Firecracker for clerkships?

[QuiteHumerus]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all! I've done some pretty extensive searching and haven't been able to find an up-to-date opinion about firecracker during the 3rd and 4th years of med school, so I figured I'd create a new topic to discuss it.

I was a big fan of firecracker for step 1 (started early, scored mid 260s). However, I can't seem to find an opinion about its usefulness for clerkship shelf exams and step 2. Most of the threads I've found were written in 2013-2014ish, and apparently they've had a pretty major overhaul of their step 2 content (according to the blog at least).

Can anyone weigh in on this? Would firecracker + UWorld be sufficient in studying for shelf exams?

As a footnote, I'm about halfway through the pediatrics topics in FC. Most are pretty good, some are fairly bad (the pediatric cardiology section comes to mind).

 

[Bancrofti]

thread here probably has the most info you'll find: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/firecracker-step-2.1083544/

It definitely isn't as effective as it is for step 1. There have been a lot of changes I believe over the last year, but when I looked into it I didn't think it was something I'd be able to keep up with given amount of time spent in the hospital. Maybe it's changed since then. I haven't really seen anyone say that they used it all of third year in prep for step 2. The only comment I've seen is actually someone post in a shelf exam thread that FC was one of the things they used to do well on a shelf.

You probably just have to try it out. Problem with third year is you can't waste time with something that ends up not being effective since your clerkship grades are extremely important. In basic sciences if something ends up being an average resources and doesn't help you kill an exam, nobody really cares, especially if you then go on to kill step 1.

 

[CrossfitJunkie]

I was a big fan of firecracker for step 1 (started early, scored mid 260s). However, I can't seem to find an opinion about its usefulness for clerkship shelf exams and step 2. Most of the threads I've found were written in 2013-2014ish, and apparently they've had a pretty major overhaul of their step 2 content (according to the blog at least).

I have recently started using Firecracker as an M1, and am loving what it has to offer for Step I. Starting early with it in hopes to be successful, like you were. Would you be willing to message me with advice on how you utilized Firecracker to do so? What strategies you had? I didn't want to hijack this thread, but was unable to PM you. Hearing about your experience would be awesome!

 

[Gambler 101]

I'm attempting to use if for shelf exams but I find it time consuming. Between floor duties, looking up info for my patients, a main book for each rotation and practice questions, firecracker feels overwhelming. It does have good content that I've recognized from case files, uworld, first aid, etc

 

[lihoepoci]

It does have good content that I've recognized from case files, uworld, first aid, etc