Help!! I don't know what I'm doing!!

[PreMedAdAG]

---

Members don't see this ad.

People,

I don't get it.. i'm swamped with class - yet I need to study for boards!!!

I don't know how to manage my time! I haven't been able to use qbank - i'm just so intimidated right now by boards... HELP ME!!!

I don't know how to study at night anymore. i feel like all i ahve time for is studying for classes - let alone qbank and review book!! ack!!!

any responses really appreciated!

 

[pratik7]

pick your battles. Learn what is important and dont memorize crap for the sake of doing well on an exam. It seems like only a percentage of info from class is really high yield. If you are barely passing, thats another story. Then i suggest you pray..alot

 

[TheEleventhReel]

People,

I don't get it.. i'm swamped with class - yet I need to study for boards!!!

I don't know how to manage my time! I haven't been able to use qbank - i'm just so intimidated right now by boards... HELP ME!!!

I don't know how to study at night anymore. i feel like all i ahve time for is studying for classes - let alone qbank and review book!! ack!!!

any responses really appreciated!

I made the decision starting 2nd year classes to only learn what was important and screw the minutia that you sometimes get tested on in class. I worked really hard to have a high GPA the first year and now I'm just trying to learn for boards. This may be a mistake, but I quit reading big Robbins right after RR Pathology was released and have ONLY been using it and Goljan's audio lecs for path (and I did very well on class tests). If your school is pass/fail, then that gives you more time to study for boards. If not (and you're not in danger of failing), then you may have to sacrifice your GPA to make sure you do well on the USMLE. I think a lot of us are in the same boat as you.

 

[marr]

hmm, I don't know about your school but at mine class is from 8-12 everyday with some afternoon "doctoring" sessions. So, I will probably study for class in the afternoon and board review at night. For me at least, 5-6 hours studying for classes is enough for me to pass/high pass but not honoring. A little bit each days really help gearing up for the all important review at the end.

 

[Medikit]

I'm trying to use Goljan and BRS phys with a little bit of First AID as I study for my exams. Personally I find my exams to be way too detail orientated to be able to do well on them by getting the big picture from the review books. So board review takes a back seat to review notes and powerpoint slides. Because of this I'm planning a 6 and a half week cramming session for the boards. Unfortunately it basically ruins my vacation time but there's not a lot I can do about that.

 

[Arctic Char]

for what its worth, i agree with TheEleventhReel - you need to be willing to sacrifice high class scores for high board scores (they don't necessarily have to be low, but you at least need to prioritize in effect accepting lower scores should that happen). if you're on pass/fail, it shouldn't matter much so long as you pass. my school tests ridiculous minutia and prof-specific BS. i don't even look at it.

i never go to class. my board prep schedule goes a little like this: 8pm i start studying for board material. no matter what it is i am doing, i drop it at 8 and i start in on board prep. no matter what. eventually i'll get tired and crash asleep . . . but i sleep really well knowing i'm preparing for something big off in the distance, and i don't lay awake daydreaming of 250+ and a red carpet during the match. the nights i really study hard, i've never slept so well in my life.

then i study at "a medium pace" during the morning and afternoon . . .

somebody please get the sandler reference

 

[Taus]

for what its worth, i agree with TheEleventhReel - you need to be willing to sacrifice high class scores for high board scores (they don't necessarily have to be low, but you at least need to prioritize in effect accepting lower scores should that happen). if you're on pass/fail, it shouldn't matter much so long as you pass. my school tests ridiculous minutia and prof-specific BS. i don't even look at it.

i never go to class. my board prep schedule goes a little like this: 8pm i start studying for board material. no matter what it is i am doing, i drop it at 8 and i start in on board prep. no matter what. eventually i'll get tired and crash asleep . . . but i sleep really well knowing i'm preparing for something big off in the distance, and i don't lay awake daydreaming of 250+ and a red carpet during the match. the nights i really study hard, i've never slept so well in my life.

then i study at "a medium pace" during the morning and afternoon . . .

somebody please get the sandler reference

what you do w/ a shampoo bottle is your own business....

