I'm studying for the USMLE Step 1! It's actually pretty exciting. I really should have posted more as I went along.....mnemonics and all.
I just wanted to say that my brain has never been so overworked and exhausted. But it's kinda amazing HOW MUCH I go through in my brain to come up with a differential or a possible answer to questions. This must mean I've learned a lot through this summer prepping for the step....and hopefully from the 2 years of medical school.
Right now, I'm doing a lot of questions and learning from them. My studying is very unorthodox and completely different from what I've done in the past. And it's actually working. I'm seeing my scores improving....slowly though. But it's been very difficult letting of my regular methods of studying.
At this point I've finished my major review and I'm fine-tuning the material I'm weak on...I feel like it's the best use of my time, 2 weeks to the test. I want to make sure test day is another day of hard core studying instead of a sudden brain drainer. So for the next few days, I'm gonna build my endurance on doing sections just like I would on the real test. Hopefully this works because my biggest fear right now getting exhausted and not being able to answer questions in the later sections because I'm tired.
I'm also planning to use some caffeine during the test to give me a boost. I'm gonna experiment with that too as I practice. I hope this really works...I really wanna reach my goal for once. I don't want my score to stop me for once. I've always been a bad test taker but over the past 2 semesters (especially 5th term), I really learned how to study for tests and what to focus on. However, this is the USMLE and anything can be tested....which is scary. But, I will be for it though. I will be....
Deep breaths, one step at a time, learning the material with mnemonics....just some things I'm doing right now. Test day is the 24th. I know it's about 2 weeks...I just don't wanna know the exact number of days, I'm deciding to stay oblivious to it so I can focus on today and getting the most out of my day.
I just wanted to say that my brain has never been so overworked and exhausted. But it's kinda amazing HOW MUCH I go through in my brain to come up with a differential or a possible answer to questions. This must mean I've learned a lot through this summer prepping for the step....and hopefully from the 2 years of medical school.
Right now, I'm doing a lot of questions and learning from them. My studying is very unorthodox and completely different from what I've done in the past. And it's actually working. I'm seeing my scores improving....slowly though. But it's been very difficult letting of my regular methods of studying.
At this point I've finished my major review and I'm fine-tuning the material I'm weak on...I feel like it's the best use of my time, 2 weeks to the test. I want to make sure test day is another day of hard core studying instead of a sudden brain drainer. So for the next few days, I'm gonna build my endurance on doing sections just like I would on the real test. Hopefully this works because my biggest fear right now getting exhausted and not being able to answer questions in the later sections because I'm tired.
I'm also planning to use some caffeine during the test to give me a boost. I'm gonna experiment with that too as I practice. I hope this really works...I really wanna reach my goal for once. I don't want my score to stop me for once. I've always been a bad test taker but over the past 2 semesters (especially 5th term), I really learned how to study for tests and what to focus on. However, this is the USMLE and anything can be tested....which is scary. But, I will be for it though. I will be....
Deep breaths, one step at a time, learning the material with mnemonics....just some things I'm doing right now. Test day is the 24th. I know it's about 2 weeks...I just don't wanna know the exact number of days, I'm deciding to stay oblivious to it so I can focus on today and getting the most out of my day.
