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USMLE STEP 2 CS Exam Experiences Database
Click here to share your STEP 2 CS experience in this database
| User Name |
mvrlqqawdzd |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
PGY2 |
| Exam on |
11/30/1999 |
Result on |
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| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
7 |
| Failed Component |
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Exam Center |
Atlanta |
| City |
Atlanta |
Hotel Name |
Day’s Inn (College Park) |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Months
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
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| User Name |
Palak |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
05/20/2009 |
Result on |
06/24/2009 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Chicago |
| City |
Chicago |
Hotel Name |
My Friend’s/ relative’s place |
| Duration Prepared |
1 Month
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Hotel Reviews
Days Inn Ohare west.
Cheaper and close by. |
Experience
First Aid,Notes, Live practice.
Exam began wid jitters, but not to worry so much, stay clam and cool- thats what really matters, try to stay focussed, make ur own proforma,
always make pnemonics before u enter the room, never forget to greet, show
empathy, courtesy, wash hands,drape and undrape the patient.
I had ran short of timein two cases
but did well in others, dont worry if you forget to ask some qs but always complete the case, do counselling right there instead of at the end.
Have a good practice wid ur partnera n u will get thru. |
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| User Name |
hippocratus |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
04/17/2009 |
Result on |
06/24/2009 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
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Exam Center |
Houston |
| City |
Houston |
Hotel Name |
Baymont Houston North |
| Duration Prepared |
1 Month
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Hotel Reviews
greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!! |
Experience
Hey guys:
first of all. the bokk first aid is the bible of step 2 cs coz it has alot of simple but usefull notes. and its cases are comprehensive and fully detailed.
and also neeraj's note is more than great and I hope to meet the author some day to thank him personaly.
the only thing that cs needs is practice, practice, and practice.
we all can get the books and study it but that's not enough you have to practice with any one, freinds, med students residents, real patients etc. any body in the world try you meet, try to pactice with him.
about exam day, it's stressful, actually the whole idea of cs is stressful, for th IMGs ofcourse, but don't worry you'll be fine.
I hope every one to pass cs and I'm sure you'll if you want my freinds.
plz hope luck for me coz I'm prepairing for step2 CK and I'm out of time.
take care
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| User Name |
pratikchhatbar |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
04/27/2009 |
Result on |
07/01/2009 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
2 |
| Failed Component |
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Exam Center |
Philadelphia |
| City |
Philadelphia |
Hotel Name |
My Friend�s/ relative�s place |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
1. used first-aid usmle.
2. this time extensively with the differential diagnosis exercise (section 3) and did all the cases from section 4 with a resident in neurology, who was undergoing her general IM rotations.
3. didn't do anything drastically different from my first attempt, except that the exam was in the afternoon - saw familiar faces as last year in the staff, but the SP and the trainer were all different. The cases were comparatively easier, and I was prepared more nicely after having prepared for CK especially. Used computer to type out and everything like last time.
4. Having prepared for CK gives the best platform to make the differential diagnoses and also helps decide what relevant history and physical should be prioritized in the short time of patient interaction. So, it would be nice if you are familiar at least with CK type questions - you don't have to give the exam, but at least must have done ~1000 questions and that should help you a lot. Other obvious tip is to do auscultate RS/CVS in every patient and do hand/wrist/knee/elbow jerk in each patient since you might end-up putting hypothyroidism in a lot of cases as differential diagnosis. Make sure you do closing very well in each case- it is okay not to elicit too much of history/physical once you know you have enough to make a story in PN. Just talk to the patient and get out! Good luck folks, God bless!! |
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| User Name |
irfan qamar |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
08/28/2009 |
Result on |
10/14/2009 |
| Result |
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Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
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Exam Center |
Los Angeles |
| City |
Los Angeles |
Hotel Name |
My Friend’s/ relative’s place |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
study usmle world n kaplan
prepare it with a frnd which i found on a web site forum
exam is a easy one i din completed two of my cases and wuz doing last part of exam so wuz nt able to do counseling n forget to wash hand on one pt only bt these sort of mistakes are committed by every one
did my rest 9 cases very well n well ahead of time
be kewl ad as polite as u can keeping ur sp alwaz at ease n comfort is the key issue to pass |
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| User Name |
way2go |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
05/12/2009 |
Result on |
06/24/2009 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Philadelphia |
| City |
Philadelphia |
Hotel Name |
Sheraton University |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Months
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Hotel Reviews
its the best hotel with 50$ discout for examiees,very near to the center-just 2 block away,wi-fi connection was available.
