Gold Standard USMLE1 Prep

[zubirix2k]

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I am sure that some of you have heard of or used the Gold Standard prep for your Step I. I just want an answer to a few questions:

1) What was your overall opinion regarding the program?

2) How effective do you think they are?

3) How did you use them (i.e. through out the year or for craming, with other high yield material)?

4) How well did you do on Step I having used the program?

It's a lot of money to spend, and I was thinking of using it trhough out the year. I would appreciate any input.

Thanks. 🙂

 

[gbono2]

borrrrrrring information

really doesn't correclate well with the current test

Sold my set on ebay as did not like at all

I really would not recommend them to anyone.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

borrrrrrring information

really doesn't correclate well with the current test

Sold my set on ebay as did not like at all

I really would not recommend them to anyone.

So you screwed someone else over knowing that the material is crap. The cycle continues..haha. j/k. "Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do."

 

[gbono2]

I think that I need to answer your statemnt. It is totally out of line & unnecessary. I did not force or coerce anyone to buy those cds. They were advertised on ebay w/a full disclosure of the cds. The 1st year student who bought them knew of the series because some of her friends were using the material. She thought that it would help her learn at that stage, but she was not intending to use it for step 1. I DID NOT SCREW ANYONE & I DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT. If you can't say anything good or constructive, then keep your comments to yourself. You are SUPPOSED to be a professional although it appears at this juncture you havenm't matured based on your reply.

Just because I didn't like the material does not mean someone else would not profit from it. The stuff does have pertinent info, but the recordings are done in a flat monotone voice. That type of recording just puts me to sleep. It wasn't a good learning tool for me. That's why I sold them. They set was complete & in a like new condition. So no one got screwed. I don't believe in doing that to my peers. We are all strapped for money so I'm not going to take advantage of anyone. there are enough dishonest people on these forums already.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

I think that I need to answer your statemnt. It is totally out of line & unnecessary. I did not force or coerce anyone to buy those cds. They were advertised on ebay w/a full disclosure of the cds. The 1st year student who bought them knew of the series because some of her friends were using the material. She thought that it would help her learn at that stage, but she was not intending to use it for step 1. I DID NOT SCREW ANYONE & I DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT. If you can't say anything good or constructive, then keep your comments to yourself. You are SUPPOSED to be a professional although it appears at this juncture you havenm't matured based on your reply.

Just because I didn't like the material does not mean someone else would not profit from it. The stuff does have pertinent info, but the recordings are done in a flat monotone voice. That type of recording just puts me to sleep. It wasn't a good learning tool for me. That's why I sold them. They set was complete & in a like new condition. So no one got screwed. I don't believe in doing that to my peers. We are all strapped for money so I'm not going to take advantage of anyone. there are enough dishonest people on these forums already.

Slow down partner. I guess you missed the part where I said I was KIDDING. Am I immature? Maybe. Sometimes. Aren't we all?

Loosen up. I'm not here to make you look bad. Take care...🙂

 

[gbono2]

Doctorsaib

I have read your message again & it does not state anywhere that you were kidding. Unless the haha means that. I didn't interpret the haha as as kidding. Of course I'm not current on the shorthand used on the net.

If I were wrong or went off in error then i apologize - partner.

Oh, I accept your apology.

Have a good Labor day

 

[DrMom]

j/k = just kidding

 

[gbono2]

Ok got to clean things up Dr Mom is on the scene. I read right past the j/k - didn't understand the abbreviation.

My bad - learned something new today

You are totally in the right & I wronged you unnecessarily.

 

[Ignacio]

I don't like it because it's long, boring, and ... clumsy?

Brevity of learning is key, I think. And GS can take forever, forever, and it's just not that practical. It's not really board-specific, either - maybe more for general knowledge, maybe not.

I think students should pick up resources that can help them efficiently - meaning in smaller amounts of time with maximal knowledge. This can be done with video aids, audio aids, or just teaming up with classmates or tutors to pimp/teach you. Find out how you like to learn and then tailor yoru learning to each class - it will vary. Flashcards are awesome, I find for many classes. It just forces you to learn something right there and tests you. Reading passively is so inefficient, I find.

I do however, recommend Goljan.

The guy is unbelievable. Get this audio resource, if you can.

Gold Standard **
Goljan ****1/2*

 

[MD999]

I actually burned a GoldStandard biochem CD to listen to while I drive...big mistake...it can cause you to fall asleep at the wheel..its so boring!

