Good Schedule?

[CT]

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I was hoping for some feedback on the study schedule I'd like to keep for Step 1 next Summer. I have collected the review books that I will use to study and wanted to start reading through them this fall (~ 1 hr/day) in the order I have taken my classes. When I finish this, I want to start making my way through the BSS books and Kaplan Q-Bank, reading as many explanations to the questions as I can along the way. I've always liked to spread things out and do not do well with cramming, but my concern is that I will forget too much of what I'm reading earlier in the year. Although, if I were to try and compress things more, I know I would also not remember every detail I studied. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[neilc]

i would say the best prep for step 1 is to do well in the courses while they are being taught...it is a great idea to supplement your coursework with BRS books and to do the questions in the book. i would hold off on the q-bank until the couple of months before the test. i found that i used q-bank, pathophys for the boards and wards and and the BRS series as my 'fine tuners" as the exam drew near. since it is such a comprehensive exam, i think that saving these things to help you remember the details as exam time arrives would be helpful. q-bank was helpful in content, but more so in getting used to doing tons of questions, dealing with the thinking process, etc...

so, good idea to use the review books now. do well in the courses and learn all the details when they are taught. when the summer comes, re-read the review books and add the practice questions to help you get in the proper mind set, and to allow you to practice working the questions out. that sounds like an ideal set up to me.

good luck!

 

[doc05]

neil is pretty much on-target.

you should focus on using textbooks and course handouts during ms2 (remember that Robbin's is your "bible"). Supplement that with review books (esp. BRS path; either Katzung or Lippincot for pharmacology).

I would recommend against using qbank now because, to be honest, it is only really useful as a review resource, and many of the questions are comprehensive. You'll quickly go through all 2000+ questions well before May 2004, and when it comes time for the "final push" prior to step 1, you won't get the most out of what is essentially the single most useful resource out there.

good luck, and feel free to ask any add'l questions.