Just bought MedEssentials, Better than FA??

[HTxFrog]

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Ok so I decided to buy the Kaplan medessentials book today, and it seems like basically their attempt to compete with First Aid. At first look, I like certain aspects of it better than FA. For example it has more charts and it seems better for someone who is visually inclined. I also like the way that it incorporates treatment with disease i.e. instead of having a pharm section at the back of the cardiovascular system section, it might present HTN pharm and HTN path on the same page, or better example is presenting diseases associated with Glycolysis or something on the same page in the biochem. chapter
The problem is, does anyone dare to go out on a limb and use this book instead of FA? First Aid has such a good track record that I would be hesitant to try something I'm not sure about, but at a glance it looks like it could be just as good or even better for some people.
Has anyone used this book as a primary FA type of source or do you guys have any input on it? Like I said I haven't used it yet aside from reading the behavioral science section.

 

[kryptik]

Ok so I decided to buy the Kaplan medessentials book today, and it seems like basically their attempt to compete with First Aid. At first look, I like certain aspects of it better than FA. For example it has more charts and it seems better for someone who is visually inclined. I also like the way that it incorporates treatment with disease i.e. instead of having a pharm section at the back of the cardiovascular system section, it might present HTN pharm and HTN path on the same page, or better example is presenting diseases associated with Glycolysis or something on the same page in the biochem. chapter
The problem is, does anyone dare to go out on a limb and use this book instead of FA? First Aid has such a good track record that I would be hesitant to try something I'm not sure about, but at a glance it looks like it could be just as good or even better for some people.
Has anyone used this book as a primary FA type of source or do you guys have any input on it? Like I said I haven't used it yet aside from reading the behavioral science section.

ME is kaplans FA competitor, i have both books, like you said its full of charts so if you learn best with charts its perfect, it has no mnemonics and memory aids like FA does. Its definitely more complete than FA though. If it suits your style use it, its good. Also qbank has page references to ME and FA.

Follow this thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=628410&highlight=medessential

 

[username456789]

In retrospect (after using the QBank) I kind of wish I had bought MedEssentials a while ago. It seems like it might be overkill at this point ~2 months out when I'm still trying to "memorize" First Aid, but it seems like a real solid book.

 

[Cooolguy]

medessentials is not essential; first aid is essential--theres a lot of unnecessary stuff in kaplan's medessentials. I bought both but only used the first aid

 

[Rabbit Hole]

Kaplan MedEssentials summarizes the important tables and concepts from the lecture notes - I think it would be best utilized if you're going the kaplan route and doing the videos.

It can't replace First Aid though.

 

[IMGUSMLEStep1]

Kaplan MedEssentials summarizes the important tables and concepts from the lecture notes - I think it would be best utilized if you're going the kaplan route and doing the videos.

It can't replace First Aid though.

I agree, Kaplan Medessentials goes well with Kaplan lecture notes. I have Medessentials and First Aid. I honestly like the charts in medessentials and I feel it is more "complete" than first aid. However, a lot of the time, medessentials is low yield and requires so much more time than first aid. I have both but decided to go with First Aid because it's updated every year, is much more high yield, and has a lot more positive feedback. If you do use medessentials, you'll be fine, it's still a great book.

 

[DRJJ1]

i agree, kaplan medessentials goes well with kaplan lecture notes. I have medessentials and first aid. I honestly like the charts in medessentials and i feel it is more "complete" than first aid. However, a lot of the time, medessentials is low yield and requires so much more time than first aid. I have both but decided to go with first aid because it's updated every year, is much more high yield, and has a lot more positive feedback. If you do use medessentials, you'll be fine, it's still a great book.

i thought the same thing about medessentials but a lot of low yeild its looks like but all good stuff but,with the time you have or lack of it fa with yrly updates seems the book the gamble on but doing both can t hurt either but only after nailing fa well...