bros vs. firecracker as ms1

[theonlytycrane]

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Bros is free and involves chugging through FA factoids related to what I'm learning. (I think?)

Firecracker looks like it has a mix of vignettes + discrete questions related to what I'm learning. For the vignettes, should I just look up information related to the stuff I don't know yet (diseases/symptoms)?

I kind of wanted to use firecracker, but I'm not sure if it will be effective as an ms1, since I don't know anything. Thoughts?

 

[judb16]

Bros is free and involves chugging through FA factoids related to what I'm learning. (I think?)

Firecracker looks like it has a mix of vignettes + discrete questions related to what I'm learning. For the vignettes, should I just look up information related to the stuff I don't know yet (diseases/symptoms)?

I kind of wanted to use firecracker, but I'm not sure if it will be effective as an ms1, since I don't know anything. Thoughts?

There's tons of threads on this if you search, but:

Bros has FA and you an find decks with Pathoma (another great resource). I like it to chug through flashcards quickly. The "best" way to do it is to do it every day and use their algorithm. That doesn't work for me so I just use it as bulk flashcard review. It's easier to manage what cards you are seeing and how often and stuff. Also, you can edit the cards for Bros. Which is nice.

Firecracker is nice because it has explanations for topics built right into it. The application questions are nice. Also has Step 1 high yield bank, practice tests, rotation info/q banks and some other nice things I haven't had to time to care about.

I just finished MS1 and I thought both were helpful. Firecracker has biochem, immuno, micro, path, pharm etc. so I wouldn't worry about it not being good since you don't know everything. The general consensus is to pick one and go with it (which is probably smart) But I seem to like to mix it up and am scoring 90's+ on tests. Downside is that firecracker costs. You can usually get school discounts. Also they do a free trial. Check it out and see if you like it.

 

[FourniersGreenGang]

Bros is free and involves chugging through FA factoids related to what I'm learning. (I think?)

Firecracker looks like it has a mix of vignettes + discrete questions related to what I'm learning. For the vignettes, should I just look up information related to the stuff I don't know yet (diseases/symptoms)?

I kind of wanted to use firecracker, but I'm not sure if it will be effective as an ms1, since I don't know anything. Thoughts?

I found firecracker sort of useful for MS1. I basically used it by doing some cards in between sets at the gym or breaking it out while waiting in line for something. I got in the 90s on every test as well, but firecracker only helped for a few questions here and there. My main issue with it is that the explanations are too long for each question, and it's not as repetitive as anki to really hammer the facts into your memory. I think you should do the free trial and see if it's something you could see yourself using.

 

[theonlytycrane]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I loaded up bros deck and I see the cards are sectioned into: First Aid without path/pharm, pathology (I think related to pathoma), and pharm. I could see this as a good source of bulk card review as mentioned above. I don't see myself relying solely on the algorithm, but we'll see. My understanding is that all of these cards are made from First Aid?

Firecracker also seems to be vignette heavy which may help for boards later on, but not as much for quick content chugging. Did you both do a lot of the vignettes during m1?

 

[FourniersGreenGang]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I loaded up bros deck and I see the cards are sectioned into: First Aid without path/pharm, pathology (I think related to pathoma), and pharm. I could see this as a good source of bulk card review as mentioned above. I don't see myself relying solely on the algorithm, but we'll see. My understanding is that all of these cards are made from First Aid?

Firecracker also seems to be vignette heavy which may help for boards later on, but not as much for quick content chugging. Did you both do a lot of the vignettes during m1?

It's more or less one vignette a day with a couple other mini ones mixed in to your normal cards. Not super helpful in my opinion but also not unhelpful. If you're a systems based curriculum you might want to consider getting Kaplan or rx qbank to do along with your system. That's what I did and it was great, it really helps put your knowledge to the test.

 

[JPSmyth]

It's more or less one vignette a day with a couple other mini ones mixed in to your normal cards. Not super helpful in my opinion but also not unhelpful. If you're a systems based curriculum you might want to consider getting Kaplan or rx qbank to do along with your system. That's what I did and it was great, it really helps put your knowledge to the test.

I plan on using firecracker as an m1 and m2. One of my friends scored 260 and swears by it, I trust him on this oddly enough

I am in a systems based curriculum but shouldn't I save the rx qbank for step 1 studying as an m2?