(lets see how many med students actually get that)

Beyond that aforementioned taboo personal practice....I fully agree w/ the advice of the last couple of posters....my addition is that I spend 90% of the time studying for the big picture and boards (ie fully learning/annotating all standard resources) and then follow that w/ 2-3 days right before the test of learning the bs prof-specific minutia that will earn me another 15-20pts on the test. I also put everything into maxing out my grades the last few semesters so I can afford to take a hit during this semester.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Time to drop some truth.

Sacraficing class for the boards = dumb.

Studying for boards in Jan = dumb.

Doing well MSII and not freaking out about a test 6 months before the fact = not that dumb.

 

[Taus]

Time to drop some truth.

Sacraficing class for the boards = dumb.

Studying for boards in Jan = dumb.

Doing well MSII and not freaking out about a test 6 months before the fact = not that dumb.

There is a difference b/w studying for them and annotating the respective review books completely....by the time I really start studying it will be a smooth, easy transition and I'll hit the ground running.

I am also in a curriculum where the organ systems end in February (did cardio, respiratory and renal in M1) and you spend the rest of the year in purely (and relatively easy) clinical subjects, ie Peds, EM, Geriatrics, Surgery, etc.

There is a difference b/w freaking out and being pro-active...

HOWEVER, I do agree that if you are in a traditional old-school curriculum and you have yet to learn several of the major systems (including most of path).....just learn it right the first time.

 

[TheEleventhReel]

Time to drop some truth.

Sacraficing class for the boards = dumb.

Studying for boards in Jan = dumb.

Doing well MSII and not freaking out about a test 6 months before the fact = not that dumb.

I'm not so sure I agree that sacrificing class TEST scores to put more time into board prep is a bad idea. I don't think you should sacrifice learning board-relevant material, but merely the minutia that is tested in class. Also, being an osteopathic student, I've recognized (at least at my school) that we don't receive as strong of a basic science foundation as many MD schools. I don't want to speak for every DO school, but looking at the USMLE pass rates for DO students vs. MD students, it seems pretty evident that, if the USMLE is based on basic sciences and taking the USMLE is optional for the DO students taking it, that osteopathic students fall short on that test. For me, this was something that I didn't learn until I started purchasing USMLE review books (after MS1). So, I have to go back and learn material that wasn't taught in class but will be tested on boards.

I agree that intense USMLE study in January is a little premature, especially if you aren't taking the test until June/July. I don't think that reviewing subjects like biochem and neuro for a couple of hours each week in January and February is dumb, especially if it correlates with the pharm and path that you're learning as a second year.

I assume you've already taken boards and passed, so you have more experience in that department than I do, but I've never read any post where anyone said the USMLE was easy (best I saw was doable). If someone wants to start studying in January or February, who cares? They obviously recognize that they need to put in more time to get the score they want. I'd say that makes them smart, not dumb.

 

[Arctic Char]

right, i mean if you are studying the board relevant material well and synthesizing the information during your systems, you should be getting at least 60% of class exam questions right (unless your school is even more f***ed up than mine). if not, you are doing something wrong in both departments and you need to reasses your strategies. so, i'm all for the proactive camp and think it isn't a drastic sacrifice to begin reviewing material early. especially if you 1) need the review, and 2) want that high score. as i've been told, your board score is a statement of your work ethic. the harder you work, the better you do. i want to do well for that reason, so i don't have to try and convince a PD with rhetoric that i'm a hard worker. proof is in the pudding. annoying gunners get under my skin as much as the next person, but i still think 'dumb' is a little harsh.

 

[Arctic Char]

frigin duplicates.

 

[VincentAdultman]

I'm not so sure I agree that sacrificing class TEST scores to put more time into board prep is a bad idea. I don't think you should sacrifice learning board-relevant material, but merely the minutia that is tested in class. Also, being an osteopathic student, I've recognized (at least at my school) that we don't receive as strong of a basic science foundation as many MD schools. I don't want to speak for every DO school, but looking at the USMLE pass rates for DO students vs. MD students, it seems pretty evident that, if the USMLE is based on basic sciences and taking the USMLE is optional for the DO students taking it, that osteopathic students fall short on that test. For me, this was something that I didn't learn until I started purchasing USMLE review books (after MS1). So, I have to go back and learn material that wasn't taught in class but will be tested on boards.

