I passed the CBSE! My strengths and weaknesses

I haven't posted in a while. The last time I've been on here, my brain was actively loading up on as much basic science facts as I could to help me pass my Comprehensive/End of Basic Science Exam administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners. I'm glad I did, because it was grueling.

It was almost 200 questions, and we had 4 hours. By chance or perhaps design of the test makers, the first 7 or so questions were very easy for me. They happened to be things I either knew well or things that I had recently studied. I chuckled to myself, and thought,

"So this is what it's like to feel like a genius."

My ego boost didn't last long. I soon found myself guessing for about 5 questions straight, and afterwards I felt extremely fortunate if I ever felt confident about two in a row. It was definitely tough, and I couldn't help but think,

"No wonder so many people fail this."

Over the past few years of medical school, I usually finish tests with about 20% of the time left over. On a 240 minute test, I thought this might have meant that I would finish with at least 30-40 minutes left. Instead, I finished with about three minutes left. Incidently, this is the first test that I've ever had to take a bathroom break for. Sigh. One point of manhood gone forever.

After the exam, our 2 week winter break had officially begun. They said we would know in a week if we passed or not, and I and probably everyone else tried to forget about it and enjoy our freedom. Eventually, we got an email that said,

"If you have not heard from us and checked all cell phone communications, numbers you have listed in CAMS as accurate modes of communications, numbers that you left on your vacation sheets and email addresses and have receive no communication from [us] you are free to begin clinical rotations on January 2, 2013"

It was anticlimactic and left me scrambling to double check all my email accounts and phone messages, but I passed nonetheless!

I did indeed start my internal medicine rotation this past week, and it's been great. I have a great team. The learning curve is very steep and I'm super busy, but it's still great. When I have time I'll write more about it.

Before then, I wanted to post something I thought was interesting from my EBSE score report.

I whited out most of my report, leaving some subjects that I like and one that I hate for contrast.

One of the subjects that I liked the least in basic science was musculoskeletal anatomy. It was a chore to memorize all the muscles and where they attach to, and as far as I can tell it's not even that important for most types of doctors except orthopedics. Regardless, it was by far my worst subject.

Some of the subjects that I enjoyed learning about were the cardiovascular system, microbiology (infectious disease), pharmacology, and respiratory. I guess you're good at what you like! Or maybe you like it because you're good at it? Or maybe poor performance leads to disliking a subject instead of the other way around?

The content of the comprehensive basic science exam is supposed to mimic the USMLE Step 1 board exam. It's like a shorter version of that test, and they have a little chart that scales your score and gives an equivalent step 1 score. I got an 82, and it's supposed to be similar to a 230 on Step 1. This is encouraging because 230 is a good score, but discouraging because I think a 240 is what most people going into radiology get these days. It's also encouraging, however, because I'll have a month off to study for Step 1, so I should be able to work hard enough to bump up my score a bit.


I am a medical student at BCM and all thoughts are my own. I am not a doctor at the time of writing this. Please read the disclaimer.

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