How I prepared for USMLE Step 1
I wasn’t very serious about USMLE during my MBBS 🩺. I was using Kaplan since I was in my third year. The purpose behind doing Kaplan was to get knowledge only.
During that time, I also watched Dr. Najeeb’s lecture 🎬 on some topics I wanted to know In-depth like
- Neuroanatomy 🧠
- Embryology
- Basis of neoplasia
- Hematology 🩸
I didn’t do anything in my final year for USMLE 
. I just focused on the final MBBS 
.
During my internship, my whole focus was on applying for electives and getting a visa. I was reading FA only during this period.
After completing my internship in March, I started doing offline Uworld. I completed it in nearly 2.5 months then I did FA revision for a week and then bought Uworld 📘. During this period, I watch boards and beyond and sketchy micro 🦠.
As I was already so late, I bought Uworld for 3 months only. I completed it in 2 months and then give my UWSA 1 🤾♀️. I scored 255. Then I did FA revision for 15 days. I haven’t done the Uworld second pass online. I only did mark and wrong questions. It was a quick review.
After buying Uworld, I started to apply for an exam. Which took nearly 5 months for me. (I won’t be writing that story here. That’s a long story.)
Then I started doing NBMEs some online and some offline 3 / week. As I haven’t given any NBME before and I had so much time because my application was rejected and I had to apply for step 1 all over again.
It took me a month to give all NBME old and new, UWSA 2, and FA assessments (Do it only if you have extra time like me otherwise you can skip it). Got 255 on UWSA 2. NBME score was between 245-257.
While waiting for my permit I Was reading FA only to revise and know some topics in more depth 
so that I don’t make any silly mistakes.
During all this I was solving AMBOSS as and when I get time.
My take-home advice is to read FA as much as you can and try to absorb every word of it. Do not just memorize it but try to understand it thoroughly.
Anki 📇: As Indian students, we are not familiar with using Anki, so I started doing Anki but was not comfortable doing it so I quit it after using it for 20 days. But if you’re in the initial phase of your studies surely you can use Anki. I would suggest making your decks of volatile topics.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Good luck. 🍀
