Firecracker

[JackShephard MD]

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med.firecracker.me

New medical education website rooted in an adaptive learning platform. Looks impressive, check it out.

Cheers.

 

[001100010010011]

I think they rolled all available numbers in. My jaw dropped yesterday. If you look, you'll see that the Step 1 topics are still total 1100.

 

[addy]

Wow. Maybe they didn't mean that as a blanket statement. At least it'll be easier for you with your existing working Pharm knowledge.

What do you mean? I have no existing working pharm knowledge lol

 

[HLxDrummer]

K.

Your annoying. He gave a nice, informative reply and that is your response? Must have had a bad day...

My bar counter was off earlier but its back to normal now.

 

[Brain Bucket]

Your annoying. He gave a nice, informative reply and that is your response? Must have had a bad day...

My bar counter was off earlier but its back to normal now.

Haha. You're trolling me now. Fine, I'll bite. I agreed with his first paragraph. I've already stated my point several times and didn't wish to argue semantics anymore. You should know what this part of M2 is like, anyway. Instead of trying to instigate me, why don't you ask a specific question, and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability? Btw: You're 😉

Expires December 7:
https://med.firecracker.me/purchase/black_friday
https://med.firecracker.me/purchase/webinar_group

 

[HLxDrummer]

I'm not trolling. I didnt really even pay attention to what you guys were saying, your post just left a bad taste in my mouth. So I guess I was the one having a bad day. Sorry about that!

 

[Apoplexy__]

What do you mean? I have no existing working pharm knowledge lol

I meant Microbio Pharm specifically. It would be nice to know general indications and have a general knowledge of empiric treatment, because it would help you learn the drugs of choice (among other things). In fact, our conversation here reminded me how starkly I'm lacking in the kind of general Micro Pharm your school emphasizes, so I'm going to do some office hours with a professor of mine soon to hopefully make up for that weakness.

 

[Brain Bucket]

No worries.

 

[DYT]

I'm trying to pick up the 30 dollars per 2 month deal. Do you think they'll come up with a better one in 3 months time? I already got this 2 month deal, and a free month so I have FC up until march.

I am contemplating whether or not I should get one more 2 month deal, if it is possible to stack them up that is. I think the style of FC really suits me. What I find effective are the questions, they seem to reinforce things in my brain. I have a bit of a trouble doing it using a textbook.

 

[mdtobe249]

they might have more upcoming deals in january, as the 6 mo mark till step 1 season

 

[ulikedaggers]

FC running really slow?

 

[notbobtrustme]

200 bucks for 6 months is about the upper end of what I'd pay for. Luckily I picked this up for 120 for 9 months back in the summer and I absolutely love the program.

 

[redblue]

Because Firecracker is basically like First Aid in flaschard form + supplemental information, do you still use First Aid at all while you study? If so, when?

 

[Apoplexy__]

Because Firecracker is basically like First Aid in flaschard form + supplemental information, do you still use First Aid at all while you study? If so, when?

Almost never. FC has completely supplanted my First Aid use, at least until I start UWorld. I've occasionally opened First Aid when I'm just having a terrible time with a topic and open every book I have on the subject, but that's it.

 

[Renaissance Man]

They are apparently doing a server upgrade tomorrow morning (to 64-bit architecture). So that should help with any speed issues.

Yeah kind of annoyed that they upgrade the server during a weekend, right before finals, during the hours that I usually study.

 

[THH]

Is it just me or is Firecracker still really slow/unstable?

 

[triathlete107]

Is it just me or is Firecracker still really slow/unstable?

It's started acting up over the past hour. Found out after finishing my cards that the last 24 didn't register, kind of a bummer.

 

[WGB]

Yeah, been terrible all day.

 

[THH]

Yeah it just dropped another ~20 questions on me. Frustrating to say the least.

 

[Renaissance Man]

Again they do this the week before finals...They couldn't wait until like Dec 25-the New Year when most of us will be on Winter Break?

 

[Brain Bucket]

The weird thing is, it worked perfectly through the scheduled hours yesterday. I agree, though, been **** today.

 

[GopherMD]

The weird thing is, it worked perfectly through the scheduled hours yesterday. I agree, though, been **** today.

They probably had to move the upgrade to today...but didn't warn anyone.

