First Aid For Usmle Step 1 Is A Fraud!

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
T

Tedebear

Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
131
Reaction score
0
Members don't see this ad.
I believe yearly publishing of First Aid for the USMLE is a FRAUD. Here is why.

1. First of all there is good information in First Aid. However, the only reason it is updated every year is to make MONEY. The authors of first aid don't care if it is an updated product, as long as it is perceived that way. The assumption is that the First Aid authors update the book EVERY year. Yeah right. These guys haven't taken Step 1 in nearly ten years. How can they update the information if they themselves don't take the test? They can't. Sure, they have new students "update" the exam, however that is about 6 students every year. So they could include information from their 6 exams, however this is a drop in the bucket to the number of questions in the computer database. You can also argue that students send in what was on their Step 1 exam. However, do you really believe students run straight to the post office after the test to send in "high yield" facts to the authors of First Aid? I doubt it. Let's do a quick headcount on SDN, how many people have actually sent in information to the authors of First Aid? Not many, if at all. If students that are very proactive such as the group in SDN don't send information to First Aid, do you believe the larger cross section of students out of the SDN loop would send information to First Aid after their test?

2. Secondly, the book omits stuff every year to add "new information". Does this mean that they are removing stuff that is not high yield anymore? How can you make an argument over what is high yield and what isn't high yield with only 6 new students every year that add dialogue about the exam. Can you really justify removing something on First Aid because such a small group didn't have the "fact" on their exam? Of course not. I believe they omit and reincorporate information to form a product that looks "new" every year.

3. It is a fact that First Aid is updated every year however, I believe the updates are cosmetic. When they take stuff out, I believe they reincorporate couple years later. Would they risk this? Why not. Do you really think people own a First Aid that is 3 to 4 years apart. Once you pass your Step 1 there is no more need for the book. Would someone that bought a 2005 First Aid own a 2001 First Aid. Doubtful. First Aid people have to update it every year because most medical students are very anal about having this book even as a 1st year student.

The authors of First Aid are brilliant. They give the medical students placebo, and the students use the book. From their point of view, they have a cash cow that pays every year. The authors don't have an obligation to update it because the reputation of the book is so immense the quality doesn't have to be the same as the 2001 version.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
I agree with you completely and will stand in solidarity with you under the withering flame-attacks that will shortly ensue.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
It may make a SMALL difference in sales, but not much. Here is why, the only time people buy a copy of First Aid for Step 1 is either when they are M1s (the truly dedicated) or as M2s when they are starting to put together a study plan for the test. So whether there is one "definitive" edition or a new edition is put out each year, most students are only going to buy the book once. It's not like some 4th year surgery resident says "Hey, they put out a new edition of First Aid, it's updated so I better get a copy!"
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Not to address everything, but in the book it says the additions/subtractions are based on the accumulation of submissions made to first aid. I think the deadline for submissions is by June of that year.

Its written somewhere in the book about how to contribute to first aid. If you're submission is added, then you're name will be published in the next list of contributing authors or something.



Tedebear said:
I believe yearly publishing of First Aid for the USMLE is a FRAUD. Here is why.

1. First of all there is good information in First Aid. However, the only reason it is updated every year is to make MONEY. The authors of first aid don't care if it is an updated product, as long as it is perceived that way. The assumption is that the First Aid authors update the book EVERY year. Yeah right. These guys haven't taken Step 1 in nearly ten years. How can they update the information if they themselves don't take the test? They can't. Sure, they have new students "update" the exam, however that is about 6 students every year. So they could include information from their 6 exams, however this is a drop in the bucket to the number of questions in the computer database. You can also argue that students send in what was on their Step 1 exam. However, do you really believe students run straight to the post office after the test to send in "high yield" facts to the authors of First Aid? I doubt it. Let's do a quick headcount on SDN, how many people have actually sent in information to the authors of First Aid? Not many, if at all. If students that are very proactive such as the group in SDN don't send information to First Aid, do you believe the larger cross section of students out of the SDN loop would send information to First Aid after their test?

