Anyone who doesn't recommend RR Goljan for Step 1?

[rankin]

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I never read RR Goljan during my basic sciences but I started once I began step 1 prep. I read maybe the first 10 chapters and it was good but I found it was taking me a huge amount of time to get through. I ended up stopping it and finishing the rest in BRS path which I also did before for path shelf.

My question is does anyone feel RR path is too long a read if you didn't do it before? Im thinking of going back to it and finishing it but I don't know if I should give it that much time. I still have to do all of UWorld and probably DIT and some kaplan vids or books (definitely won't touch kaplan path though). I'll probably write about 6-7 weeks from now.

I did the comp exam (CBSSA) at my school and did ok but all I studied was mostly FA for it since I didn't have that much time so I think I can improve my score with other resources.

What do you think? Thanks.

 

[LFSdriver]

Sorry I have never read BRS, but I personally found RR Path covered beyond what Step 1 required and dealt with Step 2 information (a bit too much), thus leaving out smaller Step 1 path detail (ie macro and micro findings) versus all the general internal medicine info it contained.

 

[rankin]

Ya I also find it seems to often go beyond what is likely needed for step and more into the realm of my past clin med course.

But then what is the alternative?

 

[fahimaz7]

Interesting.. Most students that I talk to view RR Path as the holy bible.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Ya I also find it seems to often go beyond what is likely needed for step and more into the realm of my past clin med course.

But then what is the alternative?

This is because Goljan does a very good job of integrating material from other subjects. He talks about physio, pharm, medicine, etc etc at times. I think his book is superb, and frankly most of the people I've met in person who excelled on Step 1 did so with the help of Goljan RR. It's one of the gold standards, along with FA and UWorld.

Why look for anything else?

 

[2012mdc]

Sorry I have never read BRS, but I personally found RR Path covered beyond what Step 1 required and dealt with Step 2 information (a bit too much), thus leaving out smaller Step 1 path detail (ie macro and micro findings) versus all the general internal medicine info it contained.

I have to disagree here. RR was golden with integrating other subjects and it goes into good detail that FA and BRS Path doesn't. RR was an essential part of getting a 260 for me. I read BRS Path for the shelf and its format is nice and it's very readable but just not enough detail for me, I only read it bc of the questions at the end of each chapter and bc it's shorter than Goljan.

With that said, going thru RR for the 1st time within 4-6 weeks of the test may not be the best thing. I powered through it twice in 4 weeks but that was after I had read it once beforehand and had stuff highlighted. It could be too tedious to as a 1st time read in a short time period

 

[rankin]

I have to disagree here. RR was golden with integrating other subjects and it goes into good detail that FA and BRS Path doesn't. RR was an essential part of getting a 260 for me. I read BRS Path for the shelf and its format is nice and it's very readable but just not enough detail for me, I only read it bc of the questions at the end of each chapter and bc it's shorter than Goljan.

With that said, going thru RR for the 1st time within 4-6 weeks of the test may not be the best thing. I powered through it twice in 4 weeks but that was after I had read it once beforehand and had stuff highlighted. It could be too tedious to as a 1st time read in a short time period

Exactly the issue I was referring to. I can see it being a great book if you read it before and your doing your 2nd or 3rd pass close to test time. But im not in this position so going through it this close to the exam takes an insane amount of time.

So given my position im about 6.5 weeks out from my exam.
I read first 10 chapters of RR.
I read the remaining path in BRS.
I did about 800 Q's of Kaplan but im ready to switch soon to UWorld to make sure I finish it and annotate in FA.
I plan to get through most of kaplan webprep except certain parts that I used my own notes on (Pharm and Micro stories I make up to remember, I finished micro and half done pharm).
I then plan to do DIT.
I also want to do the 2 self assessments on UWorld, as many NBME Forms as I can and possibly the kaplan self assessment as well (I don't think i'll have time to finish all of kaplan Q bank).
Then FA + Uworld until the end.

I would really like to finish RR but I think it would probably take me 2 weeks just to do that.

