How do I gain an edge

[premedk]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Summery: I'm an average 2nd year med student, but want to kill the boards.

Everyone at my school is using similar resources(pathoma/FA) and most do well on module tests. I'm working hard but I've been scoring just slightly above average this year(M2)...and struggled through last year(lots of Bs, few Cs).

I really want to score around a 240 on the boards (average is 230-235 at our school) so I don't count myself out for competitive specialties, but I'm not at the top of the class and never do amazingly well on standardized tests (MCAT-30, SAT-1260). So how does a middle of the road med. student gain an edge, is it even possible? Should I just strive for mediocrity and convince myself to like one of the non-competitive specialties?

Do I work qbank problems...I heard the dedicated study period is better for this? How about reviewing last years material(esp. embryo, anat. and biochem) as we go through this year...I heard this is very low yield and that I'll need to cram that stuff again b/f the test anyway? Gojjans along with class and pathoma...that seems like too many resources?

 

[Anastomoses]

Someone posted a research study here a couple months ago which suggested to use almost all of your time and energy on qbanks to increase your score most dramatically.

 

[Leonidis I]

you pretty much said it yourself - everyone knows what the best resources are and how/when to use them. there are no shortcuts or gimmicks that you can pick up that can't just as easily be picked up by any other medical student....at least no ethical or legal ones.

if you want an "edge" over others you're simply going to have to outwork them. obviously being naturally intelligent helps but you can't really change that so focus on what you can change - the consistency and intensity of your studies.

 

[Lydian]

if you want an "edge" over others you're simply going to have to outwork them. obviously being naturally intelligent helps but you can't really change that so focus on what you can change - the consistency and intensity of your studies.

This. There is no secret.


National average to 250:
1. Amount of work during dedicated period: High correlation
2. Amount of work during M1/M2 (foundation: Medium correlation)
3. Natural Intelligence: Very low
(but as you can see if your really smart, you need less of 1 & 2, but any 'dummy' that does the work can make the grade)

250-265
1. Amount of work during dedicated period: Lower correlation
(i.e., at some point, simply putting in more hours during your limited dedicated time becomes impractical, or benifit levels off/you peak.
2. Amount of work during M1/M2: High correlation
3. Natural Intelligence: Medium to High

270+
Probably more dependent on intelligence/test taking skills, I could study 4 years for step one and probably never get there.

 

[notbobtrustme]

cocaine

 

[GangaMaster]

nm,,,,,

 

[Dral]

Pick your resources. Set up a regimented intensive study schedule the 2 or so months prior.

I feel I was around not too far above average first and second year. I did the above and got around the 250 mark and ended up in Derm.

I think I'm fairly good at standardized tests, but not always. Three MCAT takes (glutton for punishment): 29, 30, 37.

So you can do it.

 

[D elegans]

Yeah, qbank it to death while using FA concurrently AND Pathoma

 

[thefritz]

It's not a curved test. You're not competing against everyone else. Theoretically, everyone could score a 300 on test day or everyone could score a 0.

You've already identified your target score. The next step is to study and take self-assessments to see if you are getting the required percentage of questions correctly to reach this score. What your classmates are doing literally makes no difference at all in terms of your score beyond their ability to get in your head and psych you out

 

[thefritz]

This. There is no secret.


National average to 250:
1. Amount of work during dedicated period: High correlation
2. Amount of work during M1/M2 (foundation: Medium correlation)
3. Natural Intelligence: Very low
(but as you can see if your really smart, you need less of 1 & 2, but any 'dummy' that does the work can make the grade)

250-265
1. Amount of work during dedicated period: Lower correlation
(i.e., at some point, simply putting in more hours during your limited dedicated time becomes impractical, or benifit levels off/you peak.
2. Amount of work during M1/M2: High correlation
3. Natural Intelligence: Medium to High

270+
Probably more dependent on intelligence/test taking skills, I could study 4 years for step one and probably never get there.

I disagree. There is a huge difference between a 220 (average) and a 250 (outstanding). Intelligence matters a lot, specifically the ability to focus, concentrate, and process information rapidly. Reasoning ability is not rewarded on this test because it is extremely speeded. If you like to reason instead of memorize and/or are a slow reader, you will run out of time and do poorly.