2. Secondly, the book omits stuff every year to add "new information". Does this mean that they are removing stuff that is not high yield anymore? How can you make an argument over what is high yield and what isn't high yield with only 6 new students every year that add dialogue about the exam. Can you really justify removing something on First Aid because such a small group didn't have the "fact" on their exam? Of course not. I believe they omit and reincorporate information to form a product that looks "new" every year.

3. It is a fact that First Aid is updated every year however, I believe the updates are cosmetic. When they take stuff out, I believe they reincorporate couple years later. Would they risk this? Why not. Do you really think people own a First Aid that is 3 to 4 years apart. Once you pass your Step 1 there is no more need for the book. Would someone that bought a 2005 First Aid own a 2001 First Aid. Doubtful. First Aid people have to update it every year because most medical students are very anal about having this book even as a 1st year student.

The authors of First Aid are brilliant. They give the medical students placebo, and the students use the book. From their point of view, they have a cash cow that pays every year. The authors don't have an obligation to update it because the reputation of the book is so immense the quality doesn't have to be the same as the 2001 version.
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If you look at the list of contributors it is quite lengthy, certainly more than 6 people.
lmbebo said:
Not to address everything, but in the book it says the additions/subtractions are based on the accumulation of submissions made to first aid. I think the deadline for submissions is by June of that year.

Its written somewhere in the book about how to contribute to first aid. If you're submission is added, then you're name will be published in the next list of contributing authors or something.
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
well, i picked up a 2002 ed of FA last year from one of the 4th years and now just got the 2005 ed of FA. I've looked through some sections of the notes and changes are cosmetic. the major thing that changes is how the rate A/A-/B, etc...w/ the UCV series mostly at the top. between the two eds, some of hte things that were taken out were about 15% from physio GI, and they also took out the neuromuscular blockers/antidote section for autononmics in pharm. if u were looking for written stuff, 2004 would be the way to go as far as i've read. however, seems as thought eh pictures have been updated so that's a good thing.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Discobolus said:
If you look at the list of contributors it is quite lengthy, certainly more than 6 people.
Click to expand...

I just checked out my roommate's 2005 edition. There are 14 people listed under contributions and corrections for 2005 edition. That is all. In fact, how can we assume that all 14 people contributed "new" information since it says submitting "corrections". 14 people for one year isn't much! The rest of the people were book reviewers.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Sounds like saavy business people, not fraud. They could just as easily put a new cover on it that says 2005 edition and not make any changes (which they probably would have to or some competitor would do the same and then some people wouldn't want to buy an 'old' book...Kaplan has dones this for many years with their MCAT/LSAT/GMAT books).


You don't have to buy it if you don't want, although it seems most medical students would advise against that. You can easily buy a used one on e-bay or amazon as I did.

I don't get the fraud part. Perhaps if the book was full of information about how to care for your new bichon and had no information that might help you with Step 1, and the NBME forced you to buy the book to take the exam, then maybe it might be fraud.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I agree with the poster above that mentioned that most people only buy one copy during medical school. So I dont know how it could make them more money. Do you feel compelled to buy a new copy every year. Are you going to buy Step 1 books in your third or fourth year or beyond?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A friend of mine knows on of the contributors, and he says it's not that much different each year.

Actually, in my class though, almost everyone has a copy of First Aid and is planning to buy a new one next year. So I guess it IS a fraud if you buy two copies ... (I dunno why my class is like that, maybe they're just obsessive). I bought a used one from 2002 for like $5 and am planning to buy a new one next year, so I don't think I contributed to the fraud that much haha ...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Simple solution...don't buy First Aid.

There are a bunch of other books out there, use one of them. It seems, though, that First Aid is highly recommended by people who took Step 1 already. That means that regardless of what they put in a new edition it seems that it was helpful to years past.

Why are we even talking about this. This is a silly thread.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
joshua_msu said:
I agree with the poster above that mentioned that most people only buy one copy during medical school. So I dont know how it could make them more money. Do you feel compelled to buy a new copy every year. Are you going to buy Step 1 books in your third or fourth year or beyond?
Click to expand...

