Step I Best step 2 book?

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mountaindew2006

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just wondering what's the best step 2 book? I've heard CRUSH the boards and FA for step2. Some are saying boards and wards. Anyone here use any of these books while studying for their third year rotations?

thanks
 
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I've heard from countless upperclassmen that Boards and Wards and Step 2 Secrets are the only two books you need. But I haven't taken Step 2 yet.
 
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I used Crush Step 2 (read this first for basic overview), Boards and Wards, and FA Step 2 plus Q bank and Mock Step 2 for questions. Still waiting for my score. Boards and Wards and FA are useful during 3rd year as well so go ahead and buy them.
 
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i used kaplan series, crush is quick but not extensive at all (good for last minute studying) and qbank.
Depends whether you want to do well or not. If you just want to pass, i'm sure crush is good enough (granted that you learned something on your 3rd year rotations) 🙂
 
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smellycat said:
i used kaplan series, crush is quick but not extensive at all (good for last minute studying) and qbank.
Depends whether you want to do well or not. If you just want to pass, i'm sure crush is good enough (granted that you learned something on your 3rd year rotations) 🙂
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My friends who used Step2 Secrets, Boards and Wards, and QBank all scored 240+.
 
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I echo that--
I used Boards and Wards + Secrets, and did fine. Didn't start on b&w until 4th year, though I imagine it would have been useful adjunct to 3rd year rotations.

For questions, I used Appleton and Lange, which I do NOT recommend (waste of time) and Step 2 Mock Exam (pretty good, hits the high points, and all the questions can be done in the last few days of studying with good recall, though the q's are usually shorter than the real thing).
 
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I've done Q bank and NMS. Read Crush and now b/c of this sight, I've started to read B&W. I'm not very impressed with B&W though. It has more errors than Crush and also doesn't hit on key words as well. I personally wouldn't reccomend it unless you're sick of looking over the same stuff over and over, but that's me. From previous friends who have taken the test in years past, they all advise not getting first aid.

I'm also not the biggest fan of NMS b/c I found it to be too "nit-picky" with many of the questions. But then again, I did like reading the answers in the back.

Really liked Q bank b/c of the length of questions and same set up to the Steps.

Really liked Crush b/c of high yield key words, but lacks in OB/Gyn and Peds.

For Peds, I just read over my old notes which were taken off of Pediatric Board Review. Best book of the year.

For OB/Gyn, looked over my old notes from blue-prints and also read the answers from Q bank.
 
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how good is the NMS question book? how well do the questions parallel the real USMLE?
by the way, i have heard trauma is a large part of Step II. What are some good resources for studying trauma?

Thanks!!!
 
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The questions on NMS do not parallel the USMLE questions. The best thing to use NMS for would be to actually read the answers in the back. There is good info in the explanation of answers, but the questions aren't that great.

For trauma, I would suggest reading something from your surgery books (ie NMS, A&L questions.) That's definately high yield for the exam. Just remember ABCD's, know Tension Pneumo vs Open Pneumo vs Tamponade vs Hemopneumothorax. What to do with a wide mediastinum, ect. If you know the correct order in diagnosing and then treating, you'll be fine. I know it's easier said than done, but I didn't find those questions that difficult.
 
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I studied with Crush, NMS questions, qbank questions, and a little known book called "advanced life support for the USMLE step II" which was a GREAT, quick, 150pg. review for the day or two before the test, when you want to do something, but not too much. I even made some notes in it as I went along....

I thought B&W was great for the wards, but too "diffuse" for the boards.

The Key to Doing Well: QUESTIONS are your friends!

Score : 240+

-AH
 
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for those of you who used step 2 mock exams...i have not really been studying, but i grabbed that book. i have been averaging 74% (68-84%) on the blocks. i feel like that is a pretty good start, and that i may be ready to take it with a couple of weeks work. how does that percentage compare/sound to you all?

thanks!
 
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Where is a good source for USMLE questions other than NMS? I have heard some people talk about the some questions that USMLE releases, etc. I know about QBank, but did not get it for Step II....I got it for Step I but had heard mixed reviews about it. Any other advice for questions?

Thank you!
 
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joaquin13 said:
Where is a good source for USMLE questions other than NMS? I have heard some people talk about the some questions that USMLE releases, etc. I know about QBank, but did not get it for Step II....I got it for Step I but had heard mixed reviews about it. Any other advice for questions?

Thank you!
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I would get qbank for step II, i think it's more useful than the step I version. The only other question sources I can think of would be to do pretest or A&L for rotations where you feel weak
 
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There is a qbank on usmleworld.com which is cheaper than Kaplan and has received pretty good reviews.
 
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Has anyone used both Crush and Secrets? I know they are by the same author and pretty much the same information presented in different ways. Was it redundant and a waste of time or worth going through both?
 
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GrandMasterB said:
I think FA S2 is better than crush. Prescription isn't bad- crush is a little too simplistic. :meanie:
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I have to agree...I'm doing Secrets now, and finding it too simplistic though it has a few pearls here and there I haven't seen elsewhere. I don't know why everyone bags on FA S2 either, cuz like the poster above me, I think it's better. Maybe the past editions weren't that great, but the 4th edition is very good, although not comprehensive
 
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