If you were moving out of the country and could only take a certain amount of

[Tristy]

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If you were moving out of the country and could only take a certain amount of books with you to prepare for step 1, which ones would you take and which ones would you leave?

I'm going nuts trying to decide which books to take with me, I'm going abroad for about 8 months and I still have to take Step 1, and I don't know what to bring with me in terms of books. The bag cannot weight more than 50lbs, and I'm taking clothes and my stuff in the other bag. Help guys!!!! Here's what I have:

*Complete series of Kaplan Books (7 books, lecture notes) (they weight almost 15lbs)
* RR Path
* RR Biochem
* BRS Path, Biochem, Cell Bio and histology, Anatomy, Physiology, behavioral science
* Physiology cases from Constanzo
*Step up
* Robbins
* Robbins Review
* NMS Review for USMLE Step 1
* First Aid (2006 & 2008)
* First Aid Q&A
* High Yield Neuroanatomy, Gross Anatomy (new and old edition edition-one's not mine), Biostats
* Deja Review Pharm, neuroscience
* USMLE Step 1 recall
* UCV Neurology, Biochem
* How the immune system works
* CMMRS
* Step 1 made ridiculously simple
* Basic Medical Biochemistry by Marks
* Rohen Anatomy atlas, Grant's atlas
* Big Anatomy book (the one with blue boxes, can't remember the name)
* Roadmap series: Neuroscience, genetics, gross anatomy
* Lippincott's Biochemistry
*Pathcards, Pharmcards, Lange Path Cards
* And probably some other books that I can't remember right now...

What do you guys think? I am having a hard time deciding what to leave behind... Just take the Kaplan books, RR Path, Lipp Biochem, and the flash cards? Or some other mix? 🙁 I'm going nuts with this and I haven't even started packing my bags <cry> Help!! And thank you!!

PS: I would make a poll but I don't know how to..

 

[Tristy]

Any suggestions? Anybody? I leave in theory in a week and a half...

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

z

 

[lankysudanese]

how much time are you going to dedicate to step I prep? the whole 8 months? 2 months? 4 wks?

anyway, if you are only going to spend 4-8 wks on step I prep, then I would recommend the following:
*Complete series of Kaplan Books
* Robbins Review
* First Aid 2008

 

[Tristy]

I have been overseas with a ton of books and let me tell you it is a nightmare to take a lot of stuff with you. Your books will fit in a small suitcase perfectly so don't worry about getting a big suitcase. I would also suggest taking a sturdy backpack (one with 2 shoulder straps) and put a few books in there along with anything you need on the plane. So that way you have your 2 carry-on limit with your backpack and your laptop (I'm assuming you're taking that b/c I can't go anywhere without mine!).

It sounds like you will be using Kaplan notes as your main source of studying so here is my suggestion based on that:

*Complete series of Kaplan Books (7 books, lecture notes)
* RR Path
* BRS Path, Physiology
* Robbins Review
* First Aid
* First Aid Q&A
* High Yield Neuroanatomy
* CMMRS
* Lippincott's Biochemistry
*Pathcards, Pharmcards, Lange Path Cards

Remember... all the info you need is already in your Kaplan books! The additional books are to help you understand if you have trouble in a section.

Thanks for the travel tip, and the book suggestion! Sounds like a good plan 🙂 So basically, don't use those other little books right? (roadmap and other hy/brs) I have to start weighing (sp?) books instead of clothes

 

[Tristy]

how much time are you going to dedicate to step I prep? the whole 8 months? 2 months? 4 wks?

anyway, if you are only going to spend 4-8 wks on step I prep, then I would recommend the following:
*Complete series of Kaplan Books
* Robbins Review
* First Aid 2008

I'm not sure yet how long I'm going to spend on my prep, but definitely not 8 months (but longer than 8 weeks just because I'm still having trouble with my back and I can't sit for too long, and I haven't figured out yet how to study in bed 😕), that's just too much! Maybe I'll prep over the course of 3 months and go on a slow pace, I'm not sure yet...I have to factor in my mom, and the distraction she could be 😛 it's gonna be strange to live at home again. And then come back. I think I'm starting to have a panic attack

Do you think the Kaplan books cover everything there is to know for the exam? If I was to supplement the books with the video lectures would I need extra books? I'm really shooting for a high sdn-type score (well, who isn't, right ) so I feel a bit guilty leaving some (or most) of these guys behind. But if the Kap books are pretty complete (even for path?) then I have a serious decision to make 😉 I have waaay too many books.... Thanks for your suggestion!

