Anyone Try the Kaplan High Yield Lectures?

[IDoIt4Love]

---

Members don't see this ad.

With my AMA membership I can purchase Kaplan's "High Yield" lectures for under $500 (50 hours of online lectures + Qbank and a couple practice tests). I like that they let you watch the videos as many times as you want until whenever you take your test. However, it was just recently launched last summer, so I was wondering if anyone has tried it yet and can weigh in on its usefulness. So far I've just viewed their free sample lectures (cardiology) on their website and they seem pretty solid, but I don't know much about the other subjects.

Are they fairly accurate and with the appropriate scope? Too simplistic or too detailed? Does anyone know how they compare to DIT or similar, short programs? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[1badvette]

I'm doing them right now , So far the guy that lectures the free cardio , also lectures blood , oncology, immuno , Muscle, Resp ... He is great , lot better than DIT . now the endo , renal guy i could not stand , DIT is much better there . Thats as far as i got ...

 

[katarina90]

I have it.

So far I've done the biochem section (pretty good), pharm section (to be honest, pretty atrocious--basic and the girl basically just reads you exactly what FA says), musculoskeletal section (AMAZING and the best section so far, really cleared up what we are learning this block), and reproductive (would say it was almost as good as the MSK). Good thing is most of the pharm is in the systems sections anyway.

I chose Kaplan > Dit because I wanted access now--not next year (I learn slow, and cramming is not an option for me) and unlimited viewing for 1 yr vs. DIT which limits it at 2 viewings per lecture. I definitely don't regret the purchase, because I would be so lost with FA if I didn't have the lectures to guide me through it.

The Q bank is ok--so far I've done about 20 % of it. I do agree with people that say it tends to test on more obscure factoids. So, the questions are not great. I plan on using the Qbank to study during the school year only, and then switch to UWorld for the real deal. I'm complementing this with Pathoma to round out my study plan.

 

[IDoIt4Love]

I really appreciate the weigh-ins, thanks a lot! There's no info on this program elsewhere online b/c it's so new and I felt like it was a big unknown to spend $500 on. I took the plunge and have so far gotten through the GI and renal lectures (they coordinate with my current block of school). I think they've been really good. I appreciate the charts on each disease w/ clinical presentation, diagnostic/path findings, treatment/prognosis in the lecture slides, and I also find that the lecturers verbally explain things just enough so that you understand them and they stick. I've done about 100 Qbank problems and I agree, they tend to be nit-picky, but I find the answer explanations helpful in the learning process, and will probably use these to learn the material while in school, using USMLE World to study for the real deal.

I agree with Katarina; I needed access to start studying now, not next year, and the freedom to watch the lectures as many times as I want. I think for 50 hrs of lecture with 2000+ practice questions (and 2 practice tests!) this is an amazing deal.

About to start the reproductive lectures! Thanks again guys 🙂

 

[LaCasta]

Are the lectures organized by organ systems, or disciplines?

 

[IDoIt4Love]

The lecture menu is organized by organ system, and then there's a lecture for each aspect of that organ system (i.e. anatomy/embryo, normal physiology, pathology, etc)

 

[ZinedineZidane]

is there a behavioral science section in that kaplan high yield?

 

[LaCasta]

The lecture menu is organized by organ system, and then there's a lecture for each aspect of that organ system (i.e. anatomy/embryo, normal physiology, pathology, etc)

Nice

I have it.


I chose Kaplan > Dit because I wanted access now--not next year (I learn slow, and cramming is not an option for me) and unlimited viewing for 1 yr vs. DIT which limits it at 2 viewings per lecture. I definitely don't regret the purchase, because I would be so lost with FA if I didn't have the lectures to guide me through it.

.

Do these lectures use First Aid as a textbook kind of like DIT?

 

[katarina90]

Nice



Do these lectures use First Aid as a textbook kind of like DIT?

Yes, they use FA as the text and include page references for the last two editions

 

[ZinedineZidane]

is there a behavioral science section in that kaplan high yield?

sooo no response is that a no guys?

 

[katarina90]

There is a behavioral science section. It is like four lectures. Its separate from the Psych and Neuro section

 

[musicgeek]

Yes, they use FA as the text and include page references for the last two editions

So do they give you an additional text, or are the lectures based solely on First Aid?

 

[katarina90]

I think with the COMLEX High yield you get an additional OMM book, but other than that no...its all based off of First Aid. When I signed up I got a free MedEssentials but that was just a promotion at the time

UPDATE: As of 12/20 finished more sections:
1. Psych/Neuro: not covered enough, specifically very lacking in the psych (but also in the neuro as well). I think you really have to supplement for Psych and neuro here unless you have a really good knowledge base. Half of the FA psychiatry section is not covered in the Kaplan videos. I exhausted BRS neuro last year, so I think I'm going to supplement with HY Neuro and BRS psychiatry.

2. Behavioral Science: actually really, really good. Instructor does a good job of making equations 'come alive' with vignettes and such. Also like how he presents different ethical/moral dilemmas and talks you through them.

 

[1badvette]

So do they give you an additional text, or are the lectures based solely on First Aid?

when i signed up for it , they told me that they have additional text the comes with it but we wont be getting that until march of 2012 ... but all you really need is 1st aid .

 

[1badvette]

I think with the COMLEX High yield you get an additional OMM book, but other than that no...its all based off of First Aid. When I signed up I got a free MedEssentials but that was just a promotion at the time

UPDATE: As of 12/20 finished more sections:
1. Psych/Neuro: not covered enough, specifically very lacking in the psych (but also in the neuro as well). I think you really have to supplement for Psych and neuro here unless you have a really good knowledge base. Half of the FA psychiatry section is not covered in the Kaplan videos. I exhausted BRS neuro last year, so I think I'm going to supplement with HY Neuro and BRS psychiatry.

2. Behavioral Science: actually really, really good. Instructor does a good job of making equations 'come alive' with vignettes and such. Also like how he presents different ethical/moral dilemmas and talks you through them.

I agree , the person that covers Behavioral also covers Neuro/Psych , he is really good .. it would've been nice if he coverd neuro in more depth, but again Neuro is not too strong in 1st aid and must be supplemented . DIT wins in this subject ...

For me so far DIT is much better in Renal , Endo , gen pharm , neuro .. Kaplan HY is much better in cardio , Resp , Heme , Immuno , Muscle , BS , GI .. Micro and biochem is a hit amd miss for both ..

 

[LovelyBRass]

The Kaplan lectures are awesome! I'm particularly a huge fan of Lionel Raymond, who explained biochemistry and pharm to me in a way that just made things make sense, similar to Goljan (great explanations, without the weird stories haha).

 

[PlaceboEffect]

I'm trying to plan my study schedule and I think I've decided to try Kaplan. Does anyone know the breakdown of lectures? (how many hours per subject)

 

[WarriorMD]

Would you guys say you really need to have a solid grasp of the concept before going to these videos... or do the videos help kind of explain the concept around some of those quick short facts in FA.

 

[Joe Damagio]

If you guys are interested in Kaplan High Yield for Step 1 Videos. Go check out the Feedurbrain forum and look for Kaplan's High Yield Step1 thread , they are going to do a group buy (GB). Go to the Thread to get the complete details, so you see what I mean by GB.
Keep on trucking
"Sharing is power"

 

[reedsposer22]

get them, they are unreal, they are CONCISE and EASY to understand, the teachers are 10x better than the proffs at our school! ive been using these lectures all year just as adjunct to class

 

[colts88]

Could you please send me the link to download the Kaplan High Yield for Step 1 Videos.

Thank you