Step-2 CS experience

I took the Step2-CS initially.Having worked in UK helped me great deal for this exam.The study materials I used were First Aid and U.World. I gave a good reading to f.a first and practiced them with my sis (who is also a doc) at home.After finishing the f.a ,I also went through UW..I think it is excellent for cs too. Its videos are helpful,will show how much you actually got to do in the limited time.The reading material is more or less like f.a though. The time management in the clinical encounter particularly did not become a problem for me, although my writing skills needed practice.(There is an option for type writing also).Keeping a check-list,or having a partner helps you in recognising whats going wrong and focus on it.

Although I booked the Phily centre first, postponed in the last min due to personal reasons.I could not get in phily again and had to fly to Atlanta.I managed to get a good deal for my air tickets and motel room online, but the exam centre was about 5-8miles away.There came Atlanta Airport's MARTA's train service to my rescue:) It dropped me at about 10 min distance to my motel.Its worth calling the motel and ask them about how to reach their place and what kinds of transport services available in/out before actually booking the room.

I checked in the motel oneday before,after settling down,once again I went through all of the first aid notes quickly,reharsled all by myself 1-2 cases and went to bed early.

Next day,I took a taxi to the exam centre,as I did not want take any risks particualry in the early morning.I arrived about one hour before near the test centre,warmed up myself with a Macdonald's breakfast and orange juice.Prayed one more time and entered the centre with a smile:). Front desk lady was nice,guided me in to the main hall after verifying the documents. There were about 25 examinees along with me.All were in formals and white coats put on,we briefly exchanged smile or hi before the proctor took us to the orientation room.

After the brief orientation,all our stuff locked in the lockers,they took us to the exam area only with our number stickers on.It is a sound proof hall with cubicles, we could only hear knocking at the door or the voice of the moderator. The exam started fairly quickly, each one of us moved in serial order either from right to left one oneside or left to right on the other.The s.ps acted really well,the cases were similar to the F.A ...getting to the clue to what might be the case or main DDs is the essential part,reading the first aid helped me alot in this.Once I got on track by first few mins, things went smoothly.I think speaking in clear,audible voice is all that matters what ever our accent may be.The other very important being,excellent bed-side manners..is very well explained in f.a.

After about half the session,we had a half hour break for lunch which was provided.It was good with lots of tuna & vegetable sandwiches,chicken-tikka sticks,american version of samosae along with fruits,salad,coffee/tea etc. we had some time to exchange a word or two with the fellow examinees.
The rest of my exam went in the same pace uneventfully,ofcourse with a mini coffee break in between!

My suggetions for future test takers:
I think its a very doable exam for an fmg.
Read well the first aid,watch UW videos.
Practice it with a partner in time mode and assess your self with the check list.
If time permits do the UW notes too.
Try to get invloved with the local community/speak with them.
Practice,practice,practice...Practice it out loud!
Its worth, if could do a clerkship or elective before CS.

my story-introduction

Hi! welcome to my blog. Iam an Indian from a small town in the state of A.P.Following graduation,I continued my training in India and United Kingdom for few years before landing in the United Sates..I‘ve decided that if I‘m going to keep a ‘blog‘, then I‘m going to be as honest as I can be ,as throughout apart from my experiences, I‘ve amassed a lot of random information, and would like to use it,if it could help others.

To begin with moving to the US was a major worry for me.However, following a period of personal reassessment and growing concerns of job uncertainity in the NHS-UK, I was convinced these worries would be short lived, decided to put my trust in God and give my best shot.

Obtaining the US visa was a first postive sign! Since I still had a full time work contract with the NHS,I had the necessary documents on job details etc.So thankfully it was no pain.

One interesting thing was my first trans-atlantic flight experience.My flight was from London to philadelphia by US airways. The inflight experience was ok,until we were over Canada.Suddenly,there was an annoucement from the pilot saying they are making an emergency landing on a canadian (St.John's) island due to a medical emgergency for a passenger.The plane landed safely in the snowy land ... paramedics arrived and took a lady passenger on the stretcher to the local hospital. But later it took us nearly 8hrs at the airport to finish the formalities with canadian airbase ,The canadians neither allowed any of us to disembark the plane nor provided any refreshments.The pilot kept us uptodate, but he could only say they are trying and not to forget how kind the canadians were on the 9/11 for allowing many emergency landings,and providing accomodation for so many passengers.Well...we were glad,this ain't 9/11 ! The Crew could only give us water,some buscuits and most importantly the ear-phones free of charge(it was 5bucks otherwise) to watch the inflight t.v... what a relief!! Amasingly the passengers(both the old& the babies) and the crew all behaved well,although there were occassional cries.In the mean time my 02 mobile roaming-network got activated and I also managed to text/call my family to update on the situation.
Atlast ..when the pilot announced about getting clearence from canada...there came the joyful songs,shouts and applauses from all the passengers and a huge relief when we finally landed on the great nation, the USA. Well.. my journey has just begun !