Egyptians Can Do it too!!!


For long time, I was surprised, why most of people who get above 90s
esp 99
in the USMLE mostly are Indians or Pakis (Pakistani). Till, I did it,
and
scored about 90!!

Do they have better brains than us? sure no. Did they study more in
medical
school than us? also no, as USMLE system has different approach than
the
England system which Pakistan, India and Egypt follow in their medical
schools.

So what? I met a paki girl, and we became very good friends, and she
began
to show me how she studies, and most of her people do. She scored 92,
and 94
in 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,
and
more clinical bla bla bla. All this is nonsense!

Much of step 2, need good base understanding of the physiology, and the
pathology happened, what is the most common organism did this, or what
is
the metabolic error..etc. without this BASE, u will never score above
82, 85
at most.

so start with step 1, it will take a lot of time and effort, but it
worth
it, it is as if u r putting the bases of a skytower, the deeper and
stronger
the 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,
they
reply "I just want to pass and go to USA" . Going to USA is their main
concern, not getting a high score, that will help them much in finding
a
residency. Without ambition and goal, u r looking no further than ur
feet. U
have to look further... what if u get a low score? u will suffer a lot
to
find a residency. Ur goal then should be set, to learning more, showing
up
ur knowledge, and acing the exam.

Thrid

The material u study from and the schedule

The best source I found till now, is Kaplan lecture notes + their LIVE
lecture audio. Those will take u hand by hand through the most
difficult
parts in step 1, like the tough Biochemical reactions, or how to
memorize
the organisms, or to understand the physiology of an organ. U can spend
a
week 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
teacher
taking ur hand through the jungles. By this, u will save a week for
other
stuff, and ur study will be more effective & productive.

The material I used, and mostly used and helpful

1- Kaplan Live lecture + their audio in all subjects, the complete
course.

2- Pathology:

Goljan Review; Goljan is a mastermind, his book is condensed, but very
helpful 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 (PLEASE
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF STUDYING FROM BIG SOURCES THAT U WILL NEVER
SKIM
THE 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE EXAM). Yes, BRS is enough for 90% of Pathology,
if u
don't undestand something, just refer to a text, then return to this
great
book. I studied Blood, Lymphoma and Leukemia from this book, as it was
too
detailed in Goljan.

3- Physiology:

BRS Physiology is great, simple tell u in simple words the most
important
concepts. I only studied the Endocrine section from Kaplan Lectures, as
it
has there lot of clinical scenarios.

4-Microbiology:

Kaplan Lectures, and don't panic if u don;t see lot of info under every
organism, THIS IS THE ONLY THINGS U NEED TO KNOW FOR USMLE. Don't get
so
detailed in Jawetz textbook, it is just a waste of time and effort. U
will
not review it before the exam.

Another book vey nice is MICROBIOLOGY MADE REDICULOUSLY SIMPLE. This
book is
hilarious! as if u r reading a comic, u will never forget it. I used
the
pictures in it and there is wonderful tables and charts, esp the
classification of Viruses. I photocopoied the tables and put them
beside me
on the desk, and in just 2 hours, I review the whole microbiology by
going
thru this table. and it is almost complete.

5- Immunology:

from the Jawetz textbook, it well written there, concise. This part
needs
UNDERSTANDING not memorizing, so I suggest u listen to Kaplan Live
lectures
while studying it. Once u understood it, u will never forget it.

6- Pharmacology:

Kaplan Lectures + Audio is enough, don't kill urself with Lippincott.
Just
the 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
sometimes
study from High Yield Behavioral Science, but the Kaplan Lecture is
better.

9- Neuroanatomy, Anatomy, Embryology

High Yield series by Dudek, or Kaplan Lectures. Know Neuroanatomy like
ur
name, very important. and it is not difficult at all, if u listen to
the
audio lectures (this is the trick!!) otherwise, u will spend days and
weeks
and still overwhelmed.

Other reviews Sources:

1- First Aid, this book is not for studying, it is for summarize most
of
what u studied, read it only after u study well, otherwise, u will not
know
how important the info their.

2- Do Questions only after u know ur theory, after u study. Don' t
begin
with it, or it will be useless. Qbank, is good, Board Simulator is
good, 2
blocks of the exam was same style as NMS exams, by Lazo. Long and non
understandable questions. Otherwise, the questions are answerable.

3- Underground Clinical Vignettes..... in my opinion, not important, as
all
the clinical vigenettes will be covered in Kaplan, and they will never
ask u
in the same way they put it in UCV.







Schedule of Studying

that 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 u
can't memorize the names of organisms, then it is time to START that.
YES, u
have to do ur homework and start studying what u don't like. Also u
always
forget the names of Drugs, then, u must study pharmacology first. All
IMGS
are good in pathology and physiology, cuz we studied it later in
clinical
years, 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
needs
time to DIGEST the concepts and names of cycles and enzymes, so u
should
study it early in the course (All of us never studied Bio that way in
our
medical schools, so don't panic). The main concept is: what happens
when we
eat carbo, lipid, and protien? and what happens when we are hungry?
Also
molecular biology is very high yield. BEST WAY TO MASTER IT? Kaplan
Lectures+ Live Audio Lectures . Take my word, Don't look any further.

2- Then, study Microbiology and Immunology: u will have hard time
pronouncing the name of organism, but with repitition, u will know it
like
ur friends names! REMEMBER IT IS PRACTICE THAT MAKES THE BEST FOOTBALL
PLAYERS, BEST GUITARIST, AND BEST SCORES IN USMLE. Repeat the names
over and
over, before u go to bed, when u wake up, after lunch.... then u will
master
it.

3- Thirds most difficult subject for IMGs is BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE: u will
not
discover how important and sweet this is, except at the end. Our
retarded
medical education system, never showed us the importance of it, and
HERE in
USMLE, u will discover that. Epidemiology, Statistics, Defensive
Mechanism,
Personality Disorders. All explained perfectly in Kaplan Lectures +
Audio. I
love this guy who teaches it, he is from Rush University in Chicago....
If u
hear this guy once, u will never forget him.

After u finish those 3 subjects, the rest are moderate difficulty. Go
for
Physiology 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
invent
drugs, by mimicking, or antagonizing physilogical effect. E.g, when u
study
action potenital and role of Na channels, u will realize how
Carbamazepine
and Phynotoin works, by blocking Na channels, so no action potential,
so no
firing 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 are
there.

Last to do, is Neuroanatomy, Anatomy and Embryology. Study Neuroanatomy
with
CNS Pathology, closely related, adn HIGH Yield. Use always atlas to
memorize
different 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't
get 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.