I agree that intense USMLE study in January is a little premature, especially if you aren't taking the test until June/July. I don't think that reviewing subjects like biochem and neuro for a couple of hours each week in January and February is dumb, especially if it correlates with the pharm and path that you're learning as a second year.

I assume you've already taken boards and passed, so you have more experience in that department than I do, but I've never read any post where anyone said the USMLE was easy (best I saw was doable). If someone wants to start studying in January or February, who cares? They obviously recognize that they need to put in more time to get the score they want. I'd say that makes them smart, not dumb.

If studying for Step One in January puts you in the mental condition of the OP, then yes, it IS dumb.

I'd say the vast majority of people who do well are the ones who have their sh#@ together first two years and in general do well in classes. They don't stop going to class to study for boards. Seriously. If I was gonna blow off class, I'd be doing something constructive like drinking 40's and playing HALO. I hated it when my profs told me this, but studying for class IS studying for boards.

That's pretty much all there is to it, I promise. I don't care if people spaz out in January over one test you take in six months, but I already gave my opinion on it. It's stupid.

 

[joe6102]

People,

I don't get it.. i'm swamped with class - yet I need to study for boards!!!

I don't know how to manage my time! I haven't been able to use qbank - i'm just so intimidated right now by boards... HELP ME!!!

I don't know how to study at night anymore. i feel like all i ahve time for is studying for classes - let alone qbank and review book!! ack!!!

any responses really appreciated!

Everyone at my school is freaking out too, especially since they announced the new minimum passing score of 185.
I can't do much board review now, but I'm not worrying about it. All I have time for is reviewing phys with each organ system and then doing 100-200 qbank questions each week. I gotta learn this stuff well the first time around.

 

[trudub]

Biggest thing is that doing well in class correlates with doing well on the boards. Put your energy into your classes now. Then devote 4-8 weeks to boards right before you take them. If you put energy into your classes, you will be learning what you need for the boards. Then you will just need to REVIEW leading up to the boards rather than learn a bunch of new material. That is my advice. Forget about the boards until 4-8 weeks before you take them and rock your classes in the meantime. I think most people who score well on the boards will agree with this. It is too early to be worrying about the boards right now.

 

[medicinehopeful]

i am also trying to do a little reviewing every night. but it isnt working so well. we are in our neuro unit, and path/pharm take forever to get through. so far, i've been reading big robbins. but since that book alone takes up so much time, i've been thinking of starting to read baby robbins. do you all think that reading baby robbins will hurt learning path? my goal is just to learn stuff really well the first time so that i can just review in the end. (I also take notes with big robbins, so you can imagine how long that takes). suggestions are welcome.

 

[Taus]

i am also trying to do a little reviewing every night. but it isnt working so well. we are in our neuro unit, and path/pharm take forever to get through. so far, i've been reading big robbins. but since that book alone takes up so much time, i've been thinking of starting to read baby robbins. do you all think that reading baby robbins will hurt learning path? my goal is just to learn stuff really well the first time so that i can just review in the end. (I also take notes with big robbins, so you can imagine how long that takes). suggestions are welcome.

Are you reading big robbins b/c you feel like you have to or b/c you aren't being taught everything well? If its the former...stop.... if its the latter....do it if you have the time and stamina...but class +review books (BRS or RR) + good q's to see if you know the info should be plenty and more productive. Personally if I can handle all the questions in the Robbins review book then I don't need to read the big guy. If I'm unclear on something I consult big robbins...but otherwise there are more efficient ways to spend your limited time.

