BEST study material for STEP2

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First Aid Step 2 CK + Boards and Wards + Step-Up to USMLE Step 2 + Crush Step 2 = any of these books are recommended by SDN'ers. And don't forget about USMLE WORLD.


good luck
 
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USMLE Step 2 Secrets is great but I heard that it was the same as Crush Step 2 which is a larger book. USMLE WORLD all the way!!!!
 
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From what I hear if you really want to smash the exam the Kaplan CK Lecture notes are great. I'm using them but can't swear by them b/c I haven't taken the exam yet 😀

But if you have the time I can say that they are very very thorough 👍 So far, I've been able to find the explanations to almost every UW question within the Kaplan notes, so I'm assuming the info is spot on.
 
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I would say 20 percent of your time should be spent reading to review and gain some new knowledge. My books of choice were Step 1 and Step 2 secrets for a great quick review, and Crush Step 2 for a bit more detail. I wouldnt go so far as to recommend Kaplan notes, eventhough I had access to them. I only read the sections that I knew absolutely nothing about (ie neurology, some surg specialties, derm)

I know everyone says this but i will reiterate it. Hopefully it sticks. 80 percent of your studies should be with a computer somewhere quiet on UW, do whole or half blocks depending on your endurance. Finish as many questions as possible! You will be amazed at how much you learn.

GL
 
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turkdlit said:
From what I hear if you really want to smash the exam the Kaplan CK Lecture notes are great. I'm using them but can't swear by them b/c I haven't taken the exam yet 😀
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Where do I get Kaplan notes? And how many pages are there?
 
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Babycatcher2B said:
Where do I get Kaplan notes? And how many pages are there?
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The only way you can get them is to buy it...mine were a gift from an upperclassman, but usually they run ~$350-400 on ebay. Well worth it IMO, but again, you need the time to study them. I was lucky to have some very cush rotations to end my 3rd year, so had plenty of study time...

Its around 1000 pages across 5 books. I studied all the books first, and scored very well on UW my first time around. Now doing UW a second time to make sure it sticks, exam in 6 days 👍
 
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turkdlit said:
The only way you can get them is to buy it...mine were a gift from an upperclassman, but usually they run ~$350-400 on ebay. Well worth it IMO, but again, you need the time to study them. I was lucky to have some very cush rotations to end my 3rd year, so had plenty of study time...

Its around 1000 pages across 5 books. I studied all the books first, and scored very well on UW my first time around. Now doing UW a second time to make sure it sticks, exam in 6 days 👍
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What is very well on USMLE World the first time around?
 
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What about Blueprints Clinical cases Series? Does anybody has experience with it? It seems good for practising questions before getting to UW and First Aid 2CK gives good grade on review resources..
 
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rox said:
hey turkdlit, what edition of Kaplan lecture notes are you using? 2005-2006?
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Yeah, 2005-2006; I've been told they don't change from year to year. To the previous poster, started in low 60's for UW, last ten blocks or so were in low to mid-70's, ended up with 68% overall.
 
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There are a few ads for selling 2008-2009 editions over the web. Actually, there are a couple of them here at SDN. I was about to make a deal with someone, but I now think they could be rapers and there's no such 2008-2009 editions.

I couldn't find such new editions from a trusted source.
 
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I can confirm that there is a 2008-2009 edition of the Kaplan books because I have them. They have a red cover whereas previous editions ie 2005-06 and 07-08 had a yellow cover.
 
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used: Kaplan Qbank, boards and wards, and first aid
Most time was spent reviewing qbank questions
~ The best advice I can give is to read the test content early on (I waited till the day before the test and ended up over studying) It really helps to understand the types of questions they will be asking
Step 2 score: 278
 
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hope4derm said:
used: Kaplan Qbank, boards and wards, and first aid
Most time was spent reviewing qbank questions
~ The best advice I can give is to read the test content early on (I waited till the day before the test and ended up over studying) It really helps to understand the types of questions they will be asking
Step 2 score: 278
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Great score! Where can I find the test content?
 
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http://www.usmle.org/Examinations/step2/step2ck_content.html

This is from the web site.

Step 2 CK includes test items in the following content areas:

internal medicine,
obstetrics and gynecology,
pediatrics,
preventive medicine,
psychiatry,
surgery,
other areas relevant to provision of care under supervision.


Most Step 2 CK test items describe clinical situations and require that you provide one or more of the following:

a diagnosis,
a prognosis,
an indication of underlying mechanisms of disease,
the next step in medical care, including preventive measures.



There is also a 77pg PDF that outlines content and sample questions on that link.
 
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PenguinHead said:
http://www.usmle.org/Examinations/step2/step2ck_content.html

This is from the web site.

Step 2 CK includes test items in the following content areas:

internal medicine,
obstetrics and gynecology,
pediatrics,
preventive medicine,
psychiatry,
surgery,
other areas relevant to provision of care under supervision.


