How to study for Step 2

[Tastebuds]

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Hi guys,

I just took Step 1 a month ago, and got my scores back last week. I am currently in my first rotation and want to know how to study for step 2. I dont want to cram for Step 2 at the end and would like to study along the way (during my rotations). Can anyone recommend books, videos, question banks and techniques for studying while in rotations?

Thanks

 

[superoxide]

Hi guys,

I just took Step 1 a month ago, and got my scores back last week. I am currently in my first rotation and want to know how to study for step 2. I dont want to cram for Step 2 at the end and would like to study along the way (during my rotations). Can anyone recommend books, videos, question banks and techniques for studying while in rotations?

Thanks

I recommend you get BOARDS AND WARDS. It's small enough for you to carry around in your coat pocket while on the wards and it has a lot of great info as well. I watched some of the Kaplan Step 2 videos, but I didn't like them (especially when compared to the Step 1 videos), but that's just me. For questions, you can get the Kaplan Qbook. I've heard the NMS Review book is good as well. I think USMLEWorld has a one year subscription which you could sign up for, but most people keep UW questions for the end (1-2 months before they write Step 2).

 

[turkdlit]

Hi guys,

I just took Step 1 a month ago, and got my scores back last week. I am currently in my first rotation and want to know how to study for step 2. I dont want to cram for Step 2 at the end and would like to study along the way (during my rotations). Can anyone recommend books, videos, question banks and techniques for studying while in rotations?

Thanks

I got a hold of the Kaplan Step 2 lecture notes and am using them throughout all my rotations throughout the year. I also took the Step 2 lectures and converted them all to audio files, so I listen to them while in the car or at the gym, then follow up with the corresponding notes later.

I have 2 friends that used this approach and they scored 247 and 243...great success! I plan on doing UW questions during the 3 months before the exam. Just my .02.

 

[njbmd]

Hi guys,

I just took Step 1 a month ago, and got my scores back last week. I am currently in my first rotation and want to know how to study for step 2. I dont want to cram for Step 2 at the end and would like to study along the way (during my rotations). Can anyone recommend books, videos, question banks and techniques for studying while in rotations?

Thanks

My study for my shelf exams during my third year were my main and best prep for Step II. I rotated through Internal Medicine last thus it was freshest in my mind and experience when I took Step II early in my fourth year (I just wanted to get this out of the way).

For each rotation, I had a main text, for example Nelson's Essentials of Pediatrics for Peds, and a review book for the shelf. I read and studied one rotation at a time. At the end of third year, our school gives a two-week vacation. I scheduled Step II during the third of August and studied full-time during the first two weeks of August. That gave me one week of pure vacation after I had taken the test.

I used Kaplan's Q-Bank for Step II as it was the only computer-based question source available. I signed up for one month during August and gave the last two weeks to a friend. There is USMLEWorld out there now which is quite good.

Good review books for Step II for me were:

• NMS Review for Step II
• MKSAP for medical students (my main study source)

Having Medicine last was very advantageous because my Step II exam was 80% medicine and 20% everything else. Having Step II done early meant that after Match Day, all I had to do was show up and collect my diploma. I had essentially six weeks of solid vacation before graduation. This was priceless.

 

[surprisedgirl]

I got a hold of the Kaplan Step 2 lecture notes and am using them throughout all my rotations throughout the year. I also took the Step 2 lectures and converted them all to audio files, so I listen to them while in the car or at the gym, then follow up with the corresponding notes later.

I have 2 friends that used this approach and they scored 247 and 243...great success! I plan on doing UW questions during the 3 months before the exam. Just my .02.

how did you convert to audio? 🙂

 

[71263]

Does anyone have any opinion on Goljan for Step 2 (assuming it exists)?? Although I only got through 1/3 of his lectures, I can think of at least 6-7 questions I got right by those alone on Step 1. Needless to say, I really like his style.

 

[Jellie8]

how did you convert to audio? 🙂

I'm also interested in this...

 

[turkdlit]

I'm also interested in this...

