Firecracker and FA

[Robotman]

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Why does Firecracker have way more than First Aid, for example when I look at the gram stain charts, it differentiates between anaerobe and aerobe in FC and adds more species not covered in the charts? Is this necessary knowledge to know their respiration?

 

[ChEMD]

Why does Firecracker have way more than First Aid, for example when I look at the gram stain charts, it differentiates between anaerobe and aerobe in FC and adds more species not covered in the charts? Is this necessary knowledge to know their respiration?

Because FC is not First Aid. For whatever reason, people have developed this idea that if it's not in First Aid, it CAN'T be tested over, and therefore any extra information in other review sources is just minutiae. Anything you learn in the preclinical years can be tested over, and people who have already taken step will tell you that their test included plenty of info that wasn't in a First Aid. First Aid is really there to give you the highest yield info, based on past tests, and it is not an all-inclusive review source. Bottom line, definitely learn all of the high yield info in First Aid, but then learn as many details as possible on top of that (depending on the score you are hoping for).

 

[DermViser]

Why does Firecracker have way more than First Aid, for example when I look at the gram stain charts, it differentiates between anaerobe and aerobe in FC and adds more species not covered in the charts? Is this necessary knowledge to know their respiration?

Bc Step 1 of the boards doesn't just test on First Aid. If all Step 1 material was in First Aid, you wouldn't need other resources.

 

[DermViser]

Because FC is not First Aid. For whatever reason, people have developed this idea that if it's not in First Aid, it CAN'T be tested over, and therefore any extra information in other review sources is just minutiae. Anything you learn in the preclinical years can be tested over, and people who have already taken step will tell you that their test included plenty of info that wasn't in a First Aid. First Aid is really there to give you the highest yield info, based on past tests, and it is not an all-inclusive review source. Bottom line, definitely learn all of the high yield info in First Aid, but then learn as many details as possible on top of that (depending on the score you are hoping for).

You have students in the first few weeks in MS-1 here who already think they can define what details are minutiae and what isn't.

 

[Robotman]

You have students in the first few weeks in MS-1 here who already think they can define what details are minutiae and what isn't.

Sad part is I'm MS2 5 months from step 1.

 

[DermViser]

Sad part is I'm MS2 5 months from step 1.

Do you have a 1.5 year preclinical curriculum? Bc you'd be taking boards in Jan/Feb.

 

[cbrons]

Just be sure to be careful with Firecracker... There are some sections that are very good and some sections that are quite poor and need editing badly. I've found a number of errors in quite a few of the sections, but overall, I still think it is a good tool and don't really know of anything out there right now that is a better substitute. Hopefully they hire me as a subject editor so I can help clean one of the sections up a little...

 

[chronicidal]

You have students in the first few weeks in MS-1 here who already think they can define what details are minutiae and what isn't.

Can anybody come up with a gold standard for what's minutiae and what's not?

 

[sinombre]

Just be sure to be careful with Firecracker... There are some sections that are very good and some sections that are quite poor and need editing badly. I've found a number of errors in quite a few of the sections, but overall, I still think it is a good tool and don't really know of anything out there right now that is a better substitute. Hopefully they hire me as a subject editor so I can help clean one of the sections up a little...

What section are you referring to?

 

[Dires]

Can anybody come up with a gold standard for what's minutiae and what's not?

Sounds like they test minutiae. So minutiae is defined as the minutiae that isn't included on your test.

 

[ChEMD]

Can anybody come up with a gold standard for what's minutiae and what's not?

Minutiae is a relative term and can be generally defined as the details that you don't need to know while still achieving the score you were setting out to get. So if you're looking for a perfect score, nothing is minutiae (unless specifically stated by whoever is writing the exam).

 

[wadewilson90]

Do you have a 1.5 year preclinical curriculum? Bc you'd be taking boards in Jan/Feb.

My school takes Step in Feb

 

[madchemist89]

You have to keep it clinical. Step 1 tests the basic science underpinning clinical medicine. If it has any relation or application to the clinical aspect of medicine, it is fair game.