 

[Lydian]

I disagree. There is a huge difference between a 220 (average) and a 250 (outstanding). Intelligence matters a lot, specifically the ability to focus, concentrate, and process information rapidly. Reasoning ability is not rewarded on this test because it is extremely speeded. If you like to reason instead of memorize and/or are a slow reader, you will run out of time and do poorly.

These are correlations.

To argue your point, a very very intellegent person, that didn't focus much on school, say they were unmotivated and barely passed M1/M2, it really doesn't matter that they are smart with 6 weeks of dedicated study time, with a pour foundation, they don't have very much room to do well.

It starts with effort, and ends with effort, smartness helps on all fronts, but its favored on the high end.
Its a correlation.

 

[Kaputt]

I disagree. There is a huge difference between a 220 (average) and a 250 (outstanding). Intelligence matters a lot, specifically the ability to focus, concentrate, and process information rapidly. Reasoning ability is not rewarded on this test because it is extremely speeded. If you like to reason instead of memorize and/or are a slow reader, you will run out of time and do poorly.

Agree and disagree. Reasoning is extremely well rewarded. That's how people get the big scores. Everyone uses the same resources and knows the same facts, it's how you apply them and how quickly you can access the information that makes the difference. You can't memorize your way into the big scores if you don't have really good test taking skills and accurate quick reasoning skills.

 

[thefritz]

Agree and disagree. Reasoning is extremely well rewarded. That's how people get the big scores. Everyone uses the same resources and knows the same facts, it's how you apply them and how quickly you can access the information that makes the difference. You can't memorize your way into the big scores if you don't have really good test taking skills and accurate quick reasoning skills.

Also agree and disagree. It is about reasoning, but it is also about how fast you can get the information in and out. Having 20 gigbytes of working memory doesn't help much when you're putting data into it with a 56k modem. I scored average on my exams leaving blank or guessing on the last 5-10 questions on each section. You can't reason the question if you can't read it.

Memorizing and using mnemonics to identify patterns is much higher yield.

 

[David Hasselhof]

I was an average student during MS1+2, didn't crush the MCAT, but I never tried all that hard. I was able to get ~260 on Step 1.

Here's my advice:

#1. You have to put in the time. There is no getting around this. A good memory helps. I found mnemonics to be extremely helpful.

#2. UWORLD QBANK. You must go through this and read all of the answer explanations while annotating in to FA. It took me 3-4 hours per block. It sucked but it is the highest yield thing you can do. Go through it a second time after completing it, or at the bare minimum go over every single marked and missed question.

#3. First Aid. Another must. Annotate with UWORLD.

#4. Set a schedule and try to stick to it. Make it early. Factor in every day.

#5. I found this website to be very helpful. If you can't remember something or are having difficulty with a concept, search SDN or google. I found so many helpful Youtube videos or mnemonics just by a quick google search.

#6. UWORLD + FA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stellar Clouds]

Summery: I'm an average 2nd year med student, but want to kill the boards.

Everyone at my school is using similar resources(pathoma/FA) and most do well on module tests. I'm working hard but I've been scoring just slightly above average this year(M2)...and struggled through last year(lots of Bs, few Cs).

I really want to score around a 240 on the boards (average is 230-235 at our school) so I don't count myself out for competitive specialties, but I'm not at the top of the class and never do amazingly well on standardized tests (MCAT-30, SAT-1260). So how does a middle of the road med. student gain an edge, is it even possible? Should I just strive for mediocrity and convince myself to like one of the non-competitive specialties?

Do I work qbank problems...I heard the dedicated study period is better for this? How about reviewing last years material(esp. embryo, anat. and biochem) as we go through this year...I heard this is very low yield and that I'll need to cram that stuff again b/f the test anyway? Gojjans along with class and pathoma...that seems like too many resources?

I suggest starting to do either Kaplan or USMLERx in January alongside with FA. Read a section of FA, do all the associated questions, annotate FA, and then re-read that section of FA. Repeat. You can attempt to line up sections you do with what you are studying in class. Try to finish all of that by April. Switch over to uworld + FA + other review stuff PRN (RR path, goljan lectures, BRS phys, etc). Focus on getting through all of uworld while annotating FA and getting through FA as many times as possible.

