COMLEX June 2004

[Amra]

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Anyone design a strategy yet or (gasp!) start studying? If the perception of time keeps the same pace as it does since I started med school - these few months are going to fly by...

-A

P.S. Alright, I admit, I read Microbio MRS on the treadmill in the morning... I am a nerd. 😱

 

[Idiopathic]

I have been annotating FirstAid and StepUp, as well as doing lots of ???'s. I am feeling stressed about it, but that is pretty much the norm for me.

 

[Idiopathic]

And my Micro sucked, so I am going to have to read MRS about 5 times. The Lange book is actually good for that subject, tho, and not as complex as, say, Katzung's Pharm (shudder)

 

[normalforce]

You guys ought not be studying for the COMLEX 1 or USMLE 1 yet. Do not start until 8-10 weeks before the exam. If you do, you will become burnt out and perform poorly. Trust me, the people in my class who did the best studied 6-10 weeks for 10-12 hrs/day with usually sat and sun nights off. Those who started in January did not better or worse.

Use 5 or 6 solid resources and know them well.

I recommend:
Kaplan Books and Webprep (live lecture if it is available)
First Aid
Underground Clinical Vignettes
BRS Path
Micro Made Rediculously Simple
OMT Review - Savrese (if taking COMLEX 1)
Kaplan Qbank


Quit studying now. Concentrate on classes. Start studying in late March/early April.

Best Wishes,

Normalforce

 

[Amra]

I am in the process of figuring out a master plan. With NSU's new hourly attendance policy that will be in effect soon, putting in extra hours for COMLEX is going to be a fine balancing act. Sit in class from 8a-12n (sometimes 3p) - go home - study class material - then study COMLEX on weekends?

Right now, I'm going to work on the easier stuff (like MRS) during the morning treadmill work. I figured that is the kinda material that you can pull off @ 5MPH.

Pharm is the one that I'm concerning about the most. Isn't everyone though?

Does anyone have any information on NOrTHwesteRN Reviews? I'll pulled up a search here on SDN - the only peeps that say (+) about it is the AZCOM peeps. Then again, no one is really slamming it either on this board.

Speaking of, we're fortunate enough to have KAPLAN give us a 3 week intensive in May - although that didn't necessarily help the previous class too much (88%-92% pass rate - depending on who you believe).


Back to studying - Psychiatry final in the AM.

-A

 

[bustbones26]

I highly recommend youels prep. It is all you will need! No need to buy a freakin library.

www.youelsprep.com

 

[DOnut]

Really??? You are the 1st person I have heard say that youel prep is any good. How are the video's? Better yet, how is the q-bank?

 

[NebelDO]

i disagree with the post about waiting..i think it will help some to do a little here and there. no more than 1 -2 hours a week. We have been given all our Kaplan books already incase we want to follow along with lecture. Here lately i find myself looking at the QBOOK which is really awesome. example. i flipped through the micro test 1 section the other day and got like at 75% of the 50 correct with out having to look up anything.

you definetly cant neglect whats going on now. but alittle here and there does not hurt.

just my opinion

 

[muonwhiz]

Did any of you do Kaplan (or are you contemplating it)? I've got to make up my mind pretty quick, so opinions would be helpful! It costs alot of bucks, is it worth it?

 

[Amra]

Kaplan is a definite for us. NSUCOM contracted with Kalpan for COMLEX I and II reviews starting last year. It's nice as they worked the Kaplan into our curriculum for the Spring and even worked it into our Student Budgets for the year. We still had the option to select out of it if we choose - yet the whole thing (books, live, plus online) only cost $250 out of pocket. Cannot argue with that...

I'm still considering the Northwestern Review (DVD version). I haven't read much on it - and the few that I did read gives a really mixed picture of the review (good and bad). I do like their learning style though... Anyone with thoughts there?

-A

 

[JP2005]

Kaplan wasn't the greatest for Level 1 Comlex....it was excellent for USMLE Step 1 though.......

 

[Amra]

JP-

Have you done both? What, in your opinion is the difference between 'em?

thanks!
-a