I post on Student Doc so at times I like to share on my blog my thoughts from there.
There are a lot of opinions out there of what to study and spend time on for the USMLE steps
I like to tell people its better to focus on a set few books and material then a large number because it will overwhelm most people to have many sources.
First off and important is TAKE STEP ONE FIRST
Step one is the hardest one anyway
A lot of people love USMLE World (UW) for all the steps and I'm now thinking prep for anyone who have not been in the US system should be like this
9 to 10 months prep for step one
UW Q bank
1st aid
Kaplan course ( includes their material and Q bank )
NBME tests
3 to 6 months for Step two CK (after passing step one)
Master the boards step two Kaplan
UW Q bank ( do it twice)
Maybe other Kaplan review and books like Deja Review
1st aid for step one ( yes because a lot of step one material is on step two)
3 months practice for Step two CS
make sure you have a practice patient
Use 1st aid CS, its all you need
Bates for how to perform exams
I'm now ECFMG certified so I have experience with passing these exams
Step three is what I'm working on now
I'm using
Master the boards step 3 (Kaplan Dr. Fisher)
Deja review step 2
Kaplan Q bank step 3 (Follows MTB ) for a year its $180
Dr. Bill
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
More on SOAP
ERAS sent out emails yesterday
- Allows you to apply or re-apply to a total of 5 ACGME-accredited programs
Again to participate you must be
A US grad
or
ECFMG Certified
and
Had been in the primary match through the NRMP
I think I have to be in SOAP rounds so I will report how it goes.
Applicants may still apply or re-apply to a total of 45 ACGME-accredited programs during SOAP from 1:00 pm ET March 12 – 5:00 pm ET March 16. However, a maximum allotted number of submissions are allowed each day. These are absolute maximums – applicants will not be able to apply to more than that during the SOAP cycle, even if you are willing to pay a fee to do so.
SOAP Cycle 1 – Monday, March 12th 1:00 PM – Wednesday, March 14th 11:59 AM
- Allows you to apply or re-apply to a total of 30 ACGME-accredited programs
- Allows you to apply or re-apply to a total of 30 ACGME-accredited programs
SOAP Cycle 2 – Wednesday, March 14th 12:00 noon – Thursday, March 15th 11:59 AM
- Allows you to apply or re-apply to a total of 10 ACGME-accredited Programs
SOAP Cycle 3 - Thursday, March 15th 12:00 noon – Friday, March 16th 5:00 PM- Allows you to apply or re-apply to a total of 10 ACGME-accredited Programs
- Allows you to apply or re-apply to a total of 5 ACGME-accredited programs
Again to participate you must be
A US grad
or
ECFMG Certified
and
Had been in the primary match through the NRMP
I think I have to be in SOAP rounds so I will report how it goes.
Monday, February 20, 2012
New SOAP in the Residency Match
I'm participating in the 2012 Residency Match.........
I think I may have to go into the SOAP part of it now.
SOAP WEBINAR
What is SOAP? It's replacing the scramble when programs have unfilled positions and grads are unmatched (Like I think I will be)
SOAP:
1. A Grad must be a US senior or ECFMG certified to participate
2. Must be Unmatched
3. FMG cannot fax applications as in the past to apply during SOAP ( scramble ) all applications must be done through ERAS.
4. An applicant must be registered for the NRMP system, certified and ERAS application system to participate during SOAP week
This process should be a positive for those of us who did not match since those who in the past that were not ECFMG certified or had already Matched cannot apply.
I think I may have to go into the SOAP part of it now.
SOAP WEBINAR
What is SOAP? It's replacing the scramble when programs have unfilled positions and grads are unmatched (Like I think I will be)
SOAP:
1. A Grad must be a US senior or ECFMG certified to participate
2. Must be Unmatched
3. FMG cannot fax applications as in the past to apply during SOAP ( scramble ) all applications must be done through ERAS.
