Big Robbins vs. Medium Robbins

[ej37]

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I know this topic has been played out many times on the board, sorry for reviving it. I just cant make up my mind which book I am going to use. I have spent significant time with both, and like Medium Robbins because it is shorter, but like Big Robbins because it is more recent (2010 vs 2007) and seems better organized.

I'm thinking that Medium Robbins might be better for me though, as I don't particularilly like to read, and I am more concerned with my USMLE score/studying than path grade. I'd really appreciate some input though from people who also have/had my dilemma! Thanks!

 

[da8s0859q]

I know this topic has been played out many times on the board, sorry for reviving it. I just cant make up my mind which book I am going to use. I have spent significant time with both, and like Medium Robbins because it is shorter, but like Big Robbins because it is more recent (2010 vs 2007) and seems better organized.

I'm thinking that Medium Robbins might be better for me though, as I don't particularilly like to read, and I am more concerned with my USMLE score/studying than path grade. I'd really appreciate some input though from people who also have/had my dilemma! Thanks!

Medium if anything.

 

[Rollo]

I am of the camp that use medium robbins to grasp the concepts and use big robbins for reference to look up things that medium might not go into too much detail about.

 

[LordATPSynthase]

Yeah I'm also wondering which Path text to read (same 2 as you) after I finish up this pharm one hmm

 

[MedMan25]

I bought big robbins and I can count on one hand the number of times I opened it during years 1 & 2.

 

[ej37]

Medium if anything.

If anything? Can you elaborate further? How did you learn path, and did you feel prepared for the USMLE if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Docster]

If anything? Can you elaborate further? How did you learn path, and did you feel prepared for the USMLE if you dont mind me asking?

None of the above. Not baby robbins, either.

G-O-L-J-A-N all the way!

 

[LordATPSynthase]

Doesn't Goljan write the Review book? Shouldn't a review book be for review? That is just what I assumed... Do you think it is something you can learn from well as a primary source?

 

[shreypete]

Yes, I definitely think Goljan's Rapid Review shouldn't be used as a main text. You might do well on the shelf exams and Step 1 but as a future doctor, you'll not feet adequately prepared.

I'd suggest you use either the Medium or the Baby versions. The medium version is better as it explains the pathology of each disease more elaborately (as opposed to the Baby one which just lists out diseases and their pathology, histology etc. in a very disorganized order.)

 

[lord_jeebus]

I thought Big Robbins was a great read, but if you're not that into pathology, Medium Robbins contains everything you "need to know."

 

[MilkmanAl]

Goljan beats them both, in my opinion. I have no problem at all learning from outlines.

 

[da8s0859q]

If anything? Can you elaborate further? How did you learn path, and did you feel prepared for the USMLE if you dont mind me asking?

You would have to check in with the others farther ahead of me, as I'm a lowly M2 come August. I say "if anything" because for the path we had in our school's M1 curriculum (enough to have a feel for how you'll want to learn the rest next year), Goljan / class notes / medium Robbins if absolutely necessary struck me as sufficient, and I know it's the opinion of some more senior med students that big Robbins was overkill for them. I'm inclined to agree.

M3s / M4s, chip in with your experience?

 

[C5toC9]

I've been using Big Robbins. What is Medium Robbins? Is it just Big Robbins in an outline form?

 

[jejun]

I am having the same issue, and keep flipping back and forth.

I've heard Big Robbins integrates biochemistry and other subjects more so I would think that would also help bring it together for boards?

I haven't heard experiences from many people who stuck with Big Robbins... 1500 pgs over a year... hmmm

 

[Telencephalon]

I really like Big Robbins I read it cover to cover second year, and reviewed/supplemented the material before exams with class syllabus and Goljan's.

 

[ej37]

I really like Big Robbins I read it cover to cover second year, and reviewed/supplemented the material before exams with class syllabus and Goljan's.

If you dont mind me asking, how did this work out for you? Would you do it that way again?

 

[Telencephalon]

It worked out great for me and pathology was probably my favorite preclinical class, but I can understand not liking Robbins or feeling like you are wasting time slogging through it.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

my advice is get big robbins and suck it up. Some of it admittedly gets kind of dense but you can get through it if you focus on the italicized portions. I would just block out like 6 or 8 hours on a weekend day, go through my path notes and basically make myself a study guide in a series of sketchbooks using info from class notes and robbins as reference so I felt like I got the complete picture of what was going on with a disease.

Also, if you're worried about your step 1 score you need to know path back and forth... knowing path like that you will by necessity understand your needed physiology and most of your anatomy, since if you don't know how something works when functioning properly how will you understand how it breaks? It will also turn pharmacology from a big list of drugs to memorize into something that makes a little more sense (at least for me).

A bonus will be you will have your basic science stuff down for 3rd year. I went through big robbins my 2nd year and got a lot of positive feedback in my 3rd year clerkships about my basic science knowledge. Also when studying for shelf exams 3rd year I had most of the "mechanisms of disease" part down so I could focus on studying diagnosis and treatment.

 

[Fundersam]

How much time do you need to read through medium robbins vs big robbins?
We have two months of pathology in our school, is this enough or should I just go with RR? I don't go to all the lectures, which gives me more time for reading.

 

[killinsound]

I have no idea what medium robbins is. All I know about are baby and big robbins. Anyone care to spare a link to medium robbins? I tried a good search but ended up with nothing.

 

[da8s0859q]

I have no idea what medium robbins is. All I know about are baby and big robbins. Anyone care to spare a link to medium robbins? I tried a good search but ended up with nothing.

http://www.amazon.com/Robbins-Basic...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278045393&sr=8-1

 

[deuce924]

I vote no Robbins at all. It worked for me.

 

[Fundersam]

How much time do you need to read through medium robbins vs big robbins?
We have two months of pathology in our school, is this enough or should I just go with RR? I don't go to all the lectures, which gives me more time for reading.

anyone?

 

[shreypete]

Well if you study the right way, it takes about a month to cover everything once. My roommate used the big one and it took him a month. I used the Medium one and it took me around 3 weeks. I then reviewed all the stuff using the Baby Robbins and the exam really felt like a piece of cake.

 

[QuaerensIntelle]

I have had both big and medium. Personally, I like big better. It has more photos/diagrams and a little more information. I don't think there is a big difference one way or the other. The downside of having the big one is the weight/size and the fact that your professors may not always make it clear what pages they want you to read in the big version if they assigned the medium. The robbins review seems like a good idea to get also if you want to practice questions based on reading the text.