Dear Dr. Swartz and Ms. Lank,
I’m so sorry I didn’t email you as soon as I received my results…but I PASSED!!!!! It took me a day to fully realize that I am now licensed for the Clinical Skills portion of Step 2…thanks to GOD and thanks to YOU BOTH!
I don’t think you realize the impact you both have on the lives of individuals like me…after failing, you lose hope, you lose focus and you lose faith in yourself. However, having met you both and becoming a part of the “C3NY” family, my confidence grew, hour by hour, literally, while sitting in your class.
You made the impossible seem possible. This exam is definitely no joke, as many people seem to think “memorize the FA, and you’re done”. I memorized the FA, i wasn’t done. I didn’t realize that the USMLE actually is concerned with whether we students have the ability to BE COMPASSIONATE, CONCERNED AND CARING! WHO KNEW?! I didn’t. First Aid doesn’t mention that.
Your techniques are fantastic. Ms. Lank, your “coffeetalk” advice DID SO MUCH FOR ME. I swear there were times when I just felt like fainting. I got that “BLANK STARE” from EVERYONE OF MY PATIENTS. If it wasn’t for your voice in my head, I wouldn’t have seen past it. I kept hearing, “SMILE, TALK, ASK, NOD, SMILE, SMILE, CARE.”
I sincerely Thank You both from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for teaching me there’s more to medicine than getting “the history”. You guys made my dream come true….I couldn’t have done it without you.
GOD’s Blessings Be Upon You Always. You complete the M.D. Degree.
Thank you for all your hard work, dedication and devotion. I love you guys!!!!
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. Swartz,
I passed! Thank you. Your C3NY course gives students high yield information to pass and allows us to focus on what is actually being assessed.
Again, many thanks
Dear Dr. Swartz and Mz Anna,
I am so thankful to GOD and then you. I got my score report yesterday…it says PASS.
I could not believe my eyes, read again and again and again. I attended your workshop a month before my exam in December. Your hard work, support, and belief in me gave me so much confidence that I was able to deal with this stressful exam.
Thank you so much. God bless you all!
Dear Dr. Swartz,
I would like to thank you for all the efforts you have made to create such a helpful, learning environment in your class.
The textbook, dvds and especially your prompt personal advice were very helpful to me and greatly enhanced my class experience. All will help me in residency program also.
The willingness with which you took time out of your busy schedule to patiently help me even after the workshop toward achieving my career goals is much appreciated, and is another reason why I would recommend your class to anyone.
Thank you very much,
Sincerely
Dear Anna,
Hello, Anna. Hope all are well. I am writing to give you an update on my STEP 2 CS experience.
I took it in Houston on Feb 1st and received a passing score on April 5th (it took 9 weeks). I really believed that I had failed because I feel that I did not do as through a job (examination wise) as I had done the year previous. The one thing that I did do differently this time was to do a solid two minute recap of each encounter with the patient and give recommended counseling pertaining to each individual problem. I suppose this was the key to my success.
Now, finally, on to residency. Thank you for the opportunity to study at your course; I enjoyed it and feel that it did help prepare me to pass the CS exam. I respect and admire Dr. Swartz, and consider him one of my medical education instructors. I use his text as my H & P reference.
Respectfully
Dear Anna,
Just to let you know that I found out I passed and to thank you, Dr. Swartz, and the SPs for teaching us the keys to do well on this exam.
Again, Thank You.
Sincerely
Dear Anna and Dr. Swartz,
I got my score report today, and I cannot tell you the worry I have experienced since taking the exam November 30th. I was almost certain
after talking to students after the exam, as well as the feeling I had leaving some of my encounters that I was not going to pass the exam.
Today I opened the score report with my heart just pounding and I saw the word PASS. I cannot thank you enough for your wisdom and advice that I used during the exam.
I felt like everything your workshop you taught me I used on the exam whether I was planning to or not. Anna’s teaching of the deep breathing relaxed me as much as possible for the first encounter, but more importantly practicing the introduction just came out smoothly and as practiced almost second nature.
Despite the workshops short time frame I really feel like I learned communication skills to pass the exam, but also the ground work for how I question and approach patients currently during my rotations. I have found myself to have vast improvement in my rotations now when presenting and interviewing patients, as well as I find myself connecting more with an individual rather than just patient. I hope that luck will allow me to see the two of you someday, but for now I wish you guys the best of luck and thank you for all of your time and efforts you imposed on me. I was really introverted before taking your class, and now find myself not fearing and be more extraverted with regard to my patients.
Sincerely thank you
Hey Dr. Swartz!!
My name is Isidoros Vardaros. I took your course this past August.
I am pleased to say that with your help I was able to pass CS on my first try. I have to admit that on Monday of the workshop I was extremely skeptical of your teaching tactics. But by Wednesday afternoon I knew that I was ready. Thank you once again.
Keep up the great work!!
Sincerely
