. The lectures are good and are held here at the Ramada Inn. These lectures are a good review but with out feedback may become more clinical as what we are being told most days is basic and we feel we are ready to go beyond. Tuesdays sometimes we have class 9am-noon but other weeks we might not have anything. Wednesdays also are study days for the USMLE. While it might seem wonderful that there is time off - these days are stictly spent to study - so use them!!! Some weeks you might have a peds or psych rotation to do but for us it is only 3 weeks out of the semester. Thursdays are spent at the nursing home in Midland where we spend probably 8am-4pm doing examinations on residents. It is quite nice as the teachers there are doctors and NPs who pick out specific people to find pathologies on. For example, we have had Parkinson's patients, demential, carotid bruits, peripheral vascular disease, basal cell carcinoma, COPD, etc. We still have many organ systems to go which I am sure we will be seeing many more cases. We also do practice SOAP notes as well, which most of you are probably groaning at. The difference here is that we are being trained to do it the clinical way not how the island taught us. In this way, we really feel like we are stepping into the clinical realm and merging into how we need to be. It isn't about having every part of the H&P complete (say when your patient has a specific pathology but you still must do a full physical exam on systems that are not relevant). We are also graded by the faculty here in Michigan and our midterm is actually on Wednesday so we will see how that goes!

Finally, Fridays we have class usually 9am-noon as well. Schedules are subject to change and you need to be flexible! Weekends are open but if you must leave (which they encourage you not to) tell administration as soon as possible to avoid being penalized! As far as scheduling, that is about it! Everyone is so nice here and it has been a great experience so far! We are all looking forward to applying for the rotation program this fall and would love to spend more time with this great facility!

I know alot of people have been messaging me and I apologize for the lateness of this blog's info as well as my attention to their questions! I can say though, that the people here are truly dedicated to make this experience one that will be a great step in moving from the classroom setting into the clinical arena. Every week I am feeling more and more prepared - be it from my time to study for my Step or from my clinical experince as well. I hope this has helped a bit to those wondering what 5th is like here! Let me know if you have more questions! The next class to come through will probably have a different schedule based on the feedback we give and the new ideas that come as well! I can whole-heartedly say that I am happy to be here!

Sorry for all the delay, but I will write more about my own experiences soon! :)