High Step 1 Scores, what did you use?

[yrodri15]

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Hey there,

For all of those students that did exceptionally well on the USMLE Step 1, what did you use? Although I am not close to actually taking it, I wanted to purchase the collection in order to study in parallel with my coursework. Also, any other tips you would suggest? Thanks a lot, and congratulations! I have heard a lot of names being tossed around, like Goljan, Kaplan, First Aid, etc. I just wanted to see what the consensus was 😀

 

[zubirix2k]

Hey there,

For all of those students that did exceptionally well on the USMLE Step 1, what did you use? Although I am not close to actually taking it, I wanted to purchase the collection in order to study in parallel with my coursework. Also, any other tips you would suggest? Thanks a lot, and congratulations! I have heard a lot of names being tossed around, like Goljan, Kaplan, First Aid, etc. I just wanted to see what the consensus was 😀

You can get everyone's experience/resources if you check out the sticky posts of compiled STEP 1 experiences and Book Lists. Good Luck.

zubirix

 

[VincentAdultman]

Hey there,

For all of those students that did exceptionally well on the USMLE Step 1, what did you use? Although I am not close to actually taking it, I wanted to purchase the collection in order to study in parallel with my coursework. Also, any other tips you would suggest? Thanks a lot, and congratulations! I have heard a lot of names being tossed around, like Goljan, Kaplan, First Aid, etc. I just wanted to see what the consensus was 😀

Not to sound like an ass, but the best way to study for Step One in my opinion is to focus on the courses your taking now. Kick ass, know the material well, and you have less work to do in April/May. Worrying about Step in September = total wank.

 

[HamOnWholeWheat]

I disagree. There's only one way to rock step I, and that's to study as soon as possible, with as many of my books as possible. Can you believe nobody's bought 'em yet? I'm practically giving these things away!

👍 👍

HamOn

 

[MedGeek42]

You know, this is one of those great debates, and I'm going to weigh in with my opinion, because I studied early, and I believe it was important in securing a good score.

The catch is that this isn't available to everybody. If you can't afford to take time out during second year to review first year stuff, you can wind up not learning second year stuff well, and doubly screwing yourself. So you have to know yourself: if you are a strong student, you can do this as part of securing a high score. If not, stick to mastering second year stuff. It sounds elitist but you have to know yourself and what you can get away with.

 

[JSandall]

Not to sound like an ass, but the best way to study for Step One in my opinion is to focus on the courses your taking now. Kick ass, know the material well, and you have less work to do in April/May. Worrying about Step in September = total wank.

At least in my case, concentrating on the first 2 years allowed me to study for an intense, focused amount of time in May. Had I started studying earlier, I would have gouged out my eyes. Everyone's different, you've got to find out what works for you. Good luck.

 

[yrodri15]

Well the thing is that the Curriculum isn't so great... and as a result, the avg board scores for the school are not so high. I was planning on studying on my own... like in conjunction with the curriculum... I heard names like "First Aid," etc. being bounced around - but I am still a ways off from taking it. Also, what is this Goljan's and QBank that I have been reading about?

 

[Pox in a box]

I believe studying earlier increases your odds of achieving a stellar score.

 

[Long Dong]

I believe studying earlier increases your odds of achieving a stellar score.

Agreed, some of us just aren't superstars who can study 5-6 weeks after school lets out and pull 250+. So begining earlier for us slower people helps us get a better score. Like the OP said studying board review books in parallel with our course work makes it alot easier when it is time to do dedicated board studying.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Agreed, some of us just aren't superstars who can study 5-6 weeks after school lets out and pull 250+. So begining earlier for us slower people helps us get a better score. Like the OP said studying board review books in parallel with our course work makes it alot easier when it is time to do dedicated board studying.

Cool. I'm a superstar. I'll take that. 😎

I guess I'm in aggreement with LD; if anything, I would say use FA to help build your foudation of the subjects you're currently studying. First year topics aren't as weighed heavily on Step One IMO; so you can save those till after you're finished with second year. Ditto for qbank and general practice questions. Those will just take up time you should be spending on school.

But this is all my opinion, and it probably isn't for everyyone. But I think I did all right on the test by using this strategy. If you do too much over the course of the year, you will burn out. Simple as that.