 

[pericardium]

I find that firecracker is an excellent primary resource to reference; the information that accompanies topics is very condensed, but doesn't leave out too much and I've done fairly well on tests using firecracker as a primary reference resource. Firecracker questions on the other hand are poorly written, but I still do them during my first pass of the material. I find that bros/zanki questions are better for long term retention, so as weird as it is, my method is Firecracker first, followed by zanki/bros for spaced repetition.

 

[judb16]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I loaded up bros deck and I see the cards are sectioned into: First Aid without path/pharm, pathology (I think related to pathoma), and pharm. I could see this as a good source of bulk card review as mentioned above. I don't see myself relying solely on the algorithm, but we'll see. My understanding is that all of these cards are made from First Aid?

Firecracker also seems to be vignette heavy which may help for boards later on, but not as much for quick content chugging. Did you both do a lot of the vignettes during m1?

I don't rely on the algorithm for FC or anki. For FC I study the topics by organ block (which is how my school is set up) and then will do all the questions to review or something (or bulk Bros). Really you just have to play around with both of them and see what you like. Everyone will give you a different answer and just because it worked for me/her/him/them/whatever, doesn't mean it'll work for you.

However, I will agree above that the explanations for firecracker are often too long, or lead you down a pathway of link clicking and that the review questions don't hammer info like anki does.

We do problem-based learning at my school so I'm seeing a ton of vignettes, our tests and quizzes are largely vignettes. There's also free/paid resources online if you're looking for more vignettes. Its really just up to you. The first few months of MS1 for me was hell because I was switching up my study method, trying to see what worked for me, combing through all the different resources to see what I liked best. But eventually I found what I like and its been smooth sailing.

 

[FourniersGreenGang]

I plan on using firecracker as an m1 and m2. One of my friends scored 260 and swears by it, I trust him on this oddly enough

I am in a systems based curriculum but shouldn't I save the rx qbank for step 1 studying as an m2?

Rx qbank is not great for discrete usmle studying. You really want to focus your attention on Uworld qbank. Everyone has different opinions on when to start using it during M2, you just have to find the way it works for you best. Even all the advice we're giving you is based on our own preferences. You learn really quickly in med school how you learn best. You'll see once things get going.

 

[TheOneAndOnlyJamesFranco]

I find that firecracker is an excellent primary resource to reference; the information that accompanies topics is very condensed, but doesn't leave out too much and I've done fairly well on tests using firecracker as a primary reference resource. Firecracker questions on the other hand are poorly written, but I still do them during my first pass of the material. I find that bros/zanki questions are better for long term retention, so as weird as it is, my method is Firecracker first, followed by zanki/bros for spaced repetition.

Hey I'm an incoming MS1 and after much research I think this will be my method too!

I have used anki extensively before and I realize speed/efficiency may vary, but about how long does your FC 1st take for you and then the Zanki/bros pass? Also, how exactly are you using FC for that initial Pass?
Thanks!


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[theonlytycrane]

@pericardium can you link which version of bros & zanki that you're using?

 

[wdoc]

I used the Bros deck starting in 2nd year with a few systems classes (Heme, GI, Cardio) and found it to be helpful in remembering a bunch of facts. You'll probably find that it actually takes a lot of time to keep up with school and these decks. After you get through a few decks the review numbers increase substantially making it hard to keep up with. I stopped using them after first semester of second year and just focused on classwork/Q-banks instead. I'd say to just focus on doing well in your classes because they are foundational to the board studying that you'll be starting during second year.

 

[theonlytycrane]

@pericardium can you link which version of bros & zanki that you're using?

Which version of bros did you use?

 

[pericardium]

Hey I'm an incoming MS1 and after much research I think this will be my method too!

I have used anki extensively before and I realize speed/efficiency may vary, but about how long does your FC 1st take for you and then the Zanki/bros pass? Also, how exactly are you using FC for that initial Pass?
Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

For FC, I like to read the information that is provided on a topic before doing the questions. It's extremely condensed, so I typically read it several times, then I do the associated questions to make sure I mastered the topic and see what I have trouble remembering. As for Zanki, I just do that as I go along, but usually I can't do it until I've completely mastered an entire system, so Zanki usually comes after a block exam at school and is more for long term retention.

 

[pericardium]

@pericardium can you link which version of bros & zanki that you're using?

I'd ask around your class for Zanki, its been nearly impossible to find it online recently. Bros is still 2014 IIRC, but I haven't been using it much.