food was yummy & yeah there was iron table & hair dryer 2-thank god i could press my labcoat :)
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Experience
i used first aid +uworld + neeraj's notes
practise,practise & practise is the only way to succeed in this acting skilled exam.
i was doing my electives & gave exam after 15 days of electives.electives thing help u a lot as u dirctly interact with the patients & get oriented with us medical system.
on exam day,try to keep cool.dont b panic.
try to finish the history part 7-8 min,physical in 4-5 min & closure in 2-3 mins.
be as sweet & as polite as u can!
for pn writing,do ur homework of memorising dd'w well..
u'll get through..good luck!
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| User Name |
NIRAV |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
07/16/2009 |
Result on |
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| Result |
|
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
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Exam Center |
Philadelphia |
| City |
Philadelphia |
Hotel Name |
My Friend’s/ relative’s place |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
I STILL HAVE TO TAKE IT |
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| User Name |
Chirurgien |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
PGY1 |
| Exam on |
04/22/2008 |
Result on |
06/18/2008 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Los Angeles |
| City |
Los Angeles |
Hotel Name |
My Friend’s/ relative’s place |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
USMLE WORLD
FIRST AID
A friend who is also preparing for the exam can really help with the timing and pointing out your mistakes. |
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| User Name |
sarah |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
12/04/2007 |
Result on |
02/15/2008 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Atlanta |
| City |
Atlanta |
Hotel Name |
Econo Lodge (College Park) |
| Duration Prepared |
3 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
- |
Experience
http://myjourneytomd.blogspot.com/ |
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| User Name |
pratikchhatbar |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
06/02/2008 |
Result on |
08/06/2008 |
| Result |
fail |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Philadelphia |
| City |
Philadelphia |
Hotel Name |
My Friend’s/ relative’s place |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
1. First Aid, usmleworld notes, friends' notes
2. Reading ~1 hr/day because of busy graduate schedule. Daily practice of pt encounter of ~1-2 cases/day. Extensive pt encounter practice on friends who just gave exam before me and who attended Kaplan classes. I should have concentrated more on symptomatology and specific questions to ask to the patients.
3. Reached test center on time, ~15 candidates have arrived already; staff was cooperative. Keep in mind that the SPs know only what they are trained with. If you ask something and they start thinking, take it as an irrelevant quesion.. It might not be irrelevant for real life though. I had a telephonic case with pediatric constipation and when I tried to elicit history of obstipation, the mother got totally confused! I forgot to cover my first patient before examination and she acted being embarrassed and I didn't get the hint! Then on asking why she is embarassed, she directly requested to cover her - but i did well with other cases, so I passed with interpersonal skills! I went over the time in one case. Couldn't pull out enough information from a case with h/o depression and may be a case with h/o forgetfulness (old age). Used computer to write pt notes and used the Ctrl+C Ctrl+V function freely, to move sentences within and between the history part and examination part.
4. Practice on cases a lot, it would be helpful to practice on friends who have given CS or who will give CS soon. Work more on CNS examination, as it takes a lot of time. Be confident, keep smiling a little and be attentive to your patients - they will help you a lot! And don't forget basic things like greeting, handshake, draping, hand washing and at the end summarizing the condition and closing remarks with some advice.