If they didn't put out new editions every year most people would not buy even one copy, they would just get used books from the classes ahead of them. It's the only reason I bought first aid, there were plenty of old editions around. It's not like anyone uses first aid after they take the exam. Putting out updated editions does indeed make them more money.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
joshua_msu said:
I agree with the poster above that mentioned that most people only buy one copy during medical school. So I dont know how it could make them more money. Do you feel compelled to buy a new copy every year. Are you going to buy Step 1 books in your third or fourth year or beyond?
Click to expand...

This is market analysis. They publish a "new" edition every year because it increases their profit margin. It takes an initial investment to publish a new edition rather than order more copies of the same edition because of rearrangement, font changes etc. Thus, they must sell more "new" copies to make up for the initial cost of making a "new" edition, or they wouldn't do it. This proves that they make more money with a "new" edition. Furthermore, First Aid for Step 2 is not released annually because they realize that the initial investment would not be recouped, so it wouldn't make finanicial sense.

Many medical students buy 2 editions of First Aid because medical students have type A personalities, and the authors of First Aid are taking advantage of the situation. Think about how many times you have heard someone say they used First Aid all 2nd year. Well, the new edition doesn't come out until January of every year so the only way to have the most current edition of First Aid for Step 1 and use it all through 2nd year is to have 2 copies.

Brushan and Le are scam artists. I don't blame them because that is capitalism. A part of me is jealous for their annual cash cow, but a bigger part of me feels like medical students across the country are being taken advantage of by these guys.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mpp said:
Sounds like saavy business people, not fraud. They could just as easily put a new cover on it that says 2005 edition and not make any changes (which they probably would have to or some competitor would do the same and then some people wouldn't want to buy an 'old' book...Kaplan has dones this for many years with their MCAT/LSAT/GMAT books).


You don't have to buy it if you don't want, although it seems most medical students would advise against that. You can easily buy a used one on e-bay or amazon as I did.

I don't get the fraud part. Perhaps if the book was full of information about how to care for your new bichon and had no information that might help you with Step 1, and the NBME forced you to buy the book to take the exam, then maybe it might be fraud.
Click to expand...

Fraud definition Main Entry: fraud
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin fraud- fraus
1 a : any act, expression, omission, or concealment calculated to deceive another to his or her disadvantage; specifically : a misrepresentation or concealment with reference to some fact material to a transaction that is made with knowledge of its falsity or in reckless disregard of its truth or falsity and with the intent to deceive another and that is reasonably relied on by the other who is injured thereby

-----------------------------------------------------------------------



I am saying that publishing First Aid annually is a deliberate act to deceive medical students into believing that "new" information from the previous year's USMLE exam is added every year.

Why would a medical student buy the 2005 First Aid over 2004 First Aid unless they were mislead into believing actual facts or questions from the 2004 USMLE EXAM was added?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Dr.Evil1 said:
Simple solution...don't buy First Aid.

There are a bunch of other books out there, use one of them. It seems, though, that First Aid is highly recommended by people who took Step 1 already. That means that regardless of what they put in a new edition it seems that it was helpful to years past.

Why are we even talking about this. This is a silly thread.
Click to expand...

Because Bhusan and Le are taking advantage of 2nd year medical students every year!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
noone tells the silly medical students that they need the newest edition. medical students, of course, have no common sense, so they buy the book.

what have we learned? use common sense.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Here's the secret/underlying reason: most med students are insecure and highly anxious despite their outward facade. Not to mention highly conformist.

And most of the popular review books capatilize on this with their "new" editions. Do you think the fundamentals (i.e. what standardized board exams test) of physiology, pathology, anatomy, etc. have changed from 2004 to 2005? Of course not. But buying the "new" edition of a book settles the anxiety of med students who don't want to be studying from the previous edition of a book when other students are studying from the latest edition.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The best way to study for Step 1 and Step 2 is to do practice questions such as USMLEWorld or Kaplan Qbank. And read the explanations to both your right and wrong answers.

