Firecracker vs Memorang vs Osmosis vs Anki

[Baxter5678]

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I know there are some older posts covering a few of these resources. But these apps all have probably added more content/features/etc over the years so I thought it was a worthy question to ask again!

Anyone have a clear favorite to recommend? Or one that they'd advise against using?

 

[Domperidone]

I have nothing useful to add, other than I wish I had as many resources to choose from.
Then again, when I was going through school the residents said the same to me.
It's a worthy question to ask again.

one piece of advice i got at the time was that there's a lot of things to choose from.
Be careful not to get bogged down with using too many. Pick one or two at a go to try and see if it suits you.
I'd advised against trying everything all at once.
you end up spending hours or days over one topic when you should be going through a few over a week let's say.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Pretty sure the best way is to crack open first aid and memorize the old fashioned way

 

[intubesteak]

Pretty sure the best way is to crack open first aid and memorize the old fashioned way

If you have the discipline to do this every day in medical school, then yes, its just as good. For me firecracker has been the best choice because it is the one I will actually use every day. Theres no way I am gonna crack open the basic science sections in FA while in studying endocrine or whatever. But if a biochem flashcards pops up at me in the midst of memorizing feedbacks loops, I am going to look at it.

OP test them out in the first few blocks while everything is pretty easy and figure out which you like the best, and then stick to it.

 

[Major]

What about Lecturio?

 

[sliceofbread136]

If you have the discipline to do this every day in medical school, then yes, its just as good. For me firecracker has been the best choice because it is the one I will actually use every day. Theres no way I am gonna crack open the basic science sections in FA while in studying endocrine or whatever. But if a biochem flashcards pops up at me in the midst of memorizing feedbacks loops, I am going to look at it.

OP test them out in the first few blocks while everything is pretty easy and figure out which you like the best, and then stick to it.

I dunno, I found firecracker to be a waste of time to the extreme. To each their own

 

[intubesteak]

I dunno, I found firecracker to be a waste of time to the extreme. To each their own

Took me a little while to figure out how best to use it, but now that I've got it down I spend a few hours with it everyday and I'm 2 SD above average on our tests. started out 1 SD below average. Its not for everyone but it can be a gamechanger for class tests, IMO.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Took me a little while to figure out how best to use it, but now that I've got it down I spend a few hours with it everyday and I'm 2 SD above average on our tests. started out 1 SD below average. Its not for everyone but it can be a gamechanger for class tests, IMO.

For class tests? Maybe it works for you but in general I'm going to disagree with you. The best way to do well on a specific professors test is know that specific professors notes very well

 

[Domperidone]

Different strokes for different folks.
Borrowed that line from a poster in another thread that debated the value of lectures. I really hope we don't descend into that line of discussion again. (Not implying this thread will end up that way, just saying I hope we don't).

May be more useful to share with OP why you found a particular resource useful, in this case..
the ones they're comparing.

i.e. reading is great for some, but not to others.
I have a short attention span, reading for more than 15 mins at a go was about all I could do before needing to take a 'break' and try something else.
Then I might go back later after some 'flashcards' or some program that did the like.

 

[intubesteak]

For class tests? Maybe it works for you but in general I'm going to disagree with you. The best way to do well on a specific professors test is know that specific professors notes very well

I would say for basic sciences, 100% agree with you. There is just so much variation in what they decide to teach on a given topic.

But for organ systems, there is a pretty specific cannon of information, at least from what I have experienced. There are only so many ways to learn about appendicitis, for example. I have found the information from Robbins, lectures, firecracker, pathoma, Qbanks, etc. to be very very similar. So when I use firecracker, the spaced repetition aspect helps me memorize and learn stuff as I go, instead of waiting until the week of the test to review everything. I still study professors notes pretty extensively, but only in the last few days before the test. But at that point I pretty much have all the major concepts and details down and I'm picking up the few specific details they emphasize and are not found elsewhere. Many ways to skin a cat... this is just my preferred method.

