Hello all,
I have been looking at different SDN threads since med school many years ago and finally just joined simply to respond to this thread. I found out Monday I passed my Oral Boards on the first attempt, and found prior posts here therapeutic for me to get through the agonizing 2.5 weeks between taking the test and getting results. You will likely feel nauseated after taking this test! You will feel like you probably failed! Hold onto hope, you very well could have passed.
Here was my MOA:
-took a break after passing written 7/2018, ordered Big Red, Ranger Red and Spiels from Jensen (Big Blue and prep course worked for me on writtens. Even though UBP and others seem more popular these days, I listened to my gut and I learn better from written texts and personal, live courses)
-started studying 1/2019, Big Red at least 30-60 mins a day (I know this is hard, but my biggest advice: EVERYday. Even 30 mins! It will provide a solid foundation to call upon and overpower your sympathetic nervous system during the real test! I was a heart-pounding, fumbling fool, but for some glorious reason, they still saw my knowledge. 100% sure it was because I memorized that giant book over 9 months) FYI: I am a full-time academic anesthesiologist and have a 2 year old, with a full-time working husband too: AKA, I mean no excuses, make time to study! You can't wing this exam, they are fully prepared to weed-out your BS.
-went to live Jensen course February and August, this was how I sealed my "talking test" skills along with Ranger Red audio. Listened to mock orals downloaded on my phone while driving and exercising.
Raleigh experience:
-went 2 days before test to get settled and centered, liked doing this
-my anxiety was even higher than I prepared for exam morning, even after solid preparation
-shuttle to airport, airport and flight home (and continued until results, haha...no, actually not joking ;-) ) I was sick to my stomach, replaying over and over all the things I wish I restated, clarified and didn't say. I forgot simple drugs and common pain procedure options. Most a blur, but clearly remember saying, " I don't recall a this time, can we please return to this?" which returned a kind of taken aback look from my junior examiner...inside, I was then distracted trying to remember some 3rd-4th line treatment drug names! ugh, somehow though: I recovered, and I passed!
Summary:
-yes, I think it is much better to say I don't know, than make up an answer that is likely incorrect. They want professional, honest, safe, competent colleagues. We are human, they too are human, and we don't know everything. They also know we are nervous, and such an unnatural environment and process...I am presuming all of this of course.
-please consider studying everyday while you prepare. It takes me longer to achieve excellence, which I've learned since college so I needed 9 months. Some of you may need just a couple months, but with consistency you will never get overwhelmed and burned-out (I think at least)
This has been a sacrifice for me, my family and friends, but now I sit here: done and free. I have my life back, and wouldn't have done it any other way. 9 months of grueling study schedules, boxes to check were SO worth what leisure I have now. I wish this beautiful feeling for all of you too!