How To Use Review Books

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emlopez2

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So my MSI year is almost done and Im trying to think of the best strategies on how to start studying for boards. I have about 4 review books so far and planning on getting a few more. So what is the best way to use these books? With the ones that I have I've basically been using them as supplements to class, but unfortunately I didnt get them soon enough to add notes from all year. Should I go back and add notes from all my lecture material or is this just a waist of time? Also does anyone have suggestions as whether to skip around in the review books covering one system at a time or is it better to read the whole book and move on to the next? Any suggestions would be great.
 
You best "prep" for USMLE Step I is to master as much of your course work as possible. Put your Step I reveiw books on a shelf (or in a box) where you can find them next year when you are ready to begin your review.

Any time spent on studying a review book is time spent away from your coursework. You cannot REVIEW what you haven't learned in the first place so make learning your priority now.

At the end of second year, you can collect your review stuff and begin your review. Why do I say this? It is because USMLE tests your second year coursework far more heavily than your first-year coursework with the exception of Physiology. Even with Physio, you have to master this course to begin with before you can review it.

It will turn out that Path will review loads of Biochemistry, Micro, Genetics and Immunology as you master that course and Pharm reviews Neuro as you go through that course. Step I is intergrated and thus to spend loads of time attempting to memorize specific subject review books is counter productive to that intergration process. Medical school coursework is generally presented in a manner that you keep building upon a foundation until your finsh second year. If you don't have a solid mastery of each step of your foundation, your review of that knowledge base will be ineffective.

You will have loads of time to review once your coursework is done. There may be new and better review methods/books out there once you finish your coursework next year. There is no significant "jump" that you can gain by isolated study before you have completed second year.

Do well in your coursework and review when the time comes around. You will have plenty of time to get a thorough review done if you have learned the material in the first place. Good luck and enjoy your summer. It is likely the last free summer that you have to do non-medical things.
 
to add to what was just said, i agree master your concepts during classwork first but i strongly advise you to read along in review books with the topic you are doing in school.....it familiarizes you with things AND stresses the important concepts 🙂 gluck!
 
So my MSI year is almost done and Im trying to think of the best strategies on how to start studying for boards. I have about 4 review books so far and planning on getting a few more. So what is the best way to use these books? With the ones that I have I've basically been using them as supplements to class, but unfortunately I didnt get them soon enough to add notes from all year. Should I go back and add notes from all my lecture material or is this just a waist of time? Also does anyone have suggestions as whether to skip around in the review books covering one system at a time or is it better to read the whole book and move on to the next? Any suggestions would be great.

Get a hold of USMLE First Aid and start familiarizing yourself with the exam. Annotate it during 2nd year as you go along and also make sure that you correct all the mistakes in the book (look at the step 1 forum for this or on the first aid usmle website). During the summer, review your BRS Physiology and maybe get a copy of HY Cell and Molecular biology and read it during the summer. Make sure to understand all these concepts in HY Cell and Molecular biology. Also, it would not hurt if you went over the biochem, micro, physio, immuno, embryo, and anatomy sections in First aid during the summer(when your reading through these sections you will encounter some M2 material, just glance through it might not make sense, but there is alot of M1 material in first aid that should be in your head). This should help build a better foundation as you start to learn in 2nd year.

good luck my gunner compatriot
 
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