 

[LyMed]

I can only comment on Osmosis, but their videos on Youtube are incredibly well done and I wish I had discovered them when I was still in my pre-clinical years.

 

[Med student 18]

What about Lecturio?

I haven't used the other one but this one has been a godsend (for me).

 

[68PGunner]

Took me a little while to figure out how best to use it, but now that I've got it down I spend a few hours with it everyday and I'm 2 SD above average on our tests. started out 1 SD below average. Its not for everyone but it can be a gamechanger for class tests, IMO.

It just means that your class curriculum is heavily geared toward board prep, which is a very good thing. However, the majority of PHDs out there teach every details in the forest forcing you to memorize the minutiae. After the test, you end up forgetting everything.

 

[intubesteak]

It just means that your class curriculum is heavily geared toward board prep, which is a very good thing. However, the majority of PHDs out there teach every details in the forest forcing you to memorize the minutiae. After the test, you end up forgetting everything.

Yeah i've realized we are pretty lucky...18 month curriculum with only one semester basic sciences, and all clinicians for the organ systems. Not everything in FC is on the tests, but there is enough overlap that its a primary study tool for me.

 

[Major]

Bump.

Still can't decide between Firecracker and Osmosis... I'm feeling kinda overwhelmed at the moment with all these options.

My schools does provide TrueLearn to us, but it is just questions.

 

[Dr. Janitor]

I dunno, I found firecracker to be a waste of time to the extreme. To each their own

I second this...

 

[Domperidone]

Bump.

Still can't decide between Firecracker and Osmosis... I'm feeling kinda overwhelmed at the moment with all these options.

My schools does provide TrueLearn to us, but it is just questions.

Pick one and stick to it for 1-2 weeks to see if it works for you.
As in, you're retaining things, and also you're able to focus with using them consistently. Indicating that you're actually able to be committed to say..doing 200 qs a day for FC or something. if you can't, you can't. try osmosis or something else then. All you've lost is a week or so. If they're both giving you results, just pick one. If you get sick of it, switch to the other one later.

It's not like any of them are mandatory parts of your curriculum. You're allowed to have a personal preference and not like something. You're also allowed to change that personal preference later, depending on how your study habits change.

Just don't use them all or don't use both at the same time to study the same things. your time is precious. as is your $$$

There's so much review material out there in general, you'll never be able to try them all, and it doesn't matter either. All that matters is that one works for you and you like it. IMO anyway.

 

[Major]

Pick one and stick to it for 1-2 weeks to see if it works for you.
As in, you're retaining things, and also you're able to focus with using them consistently. Indicating that you're actually able to be committed to say..doing 200 qs a day for FC or something. if you can't, you can't. try osmosis or something else then. All you've lost is a week or so. If they're both giving you results, just pick one. If you get sick of it, switch to the other one later.

It's not like any of them are mandatory parts of your curriculum. You're allowed to have a personal preference and not like something. You're also allowed to change that personal preference later, depending on how your study habits change.

Just don't use them all or don't use both at the same time to study the same things. your time is precious. as is your $$$

There's so much review material out there in general, you'll never be able to try them all, and it doesn't matter either. All that matters is that one works for you and you like it. IMO anyway.

Awesome advice!!!

Thank You so much for that!

I am going take your advice for sure. I've been feeling very overwhelmed by all these options available, and add on the pressure I am putting on myself to start med school on the right path.

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

Awesome advice!!!

Thank You so much for that!

I am going take your advice for sure. I've been feeling very overwhelmed by all these options available, and add on the pressure I am putting on myself to start med school on the right path.

This. Exactly how I feel lol

 

[rafa 22]

Lecturio videos have been great for me so far. I utilized the free trial and think I'm going to give it a run for 3-months. The "lectures" are very concise and to the point.

Totally agree. awesome videos!!

 

[Major]

Lecturio videos have been great for me so far. I utilized the free trial and think I'm going to give it a run for 3-months. The "lectures" are very concise and to the point.

Is there an quiz/component to Lecturio?