Hello, all you need is a video to mp3 converter, of which there are plenty available online...most of the free ones are full of spy-ware though. I shelled out $20 for this program because I really liked it, simple to use and excellent audio quality:

dbpoweramp.com --> click on the registration tab, then buy the 2nd product "power pack and mp3 license". This will allow you to extract the audio from as many video files as you want for one year. It will save them as mp3 files and you can choose the bit rate (quality), i.e. 128, 160, 192, kb (I suggest 192).

Let me know if you have any more questions, this method is working great for me so far (I listened to the surgery lectures twice, followed the notes and just honored the rotation with no problem).

 

[46&2]

I found Goljan for Step II of poor audio quality with a lot of material from his Step I lectures.

As njbmd notes, studying hard for shelf exams all year really does help. I found First Aid for the respective rotation to be solid. Then any good question book; Blueprints usually made a good Q&A book, and Kaplan Q Book is another strong resource. Appleton and Lange as well as Pretest are very hit or miss. MKSAP for IM is great. Case Files (awesome for OB-Gyn) is about the only other resource I'd recommend on a regular basis (NMS Casebook for surgery).

I ended my year with relatively easy rotations (FP and Peds) so I started studying for Step II then. USMLEworld is bar none the best resource, and I would back that up with reading either Step II Secrets or First Aid for Step II. Boards and Wards is good but dense so I skipped it. The above system worked well for me, and it worked for my girlfriend who was disappointed with her Step I (and then blew away Step II).

 

[Jellie8]

Hello, all you need is a video to mp3 converter, of which there are plenty available online...most of the free ones are full of spy-ware though. I shelled out $20 for this program because I really liked it, simple to use and excellent audio quality:

dbpoweramp.com --> click on the registration tab, then buy the 2nd product "power pack and mp3 license". This will allow you to extract the audio from as many video files as you want for one year. It will save them as mp3 files and you can choose the bit rate (quality), i.e. 128, 160, 192, kb (I suggest 192).

Let me know if you have any more questions, this method is working great for me so far (I listened to the surgery lectures twice, followed the notes and just honored the rotation with no problem).

hi! i purchased the dpoweramp.com. but which program do i download and how exactly do i extract the files? sorry, i'm a bit illiterate w/ computers!😕

 

[mikedc813]

Get UW!!! Do the questions as you go through 3rd year. It'll prepare you for the shelf exams. Remember the shelf exams are old Step questions. The only other books I used were Crush and Step Up to Medicine.

 

[RockfordWF]

Hi guys,

I just took Step 1 a month ago, and got my scores back last week. I am currently in my first rotation and want to know how to study for step 2. I dont want to cram for Step 2 at the end and would like to study along the way (during my rotations). Can anyone recommend books, videos, question banks and techniques for studying while in rotations?

Thanks

USMLE Step II Secrets

First Aid for USMLE Step II

 

[Courtknee]

I have a question on how people used USMLE World. I just started studying yesterday and take the test in a month. Most people at my school studied 3-4 weeks with secrets, crush, or FA and tried to finish USMLE World. Most people have their scores back and did much better than Step 1. 🙂 I am currently using USMLE World in tudor mode. This is taking me a long time, and I will never be able to get through all the questions at this pace. What question modes did you use? Did you start off in tudor mode and then progress to untimed and then progress to timed? Did you go back and look at all the questions you got wrong. I am definitely needing some guidance on this. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Spazz]

My study for my shelf exams during my third year were my main and best prep for Step II. I rotated through Internal Medicine last thus it was freshest in my mind and experience when I took Step II early in my fourth year (I just wanted to get this out of the way).

For each rotation, I had a main text, for example Nelson's Essentials of Pediatrics for Peds, and a review book for the shelf. I read and studied one rotation at a time. At the end of third year, our school gives a two-week vacation. I scheduled Step II during the third of August and studied full-time during the first two weeks of August. That gave me one week of pure vacation after I had taken the test.