 

[TheEleventhReel]

Yeah, I found out that, FOR ME, big Robbins was a waste of time. In fact, my lowest grade on a pathology test last semester came from me just reading big Robbins. After RR path came out, I used it along with Goljan audio and did very well. Big Robbins is good for a reference, but I just couldn't get the info I needed out of it to do well. I'll also say that Webpath is a good website for path questions (and the ? are written by the same guy who wrote Robbins Review).

 

[medicinehopeful]

so why do i read big robbins? i go to a pbl school where we only get one path lecture per case. and that lecture is at the end of the case and is usually only one hour long and somewhat superficial. i like to listen to goljan audio after i've gone through an entire chapter in robbins. so i am really considering getting the pocket robbins. does pocket robbins have pretty much all the highlights from big robbins? i just feel that sometimes i really waste my time reading big robbins.

 

[lekky]

i dont know about baby robbins, but mb u should also consider pathophysiology of disease, i just started reading it and am liking it so far. mb you should check it out at the bookstore or a libary.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

you can't set aside 2 hours? surely you can do 30 qbank ?'s per night.

 

[TX_Longhorn]

ok, heres my advice

i am ultra paranoid, so i have to honor everything, else i cant sleep at night. this means sacrificing the board stuff, but you dont really need to.

first, use ur time efficiently. I stopped eating during lunch breaks and just chug a slim fast. In the one hour that we get for lunch try knocking out 25-30 qbank qns. everyday and 50 qns on weekends. (Longdong did smth similar 2 yrs ago)

if you have 3 - 4 weeks before exams, go over board relevant (which also helps for class) stuff early on, like finishing robbins (i use the medium), robbins qbook, and goljan RR. as the test date approaches swith more to class notes, etc.

I am convincing myself to let go more of the class work stuff and do more board related stuff this semester.

hope that helps

 

[Tired]

Time to drop some truth.

Sacraficing class for the boards = dumb.

Studying for boards in Jan = dumb.

Doing well MSII and not freaking out about a test 6 months before the fact = not that dumb.

Oh my God, someone finally being sensible about Step 1. Thank you Pompacil.

Here, let me add one more that everyone always forgets.

studying for your classes = studying for the boards

Or did you all think that Step 1 covers completely unrelated material?

 

[Arctic Char]

Time to drop some more truth . . . for you big bad bastions of banal book boredom

some people did a little procrastination during first year in exchange for a leisurely life outside of school (regrettably or not; that isn't at issue) . . .

so for those of us who maybe didn't study as hard as we could have, though performed adequately for classes, reviewing for step 1 now - in an effort to get a high score - is completely in order.

going insane or berzerk about it isn't necessary, i agree. but being proactive, taking the initiative to organize what you need to study, and being honest with yourself about you need to review, and in what time frame you can accomplish that . . . i think these are intelligent moves that shouldn't be ripped on . . .

my $0.02

all the best to everyone

 

[TheEleventhReel]

Time to drop some more truth . . . for you big bad bastions of banal book boredom

some people did a little procrastination during first year in exchange for a leisurely life outside of school (regrettably or not; that isn't at issue) . . .

so for those of us who maybe didn't study as hard as we could have, though performed adequately for classes, reviewing for step 1 now - in an effort to get a high score - is completely in order.

going insane or berzerk about it isn't necessary, i agree. but being proactive, taking the initiative to organize what you need to study, and being honest with yourself about you need to review, and in what time frame you can accomplish that . . . i think these are intelligent moves that shouldn't be ripped on . . .

my $0.02

all the best to everyone

Exactly

 

[viostorm]

.

 

[TheEleventhReel]

At my school studying for classes does not mean studying for the boards. I wish I was a place where professors actually taught us what is on the boards.

Basically, at Texas Tech all my profs do is change their slide from 2006 to 2007 every year. Even there are some repeat exam questions from 1997. Our average step 1 is 208. I am already spending 5 years in Lubbock, Texas and have no desire to end up in another bad city doing something I don't want to be doing.

I'm being proactive like other people, I'm doing 3-4 hours of board studying a day and getting a pass in my last few classes.

You guys honestly can't believe how bad our biochem was, I know nothing from biochem. NOTHING. And, it was taught by Pelley, the Rapid Review guy. I will never use that book.

