Hey everyone-
I am a longtime follower, but have never actually made a post. Hoping my experience might help someone else who may be having a similar experience to me. I will admit I did not study at all for this exam during MS1 or MS2 years (like an idiot), so if you are still in your first 2 years start studying NOW - trust me it will save you a ton of stress and sleepless nights in the future. I somehow convinced myself that being at a really good medical school and being an A- student would get me the foundation I needed, and I could not have been more wrong or unprepared when I entered my intensive study period. I worked my butt off for 10 weeks studying for this exam and delayed twice because I just kept psyching myself out reading threads about people who were scoring 50+ points higher than I was on practice exams. I am not at all faulting those students (CONGRATS to anyone who can do that well on Step 1 - you are a rockstar) - BUT for the people who are scoring below the belt, I wanted to share my scores and experience now that I can officially say it is over! Step 1 is a beast that you unfortunately just have to tackle head on.
I used FA, pathoma, sketchy, and Uworld - my first pass through Uworld I had an average in the low 40's. My diagnostic which I took 12 weeks before the exam I scored in the 150s (safe to say I officially had a heart attack when I saw the score). I literally closed myself off from the world and even will admit I lost myself in studying for this exam. Starting scores like that will really make you question whether or not you actually are capable of ever becoming a doctor. I am not trying to sound ominous - I am just trying to be honest and share how I felt so that anyone who is having a similar experience can know they are not alone. Everyone struggles while trying to study for this exam and somehow we all get through it. Don't get so down on yourself that you start to question whether or not you are smart enough to get past it.
NBME12 - 148
NBME18 - 173
NBME16 - 182
NBME15 - 205
NBME17 - 194 (approached the point of mental breakdown when my score dropped)
NBME19 - 184 (stress/anxiety showing)
NBME18 - 200
Real deal - 216
If you don't feel confident going into the exam it WILL affect your score. I did way better than I ever could have hoped for and was ready to throw in the towel at one point during studying when I felt like passing was impossible. Just take studying one day at a time and trust that you know more than you think you do. I know 216 isn't a stellar score, but with the amount of stress I went through and where I started at, I am ECSTATIC with a 216.
Major point of my long post is to trust yourself. Take advice of other students who have gone through it, but don't get lost in comparing yourself. Set a realistic goal and just accept that you will have to work harder than you ever have before. But you will get through it, and you will make it past the hardest milestone of medical school
Good luck!!!
