if you could go back and study for step 1 again what would you do differently?

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1. Buy internet blocker software 2. Stop worrying about what other classmates were doing and 3. Have more sex
 
if you could go back and study for step 1 again what would you do differently?

Read my thread on step 1. It's no means a gold standard but feel like it's good nonetheless.
I personally would just have started UWorld in January instead of like trying to ANKI first aid or other non productive efforts.


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Read my thread on step 1. It's no means a gold standard but feel like it's good nonetheless.
I personally would just have started UWorld in January instead of like trying to ANKI first aid or other non productive efforts.


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I feel like that's a common theme among many second years. They feel like they should "save" UWorld until dedicated. It's a learning tool, and you should start it earlier rather than later. There are better assessment tools and you can get plenty of timing practice with UWSAs and NBMEs.
 
I feel like that's a common theme among many second years. They feel like they should "save" UWorld until dedicated. It's a learning tool, and you should start it earlier rather than later. There are better assessment tools and you can get plenty of timing practice with UWSAs and NBMEs.

Exactly. There are two schools of thought. I would be more critical of the one I obviously don't agree with but I've seen too many people I respect have success using it, but I still feel this UWorld way is simpler.

For me the reason I didn't do what I now advocate it because I wanted to do things the proper way and that's normally to read and then assess yourself, kinda like in the the MCAT where you took the classes and then took the tests or even in med school where I would cram everything E for a practice test. For UWorld it's really a textbook and it's not like the stuff in UWorld is not in FA. Both the sources are the same, it's just that UWorld explains first aid. You could read a simple phrase in first aid like MUDPILES and gloss over it 100 times without giving it a second glance and then you get a question about a GI bleed and they ask you about anion gap or something. That was the first time I really thought a lot about the consequences of GI bleed to AG acidosis.
Once you do UWorld once you can get a better idea of what's in first aid.

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Actually finish UWorld. I goofed around on the internet and played video games a decent amount; if you set a daily goal and meet it, don't deprive yourself of enjoying life.
 
To those who did UWorld along with class, did you do questions by subject or randomly? I feel like by subject makes more sense cause you are learning that material, but it also makes yours answers biased towards that subject, so it's not truly random.
 
Take it 2-3 weeks earlier. My classes basically ended in April and I ended up having around 3 months of dedicated time. I burnt out and think I forgot more than I actually learned in the last few weeks.
 
To those who did UWorld along with class, did you do questions by subject or randomly? I feel like by subject makes more sense cause you are learning that material, but it also makes yours answers biased towards that subject, so it's not truly random.

Research has shown that in most people, if you mix all the subjects together and do random blocks you will retain the information better. However, since most schools tests a few system at a time, I can see the merits of doing UWorld system by system if you are using it during class. I know I did.
 
Read my thread on step 1. It's no means a gold standard but feel like it's good nonetheless.
I personally would just have started UWorld in January instead of like trying to ANKI first aid or other non productive efforts.


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Do you feel that way about UWorld exclusively? Or just the idea that practice questions are better for learning (which I agree with)? I've been doing Kaplan QBank since October or so. Along with classes and then just chipping away at everything else. My goal is to be close to finished by dedicated time. I'm not necessarily "saving UWorld" but time wise its tough to do both Q banks so I figured I would do Kaplan first. Also then I can do UWorld on random and not get topics I have never seen.

EDIT: Nvm I read though your post on the other forum. I will probably start doing UWorld early in addition to Kaplan and just alternate them.
 
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I'm glad I wasn't drinking my tea just now, because I would have spit it all over my keyboard! SS is one of the few SDNers who can make me bellow out loud laughing.

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I probably would have looked over this site more carefully and realized there is an entire sub forum for questions like this.
 
To those who did UWorld along with class, did you do questions by subject or randomly? I feel like by subject makes more sense cause you are learning that material, but it also makes yours answers biased towards that subject, so it's not truly random.

Subjects if you're doing it with class but keep piling subjects as you learn them. For example for cardio do cardio only, then when pulm starts to cardio and pulm, and then when GI starts do all three. This helps with spatial repetition.


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Get into Harvard med. was told recently their administration could "work you" into any field with any step 1 score today.
 
Harvard medical student who wasn't sure if their sub-220 step score would rule them out of plastics
 
Subjects if you're doing it with class but keep piling subjects as you learn them. For example for cardio do cardio only, then when pulm starts to cardio and pulm, and then when GI starts do all three. This helps with spatial repetition.


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Sounds like great advice, thank you!
 
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