The USMLE

So i completed the USMLE step 1 today.  Everyone always asks how i think it went, but i don't have any answers. When you spend so long studying for a certain test, it just is the way it is. You become numb. I was rather surprised that I was able to comprehend most of the questions and either knew how to guess or didn't (and didn't care). Maybe that's the advantage of having done rotations, no wonder the foreign med grads do so well on it. I do know one thing, to study for it, I started drinking lattes, despite my strict no coffee until residency rule. I brought two lattes to the test and drank one after the first section and one during lunch. i was epically focused.  I guess that i felt like for all the half-assed studying I did I probably didn't deserve the score I got, because somehow I might have been having a good day.

Watch I'll get my scores back and i'll have to eat my words. (gah. dec 14th!)

Anyhow, study tips for those of you who want to know. Don't worry tooo bad about pharm. Its probably what i'm most rusty on and as long as you cover your anti-arrhythmics and psych meds you'll be covered for most of them.  Biochem pretty much focused on those enzymes with an associated disease-- common disease (think Gaucher's and SCID and pyrovate dehydrogenase deficiency).  Micro bugs were more fair than the COMLEX- since the COMLEX focused on all the unusals and fungi and my USMLE seemed to cover tons of viruses. I got lots of questions about understanding why-- like if you have a certain immuno deficiency you are more susceptible to Neiserria or how a certain bacteria causes a problem (aka virulence factors)...  Immuno was really mixed in with everything else. If you know it its a huge plus but you can figure it out with all the other clues if you know your micro and biochem.  I guess focus special on the deficiencies. There really is no more advice i can give, do lots of USMLE World questions. Read first aid at least once.

I guess i will post more later once i have the score back.

EDIT: so scores are back. Passed but didn't do well. Def not the equivalent of what i did on the COMLEX. I don't really know what that means. Am I not smart enough for the things I want to do, did i have a bad day, am i behind?  I don't know.