 

[Renaissance Man]

The weird thing is, it worked perfectly through the scheduled hours yesterday. I agree, though, been **** today.

Odd, I couldn't get on the site at all yesterday during those hours. Today has been terrible too though.

 

[ulikedaggers]

Again they do this the week before finals...They couldn't wait until like Dec 25-the New Year when most of us will be on Winter Break?

Eh, I'm glad they're doing it now. I don't use it the week before an exam and I also plan on banking tons of stuff during winter break!

 

[mcloaf]

Odd, I couldn't get on the site at all yesterday during those hours. Today has been terrible too though.

Yesterday was fine for me. I managed to get my review quiz done this morning, but now I can't do my study questions for new topics this evening. Annoying that they can't actually make it work/not work during the allotted times.

 

[001100010010011]

It derailed my studying last night. It works again.

 

[WhizoMD]

is it letting you guys do questions on topics you banked yesterday? It's still bugging out for me (eg. giving me 10 copies of one of my review questions, instead of questions from the 10 question topic I banked yesterday)
Very frustrating...

 

[notbobtrustme]

I didn't have a single hiccup except during the scheduled down time.

 

[mcloaf]

is it letting you guys do questions on topics you banked yesterday? It's still bugging out for me (eg. giving me 10 copies of one of my review questions, instead of questions from the 10 question topic I banked yesterday)
Very frustrating...

The study questions I couldn't do last night loaded successfully this morning, though the website was still running a little slow. Hopefully all this is taken care of now and should be working from here on.

 

[Fox800]

I'm curious, how are all of you planning to incorporate FC into your Step 1 prep for the spring semester? I should be just a hair under 50% by the end of this year. I plan on doing 5-6 (5.45 at this rate) cards a day during the spring. This has me finishing right before my dedicated study period.

Over winter break I hope to review Lange biochem flash cards over the break (I'm weak in biochem) and Lippincott's Microcards (another weak point) after that or whenever I can fit it in during the school year.

I'm also planning to get through all three Qbanks (USMLERx, Kaplan, and UWorld) one time each. I'll do one 46-question block per day during the class year. During the dedicated study period I plan on doing two blocks per day. I also plan on taking the two UWorld self assessments and 2-3 NBME practice exams along the way.

I'm wondering if I should supplement FC with anything else, but I think it should be more than adequate. I'm thinking I'll go through Pathoma at least once during my 5-week dedicated study period. It seems a bit redundant to make a pass through First Aid if I'm finishing Firecracker.

I have one week off after the USMLE Step 1 to study Savarese and do COMBANK questions, then I'll take COMLEX Level 1. Then I have a week to relax before clinicals start.

Fingers crossed for murdering these exams.

 

[addy]

I'm curious, how are all of you planning to incorporate FC into your Step 1 prep for the spring semester? I should be just a hair under 50% by the end of this year. I plan on doing 5-6 (5.45 at this rate) cards a day during the spring. This has me finishing right before my dedicated study period.

Over winter break I hope to review Lange biochem flash cards over the break (I'm weak in biochem) and Lippincott's Microcards (another weak point) after that or whenever I can fit it in during the school year.

I'm also planning to get through all three Qbanks (USMLERx, Kaplan, and UWorld) one time each. I'll do one 46-question block per day during the class year. During the dedicated study period I plan on doing two blocks per day. I also plan on taking the two UWorld self assessments and 2-3 NBME practice exams along the way.

I'm wondering if I should supplement FC with anything else, but I think it should be more than adequate. I'm thinking I'll go through Pathoma at least once during my 5-week dedicated study period. It seems a bit redundant to make a pass through First Aid if I'm finishing Firecracker.

I have one week off after the USMLE Step 1 to study Savarese and do COMBANK questions, then I'll take COMLEX Level 1. Then I have a week to relax before clinicals start.

Fingers crossed for murdering these exams.

Good lord. Where do you find the time for this much stuff?? Let us know how you end up doing, I'm rooting for you!

 

[Fox800]

Good lord. Where do you find the time for this much stuff?? Let us know how you end up doing, I'm rooting for you!

My second year schedule is a lot of self-study, classes are about 95% review sessions. I'm only on campus about 3-3.5 days of the week. A lot of that is half-days.

I just scheduled everything out on my calendar. I'll do the NBMEs/UWSAs when I don't have an exam coming up. The major time commitment will be doing the FC questions and keeping up with the cards.