Modify this as you see fit (like adding pathoma---not sure what that **** is because it didn't exist when I studied for step 1).

As someone else mentioned, the best way to improve your score is questions, questions, questions.

 

[Kaputt]

And your assumption already is based on the fact they they utilized those sources, thus, put in effort.

You already disagree with yourself by your assumption. Thus too you know effort = gains. So what exactly do you disagree with?

I assume you disagree by saying, any smart person can come off the street and study for 6 weeks and get a 250 because they are smart, and smartness is everything. You sir are a ****ing *****.

Why are you calling me a ****ing *****? Attitude, much?

What I disagreed with is the other user's notion that memorization trumps reasoning, which I don't think it does. Assuming everyone has access to the same content (which everyone does, it's called USMLE World and First Aid), what really makes the difference is how quickly someone can reason through a question they've never seen before and how they can use the facts they know to reason through a new question. It's a big deal for shelf exams and Step 2 (which ask a crap ton of spins on "what's the next best step in management?") but I also remember it being a pretty big deal on Step 1 (with tons of pathophysiology questions).

But from looking at your posts you're just an M2 who hasn't even taken Step 1 yet, who basically trolls this forum calling people *****s. Get a life, man.

 

[Kaputt]

Also agree and disagree. It is about reasoning, but it is also about how fast you can get the information in and out. Having 20 gigbytes of working memory doesn't help much when you're putting data into it with a 56k modem. I scored average on my exams leaving blank or guessing on the last 5-10 questions on each section. You can't reason the question if you can't read it.

Memorizing and using mnemonics to identify patterns is much higher yield.

Agree, recall speed is vitally important. Memorizing every word in First Aid is meaningless if you can't recall the information.

What I'm trying to convey is that some people simply pick up on the patterns these questions ask far quicker than others do, and it's largely test-taking skill and quick-thinking. Inherent test taking skills, in my opinion, raise ones' score ceiling whereas brute force memorization can only get you so far. I think it's a bigger deal for shelf exams and Step 2 though, where half the time I'd be answering a question on gut feeling rather than recall of some critical fact.

 

[Anastomoses]

https://members.aamc.org/eweb/upload/Are Questions the Answer PPT 11-6-12 10PM.pdf

 

[Mr Avante]

You're a *****.

watch out,
sh*tstorm incoming

 

[Kaputt]

You're a *****.

🙄

 

[eefen]

So, question: step 1 is a long ways off for me, but just out of curiosity.... UWorld sems to be regarded as the best qbank out there. So why save it for last? Why not do it along with classes, for example, instead of Kaplan/ usmlerx?

 

[Kaputt]

So, question: step 1 is a long ways off for me, but just out of curiosity.... UWorld sems to be regarded as the best qbank out there. So why save it for last? Why not do it along with classes, for example, instead of Kaplan/ usmlerx?

I wouldn't use UWorld as a primary study source for the preclinical years. It's awesome, don't get me wrong, but it's largely useful as a tool to refine your knowledge in preparation for Step 1. It not only gives you great integrated content, but tests your ability to reason through it. The problem is that if you do UWorld too early, you're not building on pre-existing knowledge and will just be getting tons of questions wrong and reading explanations to learn the material. That's not really active learning. Get a Kaplan or Rx qbank cause those qbanks aren't that good so it's not like you're wasting a solid study source too early. But that's just my opinion. I waited to start UWorld until my dedicated study time and was really glad that I did.

But for 3rd year, do get the Step 2 UWorld qbank because it's great for shelf exams.

Cue Lydian calling me a ***** again. But I did great on Step 1 and shelf exams so take my advice however you wish.

 

[eefen]

I wouldn't use UWorld as a primary study source for the preclinical years. It's awesome, don't get me wrong, but it's largely useful as a tool to refine your knowledge in preparation for Step 1. It not only gives you great integrated content, but tests your ability to reason through it. The problem is that if you do UWorld too early, you're not building on pre-existing knowledge and will just be getting tons of questions wrong and reading explanations to learn the material. That's not really active learning. Get a Kaplan or Rx qbank cause those qbanks aren't that good so it's not like you're wasting a solid study source too early. But that's just my opinion. I waited to start UWorld until my dedicated study time and was really glad that I did.