I bought that book and from what little I have used it, it looks pretty good to me. What was so bad about him as a prof?

 

[dr.weiner]

Time to drop some more truth . . . for you big bad bastions of banal book boredom

some people did a little procrastination during first year in exchange for a leisurely life outside of school (regrettably or not; that isn't at issue) . . .

so for those of us who maybe didn't study as hard as we could have, though performed adequately for classes, reviewing for step 1 now - in an effort to get a high score - is completely in order.

going insane or berzerk about it isn't necessary, i agree. but being proactive, taking the initiative to organize what you need to study, and being honest with yourself about you need to review, and in what time frame you can accomplish that . . . i think these are intelligent moves that shouldn't be ripped on . . .

my $0.02

all the best to everyone

Preach on brotha, I agree with everything you said, and I especially dig the alliteration in the beginning. I basically screwed around first year just trying to figure out how to study, and putting enough effort into it. Had a lot of fun as well.

My school has a certain amount of minutae that separates pass from honors that I have no desire to learn, so Im trying to make sure I learn the board relevant stuff because I'm the kind of guy who needs to see things several times over the course of months to have things really stick. (At least with medical stuff).

 

[dr.weiner]

You guys honestly can't believe how bad our biochem was, I know nothing from biochem. NOTHING. And, it was taught by Pelley, the Rapid Review guy. I will never use that book.

Crap, I just bought that book. Well, it is coauthored by Goljan, so maybe he put the midas touch on it... at least I hope.

 

[IzzyMD09]

for what its worth, i agree with TheEleventhReel - you need to be willing to sacrifice high class scores for high board scores (they don't necessarily have to be low, but you at least need to prioritize in effect accepting lower scores should that happen). if you're on pass/fail, it shouldn't matter much so long as you pass. my school tests ridiculous minutia and prof-specific BS. i don't even look at it.

i never go to class. my board prep schedule goes a little like this: 8pm i start studying for board material. no matter what it is i am doing, i drop it at 8 and i start in on board prep. no matter what. eventually i'll get tired and crash asleep . . . but i sleep really well knowing i'm preparing for something big off in the distance, and i don't lay awake daydreaming of 250+ and a red carpet during the match. the nights i really study hard, i've never slept so well in my life.

then i study at "a medium pace" during the morning and afternoon . . .

somebody please get the sandler reference

I know what else you do at a medium pace MtMed and i dont recall it being part of your USMLE study curriculum
can i have my Costco family sized shampoo back now!!!

 

[dr.weiner]

I know what else you do at a medium pace MtMed and i dont recall it being part of your USMLE study curriculum
can i have my Costco family sized shampoo back now!!!

Actually the adam sandler reference is a little worse than what you are referring to. Great CD by the way... blew my mind in middle school when that came out.

 

[viostorm]

.

 

[Arctic Char]

ahhh, Dr Izzy . . . nice to see you here . . .
; )

 

[power ranger]

Hi, I'm a DO student. Was planning to take USMLE step 1, 1 week before COMLEX step 1.

Until I overheard some upperclass female student saying that she knew of classmates who took USMLE step 1 as late as December,

after gaining a lot of "clinical experience".

Is that a good idea, or is it much better to straight study 3 weeks or so and go for it?

Because I was told pretty much by the school that it's better to gun up for 3 or 4 weeks and just take it.

But, the school also said, we'll probably do bad on the USMLE. So, I'm not sure if I can trust what they say.

 

[Taus]

Hi, I'm a DO student. Was planning to take USMLE step 1, 1 week before COMLEX step 1.

Until I overheard some upperclass female student saying that she knew of classmates who took USMLE step 1 as late as December,

after gaining a lot of "clinical experience".

Is that a good idea, or is it much better to straight study 3 weeks or so and go for it?

Because I was told pretty much by the school that it's better to gun up for 3 or 4 weeks and just take it.

But, the school also said, we'll probably do bad on the USMLE. So, I'm not sure if I can trust what they say.

