Anybody here use Firecracker/Gunnertraining?

[thawunandonly]

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I used it throughout 2nd year, was a huge time sink but I think it catered to my learning style and, while still waiting on my scores, I think it paid off both in my class performance and prep for Step 1.

I know every school is going to vary, but does anyone here use FC, what with the time constraints throughout clinicals? I imagine it would be something good to pop open and do bits of daily review throughout downtime...

I know the Step 2 material is still relatively new but any input is appreciated.

 

[StrangerX]

Some of my classes used it in third year and they thought they did well on their shelf exams. Then again I never asked them what 'well' meant. I did try to look at their website but felt it was underdeveloped in terms of content and felt that review books plus questions would be more helpful..akin to a Taus Plan for Step II.

On a lighter note...

I thought about using a firecracker butt then I saw the videos on youtube for product promos and realized they weren't for me.

 

[CatFactorial]

I find it helpful. Has kept material, even step 1, fresh. Have to be mondo diligent though. Bank as you read in stepuptomedicine or whatever.

 

[thawunandonly]

Wait, so you are still reviewing the Step I material? Sheesh. What is your daily review like then? Because at my peak I was averaging 300 a day (though I kept them more frequent the closer it got to Step I day).

 

[thawunandonly]

Bump!

 

[tco]

They have it for Step 2.

 

[Aang]

They have it for Step 2.

Yes it is called Firecracker. They have all the specialty topics.

 

[thawunandonly]

They have it for Step 2.

Was this supposed to be a question? Yes they have Step 2 material on there. I was asking for anybody's experience with it during 3rd year, since MS1 and MS2 are different kind of beasts concerning time management, etc.

It seems like doing review questions on a phone would be a good way to pass downtime during rotations.

 

[Kal EI]

Worst thing I ever did for medical education was using this nearly everyday for a year.

My argument against it would be:

- better resources, each rotation has go to resources that are really good
- UWorld is really good
- Limited time, most people who use these programs sacrifice the great resources + less of Uworld for more of mindless flashcards.

People who use the best resources and use Uworld can score > 80 or 90th percentile. If it ain't broke...

With that said, those who end up using the program AND doing everything outlined above do extremely well - but since they spend twice as much time studying, not sure if that's a good tradeoff (few percentile higher for 2x investment).

 

[thawunandonly]

Worst thing I ever did for medical education was using this nearly everyday for a year.

My argument against it would be:

- better resources, each rotation has go to resources that are really good
- UWorld is really good
- Limited time, most people who use these programs sacrifice the great resources + less of Uworld for more of mindless flashcards.

People who use the best resources and use Uworld can score > 80 or 90th percentile. If it ain't broke...

With that said, those who end up using the program AND doing everything outlined above do extremely well - but since they spend twice as much time studying, not sure if that's a good tradeoff (few percentile higher for 2x investment).

Every day for a year? Do you mean MS2 or 3rd year and on?

Also the main reasons I am contemplating this is because 1.) it helped drill in facts in a way that helped my learning style and 2.) it seemed there was no "real" consensus for Step 2 materials besides UW; I thought that since FC draws from multiple review sources it might come in handy.

Otherwise, I recognize it was a huge time investment and often brings in stuff we don't need to know...

 

[DopaDO]

Bump. I'm curious if this is worth the effort. I did it for step 1and it was helpful. If any fourth years could chime in that would be very helpful as well.

 

[Brain Bucket]

People who use the best resources and use Uworld can score > 80 or 90th percentile. If it ain't broke...

So what's your ideal formula for CK prep?

 

[soccerboy2288]

Hey, So I've bought a 1 year subscription for 3rd year when it was really cheap. I loved it for STEP1 and used it religiously.

So far I'm very disappointed. used it for psych and obgyn and they are pretty horrible. It may be useful to remember some facts at the beginning of the unit (I did it on my phone while walking to the hospital). Idk about the other topics, but its nowhere near enough and leaves out LOTS of important information. For this reason the time commitment is much less (I would have about 50~90 questions per day by the time I bank a full section of psych or OBGYN, vs 300 for step 1)

It doesn't cover "Next step in management" material nor the algorithms you have to know in obgyn. Many questions are very poor ( "What is placenta previa?" "Name the 7 DSM criteria for Major Depression" "What are the 3 D's of endometriosis" "Describe Borderline Personality disorder"). Overall they are nowhere near as helpful as Step 1 material. By the end of the rotation, its not useful and doesn't help to answer shelf type questions. Hoping its better for other topics...

 

[Brain Bucket]

Hey, So I've bought a 1 year subscription for 3rd year when it was really cheap. I loved it for STEP1 and used it religiously.

So far I'm very disappointed. used it for psych and obgyn and they are pretty horrible. It may be useful to remember some facts at the beginning of the unit (I did it on my phone while walking to the hospital). Idk about the other topics, but its nowhere near enough and leaves out LOTS of important information. For this reason the time commitment is much less (I would have about 50~90 questions per day by the time I bank a full section of psych or OBGYN, vs 300 for step 1)

It doesn't cover "Next step in management" material nor the algorithms you have to know in obgyn. Many questions are very poor ( "What is placenta previa?" "Name the 7 DSM criteria for Major Depression" "What are the 3 D's of endometriosis" "Describe Borderline Personality disorder"). Overall they are nowhere near as helpful as Step 1 material. By the end of the rotation, its not useful and doesn't help to answer shelf type questions. Hoping its better for other topics...

Gotta do more for your OB/G shelf bro. Hit up UW+BP.

 

[dozer1]

Whats does "BP" stand for in the post above? thanks

 

[msbbc833]

Blueprints

 

[soccerboy2288]

Gotta do more for your OB/G shelf bro. Hit up UW+BP.

Yeah I definitely used other sources (Uworld + Uwise). I was just saying that doing firecracker on the side barely helped.