How much money did you spend preparing for Step 1?

[trgf]

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Just thought I'd start a poll asking people how much they actually spent preparing for Step 1 - prep classes, review books, etc.

 

[michigator04]

How is it even possible to spend >$10k?

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

I paid some money to resurrect Robbins and Netter's in a Frankenstein form so they will both teach me everything I need to know for Step 1. 10 grand is nothing to blow for that kind of learning.

 

[MrBigLips]

How is it even possible to spend >$10k?

Seriously... how is it possible? 10K is kinda ridiculous no?

 

[trgf]

I guess it's possible to spend > $10,000 if you do two review courses, one of which you didn't like too much, but which you had to complete as a mandatory requirement of some sort.

 

[Rollo]

How is it possible to spend LESS than $500? The exam registration alone costs slightly more than that.

 

[jfgavina]

I didn't count the registration, only books and question banks. Until now its below 500, but with examination it costs more than that of course. I'm in europe, I pay 150 fee besides the registration fee.

 

[ar2388]

so far.. $400 for Uworld, $110 for 2 NBME's, $200 for gunner training which i stopped using before dedicated study time but used during the year, and will probably spend $60 on the 2 UWSA's and another $120-180 on NBME's.. my credit cards are super unhappy to say the least.

 

[jfgavina]

400 for uworld? you really need that for so long? I will do 2 months now for one run then more two month in august and september for another 3 runs.

 

[Mace1370]

How is it possible to spend LESS than $500? The exam registration alone costs slightly more than that.

My school pays for the exam and one NBME. I also won a free UWorld subscription in the student doctor test prep week. I purchased a 6 month USMLERx subscription earlier in the year. I will probably buy another NBME's and a 1 month extension to UWorld at some point.

 

[hrandani]

Oh boy.

3 months Rx with amsa discount 139
12 months GT 180
Mandatory Kaplan Program 2,300
6 months UWorld + 2 Tests 320

RR Biochem & Path, FA, Kaplan Medessentials ~100

Looks like roughly 3 grand, however 2,300 of that was completely against my will and was a near-total waste of my money. The Kaplan course books aren't terrible, but several of them are very low yield and fraught with errors. I would probably pay 100-150 for the coursebooks. Their qbank isn't that great either, even though they tried to sex it up with separate vignettes and physio banks, they're even worse than the normal q bank.

I tried out DIT but it just didn't click for me. Hopefully in July I'll be able to fully write up what worked for me / what sucks so others can benefit.

 

[ar2388]

how come the kaplan thing was mandatory for you?

 

[Rollo]

My school pays for the exam and one NBME. I also won a free UWorld subscription in the student doctor test prep week. I purchased a 6 month USMLERx subscription earlier in the year. I will probably buy another NBME's and a 1 month extension to UWorld at some point.

Your school, sir, is officially one of the best medical schools in the country.

 

[RadOncRocks]

Your school, sir, is officially one of the best medical schools in the country.

They don't really pay for it. Its probably a line item in the bulk they pay for tuition and FEES.

 

[Rollo]

They don't really pay for it. Its probably a line item in the bulk they pay for tuition and FEES.

I'd be interested to see how much their tuition is.

 

[RadOncRocks]

I'd be interested to see how much their tuition is.

My school pays for a bunch of stuff for us (malpractice insurance, student health clinic, etc). However, when you look at the break down we technically pay for it all in fees. Now, at least the way this person's school does it they are getting loans to cover it instead of it having to come out of their own pocket.

 

[Mace1370]

I'd be interested to see how much their tuition is.

Tuition is $0. We do have to sell our soul for 7 years, though. Nothing in life is free.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Seriously... how is it possible? 10K is kinda ridiculous no?

You obviously have not read the sanjay gupta review course thread.

 

[WellWornLad]

Not counting exam registrations and tuition, I don't think I've spent $500 during medical school on all study materials combined.

 

[MossPoh]

Tuition is "$0." We do have to sell our soul for 7 years, though. Nothing in life is free.

Fixed it for you. 😉

My school pays for one NBME and we kind of have a second NBME through an organized comprehensive exam with questions from the NBME database. I'm sure it is in the "fees" category, but we are in the top 15 cheapest schools in the country, which makes it not so bad. They also give us laptops, a pda (which I hate) and a bunch of other random crap. I'd say the most valuable thing is the free printing.

We're supposed to turn the laptops back in after 4 years or we can buy them at a "discounted" price, which is the most genius thing ever. They effectively sell you a 4 year old laptop that you indirectly paid for with your own money...brilliant.

 

[Mace1370]

Fixed it for you. 😉

My school pays for one NBME and we kind of have a second NBME through an organized comprehensive exam with questions from the NBME database. I'm sure it is in the "fees" category, but we are in the top 15 cheapest schools in the country, which makes it not so bad. They also give us laptops, a pda (which I hate) and a bunch of other random crap. I'd say the most valuable thing is the free printing.

We're supposed to turn the laptops back in after 4 years or we can buy them at a "discounted" price, which is the most genius thing ever. They effectively sell you a 4 year old laptop that you indirectly paid for with your own money...brilliant.

How is putting quotes around what I said fixing anything? Tuition is literally $0.

 

[mednsports]

I would say around $500. Usmleworld, first aid, NMBE. I'll let you guys know how that worked out.

 

[RadOncRocks]

How is putting quotes around what I said fixing anything? Tuition is literally $0.

I'm guessing its because your salary, depending on the specialty, will be less for those 7 years. So really its not $0, as much as whatever your lost income will be for that time. Semantics. Pay now or pay later, the system always gets us, haha

 

[Mace1370]

I'm guessing its because your salary, depending on the specialty, will be less for those 7 years. So really its not $0, as much as whatever your lost income will be for that time. Semantics. Pay now or pay later, the system always gets us, haha

I understand that. That's why I followed it up with "nothing in life is free." The tuition cost in dollars is not affected. Putting it in quotes would have made sense if I hadn't added on what I said after it, which is why I was confused.