M2 Game Plan

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Dharma

Dharma

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Do you guys think that using Rx throughout M2 along with FA is a good idea? My plan is to use Pathoma along with my class readings/lectures on my first pass for that particular exam/topic. Then afterwards, go through the same material with FA and Rx questions.

For M1 I basically read a lot (enjoyed it and seemed to work), annotated in my textbooks (I write tiny), rinsed, washed, repeated, and if there was time go back to noted trouble spots. Consistently scored in the top quarter of my class for almost all classes. I'm wondering if it is realistic to implement the Rx/FA idea as I go along this year without overburdening myself.

Then there are practice questions in BRS, Robbins, etc. My head is spinning a bit trying to create a solid game plan here with all the resources out there. Any advice from you seasoned veterans? I want to keep it simple, yet solid. Thanks all!
 
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Dharma said:
Do you guys think that using Rx throughout M2 along with FA is a good idea? My plan is to use Pathoma along with my class readings/lectures on my first pass for that particular exam/topic. Then afterwards, go through the same material with FA and Rx questions.

For M1 I basically read a lot (enjoyed it and seemed to work), annotated in my textbooks (I write tiny), rinsed, washed, repeated, and if there was time go back to noted trouble spots. Consistently scored in the top quarter of my class for almost all classes. I'm wondering if it is realistic to implement the Rx/FA idea as I go along this year without overburdening myself.

Then there are practice questions in BRS, Robbins, etc. My head is spinning a bit trying to create a solid game plan here with all the resources out there. Any advice from you seasoned veterans? I want to keep it simple, yet solid. Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Study for your class.
Try to read Medium Robbins.
Dont burn USMLERx Questions, you are far away from using it effectively for system study.
Read corresponding Chapters in RR pathology.
For questions: RR Pathology, and Review of Pathology (Robbins) it will keep you occupied from even thinking about RX yet...
Read Goljan Slides or do webpath.
Study for your class....
 
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NeuroLAX said:
Goljan slides?
Click to expand...

One of the most useful supplements to Rapid Review IMO.
Goljan Audio gets a lot of hype, meh, I got 10x more learning from quickly reading his slides.

Goljan Slides PDF (383 pages) is like High-Yield Histo-Path Atlas.
Images on Left, high-yield summaries on the right.

Used em with Pathoma at first and found they worked well together, anything satter said was already made explicitly clear in the goljan slides.

And I stopped using webpath because goljan slides blew it out of the water....
 
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Locrian said:
One of the most useful supplements to Rapid Review IMO.
Goljan Audio gets a lot of hype, meh, I got 10x more learning from quickly reading his slides.

Goljan Slides PDF (383 pages) is like High-Yield Histo-Path Atlas.
Images on Left, high-yield summaries on the right.

Used em with Pathoma at first and found they worked well together, anything satter said was already made explicitly clear in the goljan slides.

And I stopped using webpath because goljan slides blew it out of the water....
Click to expand...

Could you please post a secure link to where I may obtain the 383-pg file? I tried downloading something but it wasn't what you describe. I greatly appreciate it!

I found these, but I want to get my hands on the slides PDF:

http://www.vcomdo.com/classroom2/wp-filez/Goljan - Notes - Audio.pdf

http://www.slideworld.org/viewslide...ppt|-Goljan-pathology-powerpoint|-ppt-2844482

EDIT:

Is this it? http://www.scribd.com/doc/38577305/Goljan-Slides
 
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Locrian said:
Study for your class.
Try to read Medium Robbins.
Dont burn USMLERx Questions, you are far away from using it effectively for system study.
Read corresponding Chapters in RR pathology.
For questions: RR Pathology, and Review of Pathology (Robbins) it will keep you occupied from even thinking about RX yet...
Read Goljan Slides or do webpath.
Study for your class....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips Locrian!
 
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Dharma said:
Do you guys think that using Rx throughout M2 along with FA is a good idea? My plan is to use Pathoma along with my class readings/lectures on my first pass for that particular exam/topic. Then afterwards, go through the same material with FA and Rx questions.

