class notes for step I?

[PoorMD]

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curious if this is possible.. to study from class notes? most people seem to use board review, but I am so much more familiar with my old notebooks from first year...

my school has what I consider to be fantastic class notes for the MSI physiology sections, and some of the biochemistry sections too. On the other hand, our anatomy notes were miserable, likewise for embryo, genetics, and some other topics. the downfall to the good sections is that they are rather dense and not really catered to a rapid review.

I must point out, I loathe the BRS series because I can't keep attention in the outline format.. The best book I have ever used thus far is Clinical micro made ridiculously simple. SOO funny!! and also a LOT better than my class notes for micro.

my point is, it seems to me that some topics would be better suited to study from class notes (phys, neuro) while others might require the supplemental course notes from Kaplan or high yield (Micro, biochem, etc) or whatever. definately not using BRS ever again, learned my lesson already.

what do you all think? anyone else using a class notes-focused study routine?

 

[njbmd]

curious if this is possible.. to study from class notes? most people seem to use board review, but I am so much more familiar with my old notebooks from first year...

my school has what I consider to be fantastic class notes for the MSI physiology sections, and some of the biochemistry sections too. On the other hand, our anatomy notes were miserable, likewise for embryo, genetics, and some other topics. the downfall to the good sections is that they are rather dense and not really catered to a rapid review.

I must point out, I loathe the BRS series because I can't keep attention in the outline format.. The best book I have ever used thus far is Clinical micro made ridiculously simple. SOO funny!! and also a LOT better than my class notes for micro.

my point is, it seems to me that some topics would be better suited to study from class notes (phys, neuro) while others might require the supplemental course notes from Kaplan or high yield (Micro, biochem, etc) or whatever. definately not using BRS ever again, learned my lesson already.

what do you all think? anyone else using a class notes-focused study routine?

USMLE Step I is (in decreasing order of representation) Path, Pharm, Physiology most important; Micro/Viro, Biochem, Behavioral Science/Epi, Neuroscience with Anatomy least important and least represented. Your notes are probably overkill and low yield. The best use of your class notes are your class exams. If you have mastered the material there, you need to REVIEW for your boards. The is the main reason why review books are not that great for class study.

I would and did not use Q-Bank for class study but it worked great for me for USMLE Step I. I didn't use anything for Step II and back to Q-Bank for Step III. Reviewing for USMLE is all about using your time wisely and getting used to the software/format of the test. Kaplan's Q-Bank (and now USMLEWorld) allow you to simulate the actual testtaking conditions. If you have done well in your coursework, you don't need to re-study course notes.

 

[rowan]

The only thing I think would be useful as far as class notes are concerned would be perhaps things like diagrams/drug charts or pathway representations. I actually used my class notes fairly extensively for neuro review simply b/c I had a lot of the ascending/descending/special sensory/basal ganglia pathways drawn in color that I liked better than the ones in FA. Other than that, I agree that class notes are low-yield and your time would be much better spent using review resources that consolidate the material into managable quantities.

Hope this helps.

 

[BlondeCookie]

The best use of your class notes are your class exams. If you have mastered the material there, you need to REVIEW for your boards. The is the main reason why review books are not that great for class study.

This is an interesting opinion. Could you shed some more light on this? I always thought that using review books for class was a good idea. I'm questioning that method now though. What do you think?

 

[njbmd]

This is an interesting opinion. Could you shed some more light on this? I always thought that using review books for class was a good idea. I'm questioning that method now though. What do you think?

Most courses go into far more detail than a review book. If you do not have that detail-base in the first place, a review book is not going to provide it for you. A review book might have a nice picture summary or bring things together but your class exams are going to be far more detailed.

You cannot REVIEW what you have not LEARNED in the first place. Many medical students sit down to study with a stack of review books when their first emphasis should be the syllabi, class notes and texts that required in the first place. While you are moving though years 1 and 2 of medical school, you only have a limited amount of time to get your course material mastered. Why waste that time with a review book that is not detailed enough for your coursework exams.

When you are done with your coursework, you will have ample time to review for USMLE Step I. Trying to memorized a Step I review book without enough of a knowledge foundation is largely a waste of time. You could be using that time to master your course material.

When I took USMLE Step I back in 2000, I had a little more than two weeks to prepare for this exam. (I was required to take this test early because I had won a paid fellowship for the summer). I knew my coursework inside and out because I had busted my rear end daily for the prior two years. My review (Kaplan's Q-Bank) was all I needed for those two and 1/2 weeks. I didn't LEARN anything new from Kaplan but I received loads of practice with the same software as the computerized exam.

Since I had won that fellowship, I had been wisely instructed by my Dean to concentrate on my cousework and review when classes ended. This worked for me. I didn't allow anything to take away from my mastery of my coursework. In the end, I had far more information that was tested on Step I.

 

[BlondeCookie]

Most courses go into far more detail than a review book. If you do not have that detail-base in the first place, a review book is not going to provide it for you. A review book might have a nice picture summary or bring things together but your class exams are going to be far more detailed.

You cannot REVIEW what you have not LEARNED in the first place. Many medical students sit down to study with a stack of review books when their first emphasis should be the syllabi, class notes and texts that required in the first place. While you are moving though years 1 and 2 of medical school, you only have a limited amount of time to get your course material mastered. Why waste that time with a review book that is not detailed enough for your coursework exams.

When you are done with your coursework, you will have ample time to review for USMLE Step I. Trying to memorized a Step I review book without enough of a knowledge foundation is largely a waste of time. You could be using that time to master your course material.

When I took USMLE Step I back in 2000, I had a little more than two weeks to prepare for this exam. (I was required to take this test early because I had won a paid fellowship for the summer). I knew my coursework inside and out because I had busted my rear end daily for the prior two years. My review (Kaplan's Q-Bank) was all I needed for those two and 1/2 weeks. I didn't LEARN anything new from Kaplan but I received loads of practice with the same software as the computerized exam.

Since I had won that fellowship, I had been wisely instructed by my Dean to concentrate on my cousework and review when classes ended. This worked for me. I didn't allow anything to take away from my mastery of my coursework. In the end, I had far more information that was tested on Step I.

Interesting take on that. What do you think of using both a USMLE type review book in conjunction with the recommended class textbook? If I just used the review book as a basic preview before I hit the real textbook, well... What do you think about that?

 

[PoorMD]

Kaplan USMLE subject course notes? are they too dense for the 3 week cram session? I am using them during the course to supplement.

 

[njbmd]

Interesting take on that. What do you think of using both a USMLE type review book in conjunction with the recommended class textbook? If I just used the review book as a basic preview before I hit the real textbook, well... What do you think about that?

If the review book pulls everything together and helps you get the big picture, then use it by all means. It just that sometimes people spend loads of time memorizing review books for class exams when their time could be better and wiser spent memorizing and assimulating the class notes/naterials as these will be what will be tested for class exams.

This is why review books should be used for review. You review what you hae already learned and study what you don't know.

Take for example, Lippincotts Biochemistry. It's a great book for looking at structures and pulling various pathways together but quite often, the biochemistry class notes/materials/textbooks will have far more details that you need to know. That is not to say that Lippincott is not a good adjunct but don't spend too much time on it to the detriment of your coursework.

Good luck!🙂