I'm hoping that three hours per day (split up) should be enough to do the 5-6 FC cards, review questions, and one block of Qbank questions. Plus I do FC questions in between classes, on breaks, waiting in line, etc. so that makes it easier. Doing the FC cards that cover the material you're going over in class makes it much more palatable.

Obviously some days I'll fall behind on the FC stuff, but I will definitely be keeping up with the Qbank questions each day. I can catch up with FC on easier days on the weekend if needed.

 

[HLxDrummer]

I'm wondering how to manage next semester, too. I should be 50% banked by the time next semester comes, but I need to keep up with classes (they don't get any easier next semester), FC, and do UWorld.

 

[Apoplexy__]

Obviously some days I'll fall behind on the FC stuff, but I will definitely be keeping up with the Qbank questions each day. I can catch up with FC on easier days on the weekend if needed.

I'm with addy, that sounds nuts man. Just crunching some numbers...
-Going from 50% to 100% over the next semester, you effectively average a 75% completion load for the duration of the semester
-I'm facing about 200 Q/day at 50% now, so logically you could look at maybe 300 Q/day at 75%
-300Q/day = ~3 hours a day of pure review (assuming 100 Q/hr, which is medium-high output for me...unless you're insane like Brain Bucket I think this rate would be challenging but attainable every day)
-5-6 cards/day = ~1 hour a day (me personally...maybe I'm just slow, reading all the lessons, annotating, etc.)
-46-Q block of UWorld = No experience here, but aren't you supposed to take your time at like 5 min/Q? So maybe around 3.5 hours/day?

So let's just say you're an absolute beast and can crank this ish out day in day out at 6 hours/day instead of 7.5 hours/day which is what that comes out to. That's still about 40 hours/week, which gives you probably 20 hours/week for school. I'm sure lectures/class alone will take up most, if not all that time. Nevermind if you have a test and don't do this schedule for even 3 days...that would increase your daily output by a compensatory 10% in a month (30 days). Just sounds like you're setting yourself up for failure.

I'm personally just going to try and get as much FC as I can in until around March, where I'll just stop and do a full transition to dedicated QBanks. I'll probably be around 85% at that time. Maybe FC review along the way post-March if I can fit it in.

 

[Fox800]

I'm with addy, that sounds nuts man. Just crunching some numbers...
-Going from 50% to 100% over the next semester, you effectively average a 75% completion load for the duration of the semester
-I'm facing about 200 Q/day at 50% now, so logically you could look at maybe 300 Q/day at 75%
-300Q/day = ~3 hours a day of pure review (assuming 100 Q/hr, which is medium-high output for me...unless you're insane like Brain Bucket I think this rate would be challenging but attainable every day)
-5-6 cards/day = ~1 hour a day (me personally...maybe I'm just slow, reading all the lessons, annotating, etc.)
-46-Q block of UWorld = No experience here, but aren't you supposed to take your time at like 5 min/Q? So maybe around 3.5 hours/day?

So let's just say you're an absolute beast and can crank this ish out day in day out at 6 hours/day instead of 7.5 hours/day which is what that comes out to. That's still about 40 hours/week, which gives you probably 20 hours/week for school. I'm sure lectures/class alone will take up most, if not all that time. Nevermind if you have a test and don't do this schedule for even 3 days...that would increase your daily output by a compensatory 10% in a month (30 days). Just sounds like you're setting yourself up for failure.

I'm personally just going to try and get as much FC as I can in until around March, where I'll just stop and do a full transition to dedicated QBanks. I'll probably be around 85% at that time. Maybe FC review along the way post-March if I can fit it in.

You're probably right. When are you done with classes, how long is your dedicated study period, and what Qbanks are you planning to use?

 

[THH]

How do you guys feel about the Anatomy section? From what I seen, I am not sure it even looks like its worth doing. If nothing else, I think Anatomy will end up being the last thing I flag. (Not the organ system anatomy, but the Basic Science anatomy section.)

 

[notbobtrustme]

How do you guys feel about the Anatomy section? From what I seen, I am not sure it even looks like its worth doing. If nothing else, I think Anatomy will end up being the last thing I flag. (Not the organ system anatomy, but the Basic Science anatomy section.)

yea, I don't think it's worth the time to do anatomy on FC. FA/qbanks is supposedly enough for anatomy on the boards.