I'm a DO student as well and will be taking the COMLEX about 4 days after the USMLE. Clinical experience 1st or not...theres a boatload of basic science minutia that you are just not going to be thinking about on the wards. You will also not be in multiple-choice test taking mode after months in the hospitals. As for why I'm taking the USMLE 1st....the dif's b/w the tests are that the USMLE hits harder on biochem, molecular and lab techniques, while the COMLEX hits harder on micro, pharm, and of course OMM and peripheral anatomy. If you prepare for the USMLE all you need to add in the days b/w that and the COMLEX is some reiview of OMM and peripheral anatomy. You might as well know the extra bugs and drugs for the USMLE...as they can only help...whereas knowing OMM for the USMLE is...umm....not exactly in existance. Hope that helps.

 

[TheEleventhReel]

I'm a DO student as well and will be taking the COMLEX about 4 days after the USMLE. Clinical experience 1st or not...theres a boatload of basic science minutia that you are just not going to be thinking about on the wards. You will also not be in multiple-choice test taking mode after months in the hospitals. As for why I'm taking the USMLE 1st....the dif's b/w the tests are that the USMLE hits harder on biochem, molecular and lab techniques, while the COMLEX hits harder on micro, pharm, and of course OMM and peripheral anatomy. If you prepare for the USMLE all you need to add in the days b/w that and the COMLEX is some reiview of OMM and peripheral anatomy. You might as well know the extra bugs and drugs for the USMLE...as they can only help...whereas knowing OMM for the USMLE is...umm....not exactly in existance. Hope that helps.

I'm doing the same (that is going to be one suck week). I agree on taking it before rotations start. Once 3rd year starts, it's going to be really difficult to study for step 1, especially having to read up on patients, surgical techniques, and the particular discipline you're currently in. That being said power ranger, it's not going to be easy to do well on the USMLE coming from a DO school. Not saying it's not possible, but you're really going to have to work hard to learn all the stuff that we're not taught in the basic sciences. We have some really smart people who have failed b/c they didn't prepare for it properly. I'd make sure to pick up a copy of HY Cell/molec and know it cold. If you don't give it the proper time and take it and fail it/barely pass, that's probably worse than not taking it at all and doing reasonably well on just the COMLEX.

Taus and I share the same philosophy in regards to the order of taking the tests. OMM and peripheral anatomy is something that can be crammed in less than a week. It'd be much more difficult to cram cell/molec and biochem in a week, especially if you're not strong in those subjects.

 

[power ranger]

family med? For some reason all the upper classmen seemed to be sneering off family med rotations. Could a person have time to study during about 4 weeks of family med rotations?

Thank you for the two responses above. I really appreciate it.

 

[Taus]

wait a second....I in no way ever meant that we don't learn that biochem and molecular...just that our boards don't test it much. I'm sure there are differences b/w the curriculum b/w DO schools ...but we sure as hell learned Biochem and Molecular in depth. I found a few lab techniques in HY that I hadn't learned about since undergrad....but in no way is that a big deficiency. That being said....knowing the HY Cell & Molec and knowing the Biochem in First Aid should get the job done adaquately in those 2 beloved subjects. All the resources out there are for the USMLE....there is no reason not to do well beyond not putting forth the effort.

I don't mean any of that as a personal insult or attack on your school...but to suggest that you will do poorly on the USMLE b/c you are in a DO curriculum is rediculous (unless you didn't know to prepare for the differences b/w the tests....which you are now well aware of).


And yes...that week will suck more then anything has ever sucked before...

 

[TheEleventhReel]

Sorry about that. I meant to specify my school particularly. We definately did not cover the cell cycle in detail, among other very specific cellular processes found in HY cell/molec. As for not doing as well, for my school at least, there are some things we just don't learn b/c of the 200+ hours of OMT training we receive. Plus, it seems our school tries to train us more for clinical practice than to do well on the USMLE, so our basic sciences (cell/molec/micro/immuno) are relatively weak. I wasn't trying to infer that all DO schools are like that. My bad.