I used Kaplan's Q-Bank for Step II as it was the only computer-based question source available. I signed up for one month during August and gave the last two weeks to a friend. There is USMLEWorld out there now which is quite good.

Good review books for Step II for me were:

• NMS Review for Step II
• MKSAP for medical students (my main study source)

Having Medicine last was very advantageous because my Step II exam was 80% medicine and 20% everything else. Having Step II done early meant that after Match Day, all I had to do was show up and collect my diploma. I had essentially six weeks of solid vacation before graduation. This was priceless.

I didn't do well on my shelf exams and bombed a few. I have a solid 6 weeks to prep for CK. I'm guessing I should use more than just the Secrets + UW combo to land a solid score. any ideas? I'm considering using the Kaplan review books, if anyone has an opinion? thanks.

 

[USMELL]

I didn't do well on my shelf exams and bombed a few. I have a solid 6 weeks to prep for CK. I'm guessing I should use more than just the Secrets + UW combo to land a solid score. any ideas? I'm considering using the Kaplan review books, if anyone has an opinion? thanks.

bump

 

[nevercold]

25% of UW + Knowing First Aid cover to cover + glance at Crush = 239... 'twas good enough for me.

In hindsight, adding Secrets or Boards&Wards probably would have gotten me to 250.

First Aid > Crush. Basically same coverage, different style, more detail overall in First Aid. Crush had only a couple of details not in First Aid.

First Aid was a bit stronger for Step 1. More of UW seems to have helped people, but I got tired of sitting through question blocks and knew I would do "well enough" so I just stuck with having memorized First Aid.

 

[Belle826]

I agree with many of the other posters that studying during 3rd year during your rotations helps. I really just tried to stay up to date on what was happening with my patients. I did use Boards and Wards, but it was more of a quick reference tool. That being said, I don't feel that is solely what prepared me for Step II.

I used USMLE World to help prepare me for my shelf exams (granted, my school required us to take all of our shelves at the end of the year, one after another. They thought this would help us get ready for Step II). I, however, did not take Step II for another 3 months. I set aside 2 weeks to study for Step II and during that time I did a systems based approach in which I used both First Aid and USMLE World. After I read, say, the Cardiology section in FA, I did Cardiology questions on World. I would say I only finished about 50% of questions on USMLE World, but they were invaluable! I also really took the time to take care of myself (went running, ate well, etc.) I felt very prepared for Step II and was pleased with my score (247/99).

Best advice I can give is to understand the way you learn and study in whichever method best suits you. There definitely is not just one right way. Also, really do try and take care of yourself! It's amazing how much exercise, eating right and getting sleep can help. Best of luck!🙂

 

[Steel_City]

It depends if you're taking USMLE or COMLEX. I took both exams....did well on both exams and prepared very differently for both exams.

USMLE: I recommend studying using a system-based approach. The Blueprints series is nice for this and can be encompassing if you go through each book in the series. Try this over a 2 month period then use the major review books such as Crush Step II or Boards and Wards just as a final run through. I think USMLEworld was better than Kaplan for USMLE, not COMLEX though.

COMLEX: Same initial system-based approach, however it is imperative that you know OMM through and through. Savarese (green book) is all you need. Then use Crush step II or Boards and Wards as a final run through (pick on you don't need both). For a question bank, USMLEworld is not good for this test. I would definately recommend COMBANK level II instead. COMBANK is new but really good...I used it for Step 3. It is written for COMLEX, not USMLE and will show you how and what the NBOME asks on COMLEX.

Hope this helps

 

[bwin]

i read crush step 2 3 times, boards and wards 2 times and did the kaplan qbook questions and did very well (257)

 

[FPLover]

Hi guys,

I just took Step 1 a month ago, and got my scores back last week. I am currently in my first rotation and want to know how to study for step 2. I dont want to cram for Step 2 at the end and would like to study along the way (during my rotations). Can anyone recommend books, videos, question banks and techniques for studying while in rotations?