First Aid might be good crapper reading but practice questions are high yield.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The step 1 book is great for studying for shelf exams, especially if it's shelf, study day, shelf, study day.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I don't believe First Aid is "fraud", but I do have to agree that it is a complete waste of money and time. I, along with most med students in the US, purchased this book when I was a first year. I read it cover to cover along with other test prep materials. After taking Step 1, I realized how much time I had wasted by reading this book and was enraged on how I allowed myself to be duped into buying it (everybody else is reading it, so it must be good). That very day, the book made it into the recycle bin and I became an anti-first-aid-advocate. Never again did I purchase any First Aid books! That being said, I do have to admit that this a highly personal opinion. I'm sure there are lots of you out there that may benefit from First Aid's scatterbrain-like presentation. For those of you that like a logical order to the material, forget First Aid!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ok, as a senior beginning MS1 next year, what is the best advice for studying for Step 1? I want to start studying a little each day from 1st day of class until I take the exam so what should I go with?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Talk to people from your school and see what they used to receive their score. Everybody uses First Aid. Those that memorize it tend to do really well, but it is impossible to say if it is First Aid or highly motivated students that would do well regardless.

As I took the Step I, I did have the impression that several of my questions came from the material found in First Aid, especially the Microbiology, Anatomy, and Pharmacology sections.

Bottom line: If you only study First Aid, you'd be lucky to break 200.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
bigfrank said:
Talk to people from your school and see what they used to receive their score. Everybody uses First Aid. Those that memorize it tend to do really well, but it is impossible to say if it is First Aid or highly motivated students that would do well regardless.

As I took the Step I, I did have the impression that several of my questions came from the material found in First Aid, especially the Microbiology, Anatomy, and Pharmacology sections.

Bottom line: If you only study First Aid, you'd be lucky to break 200.
Click to expand...

Bigfrank

I think if people only study ur posts, they can get a 185. :laugh:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
AlbertConstable said:
Ok, as a senior beginning MS1 next year, what is the best advice for studying for Step 1? I want to start studying a little each day from 1st day of class until I take the exam so what should I go with?
Click to expand...

You do know that step I is after second year, right?

Try to do well in your first year of medical school and consider that all the prep you need for boards at this point. Most of the material on Step I is from your second year curriculum...so you wouldn't even understand what you studying if you tried to start this early.

Bottom line is that I would suggest relaxing a little...don't try to go in more over your head than what medical school itself will do to you.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
bigfrank said:
Thanks, I think, Omar. 😉
Click to expand...

you are saying that if someone only studies first aid they cant even get 200. how is the book good then?????????
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tedebear said:
I just checked out my roommate's 2005 edition. There are 14 people listed under contributions and corrections for 2005 edition. That is all. In fact, how can we assume that all 14 people contributed "new" information since it says submitting "corrections". 14 people for one year isn't much! The rest of the people were book reviewers.
Click to expand...
How do we know how much new material the 14 people contributed? It could be a lot, it could also be almost nothing.

Also, how can we know whether or not 1,000 people contributed, but only the first 14 who submitted novel information were credited? Is that not a possibility?

I'm buying the 2005 First Aid, because I don't own a copy of any version. I doubt I'll buy the new one every year though. I'll probably look over the new editions to come and note the differences for my own personal study, but not buy them.
😛
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
wolfvgang22 said:
How do we know how much new material the 14 people contributed? It could be a lot, it could also be almost nothing.

Also, how can we know whether or not 1,000 people contributed, but only the first 14 who submitted novel information were credited? Is that not a possibility?

I'm buying the 2005 First Aid, because I don't own a copy of any version. I doubt I'll buy the new one every year though. I'll probably look over the new editions to come and note the differences for my own personal study, but not buy them.
😛
Click to expand...

On page XVii of 2005 First Aid, it states "for each entry incorporated in the next edition, you will receive $10 per entry from the author group, as well as personal acknowledgement". The personal acknowledgement condition means if they used your information, then they published your name. They will not use your information and NOT publish your name because that is what is stated. Unless you are saying they lied in print. Which I doubt.

