Since we've all done shelves and what not, what's the most efficient way to study for this beast? I have UW and was going to buy one of the CK prep books. Have exactly 30 days to study for this beast. Planning to do 2 sets of 48Qs.day + studying cover to cover from one of the books (first aid or whatever). Is that an ok plan?
If you are looking to augment your score, check out
www.onlinemeded.org (its free)
Per my usual regarding this topic
First Aid Step 2 or Step Up Step 2
and
Uworld
Gets you a 230. Average. This has now worked for 15 students that I've tutored. Average to below average medical students at a US allopathic school getting average scores on the Step 2. The way you make this better is by adding something. People have also suggested master the boards by Conrad Fischer. If you are going to use Kaplan, I suggest just using Kaplan's Step 2 materials.
By "add something" I mean add
Usmle Secrets or the other book you didnt do in the "or" (if you did FA, also do SU; if you did SU, also do FA). If you have time and opportunity I strongly recommend
Kaplan Step 2 online or live lectures. It takes about 6-8 weeks, but is there for augmentation.
When I say "augmentation" what I mean is this. First Aid, Step Up, Secrets, etc. give you the content you are almost guarenteed to see on the exam. It is the content that is worth learning all the time. What they all leave out is the peripheral content. To push above a 240 you have to learn 10 things you wont use for every 1 you will. That's alot of effort. You have to know all the "core" material found in the review books, then a ****ton of more details. Since the questions are random, and all material is fair game, you have to know far more than you will need to get a higher score. The way you get that is with a program designed to give you those details.
I personally got a 258 (246 step 1) doing Uworld, First Aid, and Kaplan's Lecture series. I am not a good multiple choice test taker (I fall for traps and distractors like no one's business) but I consider myself a pretty solid success. Totally worth the effort of the Kaplan Course. I am was an allopathic AMG.
Crush does one thing: reminds you of the things you need to learn. You can read it in a weekend. It will get you no points on the exam. First Aid, Step Up, and Master The Boards are better choices