Thanks

Try to score as well as possible on your clinical shelf exams. Looking back, the Case Files series were the most beneficial for me in Internal Medicine, Surgery, and OB/Gyn. For Psych: all you'll need is High Yield psych and a quick neuro review book. For Family medicine, I recommend the NMS question book.

As far as when you're ready to take the exam, you should schedule it as early as possible and give yourself as much time as you need to study. If you have consistently performed at 60% or higher on your clinical shelf exams, then you should need only about 2 weeks to prepare.

For those who have had borderline performances or had to retake shelf exams, I recommend 1-1.5 months to prepare. This is an exam you don't want to have to take twice. I recommend using Case Files for OB & Internal Medicine in addition to taking the Blanc Education Solution exams and a couple of the exams offered by NBME to see where you're at.

Everyone should buy the USMLE world Question bank which is superior to Kaplan for Step 2. Good luck

 

[ZAZA67401]

Anybody know anything more about Goljan for Step 2? I miss that guy studying for step 2.

 

[alEXatosu]

there's a goljan for step 2?!

Is anybody using anything subject specific to study for Step II?? For ex. pharmacology?

 

[badgerred]

There is only one comprehensive source out there and it's the Kaplan books. I've read all the other review books and they ALL miss vital information. If anyone tells you one book has it all or is enough to study from they are lying. Either they already had a great base of knowledge so those gaps found in the review books they read didn't impact them that much. What is more likely is they used one source but did the USMLEWORLD Q bank several times and as anyone can tell you UW is a comprehensive source itself with over 2300 questions and long explanation. It's like reading a 1000 page text book.

My advice is to buy the Kaplan books and read each one on whatever rotation you are on. I personally liked them better than the Blueprint series. THen do the corresponding UW question set. So by the time you are done with 3rd year, you would have gone through the entire Kaplan set and UW once. So then when you spend 4 weeks preparing or whatever, it will be a review for you and you can do really well.

If you studying for COMLEX, I would not use UW for that and instead focus on COMQUEST and COMBANK

 

[Saladin MD]

There is only one comprehensive source out there and it's the Kaplan books. I've read all the other review books and they ALL miss vital information. If anyone tells you one book has it all or is enough to study from they are lying. Either they already had a great base of knowledge so those gaps found in the review books they read didn't impact them that much. What is more likely is they used one source but did the USMLEWORLD Q bank several times and as anyone can tell you UW is a comprehensive source itself with over 2300 questions and long explanation. It's like reading a 1000 page text book.

My advice is to buy the Kaplan books and read each one on whatever rotation you are on. I personally liked them better than the Blueprint series. THen do the corresponding UW question set. So by the time you are done with 3rd year, you would have gone through the entire Kaplan set and UW once. So then when you spend 4 weeks preparing or whatever, it will be a review for you and you can do really well.

If you studying for COMLEX, I would not use UW for that and instead focus on COMQUEST and COMBANK

I like how you call out people as liars, because I agree with you that a lot of people lie and say they didn't study at all but in reality studied a helluva lot and tons of materials.

But I don't agree with you on Kaplan...maybe cuz I hate Kaplan in general. I liked Secrets plus FA plus Uworld. But we'll see how it turns out in a couple days, God Willing.

 

[badgerred]

I like how you call out people as liars, because I agree with you that a lot of people lie and say they didn't study at all but in reality studied a helluva lot and tons of materials.

But I don't agree with you on Kaplan...maybe cuz I hate Kaplan in general. I liked Secrets plus FA plus Uworld. But we'll see how it turns out in a couple days, God Willing.

Many lie about how much they study. I don't really care. I don't think they are lying to mislead people or be deceptive; I think they do it out of some personal insecurity of being perceived as a nerd or perhaps they want to convey they are really intelligent in that they could achieve a high score without studying a lot. To me a person who studies a lot is an honorable and responsible person who sacraficed their personal time to do as well as they can so I see no shame in working hard. I don't see them as a nerd. It's always been the medical school/physician mentality unfortunately. I do think some individuals are gifted and have photographic memories but very few people have these abilities, most students just work hard

Anyway, I hate Kaplan too but it's still the best source. It's irritating to read because it's lengthy. If it was easy to read through, everyone would do it. USMLE Secrets is popular because it's short (~250 pages) and is written well and reads easily. It highlights the main points but it's not comprehensive. However, it is probably the most comprehensive single review book available.

