MDFACC
04-26-2006, 11:27 PM
Hello,
First time poster – been reading SDN for about a month. This post is my plan and attitude for step 1. I would like the opinions of people that have done well (bigfrank, neurotrancer). I have created a 55 day schedule that will begin in about 2 weeks. I realize this many days and the amount of study resources may be excessive but I am a paranoid and obsessive med student that is driven by the realization that this test is the most important test of my life. I will not be easy to burn out. Sorry this post is so long.
First of all, throughout second year, I have been memorizing BRS Pathology. I am proud to say I know this book somewhat verbatim – I have been through each chapter at least 7 or 8 times. I understand this may not get me all the path questions right on the exam b/c BRS has its weaknesses (lack of pathophysiology, lack of explanation of the clinical manifestations of a disease, and general lack of integration). In addition, I have done a somewhat deep review of BRS Physiology and a cursory review of Pharmacology. I have ignored other high yield subjects (biochem, microbio) b/c these are short-term memory subjects for me and I will forget what I learned in about 5 hours. Here are the specifics of the schedule:
Pathology: I want to hit the BRS book two times and memorize the concurrent First Aid (FA) section while doing this. In addition, since BRS is not perfect (lack of integration + pathophys), I am going to also watch the 22 hours of Kaplan pathology lectures. I have read on this site that big ‘poppy’ Goljan is the ultimate in integration. I am reluctant to engage in Goljan audio sessions b/c I hear there are some lectures missing in the bootleg collections. Also, Kaplan videos have discussion of pictures and the lecturer is pretty good at integrating things as well. [In this plan/schedule, any time I refer to Kaplan videos, please understand its viewing for understanding, not memorization.] So,
1) BRS Pathology + concurrent FA twice (once in the beginning of the schedule and once dead LAST) = 4 (beginning) + 3 (late) = 7 days
2) Listening to the Kaplan lecturers + making notes in the BRS book = 3 days
Pharmacology: There are no good resources on this so I want to memorize the heck out of the First Aid Pharm section. But before I do this, I want to have a general overview of pharmacology so I will watch the 25 hours of Kaplan pharmacology and then memorize the sections in FA concurrently. I want to hit this subject 4 times total:
1) Kaplan Pharmacology (understanding) + concurrent FA (memorizing) = 5 days
2) Reviewing/memorizing FA Pharmacology 3 times (early, middle, and late) (1 full review per 1 day) = 3 days (is this feasible???)
Physiology: I have reviewed BRS physiology throughout second year but I have not memorized this beast to my satisfaction. Also, I think it has many omissions (like explanation of different EKG changes in MI, etc.). My experience with this subject is although it’s easy to learn, the questions are difficult and require a lot of PRACTICE. So I wanted to put a lot of effort into this subject (just in case even though this section is considered easy). Once again, in an early, middle, and late fashion:
1) BRS Physiology + concurrent FA = 4 days
2) I got the Physio Q Bank on eBay for 20 bucks – 750 questions. This way I can practice those pesky renal questions and master these = 3 days
3) Kaplan Physiology + concurrent FA (29 hours) = 3 days
Microbiology: My weakest subject for sure.
1) Read Made Ridiculously Simple for UNDERSTANDING + concurrent FA for MEMORIZING = 3 days
2) Reviewing/memorizing FA Microbiology 3 times (early, middle, and late) (1 full review per 1 day) = 3 days
Immunology: Only plan on reviewing this once (late in preparation)
1) Lange 70 pages + concurrent FA = 1 day
Biochemistry: Toughest subject – seems important to learn to get the best score possible.
1) Kaplan Biochem + Genetics for UNDERSTANDING (30 hours) + concurrent FA for MEMORIZING = 5 days (is this feasible???)
2) Reviewing/memorizing FA Biochemistry 3 times (early, middle, and late) (1 full review per 1 day) = 3 days
3) Also, since the HY Mole + Cell Bio seems IMPORTANT, I want to review this LATE = 1 day (is this feasible???)
Anatomy: Weak subject
1) HY Anatomy + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once = 1 day
Embryology: Weak subject
1) HY Embryo + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once = 1 day
Behavioral: Weak subject
1) BRS Behavioral + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once = 3 days
Histology: Weak subject
1) HY Histology + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once. I hear this book is unlike other HY books so I am devoting 2 days to it = 2 days
Neuroscience: Weak subject (I HATE THIS SUBJECT)
1) HY Neuroscience + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once. 2 days b/c I suck ass in it. I will mostly try to memorize FA + author’s suggestions per each chapter. = 2 days
Last 3 days: Review FA completely (or if this is impossible, review path, pharm, phys, micro, immuno, and biochem). This is 55 days, whew!
Also, with respect to questions, I am using the following resources: Robbins Pathology to practice pathology and integrate info, Kaplan regular Q bank, and most importantly the released NBME material. I will do these questions at night from 9 – 12. I have calculated, to do these questions, I would have to do about 65 questions a night. I think this is possible in 3 hours time. Most kids do about 50 per night anyway.
Thanks for reading all of this. I would appreciate any constructive advice regarding my approach + logistics of this plan. I need your experiences to tell if some things (like doing Kaplan Biochem in 5 days) are even possible. I think this plan adequately focuses on my weaknesses (pharm, micro, biochem) and reinforces my strengths (path, phys). What do you thinK?Thanks so much. I am forever indebted. All that's left to be done is to avoid going crazy while undertaking this effort. :meanie:
--MDFACC
First time poster – been reading SDN for about a month. This post is my plan and attitude for step 1. I would like the opinions of people that have done well (bigfrank, neurotrancer). I have created a 55 day schedule that will begin in about 2 weeks. I realize this many days and the amount of study resources may be excessive but I am a paranoid and obsessive med student that is driven by the realization that this test is the most important test of my life. I will not be easy to burn out. Sorry this post is so long.