What do you guys recommend in my position? thanks!

 

[turkeyjerky]

Exactly the issue I was referring to. I can see it being a great book if you read it before and your doing your 2nd or 3rd pass close to test time. But im not in this position so going through it this close to the exam takes an insane amount of time.

So given my position im about 6.5 weeks out from my exam.
I read first 10 chapters of RR.
I read the remaining path in BRS.
I did about 800 Q's of Kaplan but im ready to switch soon to UWorld to make sure I finish it and annotate in FA.
I plan to get through most of kaplan webprep except certain parts that I used my own notes on (Pharm and Micro stories I make up to remember, I finished micro and half done pharm).
I then plan to do DIT.
I also want to do the 2 self assessments on UWorld, as many NBME Forms as I can and possibly the kaplan self assessment as well (I don't think i'll have time to finish all of kaplan Q bank).
Then FA + Uworld until the end.

I would really like to finish RR but I think it would probably take me 2 weeks just to do that.

What do you guys recommend in my position? thanks!

In your position, I would skip kaplan and use Goljan.

 

[rankin]

In your position, I would skip kaplan and use Goljan.

Kaplan seems really good from what I've seen (some friends bought it and showed me when I went to their house). But it does seem like its a bit too slow and basic.. starting from the very barebone fundamentals.

So do you think it would be more beneficial to read the rest of rapid review (400 pages) instead of doing kaplan? Do you think I should still do DIT in addition to FA and UWorld? Also do you think I should do Goljan audio in addition to the book given my time constraints?

Also for other topics (behavior, neuro etc.) do you think Uworld + FA2010 is good enough? Or should I add BRS physio and Fix neuro etc. The logic behind kaplan is all these will be well covered. But if I decide to do RR then these books might have to be dropped to fit my timeframe. What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[2012mdc]

Kaplan seems really good from what I've seen (some friends bought it and showed me when I went to their house). But it does seem like its a bit too slow and basic.. starting from the very barebone fundamentals.

So do you think it would be more beneficial to read the rest of rapid review (400 pages) instead of doing kaplan? Do you think I should still do DIT in addition to FA and UWorld? Also do you think I should do Goljan audio in addition to the book given my time constraints?

Also for other topics (behavior, neuro etc.) do you think Uworld + FA2010 is good enough? Or should I add BRS physio and Fix neuro etc. The logic behind kaplan is all these will be well covered. But if I decide to do RR then these books might have to be dropped to fit my timeframe. What do you think?

Thanks!

I didn't use kaplan webprep or DIT so I can't comment on those issues but it seems to me that you are trying to use too many sources. Focus your time around FA, UW, and one other main source (RR, DIT, kaplan, whatever). Use supplemental books like BRS Physio and the HY series only when you need clarification and help with a subject or it's a clear weak area.

 

[abmd]

2012mdc, do you think if I am reading RR now with classes I should try to read BRS for the shelf?

 

[2012mdc]

2012mdc, do you think if I am reading RR now with classes I should try to read BRS for the shelf?

Sure, I felt BRS was good for the shelf because it was shorter yet had a lot of questions - I spread out about a chapter or two day so it didn't take much time per day. I really didn't want to do overdo RR so I didn't use it for the shelf except for the 2 tests.

For the shelf I read BRS and did all the questions, did the 2 goljan tests, and some UW questions. 98th percentile

 

[Mace1370]

Sure, I felt BRS was good for the shelf because it was shorter yet had a lot of questions - I spread out about a chapter or two day so it didn't take much time per day. I really didn't want to do overdo RR so I didn't use it for the shelf except for the 2 tests.

For the shelf I read BRS and did all the questions, did the 2 goljan tests, and some UW questions. 98th percentile

This sounds good, but what do you mean about overdoing RR?

 

[2012mdc]

This sounds good, but what do you mean about overdoing RR?

I had it read once during the year and some sections twice. I did want to read it in full again for the shelf and be burned out on it during my month of dedicated study time - I read it twice in full over that month

 

[abmd]

what are the two goljan tests? i don't really want to buy another book. do you think it would be okay to read goljan for the shelf. is there stuff in the brs not in the shelf?

