Combating 4th year brain atrophy...

[Dr. Geoff]

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Fellow SDNers,

I'm done with all my SHELF exams and my STEP 1 and 2. I took STEP 2 about 4 months ago... and well since then, I've noticed I have been forgetting a lot. (Don't use it, you lose it kinda thing). My schedule is pretty laid back, due to the onslaught of interviews that we all need to go on fourth year. Just wondering if anyone has advice as to what to do in order to maintain important material.

I was thinking about getting MKSAP 5 Digital, anyone have any experience with this? That way I could just run through questions at my own leisurely 4th year pace.

Let me know, any advice is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Geoff

 

[duckie99]

My schedule is also pretty laid back and has been for a while and will until January - march when I have my last 3 hard rotations. Essentially until then I've got no difficult anything.

However, I still managed to take step 2 cs a few weeks ago despite the lack of anything going on and felt I did well. Honestly, you did not forget as much as you think. I actually think reading the step 2 cs review book sort of brings a lot of this stuff back. Sure some of the common drugs I used to know escape me at times but that will all come back soon enough.

Remember as well that most people have 3 months off between end of med school and starting residency. So we'll all be pretty deconditioned by that time...

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Fellow SDNers,

I'm done with all my SHELF exams and my STEP 1 and 2. I took STEP 2 about 4 months ago... and well since then, I've noticed I have been forgetting a lot. (Don't use it, you lose it kinda thing). My schedule is pretty laid back, due to the onslaught of interviews that we all need to go on fourth year. Just wondering if anyone has advice as to what to do in order to maintain important material.

I was thinking about getting MKSAP 5 Digital, anyone have any experience with this? That way I could just run through questions at my own leisurely 4th year pace.

Let me know, any advice is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Geoff

This is a free resources designed for medical students. Some interns even use it. It is not advanced, but is fairly comprehensive for a medical student or intern. Gives approaches and methods to handling some of the stuff you are going to see.

Best part is that it is Free. Why pay for MKSAP when you can do something else just like it (maybe better?) for nothing!

 

[OveractiveBrain]

My schedule is also pretty laid back and has been for a while and will until January - march when I have my last 3 hard rotations. Essentially until then I've got no difficult anything.

However, I still managed to take step 2 cs a few weeks ago despite the lack of anything going on and felt I did well. Honestly, you did not forget as much as you think. I actually think reading the step 2 cs review book sort of brings a lot of this stuff back. Sure some of the common drugs I used to know escape me at times but that will all come back soon enough.

Remember as well that most people have 3 months off between end of med school and starting residency. So we'll all be pretty deconditioned by that time...

You will get a bit atrophied, and residencie will expect that. Even if you read through Step Up or First Aid Step 2 a week before you start, you will be in a better spot than most of your fellow interns. People say it is ok to walk in with cobwebs. And it IS ok. But honestly, if you can shine in the first few weeks, your reputation will be so much the better... and you can start building on what you already know, opposed to just fighting to get it back.

I often tell medical students to do something fun, go on vacation, travel, chill out, drink, lose weight, whatever. Because you won't have free time like fourth year again in your life. I, however, did keep up with my reading and just kept my self refreshed with medical knowledge. Paid off professionally, indeed.