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.

 

[bucks900]

ahhhhhh thats rough, really wish they would include a "day off" function so things like this wouldn't happen.

 

[001100010010011]

ahhhhhh thats rough, really wish they would include a "day off" function so things like this wouldn't happen.

They do: reschedule. Set it for 7 days if you have time coming up--set it for 30 if you don't. Even if two days accumulate then you can adjust. It's really not that hard to login and do it. You'll feel less overwhelmed.

 

[Bancrofti]

They do: reschedule. Set it for 7 days if you have time coming up--set it for 30 if you don't. Even if two days accumulate then you can adjust. It's really not that hard to login and do it. You'll feel less overwhelmed.

When did they release this feature? Or has that always been there and I'm just an idiot?

 

[001100010010011]

Haha, it's been there for a while. There's a "do fewer" option and a "reschedule" option, both located right above the calendar.

 

[abruzz75]

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.?

Bump. Would appreciate your opinion.

 

[Bancrofti]

Bump. Would appreciate your opinion.

I think most of the people that post in this thread haven't taken the Step as yet. If you want a quicker answer I'd suggest going to the Step Experiences threads from past years and search Firecracker, FC, GT, and/or Gunner Training. I did that before I purchased FC and it cleared up a lot of those questions for me as far as how people utilized it and whether or not they found it beneficial.

 

[001100010010011]

What's your answer, bro?

I bank current material. I find it helps me understand what is HY.

 

[Bancrofti]

What's your answer, bro?

I bank current material. I find it helps me understand what is HY.

Not sure if you mean me in response to the other post.

From what I saw, most people stopped using FC/GT at some point leading up to dedicated study period. Usually up until whichever point they felt that they no longer benefited from it after covering all of the material so many times or the point where having so many questions per day took away from study time in other areas. I only saw a few posts where people continued into their dedicated study time, including someone who actually banked cards during his study time.

I personally wanted to try to bank everything relevant to what was tested in my classes, but my grades (and passing) are important to me so I couldn't completely commit to that. For Micro, FC would have been sufficient, but if I only used FC and maybe a qbank to study for my pathology course in all likelihood I would have failed because of how nit-picky our exams are. So I'm currently spending my winter break trying to get up to somewhere between 60-70% banked. Hoping to be completely finished by March and will probably stop sometime at the end of March or mid-April.

 

[001100010010011]

Yeah, it was to you. Sorry for being unclear.

I agree. My goal is to get through the material before dedicated/later this winter. I'd like to move on to questions and plug in gaps as much as possible.

I'm around 70+% banked right now. Some of the topics I am covering lately have 40+ cards (drug interactions, etc.) so I'm worried about my pacing.

 

[An MD Hopeful]

I have a question related to the Anatomy topics on Firecracker. For the muscles (especially in the leg), I'm having a difficult time memorizing nuances in the muscle functions (for example subtle differences between gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus' functions). I'm in MS1 so I'm not doing rigorous Step 1 studying obviously, so I'm not really sure how much of that information is important. From the question banks that you guys are doing, does it look like things like muscle functions are important to memorize? What sort of questions do they ask when it comes to anatomy?

 

[ulikedaggers]

"Note: VLDL cannot be directly converted into LDL. On the other hand, IDL (VLDL remnants) can either be converted into LDL by hepatic lipase and/or lipoprotein lipase, or IDL can be taken up by the liver."
Is FC saying that the liver can synthesize LDL from IDL (hepatic lipase)? I thought LDL was only synthesized in blood.

 

[piaisthemater]

Has anyone tried using rx with FC? I am thinking it might not be the most beneficial qbank for us FC users, because we already have a strong foundation of FA material. I am thinking of going right into uworld to make sure to get through it twice. any thoughts?

 

[Isradoc16]

Has anyone tried using rx with FC? I am thinking it might not be the most beneficial qbank for us FC users, because we already have a strong foundation of FA material. I am thinking of going right into uworld to make sure to get through it twice. any thoughts?

I've been doing both and honestly I think Rx is worth it. I've also heard that they have been improving their questions recently.

The Q banks are about more than just memorizing facts. They are about learning how to use those facts and integrate them in board style questions.

Firecracker gives you the foundation, but IMO you need to do as many Q bank questions as possible as well, and Rx is a great Q bank to start with.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Renaissance Man]

I've been doing both and honestly I think Rx is worth it. I've also heard that they have been improving their questions recently.

The Q banks are about more than just memorizing facts. They are about learning how to use those facts and integrate them in board style questions.

Firecracker gives you the foundation, but IMO you need to do as many Q bank questions as possible as well, and Rx is a great Q bank to start with.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I also think that Rx is a good bank. Where did you see they were updating their questions?

 

[Isradoc16]

I also think that Rx is a good bank. Where did you see they were updating their questions?

A classmate of mine said he saw an interview with one of the creators. I think he said it was on YouTube, but I don't remember the details. Sorry I don't have a more solid source!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Bancrofti]

Trying to flag 10 cards per day over break sucks balls. Just flagged the neuroanatomy images card...