4. An applicant must be registered for the NRMP system, certified and ERAS application system to participate during SOAP week
This process should be a positive for those of us who did not match since those who in the past that were not ECFMG certified or had already Matched cannot apply.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The real Caribbean Medical School
Over the years I have posted about my experiences and Caribbean schools. I feel its time to post a real perspective on the topic.
What St. Georges, American University of the Caribbean, Ross ( Big 3) and the 30 other Caribbean medical schools do not want you to know is that out of all the apply and go to the schools only 40 to 30% ever finish and end up in a residency.
Schools Fault? Heck no!
Students Fault.
The big 3 mentioned require an MCAT and have a higher % ( 40 to 60%) that do complete and go into residencies, the other 30 odd schools its as low as 5% to 30%.
Why is this Dr. Bill?
several factors
1. Poor students: Did not take the MCAT ( getting a 24 or higher on the MCAT one should be able to pass the USMLE at least 70% of the time) Low GPA's
2. Students who do not study and unable to learn the material
3. Students with out funds to finish ( can cost 200k USD to finish)
4. Can't pass USMLE step 1
The schools offer an opportunity to study medicine, being accepted is an opportunity not that the person will be a Doctor.
The last 10 years has seen the USMLE evolved into one of the hardest medical tests in the world.
This is partly due to Indian Doctors who have been practicing in India making a low income in India want to come to the US to practice. They live meager lives and study for 6 months to a year at a time for each step to obtain a "99" on the test. Many of them do.
Because of this it has caused the USMLE to become harder but it has also caused a change in the reporting of scores in 2011. "99" now is almost impossible to obtain.
On the FMG message boards there is anger at the new scoring and disbelief.
With the increase in difficulty on the USMLE the US will get what it wants, less FMG's but more US students may struggle with getting decent scores or even passing. (The US has always had a 5 to 10% fail rate that gets ignored by US)
Facts about Caribbean schools
1. You study Basic science ( Book study) on the islands (US model)
2. You study Clinical science ( years 3 and 4) in US hospitals with same instructors as US medical students, hands on learning.
3. Except for sitting in a classroom for lecture in the US, Caribbean students and US students share the same education.
Indian students
1. Study Medicine in a non US model
2. Hands on is in India
3. They do an intern year plus in India
4. US experience is by observing
So are they smarter in the past? No they have months to years to sit and study and study and study for the USMLE test, Caribbean and US students have weeks to prepare. Big difference.
Passing the USMLE does not mean that the Doctor is accustomed to the US and our way of life, these Doctors have experienced and are from a different culture, US Caribbean students like me are from our culture here in the US.
Advantages of US Caribbean Medical students over the Indian and other FMG's
1. Most of us if not all are from the US and Canada
2. We are from North American Culture.
3. English is our first language.
4. Hands on US clinical experience.
I'm not anti Indian or FMG, on the contrary I believe we should have Doctors from all over, but I'm tired of the belief that Caribbean students are so much different than US medical Grads, we are not, we are more alike than different.
Final thought:
"It's the Student not the School"
Dr. Bill
What St. Georges, American University of the Caribbean, Ross ( Big 3) and the 30 other Caribbean medical schools do not want you to know is that out of all the apply and go to the schools only 40 to 30% ever finish and end up in a residency.
Schools Fault? Heck no!
Students Fault.
The big 3 mentioned require an MCAT and have a higher % ( 40 to 60%) that do complete and go into residencies, the other 30 odd schools its as low as 5% to 30%.
Why is this Dr. Bill?
several factors
1. Poor students: Did not take the MCAT ( getting a 24 or higher on the MCAT one should be able to pass the USMLE at least 70% of the time) Low GPA's
2. Students who do not study and unable to learn the material
3. Students with out funds to finish ( can cost 200k USD to finish)
4. Can't pass USMLE step 1
The schools offer an opportunity to study medicine, being accepted is an opportunity not that the person will be a Doctor.
The last 10 years has seen the USMLE evolved into one of the hardest medical tests in the world.
This is partly due to Indian Doctors who have been practicing in India making a low income in India want to come to the US to practice. They live meager lives and study for 6 months to a year at a time for each step to obtain a "99" on the test. Many of them do.