For M1 I basically read a lot (enjoyed it and seemed to work), annotated in my textbooks (I write tiny), rinsed, washed, repeated, and if there was time go back to noted trouble spots. Consistently scored in the top quarter of my class for almost all classes. I'm wondering if it is realistic to implement the Rx/FA idea as I go along this year without overburdening myself.

Then there are practice questions in BRS, Robbins, etc. My head is spinning a bit trying to create a solid game plan here with all the resources out there. Any advice from you seasoned veterans? I want to keep it simple, yet solid. Thanks all!
Click to expand...

If you have the time doing RX is a good idea alongside each system. I am doing Uworld alongside M2. Just pick a strategy and trust yourself. It's advisable to do one Qbank throughout the year. Get through RX or Qbank during the school year. Contrary to SDN, they are quite similar. RX is better for directly memorizing FA. But Qbank is quite useful. I've done 1500 RX questions, 500 Qbank, and 400 Uworld. My 2 cents.
 
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FearlessHyena said:
If you have the time doing RX is a good idea alongside each system. I am doing Uworld alongside M2. Just pick a strategy and trust yourself. It's advisable to do one Qbank throughout the year. Get through RX or Qbank during the school year. Contrary to SDN, they are quite similar. RX is better for directly memorizing FA. But Qbank is quite useful. I've done 1500 RX questions, 500 Qbank, and 400 Uworld. My 2 cents.
Click to expand...

Thanks Hyena. In your opinion, which is best to use for the year (vs months closer to test)? Sounds like Kaplan (in order to save Rx for later).
 
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Dharma said:
Thanks Hyena. In your opinion, which is best to use for the year (vs months closer to test)? Sounds like Kaplan (in order to save Rx for later).
Click to expand...

Yes, if you have the will power, do Kaplan Q bank first. Then when you do RX you will have some context, which will make it a better bank. Then Finish RX/get through UWorld twice during your dedicated period.
 
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I feel like I have forgotten 80-90% of what I've learned so far. I'm starting MS2 soon and trying to figure out what to do to get me in a good position by the end of the year when I begin a focused Step I study. After reading the USMLE Step I thread from beginning to end I decided to do FA with Firecracker and Pathoma through the year, all the while keeping up with my lectures and exams study. I'm beginning to wonder if this is a doable plan. Is it too much? If so, which would be more beneficial for me in the long run - Pathoma or Firecracker? And should I really try to do a question bank during the year when I am so weak in what I should know right now?

Thanks everyone!
 
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Pathoma and Firecracker aren't really interchangeable. Firecracker is a great resource but is comparable to FA in terms of content, however, its a lot of work to keep up with. Pathoma is essential for understanding Path and is a great idea do along with your classes.
 
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bucks900 said:
Pathoma and Firecracker aren't really interchangeable. Firecracker is a great resource but is comparable to FA in terms of content, however, its a lot of work to keep up with. Pathoma is essential for understanding Path and is a great idea do along with your classes.
Click to expand...

So you think by studying the content within and knowing FA well I really don't need to spend the time on FC?
 
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Yes, but FC has the best parts of Goljian, robbins, HY Anatomy. So, to say it's FA is misleading. It's FA on Roids and helps you remember the minute details that most gloss over.
 
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FearlessHyena said:
Yes, but FC has the best parts of Goljian, robbins, HY Anatomy. So, to say it's FA is misleading. It's FA on Roids and helps you remember the minute details that most gloss over.
Click to expand...

How much time would you have to put into it every day to complete it in 6 months?
 
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FearlessHyena said:
Yes, but FC has the best parts of Goljian, robbins, HY Anatomy. So, to say it's FA is misleading. It's FA on Roids and helps you remember the minute details that most gloss over.
Click to expand...

To say it has the best parts of Goljan, robbins, and hy anatomy is misleading...
 
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cynthiam said:
How much time would you have to put into it every day to complete it in 6 months?
Click to expand...

Sign up for a free month. Figure it out. It's different for everyone. Had it for a year and haven't finished it.
 
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Too long, if you try to complete the whole thing in 6 months you will never leave your room. If you want to use it along with your M2 classes that would probably be helpful but like Brain Bucket said try it out and do what works for you.
 
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