 

[mcloaf]

How do you guys feel about the Anatomy section? From what I seen, I am not sure it even looks like its worth doing. If nothing else, I think Anatomy will end up being the last thing I flag. (Not the organ system anatomy, but the Basic Science anatomy section.)

I have no clue about USMLE relevance, but it's been a godsend to have premade flashcards for M1 anatomy.

 

[Apoplexy__]

You're probably right. When are you done with classes, how long is your dedicated study period, and what Qbanks are you planning to use?

Done in classes May 16, and will probably take the USMLE around 5/23 (and COMLEX 5/29). Scary. :/ My school's not too big on the whole "dedicated study period" idea, but interestingly enough, they have statistics for past classes that correlate a sooner test date with better performance. My plan is actually just to stick with UWorld and maybe use some questions from the COMLEX bank our school will provide.

How do you guys feel about the Anatomy section? From what I seen, I am not sure it even looks like its worth doing. If nothing else, I think Anatomy will end up being the last thing I flag. (Not the organ system anatomy, but the Basic Science anatomy section.)

Agreed with mcloaf, I've found it helpful for tests...there's some pretty high-quality stuff there. But you're right, as a whole or as a value/card ratio, it's probably one of the most simple, low-yield things on FC.

 

[001100010010011]

I wish I had used it for M1 anatomy. When I see cards now I can remember all of the foolish mistakes I made on my exams.

 

[jayhvvip]

I really need to get my ass in gear with the banking. I use it all the time for class material though

 

[abruzz75]

M1, thinking of trying out FC, but I want to be sure I sign up at the right time to maximize the given 12 (+1) months given to me. Question:

For those of you who are using or have used FC, do you use it straight up until the test? Or would you recommend using it until x months before the test to allow for time to do other Q banks, FA, etc.?

 

[Bancrofti]

So lucky I'm not 50% banked yet like some of you guys. Neglected FC for finals, for the last 2 weeks and I only have 826 cards now that I've signed in 😀 I saw someone post that they had over 2000 before. That would make me just want to quit.

 

[Renaissance Man]

I hate questions like this on FC so, so much. I really enjoy using FC as its fast, easy, and keeps me interested. However there are way too many that ask a question and never answer the question!

 

[Apoplexy__]

So lucky I'm not 50% banked yet like some of you guys. Neglected FC for finals, for the last 2 weeks and I only have 826 cards now that I've signed in 😀 I saw someone post that they had over 2000 before. That would make me just want to quit.

wut. My cards have stayed at 1100 for Step 1 and have changed up and down by 1, maybe 2 at most, in the past 7 months. I have no idea what anyone is talking about regarding this.

 

[WGB]

He means questions.

 

[Bancrofti]

I hate questions like this on FC so, so much. I really enjoy using FC as its fast, easy, and keeps me interested. However there are way too many that ask a question and never answer the question!

I've essentially given up on leaving bad reviews for those. I've been using FK since about June or July and I don't think I've seen an amendment to an answer yet as far as explanation, at least of the things I've left reviews for. There have been some changes, but usually something like getting rid of one of the answer choices in an MCQ b/c there was more than one answer or deleting part of the stem because it didn't match up for the answer it wanted.



And yea I meant to say I have 800+ questions. I'm a bit off. Yesterday was my last final and I think I've had about 5 hours of sleep in the last couple days.

 

[bucks900]

wut. My cards have stayed at 1100 for Step 1 and have changed up and down by 1, maybe 2 at most, in the past 7 months. I have no idea what anyone is talking about regarding this.

Are you unbanking as you go?

 

[mcloaf]

wut. My cards have stayed at 1100 for Step 1 and have changed up and down by 1, maybe 2 at most, in the past 7 months. I have no idea what anyone is talking about regarding this.

I assume they mean daily review questions, not topics.

 

[jayhvvip]

I have had many typos and errors corrected and cards updated over the year. Sometimes they are slow. I find that if you report an error with a screen shot it happens faster

 

[Apoplexy__]

And yea I meant to say I have 800+ questions. I'm a bit off. Yesterday was my last final and I think I've had about 5 hours of sleep in the last couple days.

Ah, I get ya. Definitely is pretty rough when they accumulate...

#yolo #winning #tigerblood

Are you unbanking as you go?

Nope. See above.