First Aid acknowledged 14 people for contributing "contributions and corrections". If we take their claim rigidly, one can argue that it is highly unlikely that ALL 14 people that were listed contributed "contributions" AND "corrections". They should have posted thanks to these people for their "contributions" OR "corrections". The usage of the word "and" as opposed to "or" changes the context of the acknowledgement.

If we assume they meant to put "And" rather than "Or" what is the chance that of the "thousands of contributions from the 2004 exam" they used the same 14 people for their contributions "AND" corrections. I have nothing to back this up but to me this means one or the other. It wouldn't surprise me if the 14 people that were ACKNOWLEDGED submitted "corrections" ONLY i.e. p-ANCA not associated with Polyarteritis Nodosa as was mentioned in 2004. It would seem more likely medical students would submit corrections during the year while they were studying, rather than mailing first aid questions or facts after they took their step 1 exam. I have no proof but that is what I believe.

Back to the original question.

Is there anybody on SDN that sent in facts or high yield information from their Step 1 to First Aid?

We still don't have any takers.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I sent in a survey about the books I used, and got a gift certificate! 🙂

I think First Aid helped me, but I think how much it helps depends on your study style.

Step 1: I used way too many books (ugh, BRS), and didn't use first aid enough. Comfortably passed, but didn't do so well.
Step 2: Focused on first aid for step 2, step 2 secrets, and qbank, and my score went up 47 points.

But that's just me.

-kem
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tedebear,

I would suggest you spend less time contemplating the word usage on the acknowledgement page of First Aid and spend more time studying for Step 1 (obviously using books other than First Aid). What difference does it make if there were "corrections and contributions" or "corrections or contributions" nor by how many people? It is a book, sold for profit. Buy it if you like it. Don't buy it if you don't like it. The publishers and authors are pretty much obligated to do everything legal to sell as many copies of this book as they can, since the purpose of the book is to make money. If you bought two copies of this book, consider yourself 'taken' and move on with your life. See if you can get your money back on the one you bought and quit whining. You seem a bit obsessed by this book.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I just noticed that my 2003 edition is about 30+ pages longer than the 2005 edition. I haven't completely compared content, but I found that kind of odd. Almost makes you feel like your missing out on something. Perhaps they got rid of stuff that hasn't shown up in the past few years, but 30+ pages seems like a bit much.

Also, the page number cross reference on the inside cover of the 2005 edition is full errors. That's kind of annoying...especially considering this book is so highly regarded among med students across the country.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
wolfvgang22 said:
My point exactly. 😴
Click to expand...

Look kid, even in a court of law you don't have to have proof just circumstantial evidence or burden of proof. Read my logical theory, and you will come to the likely conclusion, First Aid is not updated on a yearly basis. There are many things in life that one cannot prove but the burden of evidence points that direction. Don't be silly, and use your head. 14 people for updates? A chain of Yale students every year for proofreading.

First Aid will not come out and say it is updated every year because it isn't but the preception that it is updated is out there.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I'm one of the contributors. They do indeed try to incorporate a bunch of changes for each new edition; I agree that more input, however, is necessary to accurately reflect each year's test(s).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Blade28 said:
I'm one of the contributors. They do indeed try to incorporate a bunch of changes for each new edition; I agree that more input, however, is necessary to accurately reflect each year's test(s).
Click to expand...

How do people get recruited as a contributor if one is outside the Yale circle. I want to start a lobby to get BigFrank as a contributor to help out students. I'm sure BigFrank will push hard to increase molecular biology information on First Aid, since molecular biology is high yield NOW, but is not fairly represented in First Aid.

Hey BigFella, 👍 we are going to try to get you published on First Aid since you have helped out so many on SDN.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tedebear said:
Brushan and Le are scam artists. I don't blame them because that is capitalism. A part of me is jealous for their annual cash cow, but a bigger part of me feels like medical students across the country are being taken advantage of by these guys.
Click to expand...

Ah, capitalism... wallow in it! They're a fraud, but you don't blame them because it's capitalism, but you feel sorry for the poor defenseless medical students who are so sadly duped, but hey, that's capitalism... Wow, must be tough to be you! The cognitive dissonance (yeehaw, can you tell I'm studying Behavioral Med today?)...

