How does my book list look?

[epsilonprodigy]

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I have been trying to plan out a book list for Step 1 so I can jump right in after the holidays. Will be taking my exam in mid-June.

On my chart, FA= First Aid, HY= High Yield, MRS= Made Ridiculously Simple... think the rest are self-explanatory.

As you can see, I could use some advice on what to use in addition to First Aid for histo, immuno and ethics.

I will be signing up for DIT, which from what I understand follows FA pretty closely. I also want to add USMLE Rx and/or U-World for q-bank.

Thoughts?

 

[Ionian]

Granted, I have not taken step yet so take the following advice with a grain of salt.

My opinion only comes from reading the forums for many years prior to attending medical school, and from many friends who have already taken it.

1. Anatomy: FA + QBanks is enough
BRS anatomy is a waste of time unless your 10 months out from your test and you remember absolutely nothing...
2. Embryo: FA + QBanks is enough
You don't need HY, but to each their own...
3. Histo: FA, I agree with you
4. Physio: FA + Qbanks. IMO BRS phys as a reference, isn't worth going through a full run, reference weak points, questions arent step like, and you wont be doing calculations.
5. Psych/Behavior. HY? No. You need to go through BRS Behavioral Sciences, IF ONLY JUST DOING THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER.
6. Biostats. FA + HY, YES, the HY book does take some time to get through, if you get in a crunch do as many biostats questions as you can/repeat them from UWorld. I think these types of questions just takes practice over and over again, IMO better to practice questions, then read that book, I still enjoy the book though.
7. Ethics. ? sorry idk.
8. Biochem. FA, lippincotts reference.... dont need to go all through it, when would you have time? FA + Qbank
9. Immuno. FA
10. Path. Dude, stick to one or two resources and know them well.
Pathoma + Goljan + Robbins?
If you mean Pathoma videos + book
Goljan audio + Rapid Review
Basic Pathology Robbins?
IMO. FA path is worthless, if you've already done pathoma (via learning path when studying for class) it might be worth going through all the videos at a quick speed for the HY, and pick a book for reading and stick with it, I would just stay with RR Path (goljan). If you do FA + RR path + Uworld and know that solid, f* everything else, you're golden.
11. Pharm, FA + Qbank is enough!
12. Micro. FA micro sucks, CMMRS sucks, this is a pretty variable one, IMO all the resources I went through for Micro (im a resource *****) i still have nothing solid to recommend.
Microcards are over-the-top. This was my best class though, I made sure to know it well, and got a 98% on the NBME, Im glad I did the work and have my own notes cause all the other resources for quick review kind of suck.
Two things I would absolutely recommend, is the HY infectious disease chapter (only that chapter) from the HY micro book. And that one section at the back of the book in Langs Microbiology & Immunology (you'll know what im talking about when you see it, not the quick review of all the bugs, but the section with all the tables/epidemiology/associated vectors etc. its like 4-5 really great pages)

You want to do well? Here's the secret: Dont resource over load. Know a few good resources better then everyone else.
Jack of all trades is a master of none.
Step 1 = Mostly Path. Master Path, IMO.

Good luck 🙂

 

[webgenius]

Take an advice from a guy who tried everything

I swear to God everything you need to know is in FA (at least 90%) and 10% from the 3 Qbanks.

now that doesnt mean you can answer everything by knowing these by heart
there are lots of questions which need judgement
judgement can only be learned by doing question
even if you were allowed to open FA during the exam there still will be question where you need to use your brain

my advice to you use FA as a guide to your study
open FA and read each title in FA from another book just to make sure you understand FA

if a subject was not in FA dont waste your time even reading it

the Qbanks are filled with extra information that you wont even remember half of it

so use less books ... let FA guides you ... practice practice practice...