But for 3rd year, do get the Step 2 UWorld qbank because it's great for shelf exams.

Cue Lydian calling me a ***** again. But I did great on Step 1 and shelf exams so take my advice however you wish.

Are there particular sections that you could just do along with relevant class material throughout the year (e.g. do questions on cardiac path while going over it in class) or are the questions all so integrated that they can't really be separated out like that?

 

[Stellar Clouds]

I know for certain that the three major qbanks allow you to create question sets on particular subjects, so yes you can focus your questions on what you are studying.

 

[eefen]

Hmmm...so then, would it make sense to use the relevant parts of UWorld during classes next year rather than kaplan/usmlerx, if it's truly "the best" question bank?

I know when you go back for a dedicated study time, you wouldn't necessarily have any "new" questions from UWorld. You might recognize all the questions...and know the answers. But why would that be a bad thing?

Again, this is all a ways off for me. Just a question I've had in the back of my head.

 

[Honeeplz3]

I found picmonic a helped with some of the relentlessly tedious memorizing. (I swear to god I am not a spokesperson for picmonics). Try their trial and see if you liked it. My friends either loved it or hated it. I thought it was so easy it almost felt like cheating. I used them for bacteria, some of the viruses and metabolism disorders and the stupid pictures are still engraved in my head. Don't do more than 4-5 a day though or you'll get the pics confused.

 

[chronicidal]

The problem is that if you do UWorld too early, you're not building on pre-existing knowledge and will just be getting tons of questions wrong and reading explanations to learn the material. That's not really active learning. Get a Kaplan or Rx qbank cause those qbanks aren't that good so it's not like you're wasting a solid study source too early.

You're saying
0) Doing questions is most useful if you know everything already.
1) Doing high quality questions and learning from your mistakes is NOT active learning.
2) Doing lower quality questions and learning from your mistakes IS active learning.
3) Doing high quality questions and learning from your mistakes is WASTING those questions because learning the high yield stuff is better done LATER THAN EARLIER.

This doesn't make any sense for me.

 

[Jemeni]

To answer your question OP:

After a certain point, there's not much more you can do. What you can do to gain an edge however, is bring others down. That's where sabotage comes in. My personal faves:

-Put up study guides for your class, but switch around crucial details. Building up trust over a long period of time is key here.
-Flat-out take their books. Sounds crude but it works.
-If all else fails, report them for cheating. Sucks being under the microscope.


Good luck OP, hope that helps!

 

[Kaputt]

You're saying
0) Doing questions is most useful if you know everything already.
1) Doing high quality questions and learning from your mistakes is NOT active learning.
2) Doing lower quality questions and learning from your mistakes IS active learning.
3) Doing high quality questions and learning from your mistakes is WASTING those questions because learning the high yield stuff is better done LATER THAN EARLIER.

This doesn't make any sense for me.

The more you know before you start UWorld, the more you will get out of UWorld. UWorld has high quality questions because of the way they are written, not necessarily because of the content. Kaplan and Rx have practically the same content. What makes UWorld so great is that it gets you in the USMLE "zone" and prepares you well for the thought process you need to get USMLE questions correct. There are a finite number of UWorld questions, obviously, and I personally think you get the most out of a question the first time you do it. It takes things that you thought you knew well (liver failure, heart failure, etc) and then asks a really hard question about it, to really test if you know the material. UWorld helps you build on the material you already know, not to teach it to you for the first time. Additionally, I'm generally against a second-pass of UWorld, because I don't think it's very worthwhile. You'll remember the answers to all the tricky questions when you re-do the qbank so you're not getting them right for the right reasons. So I advocate only doing UWorld once, and only doing it in your 5-week dedicated prep time.

Basically, I think UWorld is a great tool for the sprint part of boards study, but not for the marathon of the preclinical years. Doing UWorld won't help you for your preclinical exams because your professors probably aren't teaching to the boards. So why not just use UWorld for the sprint?

I wouldn't even waste money on the Kaplan or Rx qbanks. I think doing those is pointless, but if you're going to do them you might as well do them in, say, the last few months of M2 so you don't waste your dedicated prep time on them. Psychologically, if you MUST do a qbank during M2, do Kaplan or Rx.