Concur with mpp... perhaps you're better off sublimating all this anxiety into a little non-First-Aid studying. Or failing that, come up with your own business plan and draft for a book that will blow First Aid out of the water... perhaps in collaboration with the revered bigfrank... (woohoo - that would be sublimation perhaps combined with just a touch of altruism, and we would compliment you on your use of healthy defense mechanisms!)

Or you can just rant on SDN a little more, which has definite entertainment value for the rest of us. 😀 (hey... humor! there's another healthy defense mechanism! Now who said Freud was irrelevant...)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mpp said:
I think it may depend on the particular test. Studying molecular biology would have definitely been low yield for my test.
Click to expand...

The counterargument is that some people may have studied the Brachial Plexus, or the Glycogen Storage diseases that is IN first aid, but wasn't tested. The whole point of the molecular biology is to show that there has been an increased emphasis on that section yet, First Aid hasn't kept up because it REALLY isn't updated. Keep in mind only a handful of the stuff in First Aid is in the actual exam, why not update the material to increase the odds that the book will remain useful.

USMLE testmakers have access to First Aid, if it doesn't change much (which it hasn't!) in the past 5 years isn't it possible that First Aid might lose its effectiveness? USMLE testmakers are basic science faculy members at various medical schools in the country. They know that people use First Aid as a crutch. Do you honestly think they will give a student that just MEMORIZES first aid a free PASS by USMLE STEP 1? That would defeat the integrity and purpose of the exam. That is why we need people like BigFrank (outside of the Yale Circle) to update First Aid.

Still there really isn't a selective pressure to "update" first aid, but there is selective pressure to update Step 1. USMLE TESTMAKERS make new questions every year. Thus, as the years go by, First Aid will mean less and less.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
daria said:
Ah, capitalism... wallow in it! They're a fraud, but you don't blame them because it's capitalism, but you feel sorry for the poor defenseless medical students who are so sadly duped, but hey, that's capitalism... Wow, must be tough to be you! The cognitive dissonance (yeehaw, can you tell I'm studying Behavioral Med today?)...

Concur with mpp... perhaps you're better off sublimating all this anxiety into a little non-First-Aid studying. Or failing that, come up with your own business plan and draft for a book that will blow First Aid out of the water... perhaps in collaboration with the revered bigfrank... (woohoo - that would be sublimation perhaps combined with just a touch of altruism, and we would compliment you on your use of healthy defense mechanisms!)

Or you can just rant on SDN a little more, which has definite entertainment value for the rest of us. 😀 (hey... humor! there's another healthy defense mechanism! Now who said Freud was irrelevant...)
Click to expand...

This whole post was about you. Thanks, I feel so privileged to be taken advantage of to reinforce your learning, and to show your knowledge in Behavioral Science. YOU ARE A SMART GIRL. That's what this is really about, or you wouldn't try to validate it. Once again, you are a SMART GIRL. Now stop trying so hard to impress us. 😉 All it does is expose your insecurities.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tedebear said:
This whole post was about you. Thanks, I feel so privileged to be taken advantage of to reinforce your learning, and to show your knowledge in Behavioral Science. YOU ARE A SMART GIRL. That's what this is really about, or you wouldn't try to validate it. Once again, you are a SMART GIRL. Now stop trying so hard to impress us. 😉 All it does is expose your insecurities.
Click to expand...

🙄 chill out boyfriend, I'm READING IT OUT OF THE BOOK WHICH IS SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME (as I suspect are most people who try to post erudite-sounding things on SDN)... that said, the reinforcement doesn't hurt! Let me repost my point, which was apparently not what you preferred to focus on...

Ah, capitalism... wallow in it! They're a fraud, but you don't blame them because it's capitalism, but you feel sorry for the poor defenseless medical students who are so sadly duped, but hey, that's capitalism... Wow, must be tough to be you!