 

[rahulb]

anyone get a 99 using First aid step II CK and usmleworld?

 

[Cerberus]

anyone get a 99 using First aid step II CK and usmleworld?

Try reading http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=228830. Lots of people got 99s (which is a fairly meaningless number) using any combination of things. The one thing that seems to matter most is using USMLE World for your studying.

 

[slowlybutshelly]

I wasnt able to open that link. anyone having problems also?

 

[radiodoc99]

Review course: Kaplan, Falcon
QBank: USMLERx, Kaplan, UWorld.
Books: Boards and Wards, Kaplan, pocket medicine, recall series, secrets series, rapid, step up, harrison's, current diagnosis, high yield obgyn, crush.

What is your learning style?

 

[slowlybutshelly]

hmm. I have video and audio cd's I am studying from. I am afraid my cd's are getting old. I already have an audio CD that has an impaired dvr file I needed to run the lectures.

So I am thinking maybe I should buy this program and extract audio files from my cd's and store them as mp3's on my computer. To keep for reference later.

Does this program allow you to do just that; or does it allow you to take audio from video on the computer ( not cd?)

just curious...

 

[Carotenoid]

Just got my step 2 CK score - very happy, well above average (yay me!). I looked at this thread before I started studying - and I am glad I pretty much ignored most of advice above...
I ONLY used USMLE World q bank. I have gone through 80% of questions, reading through all of the answers (incl. incorrect options). I always included all questions from all subdivisions into my practice tests (as opposed to studying cardio one day and pulm another day). I occasionally composed my practice tests of "all incorrect" questions to solidify what I was learning. If in the process of answering a question I realized that i was particularly ignorant about that topic (various stroke syndromes is my particular personal weakness) I'd go back to some basic book (doesn't really matter which one, as long as explanations are brief) for a review.
Do it day in and day out and you are fine. Also, for when I exercise at the gym I downloaded great podcasts (some of them video) from Univeristy of Iowa - they are available for FREE on iTunes. Don't waste your money on anything else (UWorld is expensive enough, but it works for sure!)

 

[Savannah]

If you are looking for the quick and painless study method, I recommend just doing UW once. I received in the 260s with this method. For reference, I got in the 250s on step 1, and my shelf grades ranged from 70s to 90s on shelfs.

 

[Pineappleyum]

How did you find those podcasts? please share! thanks 🙂

Just got my step 2 CK score - very happy, well above average (yay me!). I looked at this thread before I started studying - and I am glad I pretty much ignored most of advice above...
I ONLY used USMLE World q bank. I have gone through 80% of questions, reading through all of the answers (incl. incorrect options). I always included all questions from all subdivisions into my practice tests (as opposed to studying cardio one day and pulm another day). I occasionally composed my practice tests of "all incorrect" questions to solidify what I was learning. If in the process of answering a question I realized that i was particularly ignorant about that topic (various stroke syndromes is my particular personal weakness) I'd go back to some basic book (doesn't really matter which one, as long as explanations are brief) for a review.
Do it day in and day out and you are fine. Also, for when I exercise at the gym I downloaded great podcasts (some of them video) from Univeristy of Iowa - they are available for FREE on iTunes. Don't waste your money on anything else (UWorld is expensive enough, but it works for sure!)

 

[Transposony]

If you are looking for the quick and painless study method, I recommend just doing UW once. I received in the 260s with this method. For reference, I got in the 250s on step 1, and my shelf grades ranged from 70s to 90s on shelfs.

How did you prepare for Step 1 ..........if you don't mind me asking.

 

[luckytoby]

I just purchased my first aid 8th edition ck.... but i am very confused with good and the very bad reviews at amazon and else where please, please advise me if i should use it for my step prep. thanks