maximizing Behavior Science performance ??

[OMGWTFBBQ]

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Hey everyone, I couldn't find a thread directly related to this, so I wanted to pose this question.

(I had a long winded explanation of why I'm asking this typed out, but I realized no one cares, so here's the short version)

Behavioral shelf was very easy for me. I didn't study for it and still crushed it. I struggle with other topics. I realize many other people also crushed that shelf, but no one that did seems interested in making any improvements in that department.

I'm looking for a review or q/a book for Psych/Epi/Ethics that is focused on very difficult, perhaps "low yield" questions and concepts. I've looked through typical Psych review books like Kaplan and found them unhelpful. My Uworld behavioral science performance still leaves plenty of room for improvement.

Any suggestions on concise but not watered down review books?

 

[Leonidis I]

do the 500+ problems in BRS behavioral science including the comprehensive exam if you haven't already (http://www.amazon.com/Behavioral-Science-Board-Review-Series/dp/0781782570).

i'm also a really big fan of deja review behavioral science (http://www.amazon.com/Deja-Review-Behavioral-Science-Second/dp/0071627286). it's a review book in a q&a format that makes it easy to read and be actively involved. i would cover up the answer column as you read it and try to answer them in your head before looking.

edit - if you really want "low yield" stuff you could read fadem's textbook which is basically just an extended version of her BRS book - http://www.amazon.com/Behavioral-Sc...=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361045390&sr=1-5

i definitely wouldn't recommend it though for a subject like behavioral science.

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

thanks Leonidis, I'll try BRS before I go any further. So far, I'm loving the Deja series for last minute cramming when needed.

 

[Phloston]

BRS Behavioral is good.

Then you just need to do practice questions to learn the concrete stuff (e.g. which is a notifiable disease; abortion ethics, etc.)

On the real deal, most of your behavioral prep won't even help you.

I had 6-7 ethics questions that had were based on pure social-IQ and intuition; no amount of prep helped me answer these questions. Behavioral really is just an aptitude thing. I've never been good at it. And although I had prepped a decent amount for it leading up to my exam, I still only did okay on it. Guess it's good I'm going into surg. (rock on)

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

True story about the intuition/social-IQ....Looking back, our Ethics and DPR classes were really, really focused on building a "sense" of what the correct response to a situation should be. The correct answer on exams were the ones that were the most touchy-feel'y, and facilitated the patient talking about their problems even when there seemed to be a pressing medical issue. No way to train that intuition beyond doing practice questions I guess...

 

[sanchito45]

There's a new book out now called 'USMLE Khan's Cases' - it's similar to Conrad Fisher but I found it way more up to date and had a few classmates tell me they had one or two actual questions come straight out of that book. I think they basically took the NBMEs, UWorld QBank, and behavioral questions that people remembered from the actual test and put them all into one book. It's worth checking out...

 

[Goober11]

Just bought Khan's. Saw a sample and liked what I saw. I'll try and post back in the future as to its efficacy. If it doesn't work out I'll be hitting Sanchito up for my $25 back.

 

[dragon529]

It is indeed very new and only got 2 reviews so far. I might consider this after reading through BRS...

 

[sanchito45]

Haha, I'm good for it 🙂

Other than BRS physio I've always heard the BRS series isn't worth reading - let me know your thoughts on BRS behavioral when you finish. I think Kaplan is good for biostats and Khan's is good for ethics so I should be covered...