Concur with mpp... perhaps you're better off sublimating all this anxiety into a little non-First-Aid studying. Or failing that, come up with your own business plan and draft for a book that will blow First Aid out of the water... perhaps in collaboration with the revered bigfrank...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
There were questions about glycogen storage diseases and the brachial plexus on my test so I wouldn't ignore those areas.

The purpose of the USMLE is not to see how many people they fail, but rather to see if students have mastered the material the NBME feels is necessary to continue on in their medical education. I don't think they care what the source of that information is as long as it is not specific questions.

First Aid is just a hodge podge of facts. Without a decent medical background it will be difficult to understand the material well. But, I would argue that if you take a smart person from a non-medical field, pay them to memorize First Aid, they could pass Step 1 (and learn a lot about the basic science of medicine in the mean time).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
daria said:
🙄 chill out boyfriend, I'm READING IT OUT OF THE BOOK WHICH IS SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME (as I suspect are most people who try to post erudite-sounding things on SDN)... that said, the reinforcement doesn't hurt! Let me repost my point, which was apparently not what you preferred to focus on...

Ah, capitalism... wallow in it! They're a fraud, but you don't blame them because it's capitalism, but you feel sorry for the poor defenseless medical students who are so sadly duped, but hey, that's capitalism... Wow, must be tough to be you!

Concur with mpp... perhaps you're better off sublimating all this anxiety into a little non-First-Aid studying. Or failing that, come up with your own business plan and draft for a book that will blow First Aid out of the water... perhaps in collaboration with the revered bigfrank...
Click to expand...

Do all of us a favor and SHUT UP. This thread isn't about analyzing me. It is about analyzing the book. If you are unable to bring anything intellingent to the table that is about First Aid then keep your mouth shut. I don't give a rat's arse about your behavioral science acumen (start a BS thread if you want to reinforce your knowledge). In the future, STICK with the discussion on the thread rather than tryng to make yourself feel better by analyzing someone else.

Since you are throwing around some UNSOLICITED psychology to judge me (even though I DON'T KNOW YOU). I am now ENTITLED to JUDGE YOU with a free pass. I firmly believe this. You wouldn't be so insecure about your aptitude if you were at a top fifty medical school. Furthermore, you don't even have a high class rank to make up for this. Therefore, you try to compensate by putting others down, and make yourself appear intellgent. Now shut up, and go back to the library so you can get your P=MD.

In the future, don't "analyze" someone that doesn't know you. You started this whole crap.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
early in automotive industry history, a genius of a man decided to put model years on cars to take advantage of consumers that required the "newest and shiniest" in their driveways. of course, the actual design and mechanics of the car only needed to be upgraded every ten. that's capitalism and a keen understanding of the consumer.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tedebear said:
Do all of us a favor and SHUT UP. This thread isn't about analyzing me. It is about analyzing the book. If you are unable to bring anything intellingent to the table that is about First Aid then keep your mouth shut. I don't give a rat's arse about your behavioral science acumen (start a BS thread if you want to reinforce your knowledge). In the future, STICK with the discussion on the thread rather than tryng to make yourself feel better by analyzing someone else.

Since you are throwing around some UNSOLICITED psychology to judge me (even though I DON'T KNOW YOU). I am now ENTITLED to JUDGE YOU with a free pass. I firmly believe this. You wouldn't be so insecure about your aptitude if you were at a top fifty medical school. Furthermore, you don't even have a high class rank to make up for this. Therefore, you try to compensate by putting others down, and make yourself appear intellgent. Now shut up, and go back to the library so you can get your P=MD.

In the future, don't "analyze" someone that doesn't know you. You started this whole crap.
Click to expand...

Hm. Perhaps the third time will be the charm. Doubt it, but just for sh*ts and giggles... without the humor this time (usually cuts the tension, but clearly has its failings!)

They're a fraud, but you don't blame them because it's capitalism, but you feel sorry for the poor defenseless medical students who are so sadly duped, but hey, that's capitalism...

Your reasoning seems (you're gonna love this) schizophrenic.
I believe yearly publishing of First Aid for the USMLE is a FRAUD.
Click to expand...

