Well the date is set: June 9th, 2008 @ 10am I will be taking on the Step exam! I am SO glad to have it scheduled but strange how such a little thing can finally make me start freaking out. Yesterday me and 10 other girls went to see the midnight showing of Sex and the City! Sooooooo very good! Loved it! As soon as I got back, I figured that I would check my email and there it was - my testing permit after nearly a month!
Since I took my COMP in Michigan and it was a new thing, they couldn't find or have record of our scores which delayed my permit by an EXTRA two weeks, grrrr... But I am lucky and as soon as I got my permit I could sign up for the next week. I wanted to do the Saturday but upon refreshing my browser - it was already gone!!! So I stayed up (now being ~4am) to decide when I was going to take this bad boy. I decided on the next possible chance on Monday at 10am. It is at the nearest site to my house, about a 25 minute drive. Starting at 10am means that I will be out sometime around 6ish in the afternoon so that isn't too bad. So strange to think that in 10 days it will all be over. I am starting to wig.
Since I have started my studying after my 1st failed COMP, my scores on practice tests have went up and up. 175, 190, 198! Yay, well... I took another test, the USMLE.org's 150 question practice test. I did very well on it and scored to what they said would correlate to a 219. I am now seeking advice on what to make of such a correlation. I improved from a 175-190 in a matter of two weeks so why couldn't I get a 219 after a month? Anyway, bottom line is I am practically disregarding that test because I don't believe it nor think it is valid. Maybe I will give myself credit and consider it to be a 209 to keep me grounded. Ugh, I don't know. I guess the best way to find out would be to just keep taking practice exams. I've done the NBME form 3 & 4 and the usmle.org's practice test and still have the UW one to take and forms 5 & 6 if I can squeeze them all in. I would at least like to take UW and one more form. As long as those scores are decent - I'm happy. If not, well I guess I am stuck now aren't I? Hahaha.
Anyway, time to start the day. Wish me luck on all the practice questions I can fit in!!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Happy 200th Post!
Whew! I've done alot of writin' huh? It has been so great to get out all my experiences and just vent, I have to admit!
Well, studying is... going. I am really getting a tad anxious about how much I can actually get done before the first week of June. The ECFMG will be getting my paperwork on Monday (late, long story grrrr) and hopefully by the end of the week I can pick my date. I really am trying to squeeze in as much as I can before then but I am just a bit worried. Here is the biggest test of my life really and I have to take it ASAP for the Saginaw program or risk doing my clinicals away from home. Sigh. It's an obvious choice for me which some might not understand - but I choose home anytime.
I keep forgetting all the work I did for the COMP this time - I worked my butt off hard. Now that it is over I'm like, "Ok, now to study for the Step!". That mentality is killing me. I haven't JUST started studying, I have been studying all along. In that sense I have been doing alot of work for the Step as well. I started Goljan path (again) Monday and am already past half way done so that is good but even though I still want to read mroe Kaplan notes and my First Aid (again), I have to start doing more and more questions and practice tests. I keep increasing my score but I really need to get higher to be more comfortable with the idea of taking this thing so much sooner than expected. I will be taking another exam next week, I hope. Then one more before the test. I am hoping that I can hit a decent score in the 200s, but we will have to see.
Prayers and advice are always appreciated! But I better get back to work! XOXO
Well, studying is... going. I am really getting a tad anxious about how much I can actually get done before the first week of June. The ECFMG will be getting my paperwork on Monday (late, long story grrrr) and hopefully by the end of the week I can pick my date. I really am trying to squeeze in as much as I can before then but I am just a bit worried. Here is the biggest test of my life really and I have to take it ASAP for the Saginaw program or risk doing my clinicals away from home. Sigh. It's an obvious choice for me which some might not understand - but I choose home anytime.
I keep forgetting all the work I did for the COMP this time - I worked my butt off hard. Now that it is over I'm like, "Ok, now to study for the Step!". That mentality is killing me. I haven't JUST started studying, I have been studying all along. In that sense I have been doing alot of work for the Step as well. I started Goljan path (again) Monday and am already past half way done so that is good but even though I still want to read mroe Kaplan notes and my First Aid (again), I have to start doing more and more questions and practice tests. I keep increasing my score but I really need to get higher to be more comfortable with the idea of taking this thing so much sooner than expected. I will be taking another exam next week, I hope. Then one more before the test. I am hoping that I can hit a decent score in the 200s, but we will have to see.