First of all, throughout second year, I have been memorizing BRS Pathology. I am proud to say I know this book somewhat verbatim – I have been through each chapter at least 7 or 8 times. I understand this may not get me all the path questions right on the exam b/c BRS has its weaknesses (lack of pathophysiology, lack of explanation of the clinical manifestations of a disease, and general lack of integration). In addition, I have done a somewhat deep review of BRS Physiology and a cursory review of Pharmacology. I have ignored other high yield subjects (biochem, microbio) b/c these are short-term memory subjects for me and I will forget what I learned in about 5 hours. Here are the specifics of the schedule:
Pathology: I want to hit the BRS book two times and memorize the concurrent First Aid (FA) section while doing this. In addition, since BRS is not perfect (lack of integration + pathophys), I am going to also watch the 22 hours of Kaplan pathology lectures. I have read on this site that big ‘poppy’ Goljan is the ultimate in integration. I am reluctant to engage in Goljan audio sessions b/c I hear there are some lectures missing in the bootleg collections. Also, Kaplan videos have discussion of pictures and the lecturer is pretty good at integrating things as well. [In this plan/schedule, any time I refer to Kaplan videos, please understand its viewing for understanding, not memorization.] So,
1) BRS Pathology + concurrent FA twice (once in the beginning of the schedule and once dead LAST) = 4 (beginning) + 3 (late) = 7 days
2) Listening to the Kaplan lecturers + making notes in the BRS book = 3 days
Pharmacology: There are no good resources on this so I want to memorize the heck out of the First Aid Pharm section. But before I do this, I want to have a general overview of pharmacology so I will watch the 25 hours of Kaplan pharmacology and then memorize the sections in FA concurrently. I want to hit this subject 4 times total:
1) Kaplan Pharmacology (understanding) + concurrent FA (memorizing) = 5 days
2) Reviewing/memorizing FA Pharmacology 3 times (early, middle, and late) (1 full review per 1 day) = 3 days (is this feasible???)
Physiology: I have reviewed BRS physiology throughout second year but I have not memorized this beast to my satisfaction. Also, I think it has many omissions (like explanation of different EKG changes in MI, etc.). My experience with this subject is although it’s easy to learn, the questions are difficult and require a lot of PRACTICE. So I wanted to put a lot of effort into this subject (just in case even though this section is considered easy). Once again, in an early, middle, and late fashion:
1) BRS Physiology + concurrent FA = 4 days
2) I got the Physio Q Bank on eBay for 20 bucks – 750 questions. This way I can practice those pesky renal questions and master these = 3 days
3) Kaplan Physiology + concurrent FA (29 hours) = 3 days
Microbiology: My weakest subject for sure.
1) Read Made Ridiculously Simple for UNDERSTANDING + concurrent FA for MEMORIZING = 3 days
2) Reviewing/memorizing FA Microbiology 3 times (early, middle, and late) (1 full review per 1 day) = 3 days
Immunology: Only plan on reviewing this once (late in preparation)
1) Lange 70 pages + concurrent FA = 1 day
Biochemistry: Toughest subject – seems important to learn to get the best score possible.
1) Kaplan Biochem + Genetics for UNDERSTANDING (30 hours) + concurrent FA for MEMORIZING = 5 days (is this feasible???)
2) Reviewing/memorizing FA Biochemistry 3 times (early, middle, and late) (1 full review per 1 day) = 3 days
3) Also, since the HY Mole + Cell Bio seems IMPORTANT, I want to review this LATE = 1 day (is this feasible???)
Anatomy: Weak subject
1) HY Anatomy + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once = 1 day
Embryology: Weak subject
1) HY Embryo + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once = 1 day
Behavioral: Weak subject
1) BRS Behavioral + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once = 3 days
Histology: Weak subject
1) HY Histology + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once. I hear this book is unlike other HY books so I am devoting 2 days to it = 2 days
Neuroscience: Weak subject (I HATE THIS SUBJECT)
1) HY Neuroscience + FA LATE IN PREPARATION b/c I’m only reviewing this once. 2 days b/c I suck ass in it. I will mostly try to memorize FA + author’s suggestions per each chapter. = 2 days
Last 3 days: Review FA completely (or if this is impossible, review path, pharm, phys, micro, immuno, and biochem). This is 55 days, whew!
Also, with respect to questions, I am using the following resources: Robbins Pathology to practice pathology and integrate info, Kaplan regular Q bank, and most importantly the released NBME material. I will do these questions at night from 9 – 12. I have calculated, to do these questions, I would have to do about 65 questions a night. I think this is possible in 3 hours time. Most kids do about 50 per night anyway.
Thanks for reading all of this. I would appreciate any constructive advice regarding my approach + logistics of this plan. I need your experiences to tell if some things (like doing Kaplan Biochem in 5 days) are even possible. I think this plan adequately focuses on my weaknesses (pharm, micro, biochem) and reinforces my strengths (path, phys). What do you thinK?Thanks so much. I am forever indebted. All that's left to be done is to avoid going crazy while undertaking this effort. :meanie:
--MDFACC