Most Step 2 CK test items describe clinical situations and require that you provide one or more of the following:

a diagnosis,
a prognosis,
an indication of underlying mechanisms of disease,
the next step in medical care, including preventive measures.



There is also a 77pg PDF that outlines content and sample questions on that link.
Click to expand...


A prognosis. I don't think USMLE World has had questions of that sort. Thanks for this info. So you think this helped you in what was important and what wasn't? Also, USMLE world loves the question: "Which is the best way to confirm the diagnosis?" Which is different from the next step in management. Did you find questions of that sort on the real thing?
 
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"Crush Step 2" seems to be a commonly recommended text. As a result I decided to give it a go around. Thus far (about 1/3 way through) the book is pretty disappointing.

While I understand that a review book is intended to be brief and incomplete, this book does not contain enough information on the subjects it treats. That is, it tells you all of the basic stuff that you already know, because its very basic, almost common sense to a med student. What it should have, but dosent, are those details that you know exist but cant remember exactly what it is or how it works.

Further, I am getting tired of finding gross errors in the book. There seems to be a number of places where the author simply assumed something that seemed like common sense was true. This is especially bad, because these are going to be the same assumptions that we are likely to make, and are easy targets for test questions.
 
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logos said:
"Crush Step 2" seems to be a commonly recommended text. As a result I decided to give it a go around. Thus far (about 1/3 way through) the book is pretty disappointing.

While I understand that a review book is intended to be brief and incomplete, this book does not contain enough information on the subjects it treats. That is, it tells you all of the basic stuff that you already know, because its very basic, almost common sense to a med student. What it should have, but dosent, are those details that you know exist but cant remember exactly what it is or how it works.

Further, I am getting tired of finding gross errors in the book. There seems to be a number of places where the author simply assumed something that seemed like common sense was true. This is especially bad, because these are going to be the same assumptions that we are likely to make, and are easy targets for test questions.
Click to expand...

Step Up to Medicine is great for those details you can't remember, how its pretty dense and of course only covers medicine. But it is still great.
 
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rox said:
Can you compare Step-up to Medicine with Kaplan? Step up seems more dense.
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I don't have Kaplan. However, I use Step Up to Medicine to fill in gaps and review. I used it during my medicine rotation, but didn't read the whole thing. But now, when I get a certain question wrong on USMLE World. I flip to the section in the book and read about that topic. It only takes 2 minutes. And 9/10 the point that USLME world was trying to make is there in the particular topic i read in Step Up to Medicine. Its good reinforcement.
 
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Babycatcher2B said:
I don't have Kaplan. However, I use Step Up to Medicine to fill in gaps and review. I used it during my medicine rotation, but didn't read the whole thing. But now, when I get a certain question wrong on USMLE World. I flip to the section in the book and read about that topic. It only takes 2 minutes. And 9/10 the point that USLME world was trying to make is there in the particular topic i read in Step Up to Medicine. Its good reinforcement.
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Thats a good idea. Step up to medicine is a good book that I also have it left over from medicine. I think if anything it is a bit too complete, sort of the opposite of "crush". Maybe they will complement each others faults to a degree.
 
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Has anyone noticed that with FA they in the diagnosis section or trx section they give a different options without clarifying which one would be the best, because usually on UW you have to decide b/w the options that are given in FA.
 
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Did anyone use Case Files to prep for Step 2 CK? I used them for my Shelf exams and the series seemed to hit all the key points. I was thinking of rereading them and then doing USMLE World. Any thoughts?
 
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usamsIII said:
Hi. I just started third year and just recieved my step 1 score back (212/88) back and am devastated...still recovering from the bad score I got. I really want to go into ophtho which is such a competitive field and pray that there is still some hope for me if I do very well during third year and especially step 2.
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+pity++pity++pity++pity+
I think it is all over for you. You will NEVER be able to get into opthomology with scores like that. You should probably just end it all now to spare yourself the pain and humiliation of having to put a measly 212 on your ERAS. I ALWAYS ask my doctor's Step 1 score and never go to anyone who scored below 230.
+pity++pity++pity++pity+

Seriously, grow up. A 212 is not the end of the world, even for optho. Do well on your rotations and do well on step 2 and you'll be fine.
 
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BOHICA-FIGMO said:
+pity++pity++pity++pity+
I think it is all over for you. You will NEVER be able to get into opthomology with scores like that. You should probably just end it all now to spare yourself the pain and humiliation of having to put a measly 212 on your ERAS. I ALWAYS ask my doctor's Step 1 score and never go to anyone who scored below 230.
+pity++pity++pity++pity+

Seriously, grow up. A 212 is not the end of the world, even for optho. Do well on your rotations and do well on step 2 and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

I found two opposite advices (I think it is all over for you Vs A 212 is not the end of the world ) .Unfortunately they are distracting .
 
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