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| User Name |
Dr.Sucheta |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
07/03/2008 |
Result on |
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| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Houston |
| City |
Houston |
Hotel Name |
My Friend’s/ relative’s place |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
Friends, The CS is essentially easy but stressful. Anybody can make mistakes and so did I. My friends had advised me to carry on talking to the patient even as I washed my hands before starting each examination. This was a very good ploy because the 'Any questions for me' issue is addressed even if you run out of time at the end. Once I forgot to drape and started my inspection.I realized my mistake when I finished my head neck inspection and got to the chest. I apologized for my oversight, told the SP 'let me get the drape in place before I proceed any further' , washed my hands again and continued. I completely forgot to do an MMSE on my diabetic patient with forgetfulness and confusion..but I did take a very thorough history of his activities of daily living. It also pays to make a polite inquiry of who drove him to hospital and if he needs assistance calling a cab on his way out. Also whether he has a spouse waiting aand if he wants to call her in on the conversation. Empathy, even enacted, pays. Another case, just like Dr.Pavan, I started jotting notes after starting examination!! Apologized smoothly and washed my hands again before proceeding further. And the grand finale..the sterile cover for the otoscope came off and got stuck in the SP's ear!! Profuse apologies and a smile..throw away the used one, use a new one and watch out for blunders!! You may find it useful to watch american soaps with fast paced dialogue like 'Friends' and 'Raymond'..especially if captioning is available. It helps a lot with accent recognition. For centers like Houston and Atlanta it really helps to be familiar with the southern accent, which you can get exposure to by watching Paula Deen's cooking show..sounds ridiculous..but hey! It works!!! Hope this helps.. Before I forget..a practical word of warning to all potential test takers..the exam center will serve food..NEVER eat pizza/ pasta or ANYTHING with ketchup/ marinara which has potential to drip/ spill onto your doctor's coat..it may ruin your exam..the little things matter |
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| User Name |
geens |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
08/09/2008 |
Result on |
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| Result |
|
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Houston |
| City |
Houston |
Hotel Name |
La Quinta |
| Duration Prepared |
1 Month
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Hotel Reviews
I stayed in La Quinta. Actually I got a spacial offer online for 65$ Plus tax and it came up to 75 for a day. They serve good breakfast, shuttle to airport, no shuttle to exam center. I had my own car,so i drove. Room was good,neat and tidy, iron box and hair dryer available,staff were friendly.No disturbances. |
Experience
FA,Usmle world- videos,Schwartz,Neerajs notes. I recommend FA for every one. Cases in the exam were similar to those of FA.I practiced FA twice on my husband(hes a doc too). Practice, Practice,Practice..It is what makes you perfect. The proctors were good, but strict. I messed up the first two cases..ran out of time.. but was able to catch up.exam is stressful.Don't forget to smile,drape,reassure,speak clearly and show empathy! |
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| User Name |
Dr.Patel |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
10/19/2007 |
Result on |
12/05/2007 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Los Angeles |
| City |
Los Angeles |
Hotel Name |
Double tree (Airport) |
| Duration Prepared |
3 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
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Experience
Practiced First Aid cases, practiced with my family members and in timely fashion!! History & Physical examination 15 mins with warning bell at 10 mins and I tried to write patient notes in 8 mins. Kaplan tips were very helpful. Suggestions for exam takers - I have posted one blog named "Calculation to Pass Step 2 CS" It is a pdf file. I hope they will get some helpful information about this exam from that file. |
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| User Name |
Dr. R |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
Res aspirant |
| Exam on |
02/28/2008 |
Result on |
04/23/2008 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Atlanta |
| City |
Atlanta |
Hotel Name |
Day’s Inn (College Park) |
| Duration Prepared |
1 Week
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Hotel Reviews
$55/night.
Pros: Good WiFi, decent free breakfast. Airport ride for free. Hotel within walking distance from exam center. Clean rooms
Cons: Far away from Downtown (well, that's a problem with the test center), no near-by places where to eat (just a McDonald's across the street) |
Experience
Study Materials: FirstAid for Step2CS, Bates's Pocket Guide to Clinical Examination and History Taking.
