How much has the step 1 changed since 2002?

[sid876]

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The reason I'm asking this is that I've got all of the Kaplan step 1 review notes. I'm going to begin med school somwhere in the Caribbean this upcoming January (either SGU, AUC, or Ross), and want to know if anybody knows this. Unfortunately its my only option at being a physican for me and I'M ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED to do very well on the exam. Is the content in Kaplan much different now and will it not be worth for me to use those notes in the timebeing? When I actually do begin to study for the exam I definately plan on getting the most up to date information, but will it be counterproductive to use the 2002 notes if their much different?

Also I know people say to students who are about to begin med school to not study or prepare in advance, but I feel differently. I'm almost 30 and to be honest have no desire to travel nor do I have the funds for it, nor do I have any need to go out and party and get it out of my system before I begin med school (That seems to be what most people in their lower 20's do to "have fun"). Plus I have never had any advanced level classes, besides Human Anatomy and Physiology, and wish to at least have some background before I begin. That being said, I figure for at least the next four months I can study Biochem, Medical Physiology, and Genetics/Cell Bio, and some Anatomy. Also while I'm studying I can correlate what I'm learning with the corresponding Kaplan section.

What do you think would be the best way going about this?

 

[Terpskins99]

The reason I'm asking this is that I've got all of the Kaplan step 1 review notes. I'm going to begin med school somwhere in the Caribbean this upcoming January (either SGU, AUC, or Ross), and want to know if anybody knows this. Unfortunately its my only option at being a physican for me and I'M ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED to do very well on the exam. Is the content in Kaplan much different now and will it not be worth for me to use those notes in the timebeing? When I actually do begin to study for the exam I definately plan on getting the most up to date information, but will it be counterproductive to use the 2002 notes if their much different?

Also I know people say to students who are about to begin med school to not study or prepare in advance, but I feel differently. I'm almost 30 and to be honest have no desire to travel nor do I have the funds for it, nor do I have any need to go out and party and get it out of my system before I begin med school (That seems to be what most people in their lower 20's do to "have fun"). Plus I have never had any advanced level classes, besides Human Anatomy and Physiology, and wish to at least have some background before I begin. That being said, I figure for at least the next four months I can study Biochem, Medical Physiology, and Genetics/Cell Bio, and some Anatomy. Also while I'm studying I can correlate what I'm learning with the corresponding Kaplan section.

What do you think would be the best way going about this?

Well, MS1 is a little early to get serious about board prep. Much (most?) of the USMLE is centered around 2nd year classes (e.g. microbiology, pathology, pharm), so for now I'd focus on making sure you pass your classes (the dropout/fail rate at many of the caribbean island schools including St. Georges and Ross is notoriously high).

Frankly, I doubt there's a whole heck of a lot of difference in terms of the 2002 versus the 2007 kaplan material. For now, it should be just fine. I'd recommend getting slightly more recent versions of BRS or Rapid Review for any subjects that you find yourself having trouble with (too early to know that yet). You'll be exposed to biochemistry in first year, and I personally really like the Lippincott biochem text (as that is a superb in-class supplement... probably a little overboard for boards, but I still found use for it then as well).

Good luck.

 

[sid876]

Thanks for the reply Terpskins99.

I do realize the dropout rate at those schools is high but I feel that's due to students who don't have the maturity or perhaps the aptitude to get through med school. Unfortunately for me I matured later (most of my undergrad classes are from 97-99) than most and did a year of post-bac taking mostly the premed prereqs along with Human Anatomy and Physiology. I got a 4.0 in all those classes along with a 33 MCAT. I know that med school is a whole new ball game, but I know that I'm up to the challenge. I will be 30 in January and realistically the caribbean schools are my best bet at getting my MD in a reasonable amount of time.

Those Kaplan notes are divided in all of the subjects and each subject is like 300-400 pages long (at least in the pdf files I have). I figured I would get a head start and side by side correlate what I learn with those notes. Someone else suggested that I mainly look at First Aid which I also have while I study because those Kaplan notes are meant for review.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I have kaplan notes from 07 04 and 00 and they are all quite similar. The 07 ones contain clinical correlate notes on the side and have an index. To get all you can out of the material I recommend you obtain, one way or another, a set of 2007 kaplan lecture notes in paper form and a set of video lectures. Go though those in detail multiple times during the years and you'll be set.

Also remember that you'll have audio and video on your test that few know how to prepare for.

 

[sid876]

Thank you all kindly for the advice.

I don't know if any of you are aware of this but check this website out....

www.medicalheaven.com It has a ton of resources for people in the health care field and that's where I obtained many of the books along with the Kaplan and First Aid stuff. You can basically download textbooks for free! Its pretty convenient.

 

[ertugrul]

I've biochem. lecture notes of 2002 and 2005, and I really didn't like 2002 version. Format is more clearer in later version.