 

[Renaissance Man]

Any idea how long it took them last year to update to the newest FA?

 

[notbobtrustme]

FYI, FC has a sale going on where you can get 5 months for ~100 bucks. Great deal if you are taking your boards in June.

 

[001100010010011]

When you magically get "catch up" questions appearing on your schedule does that mean they updated cards?

 

[001100010010011]

Any idea how long it took them last year to update to the newest FA?

Are you talking about page numbers for FA or content?

 

[Apoplexy__]

Trying to flag 10 cards per day over break sucks balls. Just flagged the neuroanatomy images card...

You're nuts, kudos to you. The biggest limitation for me getting anything done is turning down my friends and family. "Sorry, I know I flew out here and have 2 weeks free but I just really need to do practice Q's right now"

 

[Renaissance Man]

Are you talking about page numbers for FA or content?

Both?

 

[001100010010011]

They crowdsourced the page numbers so you would only get access to them if you reported the page for a topic. All of their content already surpasses FA in scope and depth.

 

[Fox800]

I think I'm going to have to ditch FC for the Taus Method. I got did nothing - zero - zilch over Thanksgiving break and nothing so far over winter break. Oops.

 

[addy]

I think I'm going to have to ditch FC for the Taus Method. I got did nothing - zero - zilch over Thanksgiving break and nothing so far over winter break. Oops.

Has anyone here tried to do both? I was thinking about it...

 

[Fox800]

Has anyone here tried to do both? I was thinking about it...

Taus Method seems pretty damn involved on its own. I don't think it's possible to do both, without adding more hours to the day.

 

[bucks900]

Is anyone who uses fixed spacing to schedule their questions having difficulties after the new software update? No matter what I set my review times to if I rate a card either a 1, 2, 3, it schedules the card to be reviewed at a random interval instead of the times I have it set to under "Fixed Spacing" in Settings. Going to have about 600 cards tomorrow when its all said and done... 🙁

 

[THH]

What happened to the option to do future questions by day? I only see the option to do future questions by topic. Am I blind or is that option gone?

 

[WhizoMD]

What happened to the option to do future questions by day? I only see the option to do future questions by topic. Am I blind or is that option gone?

it's been gone for a while, don't really understand the rationale behind removing useful features with updates...

 

[001100010010011]

Hmm...that was a good feature. What on earth happened?

 

[THH]

it's been gone for a while, don't really understand the rationale behind removing useful features with updates...

Do we still have a rep for Firecracker that floats around in these threads? Pretty frustrating to lose a major feature like that. I use it pretty regularly.

 

[Isradoc16]

I've been pretty frustrated with the company's practices for the last little while also. They are very opaque about the changes they make. Nobody knows what they are doing or when or why. Things just change without notice.

Still, it's a useful tool. I'm loathing my daily questions, but they get me to look at the stuff I would otherwise ignore.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Edit: grammar

 

[001100010010011]

I hate-respect it.

 

[Whiskers09]

When you all use Firecracker, do you read the cards before flagging the topics? Also, do you ever refer back to the cards after flagging them? It seems to me like the questions completely cover all of the information given by the cards, at least in the few topics that I've covered.

 

[001100010010011]

Yes, you want to read them at some point--there's information you might not have covered in your classes, or it'll highlight a key fact. There are shortcut keys that will help you pull the card up while you study. I think "T" is the button.

 

[Apoplexy__]

When you all use Firecracker, do you read the cards before flagging the topics? Also, do you ever refer back to the cards after flagging them? It seems to me like the questions completely cover all of the information given by the cards, at least in the few topics that I've covered.

I read everything in each flagged card, and even then I'll get a question that I didn't even recall reading every once in a while. I tried flagging without reading for a block of topics I had totally down, and it was OK, but it took longer to master those questions because of how often I had to quickly look over related info.

Regarding how thoroughly the questions cover each topic, they occasionally won't cover a small amount of stuff important to you. Just keep an eye out for it. For info on how to manage this issue, look a page or two back in this thread.

 

[001100010010011]

I agree. I tried flagging and just doing questions, but my recall went up when I read the card first.

 

[Lafakads]

So right now I started using firecracker and have been reviewing anatomy. Does anyone feel like anatomy is way more in depth then the stuff they learned?

You guys think its worth it to use FC for anatomy?

 

[Isradoc16]

So right now I started using firecracker and have been reviewing anatomy. Does anyone feel like anatomy is way more in depth then the stuff they learned?

You guys think its worth it to use FC for anatomy?

I'm planning to use it for the nerves and vasculature, but it's very low priority and relatively low yield. I'd start elsewhere and come back to it.

I will say, though, I did the anatomy section for the abdomen during that unit in class, and it was hugely helpful. I felt way better prepared than my classmates.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[scoKraz4]

So right now I started using firecracker and have been reviewing anatomy. Does anyone feel like anatomy is way more in depth then the stuff they learned?

You guys think its worth it to use FC for anatomy?

The anatomy on FC is the same/less in depth than the anatomy at my school

 

[ulikedaggers]

The anatomy on FC is the same/less in depth than the anatomy at my school

Same, but I think it's definitely still too detailed for Step 1.