 

[Kaputt]

Are there particular sections that you could just do along with relevant class material throughout the year (e.g. do questions on cardiac path while going over it in class) or are the questions all so integrated that they can't really be separated out like that?

You can do that, but that's more useful during 3rd year with the Step 2 qbank (to study for the NBME shelf exams) rather than for Step 1, in my opinion. See my above post, but in general I'd advise using Kaplan or Rx if you need a question source to feel comfortable.

Honestly, I used WebPath questions to practice during pathology and that worked great. No need to jump onto UWorld just yet.

http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/EXAM/EXAMIDX.html

 

[eefen]

The more you know before you start UWorld, the more you will get out of UWorld. UWorld has high quality questions because of the way they are written, not necessarily because of the content. Kaplan and Rx have practically the same content. What makes UWorld so great is that it gets you in the USMLE "zone" and prepares you well for the thought process you need to get USMLE questions correct.

Would still love to hear more opinions on this issue, but I will say that this is the most coherent explanation of why one should "save" UWorld I've heard on these forums. Most people just say "save it, because it's the best," which really doesn't make sense when you think "the best" = "the best source of information."

Edit: Also, thanks for the resource. Favorited for later.

 

[Brain Bucket]

Would still love to hear more opinions on this issue, but I will say that this is the most coherent explanation of why one should "save" UWorld I've heard on these forums. Most people just say "save it, because it's the best," which really doesn't make sense when you think "the best" = "the best source of information."

Edit: Also, thanks for the resource. Favorited for later.

Eh. Yeah. There are plenty of question resources for path. Robbin's, Rubin's, Pretest, Old webpath, New webpath...I can rattle off 7-8 more. That's not the point. The point is that there is a certain amount of time you have (or care to) to prep for the Step. UW is special because it helps you think the way the Step needs you to think. It is most effectively utilized in terms of time and building confidence as recommended by most people (timed+random+a few months before you plan to sit the step) because it helps you get in the 'zone' as mentioned earlier.

K. Now let's play the Devil's advocate.

This doesn't mean that you would 'lose out' if you did it earlier, especially if you do it after each block. I think if you did it subject-wise along with the relevant block in timed mode, you would better appreciate what you've just studied. Here are a few advantages to going this route:

1) Efficiency - Deficits in your preparation are apparent and you have sufficient background to fill in the holes without having to review it.
2) Time - If you don't understand something, you can really take your time to fully understand it without the incredible pressure of completing it all in 2 months.
3) Mastery - You can use spaced repetition to master your weaknesses as shown by UW. You can essentially know UW cold and better appreciate its nuances by the time your test swings around.
4) Redundant - The NBME's are created to tell you exactly where you stand and get you into the 'zone'. Your final stage of learning should only involve fine-tuning.

This said, I still strongly believe you're better off having completed Rx and Kap before hitting UW, which doesn't mean you can't do all three with your blocks.

 

[rahndell]

I found picmonic a helped with some of the relentlessly tedious memorizing. (I swear to god I am not a spokesperson for picmonics). Try their trial and see if you liked it. My friends either loved it or hated it. I thought it was so easy it almost felt like cheating. I used them for bacteria, some of the viruses and metabolism disorders and the stupid pictures are still engraved in my head. Don't do more than 4-5 a day though or you'll get the pics confused.

I think picmonic is awesome. I got it for Micro, and after realizing how much of a visual learner I am, I'm going to keep it for my next couple blocks.

 

[Armadillos]

I'm convinced step I is almost just entirely a measure of how good you are at taking multiple choice tests (assuming you atleast put in some amount of effort during preclinicals). Some of my friends medical knowledge towers over mine, but I scored significantly better on stepI just because taking multiple choice tests is one of the things I do best, it really is just a test of (1) do you have basic medical knowledge and then (2) how well do you take tests. Now they get to make me look stupid on rounds because Im up the creek without process of elimination being an option, so everything comes out in the end

 

[Neuronix]

Personal attacks and name calling are not permitted on SDN. Please do not respond to such posts, just report them and we will take care of it thanks.