I have taken exams for residency training in different countries. Let me draw a comparison between how the entrance exam for residency tested me in Pakistan/UK vs how USMLE tested me.
The standard exam would mostly have a straightforward question: What is the drug of choice for class I Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ?
The USMLE exam however, would test you in very indirect ways. If they wanted to glean the same information from you as the above question, they would ask it in this way: So and so woman, comes to the ED with so and so symptoms, what is the mechanism of action of the drug that will be the first choice for her most likely diagnosis? You can see that this kind of a question demands a higher degree of thinking based on substantial connections between different concepts in your mind.
As you keep preparing for this complexity for a while, over time during your preparation of USMLE , a new phenomenon emerges. You start to assume that answers can never be simple. In face of a straightforward question with a very obvious answer, you start to look for the hidden loopholes. It turns out that you can actually get these questions wrong. In fact, you will often find this advice on USMLE forums that sometimes the answer IS simple, staring you right in the face and try not to second guess it.
Similarly there is a proverb that goes 'When you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras'
But you, dear human, will think how your experiences have TAUGHT and trained you. Your mind works that way. But if you are aware of this propensity, it will help you in entertaining the possibility that some things COULD be simple.
Nothing in life is straightforward and so many things don't work out. But also, sometimes your anchoring beliefs may make you let go of perfectly good opportunities.
Maybe this thing, that you feel really really good about despite your cynicism, is the thing for you? It's the thing that could make you happy?
No kidding.
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