Had a rough M1 yr and now incoming M2..step preparation??

[gatorsj]

---

Members do not see this ad.

As an M1, I wasn't the BEST in the class and usually got average or one deviation below the average on the exams. I felt this was however due to studying a couple days before the exam but I'm not 100% certain on that. For my M2 year I am planning on studying fairly consistent and keeping at a moderate pace.

My question is, how much of the material from my M1 year will I have to retain or re-memorize for the step 1? I feel that I have retained only a little amount of information and remember bits and pieces and afraid this was due to my procrastination during M1 (i.e. Remembering various muscles/muscular disorders, biochem pathways, etc.) Am I basically fu*ed for the steps or is there still time?

Also, for those who already took step 1, I would really appreciate and would be a great help if you can shed some light on:

1)what you did that helped for the boards
2)what you did that was a waste of time
3)what you should have done

 

[stiz]

We we had:

Anatomy
Embryology
Biochemistry

etc during MS1 that is certainly represented on the step.

Also, I found that by the end of MS2 I had completely forgot a lot of things that would have come very easy to me right after MS1.

In hindsight I think I would go with TWO Qbanks. I would pick one to 'practice' with, get used to the questions, etc....I would use that to do questions to review MS1 material, to test myself on whatever block I was in during MS2, etc....

Then closer to test time (Step 1) I would use a 2nd QBANK and do only mixed, unused questions ... preferably timed, 46 question chunks to see where I am, test progress, etc....

And, of course, throw in some NBME tests, or QBANK tests.

That's my .02.

 

[NewmansOwn]

As a general rule, how well you do in MS-I is essentially irrelevant to your Step 1 performance. No one remembers much anatomy or biochem by the time the boards role around. For what it's worth, I was supremely unimpressive first year - didn't honor a thing - then honored everything second year. I did not change my study habits at all. I have no explanation for you.

Your preparation depends entirely on your goals. If you desire a score above 250, perhaps some Qbanking during second year might be a good idea. For me and many others, 4 good weeks of studying after second year was sufficient. First Aid plus USMLEWorld and an occasional (really just to supplement) review of Goljan RR was enough for a score I'm more than happy with. I had never touched these books during second year. As far as remembering first year material, I was about as ignorant as one could be going into boards study time. I have always been terrible at basic science; had been planning on going to law school all through college. Like I couldn't remember a single enzyme in glycolysis. Literally. Not one. 2x though the First Aid section on Biochem and I did very well on the biochem questions on the boards.

Take it for what it's worth...

 

[gatorsj]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

When it comes to studying for me, I'm slow at remembering information and need to recite it and go over it until it sticks. Therefore, I just want to get a good idea on how I should allocate my time during the second year before its too late.

Any other M2s who are now done with steps have mind sharing their own experience? 🙂