 

[An MD Hopeful]

So right now I started using firecracker and have been reviewing anatomy. Does anyone feel like anatomy is way more in depth then the stuff they learned?

You guys think its worth it to use FC for anatomy?

I'm planning to use it for the nerves and vasculature, but it's very low priority and relatively low yield. I'd start elsewhere and come back to it.

I will say, though, I did the anatomy section for the abdomen during that unit in class, and it was hugely helpful. I felt way better prepared than my classmates.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Are you guys spending a lot of time memorizing the muscle functions that FC gives? I'm not sure if that info is that important for Step 1.

 

[Bancrofti]

Q: A patient with gallstones complains of right upper quadrant and radiating pain to his right shoulder and neck. Contact between what organ and what anatomical structure result in this pain?

Answer is liver and diaphragm, referencing Boas' sign, but isn't Boas' sign what you see when you tickle under the scapula? I thought referred pain to the shoulder was a result of an inflamed gall bladder hitting the parietal peritoneum, which wasn't even an answer choice.

 

[piaisthemater]

the pathogenesis of their answer: when the liver irritates the diaphragm, the phrenic nerve (which supplies the diaphragm) can refer pain to its dermatomes (c3-5).

 

[Bancrofti]

the pathogenesis of their answer: when the liver irritates the diaphragm, the phrenic nerve (which supplies the diaphragm) can refer pain to its dermatomes (c3-5).

Is there a mechanism for how the liver comes in to play with cholecystitis? I looked it up and couldn't find a direct answer. I knew that you could see elevated liver function tests, but as far as how the liver would go on to irritate the diaphragm... I'm lost.

 

[piaisthemater]

Is there a mechanism for how the liver comes in to play with cholecystitis? I looked it up and couldn't find a direct answer. I knew that you could see elevated liver function tests, but as far as how the liver would go on to irritate the diaphragm... I'm lost.

cholecystitis--->liver: i cant find a direct answer either, but i think of it like if there is something bothering bile flow, it will affect bile flow behind it until it affects the liver. it is also possible that if the GB is inflamed it can compress on the liver and push it into the diaphragm

liver--->diaphragm: the two are attached by the ligaments of the liver (coronary ligament, triangular ligament, falciform ligament), so liver can irritate it by contact which then irritates phrenic which irritates shoulder

 

[Bancrofti]

I'll take the gall bladder pushing on the liver explanation, though I think that to be highly unlikely. I also thought of the whole backup of bile -> liver problems -> referred to diaphragm mechanism, but if that were the case we would see the same referred pain in cases of hepatitis. Hmmm.

 

[ulikedaggers]

Q: A patient with gallstones complains of right upper quadrant and radiating pain to his right shoulder and neck. Contact between what organ and what anatomical structure result in this pain?

Answer is liver and diaphragm, referencing Boas' sign, but isn't Boas' sign what you see when you tickle under the scapula? I thought referred pain to the shoulder was a result of an inflamed gall bladder hitting the parietal peritoneum, which wasn't even an answer choice.

Pain isn't referred in parietal pain (as in the GB "hitting" the parietal peritoneum). The question stem is about referred pain, so parietal peritoneum shouldn't even be on your mind. Boas sign is referred pain to the scapula as in cholecystitis.. at least that's how we learned it. The referred pain is due to afferent fibers running with the phrenic nerve as a result of the diaphragms embrologic origin (septum transversum).

I'll take the gall bladder pushing on the liver explanation, though I think that to be highly unlikely. I also thought of the whole backup of bile -> liver problems -> referred to diaphragm mechanism, but if that were the case we would see the same referred pain in cases of hepatitis. Hmmm.

Hepatitis pain is well localized because it is parietal pain (pushing on the parietal peritoneum). The gall bladder would have to get extremely large to cause parietal pain and the reason referred pain (and not parietal pain) is associated with cholecystitis is because of the pathogenesis (i.e. the referred pain is so intolerable that the patient will come in with a complaint before the cholecystitis ever progresses to parietal pain).

 

[ulikedaggers]

Answering that question made me forget why I originally came in this thread.

Are any of you MS2s also doing a Qbank right now? I'm planning on doing Kaplan Qbank throughout MS2 (I'm an MS1 now), but I wasn't sure if it's possible to do FC and a Qbank during the year.

 

[Blue Spoon]

Answering that question made me forget why I originally came in this thread.

Are any of you MS2s also doing a Qbank right now? I'm planning on doing Kaplan Qbank throughout MS2 (I'm an MS1 now), but I wasn't sure if it's possible to do FC and a Qbank during the year.

I am an MS2 and attempting to do USMLERx along with FC. That said it is only going fair, I have gotten through about 250 questions so far. It is a challenge to keep up with class, do questions and bank the appropriate material in FC. I am going to have to really up my game so that I can finish the question bank by March.

Originally I had thought to do both USMLERx and Kaplan -- definitely no chance that is going to happen now. Just not enough hours in the day.