But like the previous poster said, its super boring and it just wasnt worth the time and effort to try to bare through listening to it.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Ok got to clean things up Dr Mom is on the scene. I read right past the j/k - didn't understand the abbreviation.

My bad - learned something new today

You are totally in the right & I wronged you unnecessarily.

😀

 

[zubirix2k]

Thanks for the info everybody, you're statements are in line with what I thought that tape series might be like.

I am however concidering getting another audio source such as Glojan and Webprep. Any opinions about those?

Thanks

 

[DHMO]

Thanks for the info everybody, you're statements are in line with what I thought that tape series might be like.

I am however concidering getting another audio source such as Glojan and Webprep. Any opinions about those?

Thanks

Goljan is awesome! I had the webprep path lectures, but didn't bother listening to them because I didn't want to waste my time not listening to goljan.

 

[gbono2]

You have mentioned 2 really good sources. W/Goljan be sure to get all of his printed material that accompanies & fleshes out his 40 hrs. of audio. Most of that is readily available on Ebay.

For the kaplan web prep, I would advise you get their books to also accompany the 170 hrs. dvd lecture. For myself, I like to read along while listening & watching & to make notes that aren't in the printed stuff. That too is on Ebay.

Good luck.

 

[Long Dong]

This is how I used the material, I would read goljan review of path first (stars), say like the inflamation chapter, then listen to the corresponding audio lecture. The review book is just like his notes but better organized and more detailed then the notes. His notes on pdf seem just like a wattered down version of his review book. I ended listening to his lectures like 5 times, while working out during Aug-Dec of second year.

When Jan came around I started my review of each subject, like physio, I'd read brs physio, then listend to the web prep lectures on physio, while working out or driving home. I did this for every subject like, micro I'd read MMRS then listen to the micro lectures. I did have the kaplan lecture notes, bought on ebay for ~$200, but didn't find I had the time to go threw them, so stuck with HY series instead cause I've already read those books while following along with class. Ended up listening to web prep twice before my exam. I listened to all the lectures except for the path, taught by barone, because I've already heard the goljan stuff.

Hope that helps.

 

[zubirix2k]

This is how I used the material, I would read goljan review of path first (stars), say like the inflamation chapter, then listen to the corresponding audio lecture. The review book is just like his notes but better organized and more detailed then the notes. His notes on pdf seem just like a wattered down version of his review book. I ended listening to his lectures like 5 times, while working out during Aug-Dec of second year.

When Jan came around I started my review of each subject, like physio, I'd read brs physio, then listend to the web prep lectures on physio, while working out or driving home. I did this for every subject like, micro I'd read MMRS then listen to the micro lectures. I did have the kaplan lecture notes, bought on ebay for ~$200, but didn't find I had the time to go threw them, so stuck with HY series instead cause I've already read those books while following along with class. Ended up listening to web prep twice before my exam. I listened to all the lectures except for the path, taught by barone, because I've already heard the goljan stuff.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Long Dong that helps a lot...How did you have all of this time though? It seems like the class load during second year just doesn't allow for such time investment for prep time?

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Thanks Long Dong that helps a lot...How did you have all of this time though? It seems like the class load during second year just doesn't allow for such time investment for prep time?

1) Skip class.
2) Maybe drop your expectations a little. You don't have to bust 95+ on every exam.

Try 1 first. If you're still pressed for time, then add in 2. G'luck!

 

[Long Dong]

Thanks Long Dong that helps a lot...How did you have all of this time though? It seems like the class load during second year just doesn't allow for such time investment for prep time?

My school had only 2 hours of lecuter 5 days a week. So I just memorized those lectures about 2 hours of studying for every hour of lecture (4 hours/6 days/week). Then I'd study from review books about 3 hours/6 days/week (this included 1 hour of questions) starting in Jan. I didn't do any of the assigned reading, but would follow along what was talked in class with review book reading. My school is also pass/fail no rankings at all, the dean actually told us "a 99% counts the same as a 70%, it shows up on your transcript as a pass." So my focus was not so much on class, but more on boards and I started getting like 70 something on exams, when before board studying I was getting around 80 something. Hope that helps.

 

[Long Dong]

1) Skip class.
2) Maybe drop your expectations a little. You don't have to bust 95+ on every exam.

Try 1 first. If you're still pressed for time, then add in 2. G'luck!

👍

 

[zubirix2k]

👍

that sounds like a good plan unfortunately my school has on average five lectures a day and sometimes six. 😡 So that doesn't leave much time for USMLE prep.