Preparation Experience: actually skimmed through all of it. I thought the Bates's book was particularly helpful for knowing how to write a note in the US. The FirstAid has great orientation materials, but I think it is more useful when used to practice with a friend. (I didn't do that)
Exam Experience: Intimidating throughout the day. Security measures made me feel uneasy. Proctors were kind and resourceful, though strict. Standardized patients were also great actors, acting professionally all the way. During your patient encounters just try to relax, and everything will go just as a normal clinic day. Cases are not that hard, they are well chosen and representative of what you should know. Be sure to be empathic with your patients: small details count. Used computer for notes. They worked fine. Food during break time is not that good, and time is a little bit scarce. Do not bring anything with you, except for your stethoscope, apron, and ID. Storage area doesn't have individual lockers. It is just a locked closet with small boxes where you are have to leave your stuff.
Suggestions: Stay calm. Although the atmosphere may be intimidating, the test is not difficult.
Don't get anxious about post-exam comments. Usually after exam people start talking about the mistakes they avoided, and then you realize you didn't. Keep in mind that there are almost no *required* actions.
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| User Name |
Dr.D |
| Medical Graduate |
IMG |
Status |
PGY1 |
| Exam on |
11/17/2006 |
Result on |
11/29/2006 |
| Result |
pass |
Attempt No. |
1 |
| Failed Component |
|
Exam Center |
Houston |
| City |
Houston |
Hotel Name |
Day’s Inn (Greenspoint) |
| Duration Prepared |
2 Weeks
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Hotel Reviews
I stayed in Greenspoint Day’s Inn, Houston Around $50 (dont remember the exact amount) per night. Free Airport Shuttle, Free Exam centre to and fro shuttle. Free wifi available. There is a big Greenspoint mall nearby where we had fun after the exam. Lot of exam takers stay in this hotel. You can practice with each other before you go for the exam. Exam centre is just 10 mins drive from the hotel. Over all I liked the stay in the hotel. |
Experience
Exam preparation duration: 11 days (I did not have enough time as I planned to take the test before my slot could end). Ideally it is
advisable to prepare for the exam for minimum 2 weeks.
Exam preparation experience: Practicing with a partner is the key. I was lucky to get a very active study partner (one of my friends). I owe him a lot. Without him I doubt I would have passed this test. Also, more than one practice partner is not advisable as it takes more time to practice each case. Get a single good partner. I studied USMLE World and used first aid’s cases to practice. I personally preferred USMLE World. But there are people who read only FA and pass CS. So it does not matter which book you are following. You stick to whichever you are comfortable with.
Exam experience: With God’s grace everything went on fine for me. The weather was fine. IMG percentage among examinees was almost 50%. I was lucky to get all straightforward cases. I was able to finish all the cases on time. I did not get any “uncooperative” SPs. And no strange challenging questions. All challenging questions I faced are mentioned in UW. I did not get telephone case. But I did get a ped case where only the mother was present. The CNS case was a lengthy one. Regarding patient notes, I wrote only what I did inside the room. I did not cook anything extra in the patient notes.
Mistakes I committed:
1. Asked leading questions on two occasions.
2. Addressed a patient with previous patient’s name twice. But I immediately apologized and addressed him with correct name. To avoid this, before you enter the room, always write the surname of the patient in bold letters on the top of your paper. Make it a habit.
3. Did not dim the light to examine using ophthalmoscope first. Later I corrected this mistake.
4. Once you wash your hand you are not supposed to touch your pad until you complete the examination. If you do, you are supposed to wash your hands again. But I didn't.
Suggestions: Practice CNS cases again and again and be thorough with CNS examination. You have to do it quickly and you will not have time to think what’s next. You have to do it like a reflex. Have mock exams with your study partner. Practice, practice and practice with a partner. That makes a
lot of difference when compared to sitting alone and reading from the book. |
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Click here to share your STEP 2 CS experience in this database
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