Guys who did well on the StepI really need your help

[bostonguy911]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am quite frustrated. I am studying my ass off for second year...just received my grade and got avg B+. Now I knew much much more material than was tested, especially path..i looked at webpath, goljans, goljans audio, robbins, review materials in depth that were not covered in lectures as well, read pharm books bc teaching at our school is subpar, constanzo physio chapter read 2X, skimmed BRS phys before exam.

Two options i am considering now..

1. Study for the boards, understand the material, and drill down questions with Qbank, goljan, constanzo physio, and pathophys for each subject, know that and first aid very well...follow along with classes relevant notes...and 3 days before exam focus on only notes for the med school exam

2. Study for classes, memorize minute details which will be irrevelant for boards and life b/c well we are all going to forget it 3 weeks out anyways...and start studying for boards during 2nd semester and dont worry.

Faculty said there is a 100% correlation between class (honors) and high step and he has only seen that defied once?! for the majority it is the trend. I guess i messed up the test because poor test taking skills/sleep deprivation/overanalyzing easy questions after doing difficult ones in webpath

Anyways, im bummed out and now am anxious about performance on this test. Someone please give me some advice.

 

[Gute]

Here's what I did (scored >>260) during m2: studied my ass off for the classes relying mostly on the notes, read RR path (also did the webpath, listened to goljan audio)/katzung pharm with the coursework, followed along with FA as well.

I guess I did what your option #1 was, but I found that all the "boards" studying was VERY VERY helpful for the exams (path is path, pharm is pharm, etc). Our exams weren't filled with minutia, so I dont know how well this strategy will translate to your situation.

 

[smiley737]

It's way too early to stress so much. If you have the drive to do that much preparation for a preclinical exam, you'll be just fine for step 1.

 

[FractureFixer]

I would give you advice but I almost failed the step 1 (228). So take what I say with grain of pepper. Do a qbank and read RR path is good for you.

GL,
-FF

 

[tideleonheart]

I would give you advice but I almost failed the step 1 (228). So take what I say with grain of pepper. Do a qbank and read RR path is good for you.

GL,
-FF

228 is not nearly failing. 189 is nearly failing.

 

[bostonguy911]

thanks, same advice as before.
Maybe im just not a good test taker, it is a little disheartening when you put all the time and effort and get average.

 

[smiley737]

thanks, same advice as before.
Maybe im just not a good test taker, it is a little disheartening when you put all the time and effort and get average.

Well, I feel like you already know what to do if what you're looking for is a good grade (namely, go for option #2 and memorize minutiae your professors emphasize that you'll just forget right after the test).

I'm of the opinion that half of an exam is about how much you know, while the other half is anticipating what will be on there/how the test creator(s) think. So when taking tests created by your professors, zero in on the objective bullet points they give you and any particular details that they spend extra time on.

At my school, we often had professors come and give one lecture on their area of expertise, which may or may not have been very high-yield boards-wise. But regardless, people seem to go through med school just fine.