 

[Mace1370]

I had it read once during the year and some sections twice. I did want to read it in full again for the shelf and be burned out on it during my month of dedicated study time - I read it twice in full over that month

Ah. I'm the kind of person that needs to go over something a minimum of 3 times. Time to start using RR!

 

[nikigarfield]

hey guys im using rapid review 2nd edition alongside kaplan....can anyone suggest if its a good idea to use RR 2nd edition cos im a little sceptical and worried as most of the usmle takers seem to be using 3rd edition...is 2nd edition enuf or shud i go for the 3rd.😕..moreover is it a gud idea 2 use kaplan side by side....i hav just enuf time 2 squeeze it in so all suggestions on this is welcome....kindly help....🙂

 

[2012mdc]

hey guys im using rapid review 2nd edition alongside kaplan....can anyone suggest if its a good idea to use RR 2nd edition cos im a little sceptical and worried as most of the usmle takers seem to be using 3rd edition...is 2nd edition enuf or shud i go for the 3rd.😕..moreover is it a gud idea 2 use kaplan side by side....i hav just enuf time 2 squeeze it in so all suggestions on this is welcome....kindly help....🙂

I found the 2nd ed to be sufficient

 

[IMGUSMLEStep1]

hey guys im using rapid review 2nd edition alongside kaplan....can anyone suggest if its a good idea to use RR 2nd edition cos im a little sceptical and worried as most of the usmle takers seem to be using 3rd edition...is 2nd edition enuf or shud i go for the 3rd.😕..moreover is it a gud idea 2 use kaplan side by side....i hav just enuf time 2 squeeze it in so all suggestions on this is welcome....kindly help....🙂

2nd edition was sufficient for me too.

 

[nikigarfield]

thanx guys...i guess il continue with RR 2nd edition

 

[a winner is you]

I bought it, read 2 chapters then quit because it was too boring. Got a 258 so obviously didn't need it.

 

[rankin]

I bought it, read 2 chapters then quit because it was too boring. Got a 258 so obviously didn't need it.

Mind sharing what resources you used? Thanks.

 

[a winner is you]

FA x2
UW qbank
BRS phys
Microbio MRS
some Goljan audio (which was also useless and a waste of time)

 

[rankin]

FA x2
UW qbank
BRS phys
Microbio MRS
some Goljan audio (which was also useless and a waste of time)

😎 Did you do any forms or UWSA to predict where you were? If so which did you like the best? Or which were most predictive? Thanks again! 😀

 

[C5toC9]

that's awesome

 

[2012mdc]

I bought it, read 2 chapters then quit because it was too boring. Got a 258 so obviously didn't need it.

Maybe you could have got a 270 🙄

 

[composita]

Hi
I want an advice please
My exam is within 4weeks and I finished lecture notes and start with first aid, but I didn't read Coljan or anything else than Kaplan lecture note of pathology, but many are saying most of patho questions come from Coljan.
Any clue or help please🙁😕

 

[Mace1370]

Hi
I want an advice please
My exam is within 4weeks and I finished lecture notes and start with first aid, but I didn't read Coljan or anything else than Kaplan lecture note of pathology, but many are saying most of patho questions come from Coljan.
Any clue or help please🙁😕

If you haven't looked at Goljan before and your test is less than 4 weeks away then you might as well not look at it at all.

With the limited time you have available I would recommend focusing on BRS Path, First Aid, and UWorld. Goljan is great, but (at least for me) it is something you have to be going over throughout the year and not just several weeks before the exam.

 

[composita]

Hi Mace1370
thanks a lot, but the problem I didn't read BRS because I graduted overseas and I am studynig on my own without entering any course,and didn't search the net too much but was studying Lecture notes only and had no clue about other books, but my score in Uworld is not more than 89%,I will give myself another 2 weeks after going through first aid to see if my score will get higher.
Regards😕