Help with step 1 study plan

[Handinhand]

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Hey all,

So I hope this isn't too early to be asking about some study advice for next year's (June 2014) Step 1. I just wanted to reach out and possibly start a discussion on current study methods/books, as it seems the stickied threads are a few years old.

I am just starting my M2 year at a US medical school, and my school uses a systems based approach to 2nd year, although I took a dedicated pharm and micro class our 2nd semester of 1st year which will (hopefully) be reinforced throughout this next year. I will add that I am not trying to go into derm or plastics( emergency medicine actually), so I'm not gunning for a 270. I think a difficult but more realistic goal would be a 240-250.

Here is what I'm thinking:

- Classes: I don't intend to do what some seem to and skip lectures/ just do enough course work to pass exams while spending the rest of their time studying for Step 1. I feel like I will learn the material best from lectures so I will still focus on that greatly.
- 12 month Pathoma Subscription
- FA
- Robbin's Pathology review/ question book
- BRS Phys
- BRS Behavior
- HY Micro
- USMLEWorld QBank + self assesments 1 + 2

What I'm planning on doing is supplementing course work with the corresponding Pathoma lecture/ book material, as well as FA. I would also like to review some M1 material during thanksgiving and christmas break (I feel my school didn't cover embryo well, so I'd like to actually learn that before I re-study it in the spring). My spring break is in mid-march, which I when I would like to actually start studying. I'd like to take step 1 in mid-june, giving me 14-16 weeks of study time, with the last 6 weeks or so much more serious after class end.

Does anybody have any advice on gaping holes on subject material that won't be covered with my book list. Also, what other question banks/ exams do people recommend besides UWorld? Lastly, what is your opinion on my study plan?

Thank you for any/all help!

 

[Kal EI]

Hey all,

So I hope this isn't too early to be asking about some study advice for next year's (June 2014) Step 1. I just wanted to reach out and possibly start a discussion on current study methods/books, as it seems the stickied threads are a few years old.

I am just starting my M2 year at a US medical school, and my school uses a systems based approach to 2nd year, although I took a dedicated pharm and micro class our 2nd semester of 1st year which will (hopefully) be reinforced throughout this next year. I will add that I am not trying to go into derm or plastics( emergency medicine actually), so I'm not gunning for a 270. I think a difficult but more realistic goal would be a 240-250.

Here is what I'm thinking:

- Classes: I don't intend to do what some seem to and skip lectures/ just do enough course work to pass exams while spending the rest of their time studying for Step 1. I feel like I will learn the material best from lectures so I will still focus on that greatly.
- 12 month Pathoma Subscription
- FA
- Robbin's Pathology review/ question book
- BRS Phys
- BRS Behavior
- HY Micro
- USMLEWorld QBank + self assesments 1 + 2

What I'm planning on doing is supplementing course work with the corresponding Pathoma lecture/ book material, as well as FA. I would also like to review some M1 material during thanksgiving and christmas break (I feel my school didn't cover embryo well, so I'd like to actually learn that before I re-study it in the spring). My spring break is in mid-march, which I when I would like to actually start studying. I'd like to take step 1 in mid-june, giving me 14-16 weeks of study time, with the last 6 weeks or so much more serious after class end.

Does anybody have any advice on gaping holes on subject material that won't be covered with my book list. Also, what other question banks/ exams do people recommend besides UWorld? Lastly, what is your opinion on my study plan?

Thank you for any/all help!

Your book list will cover almost everything. Your M2 coursework will cover the rest.

How well you know FA, Uworld combined with mastery of M2 coursework will determine your score much more than having the proper 8 books or 6 books or whatever.

 

[Handinhand]

Does anybody have a recommendation for a good Step 1 embryo text?

 

[Handinhand]

After reading more I think I'm going to grab CMMRS instead of HY Micro, just use FA for embryo, and get rid of Robbins Path and just use Pathoma + FA for path review. Also, next spring, in addition to UWorld, also doing a few NMBE practice exams as well.

To summarize:

Pathoma: Follow throughout the year w/ relevant systems, re-review in the spring
FA: Also review throughout the year w/ relevant systems, and then study all 1st year material in spring. Hopefully get through FA at least 3 times before I take Step 1
BRS Phys: Review relevant phys throughout the year, but really study it mostly in spring
BRS Behavior: Study in spring
CMMRS: Will review relevant micro during 2nd year, but mostly save this book for the spring
UWorld: Start doing questions around spring break of next year, which would be ~15weeks out from Step 1
NMBE practice exams: start around 6-7 weeks out from exam, completing 1exam/week.

Does anybody have anything they'd like to add/suggest to this schedule or my book list?

 

[Brain Bucket]

That's a lot you're saving for spring.

Get BRS phys done before the winter along with pathophys.

 

[Handinhand]

Little update to this:

So at my school our last block of M2 year is a consolidation of the past years worth of material, bridging gaps between the systems and trying to connect everything. It's our first year of this curriculum and I believe it's their attempt to review older material to get us ready for boards. This class end May 11th and we are done until we begin clinical orientation on June 24th, giving us around 6 weeks of independent study time for Step 1. I am thinking of taking boards around June 9th, giving me roughly 4 weeks of study time.

I was wondering what people's opinions are on this amount of study time? Throughout my M2 coursework I've been studying with FA, as well as Pathoma. I also have the Robbins Review of Pathology book that I use as a practice test for how well I know the material, and so far through Cardio, Renal, Respiratory, Heme, and Derm I've been able to get at least 85-90% of the questions right per system, so I think I'm putting a good base of knowledge down to build off of come spring time.

This winter I am planning on reading through BRS Behavior, BRS Phys, as well as trying to review Pharm, as we took our pharm class M1 year and I don't want to be that hazy on the subject when I begin to study full time for Step. I bought the Lange pharm flash cards, so I'm hoping between those and FA I will be good for pharm. What does everyone think of that?