Because of this it has caused the USMLE to become harder but it has also caused a change in the reporting of scores in 2011. "99" now is almost impossible to obtain.
On the FMG message boards there is anger at the new scoring and disbelief.
With the increase in difficulty on the USMLE the US will get what it wants, less FMG's but more US students may struggle with getting decent scores or even passing. (The US has always had a 5 to 10% fail rate that gets ignored by US)
Facts about Caribbean schools
1. You study Basic science ( Book study) on the islands (US model)
2. You study Clinical science ( years 3 and 4) in US hospitals with same instructors as US medical students, hands on learning.
3. Except for sitting in a classroom for lecture in the US, Caribbean students and US students share the same education.
Indian students
1. Study Medicine in a non US model
2. Hands on is in India
3. They do an intern year plus in India
4. US experience is by observing
So are they smarter in the past? No they have months to years to sit and study and study and study for the USMLE test, Caribbean and US students have weeks to prepare. Big difference.
Passing the USMLE does not mean that the Doctor is accustomed to the US and our way of life, these Doctors have experienced and are from a different culture, US Caribbean students like me are from our culture here in the US.
Advantages of US Caribbean Medical students over the Indian and other FMG's
1. Most of us if not all are from the US and Canada
2. We are from North American Culture.
3. English is our first language.
4. Hands on US clinical experience.
I'm not anti Indian or FMG, on the contrary I believe we should have Doctors from all over, but I'm tired of the belief that Caribbean students are so much different than US medical Grads, we are not, we are more alike than different.
Final thought:
"It's the Student not the School"
Dr. Bill
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Caribbean Medical School and US medical school Differences?
Differences between US medical schools and Caribbean medical schools?
Differences:
Obvious Location
Except for SGU, the Caribbean medical schools enjoy 3 semesters a year and its a real rat race to cover the same material as the US medical schools.
US schools are LCME accredited and LCME will not accredit any school outside the USA.
Caribbean schools are Accredited by the countries they are in and IMED / WHO listed.
Similarities:
Instruction in English
I used the same books as other medical students I knew at both DO and MD schools. When we compared notes when I was in Basic science ( 2006 - 2007) it was the same material and tests.
1.5 years in the Caribbean for Basic science and the rest is in the USA along side US students.
I had clinicals in places like Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore MD. along side students from a DO school and MD USA med schools.
Same USMLE tests.
I think the difficulties a Carib grad has is based on pure bias and is unfair.
Differences:
Obvious Location
Except for SGU, the Caribbean medical schools enjoy 3 semesters a year and its a real rat race to cover the same material as the US medical schools.
US schools are LCME accredited and LCME will not accredit any school outside the USA.
Caribbean schools are Accredited by the countries they are in and IMED / WHO listed.
Similarities:
Instruction in English
I used the same books as other medical students I knew at both DO and MD schools. When we compared notes when I was in Basic science ( 2006 - 2007) it was the same material and tests.
1.5 years in the Caribbean for Basic science and the rest is in the USA along side US students.
I had clinicals in places like Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore MD. along side students from a DO school and MD USA med schools.
Same USMLE tests.
I think the difficulties a Carib grad has is based on pure bias and is unfair.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
WOW been a long road Update today
Back on Nov 30th 2011 I took CS in Atlanta
This AM I had the wonderful email
"your score is ready"
Yep Nov 30th till Feb 1st to find out if you screwed up or did well.
I did not screw up, I passed CS!
I'm now ECFMG certified!
studying for step three and praying for a residency
There is a new change in the Match this year instead of scramble its called
SOAP
Guess they wanted to "clean up the match"
GL all
This AM I had the wonderful email
"your score is ready"
Yep Nov 30th till Feb 1st to find out if you screwed up or did well.
I did not screw up, I passed CS!
I'm now ECFMG certified!
studying for step three and praying for a residency
There is a new change in the Match this year instead of scramble its called
SOAP
Guess they wanted to "clean up the match"
GL all
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