Brushan and Le are scam artists. I don't blame them because that is capitalism. A part of me is jealous for their annual cash cow, but a bigger part of me feels like medical students across the country are being taken advantage of by these guys.
Click to expand...

How can you not blame them for making a buck legitimately within a system you (apparently) believe in, and at the same time blame them for defrauding defenseless medical students who have the equipment necessary to make an informed decision?

I fail to see how, in a capitalist, free-market economy, they're doing anything untoward. Medical students ought to be smart enough to get on boards like these, find out the general consensus about which books are worthwhile and which are not, and make an informed decision. If medical students, the cream of the type-A university crop in the US, are unable to do this... well, woe to America.

Pointing out a lack of value added in successive editions? Fair play. Calling minimal value-added fraud? It's not clear that this label fits under the system you've accepted.

Personally, I like Step-Up, because we're not terribly organ-based at my school and I find it helpful to mentally organize the information that way. I'm not sure how often they come out with new editions of it, but I don't think it's every year. Seems useful to me to cross-reference 1st Aid into Step-Up, but I guess I'll see how it works as the big day approaches.

P.S. I'm not sure what my school or class rank have to do with this... seems rather ad hominem to me (and ad "schoolinem"?). In any case I don't tend to be a P=MD kind of person (except when it comes to Behavioral Medicine); probably appear laid-back for a medical student, but that's not saying much.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
daria said:
Hm. Perhaps the third time will be the charm. Doubt it, but just for sh*ts and giggles... without the humor this time (usually cuts the tension, but clearly has its failings!)

They're a fraud, but you don't blame them because it's capitalism, but you feel sorry for the poor defenseless medical students who are so sadly duped, but hey, that's capitalism...

Your reasoning seems (you're gonna love this) schizophrenic.




How can you not blame them for making a buck legitimately within a system you (apparently) believe in, and at the same time blame them for defrauding defenseless medical students who have the equipment necessary to make an informed decision?

I fail to see how, in a capitalist, free-market economy, they're doing anything untoward. Medical students ought to be smart enough to get on boards like these, find out the general consensus about which books are worthwhile and which are not, and make an informed decision. If medical students, the cream of the type-A university crop in the US, are unable to do this... well, woe to America.

Pointing out a lack of value added in successive editions? Fair play. Calling minimal value-added fraud? It's not clear that this label fits under the system you've accepted.

Personally, I like Step-Up, because we're not terribly organ-based at my school and I find it helpful to mentally organize the information that way. I'm not sure how often they come out with new editions of it, but I don't think it's every year. Seems useful to me to cross-reference 1st Aid into Step-Up, but I guess I'll see how it works as the big day approaches.

P.S. I'm not sure what my school or class rank have to do with this... seems rather ad hominem to me (and ad "schoolinem"?). In any case I don't tend to be a P=MD kind of person (except when it comes to Behavioral Medicine); probably appear laid-back for a medical student, but that's not saying much.
Click to expand...

I will only say one thing.

Don't hijack threads in the future to talk about something else that is currently "right in front of you" it is a sign of disrespect. Our tangent discussion about behavioral science concepts is now closed.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tedebear said:
I will only say one thing.

Don't hijack threads in the future to talk about something else that is currently "right in front of you" it is a sign of disrespect. Our tangent discussion about behavioral science concepts is now closed.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to assume that you don't have a reply to my critique of your logic. Most likely a reasonable assumption, since you haven't had a reply to similar critiques posted by ForSkin, mpp, and others.

[Turns off burner] But if you can't take the heat...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
USMLE Step 1 resources for sale
Replies
0
Views
2K
accurate_branch20
A
G
  • Question Question
USMLE Out of time and not ready for Step 1. Have I screwed up?
Replies
0
Views
536
genteel-mug-sting
G
C
USMLE Understanding Public Health in STEP 1?
Replies
0
Views
2K
Cheerios5789
C
Asilbek
USMLE Usmle step 1
Replies
0
Views
2K
Asilbek
Asilbek
J
USMLE Studying for USMLE Step 1
Replies
7
Views
6K
MedBoardTutors
MedBoardTutors
Top