Looking back...

[DeeJay2728]

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What are some of the things you wished you've done from day one? I start this coming August and I'd like to get a handle on things early. For anyone that is studying for step one now, what would you suggest? I tried looking at some review books/questions, but in order to answer most of the questions you need a lot more info than just first semester material. Are there any books/questions I can use from the beginning?


Nice to meet you all!!

 

[AllUpOnYoMama]

If I could start over, Id probably try to read through my first run faster and not worry so much about details... just familiarize. Then on the second run, Id pay more attention to the nit-pikky stuff. I also would have started WORLD earlier in my studies. Hope this helps.

 

[DeeJay2728]

Thanks for the reply, but I meant the first day of med school. I'd like to know what you would have done different. What books would you have looked at early on? Which books/review questions would you use alongside your lectures?


Am I worrying too much, too soon??

 

[njshibby]

Thanks for the reply, but I meant the first day of med school. I'd like to know what you would have done different. What books would you have looked at early on? Which books/review questions would you use alongside your lectures?


Am I worrying too much, too soon??

Yup on the worrying. Might as well peruse a first aid in the bookstore and pick up the best rated review books on the subjects and familiarize yourself with them. I wish I knew what some of the good ones where rather than just brs down the line on the recommendation of some upperclassmen.

 

[igottaquestion]

Yup on the worrying. Might as well peruse a first aid in the bookstore and pick up the best rated review books on the subjects and familiarize yourself with them. I wish I knew what some of the good ones where rather than just brs down the line on the recommendation of some upperclassmen.

I would actually buy FA at the start of 1st year. I would follow FA along with classes, getting familiar with what's in FA (your classes prolly won't cover it all), and writing in some clarifying notes from classes and review books (FA often doesn't define important terms, and you may otherwise want to add some details that will jog your memory later--just don't get too crazy with this). December of your 2nd year, I'd buy the latest version of FA and spend time during winter break transfering those notes. this way you'll be able to hit the ground running when it comes to getting FA in your memory during dedicated study time. If you're really hardcore your goal for each class could be to learn the material stressed in the class as well as the corresponding material in FA. I've only been doing that toward the end of second year, and I wish I had done it sooner.

Do questions along with classes. Webpath, Robbins Review of Path, maybe an online Qbank.

I would also look into using Supermemo. I never used it, but getting this stuff ingrained in the memory early makes sense to me.

 

[mila2011]

I would also suggest getting review books such as BRS physio and BRS path/RR Goljan to use along with your classes. That way when it comes time to do your major review you are already familiar with them.

I also used Pharm recall with pharm class and CMMRS with micro class, and found them really helpful.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[DarknightX]

I would get first aid, Goljan audio and RR path.

Supplement those with each of your classes, and go over the stuff that they don't cover in your classes, and you'll be good.

 

[AllUpOnYoMama]

Ohh, the first day. I would have used FA and WORLD qbank earlier. I also would have read "when the air hits the brain.... Tales of neurosurgery" by frank Vertosick or "The house of God: the classic novel of life and death in an american hospital" by Samuel Shem a week before med school. Both will change your life.

 

[njshibby]

I would actually buy FA at the start of 1st year. I would follow FA along with classes, getting familiar with what's in FA (your classes prolly won't cover it all), and writing in some clarifying notes from classes and review books (FA often doesn't define important terms, and you may otherwise want to add some details that will jog your memory later--just don't get too crazy with this). December of your 2nd year, I'd buy the latest version of FA and spend time during winter break transfering those notes. this way you'll be able to hit the ground running when it comes to getting FA in your memory during dedicated study time. If you're really hardcore your goal for each class could be to learn the material stressed in the class as well as the corresponding material in FA. I've only been doing that toward the end of second year, and I wish I had done it sooner.

Do questions along with classes. Webpath, Robbins Review of Path, maybe an online Qbank.

I would also look into using Supermemo. I never used it, but getting this stuff ingrained in the memory early makes sense to me.

yeah depends on what system you guys are doing. We did subject our first year systems our second and first aid would have just been a chore last year.

 

[DeeJay2728]

Thanks for the advice. It sounds great!! I will buy the review books instead of all the unnecessary text books on our first semester book list, and buy used copies of whatever text is absolutely necessary when I get to school.

Thanks again!!