Should I even bother with that NMS book? I also have a pretty thick book from a prep course that I won but I don't know if I should take it with me...

It's so hard so figure out what you want to have with you for the next 7-8 months and pack accordingly (it's not like oh, I forgot this and I will go get it tomorrow, I'm going faaaaar away), I wish I had the crystal ball 😉

But I'm definitely not studying for 8 months I want to get it out of the way ASAP but do well at the same time 🙂

 

[lankysudanese]

Do you think the Kaplan books cover everything there is to know for the exam? If I was to supplement the books with the video lectures would I need extra books? I'm really shooting for a high sdn-type score (well, who isn't, right ) so I feel a bit guilty leaving some (or most) of these guys behind. But if the Kap books are pretty complete (even for path?) then I have a serious decision to make 😉 I have waaay too many books.... Thanks for your suggestion!

Should I even bother with that NMS book? I also have a pretty thick book from a prep course that I won but I don't know if I should take it with me...

I personally used Kaplan Home Study Series (the 4 book series), so I can not comment on the lecture series or the videos. The Home Study Series were excellent, especially for path and pharmacology. If you mastered the material in these books, then you will be on your way to an SDN-type score. But since you have the lecture series, I think that you should seek advice from other SDN heavy-hitters who have experience with these books (Pinkertinkle comes to mind).

I did not use the NMS book, and have not heard much hype about it on SDN.

Good Luck

 

[Tristy]

Hey Lanky,

Thanks for your input man (or girl?) 🙂 I'll contact Pinker and ask for advice (and/or do a search of his posts to see if I can find any relevant info about the Kaplan stuff; I think I remember he mentioned he started using the books during 2nd year, but I might be wrong 😳; I have a small compilation of experiences in my OneNote-looove that software!!-yours too, I mean, your experience ).

I just don't want to take that many books, it's already a 14 hour flight (thank God it's just one stop)...but at the same time I start thinking "what if x or y was in that book I didn't bring?!!" or "I need exactly that x book that I left behind!!", total craziness I just love my books and feel lost without them😍 (I know, I'm a nerd, lol). During my honey moon in Bahamas I took my books to prep for the MCAT! Needless to say, I didn't get much studying done, lol, I just took the books with me so they could see the world! haha

Yeah, I didn't read many posts about the NMS, just the BSS. So yeah, I might leave that one out (I'm flying on Continental and they charge you for the 2nd bag grrrrr unbelieavable (sp?)! then a third bag is like 100 bucks or so..

Money-wise I want to shoot myself in the head, all that money down the drain with the Kap Qbank and UW (I didn't even get halfway through those, makes me want to cry 🙁 ) And now another 500 bucks for a new app, the int'l fee, the qbanks once again, man, do they think we're made of money, or that we have that golden-egg laying hen? Jeezzzz...

Do you suggest that I get KQbank again? Like for 3 months? I don't know what to do about that one...I know that UW is a MUST, but with Kap, I'm torn because I could do questions every day during my 3 months (give or take) prep..

 

[lankysudanese]

Do you suggest that I get KQbank again? Like for 3 months? I don't know what to do about that one...I know that UW is a MUST, but with Kap, I'm torn because I could do questions every day during my 3 months (give or take) prep..

if you want to be cost-effective about your prep, i would recommend you do ALL available NBMEs and USMLEWorld (and not worrying about Kaplan Qbank).

If you have the money to shell out for another Kaplan Qbank, then you could always buy it again (but then again you will have the problem of having to go through the questions that you've encountered in your first run).

it's a minor decision that you have to make. Good Luck