Prayers and advice are always appreciated! But I better get back to work! XOXO
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Back on the study train...
Argh, boy-boy I wish I could just have a summer vacation like I used to in high school. Lifeguarding by the pool, getting a tan and pretty much no other responsibilities. Oh well, it's not so bad now. I am back to studying now for my Step exam and am pretty sure I have about a month to go or less. My date isn't secure yet but as soon as I can set it, I will be taking it pretty much as soon as possible. The Synergy program needs our scores by around mid-July so I have to be quick. You'd think this would make me want to study hard 24/7 until then - and then - have a nice looooong break until rotations start, but no. I'm tired and don't feel like doing much.
Despite this, I have done biochem videos again and am now moving onto physio. So I guess you could say there is progress being made but I am just ready to get to get a break and moreso, to get into clinicals! Life will be so different then. It's funny, studying medicine is just constantly starting new situations, getting used to them, then having to change it up all over again. There was applying, actually deciding to go to a foreign country, making it through there, starting up with our ICM classes which was new in terms of starting clinical experience, doing 5th semester, taking the COMP (in my case twice, haha - it's okay you can laugh too since I passed :P) and now working towards the Step. Each I have undertaken, gotten used to but just when I get used to it, it's time for something new!
Anyhoo - at least I feel ready for the next experiences coming up! In the meantime, I better get back to studying and, when I am taking a break, work on planning our wedding!!! Such a fun distraction!
Despite this, I have done biochem videos again and am now moving onto physio. So I guess you could say there is progress being made but I am just ready to get to get a break and moreso, to get into clinicals! Life will be so different then. It's funny, studying medicine is just constantly starting new situations, getting used to them, then having to change it up all over again. There was applying, actually deciding to go to a foreign country, making it through there, starting up with our ICM classes which was new in terms of starting clinical experience, doing 5th semester, taking the COMP (in my case twice, haha - it's okay you can laugh too since I passed :P) and now working towards the Step. Each I have undertaken, gotten used to but just when I get used to it, it's time for something new!
Anyhoo - at least I feel ready for the next experiences coming up! In the meantime, I better get back to studying and, when I am taking a break, work on planning our wedding!!! Such a fun distraction!
Saturday, May 03, 2008
I PASSED!!!!!!!
YAYYYYY! To my surprise, yes it is true - I have conquered the Comp exam! I am so relieved, so happy - I just honestly don't have words. I'm not going to lie, I cried when I got the email. I have been dreading getting the scores back but just knowing this is behind me now - wow, so ready to move on!!! I improved from a 62% to a 69% (approximately a 198 on the Step). That is just fine with me, I am constantly improving with each practice exam and now the Comp, that I am honestly ready to hit the books back up and get working to the USMLE Step 1 Medical Board Exam!!! I am sure that things will work out well with it and I am so ready to get to my rotations and get to graduatin' (okay a little far off lol)!
So now, I have filled out my Step 1 application and sent it in to New Jersey awaiting approval and ECFMG notification to pick my exam date and location! Craziness! It still hasn't hit me that I am at this point in my education - and I really think I do need to do what Tony and my parents and say and take a step back and just look at all I've done. It has been quite the road to get where I am and like I told my Dad, I wouldn't have it any other way looking back. Everything has happened for a certain purpose and has lead me to the life I am living now and person that I have become to be! Time to soak it all in and carry that with me through my next journey!
I just want to thank everyone for their encouragement and support. It would have been so hard to do this without it! From my family, friends, my Tony and those who post comments on my blog - THANK YOU! You are loved and appreciated so very much. So much work and prayer has gone into this exam and it's now time to continue on! No rest for the weary! Haha, okay maybe one more day of funness!
Much love!
So now, I have filled out my Step 1 application and sent it in to New Jersey awaiting approval and ECFMG notification to pick my exam date and location! Craziness! It still hasn't hit me that I am at this point in my education - and I really think I do need to do what Tony and my parents and say and take a step back and just look at all I've done. It has been quite the road to get where I am and like I told my Dad, I wouldn't have it any other way looking back. Everything has happened for a certain purpose and has lead me to the life I am living now and person that I have become to be! Time to soak it all in and carry that with me through my next journey!
I just want to thank everyone for their encouragement and support. It would have been so hard to do this without it! From my family, friends, my Tony and those who post comments on my blog - THANK YOU! You are loved and appreciated so very much. So much work and prayer has gone into this exam and it's now time to continue on! No rest for the weary! Haha, okay maybe one more day of funness!
Much love!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
