Memorizing First Aid

[studyingforever]

---

Members don't see this ad.

What is the best way to memorize FA?? I have just been reading it over and over again with questions and some Kaplan materials, but some things still don't stick. A classmate recommended re-writing everything from FA - but its already in outline form, so I don't see much use out of writing everything out again.

 

[34140]

something that really helps me, is reviewing with a friend.
we go page by page and ask each other questions. obv reading the section first yourself and after is a great way to retain it.

 

[TexasPhysician]

something that really helps me, is reviewing with a friend.
we go page by page and ask each other questions. obv reading the section first yourself and after is a great way to retain it.

Agreed

 

[Knicks]

I get so annoyed whenever the word "memorize" and "First Aid" are used in the same sentence.


Do those people who "memorize First Aid" already have a firm grasp of the material to begin with?! Or are they just delving into First Aid with the hopes of literally just "memorizing" that check-list of a book?!

Because, isn't FA just that: a check-list?

Isn't it always advised from high-scorers to understand FA and not just "memorize" it?

 

[OneFellSwoop]

Yeah, I agree, rote memorization of 1st aid is somewhat ludicrous, no offense to those that do it, and if it works, great. However, I don't think that is the way the majority of med students study for step I, no matter what score they get between 185-270.
As a recent step I survivor, I'd suggest using 1st aid as a GUIDE for what to know on step I, not the be all and end all of step I study. Understanding the info is whats impt for step I and especially for the future.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I get so annoyed whenever the word "memorize" and "First Aid" are used in the same sentence.


Do those people who "memorize First Aid" already have a firm grasp of the material to begin with?! Or are they just delving into First Aid with the hopes of literally just "memorizing" that check-list of a book?!

Because, isn't FA just that: a check-list?

Isn't it always advised from high-scorers to understand FA and not just "memorize" it?

Why can't you do both? By memorizing a book that big, you almost have to understand it also.

 

[lankysudanese]

my roommate relied completely on FA, and instead of attempting to sit down and memorize the book, he did the following:
1. kept re-reading the chapters until he completely understood most of the concepts
2. spent 1-2hrs/night going over 1-2 chapters in detail with a friend (they basically asked each other questions).

he did pretty well (260), but i should probably mention that he got away with just FA mainly b/c he had built a solid knowledge base during the first 2 yrs of med school.

i personally don't recommend relying completely on FA, and if you do, don't try to memorize it but to use it as a review to identify areas of weakness.

 

[Knicks]

Why can't you do both? By memorizing a book that big, you almost have to understand it also.

Well, yeah that's pretty much what I'm talking about; not to JUST literally"memorize" it if you're not gonna understand it.

 

[Monica Lewinsky]

Well, yeah that's pretty much what I'm talking about; not to JUST literally"memorize" it if you're not gonna understand it.

Then what about the minutia? For example, the Brenner ovarian tumor is in there and there's nothing about it to understand other than that it looks like bladder transitional epithelium. I would hope that every medical student would be understand all the concepts outlined in FA before opening up that book.

As many concepts there are for Step 1 to "understand," there is still a load of details that you just have to know.

 

[Knicks]

Then what about the minutia? For example, the Brenner ovarian tumor is in there and there's nothing about it to understand other than that it looks like bladder transitional epithelium. I would hope that every medical student would be understand all the concepts outlined in FA before opening up that book.

As many concepts there are for Step 1 to "understand," there is still a load of details that you just have to know.

I'm talking about the types of students who don't have the understanding part "before opening up that book". 🙂 Especially if they're preaching, "memorize FA".

 

[hj0517]

Surely if you are in 2nd year of medical school (or later for non-US students) you will have gone through some form of basic science curriculum - that is the requirement to be eligible for this test after all!

ipso facto you are not just "memorizing" first aid much like say a math student would if he/she had to "memorize" FA???

People who say "looking back...know every word in FA" probably overlooked parts of the book which happens to everyone (or at least me in every exam) where you think you know it but when its presented in question form you get muddled.

 

[december07]

Let's face it tho, there are a lot of info in FA that you have to just memorize with or without understanding it. Stuff like chromosomal translocations, Interleukin Factors, and even side effect of drugs...

yeah, you can reason and research through and make sense of everything. But, the stuff that I mentioned, it's best if you just memorize it before the test, and forget about it right after. except... side effect of drugs of course.

 

[studyingforever]

I guess I should have mentioned attempting to memorize FA AFTER understanding the concepts. But there are things that you just have to memorize. Obviously you can't just "memorize" the Biochem or Physio sections...but sections like Micro, Embryo, Pharm, etc.. you just have to know it, there is not much to reason out.

 

[Monica Lewinsky]

I guess I should have mentioned attempting to memorize FA AFTER understanding the concepts. But there are things that you just have to memorize. Obviously you can't just "memorize" the Biochem or Physio sections...but sections like Micro, Embryo, Pharm, etc.. you just have to know it, there is not much to reason out.

Even with biochem there's stuff with little conceptual backing like the glycogen and lysosomal storage diseases.

 

[heroarezero]

What is the best way to memorize FA?? I have just been reading it over and over again with questions and some Kaplan materials, but some things still don't stick. A classmate recommended re-writing everything from FA - but its already in outline form, so I don't see much use out of writing everything out again.

Worth to note!👍

 

[Redrox]

Rapid Review of Path, now that's something I can read for fun and enjoyment, in my bubble bath with my bottle of wine. But First Aid. . . blech. No compelling plot, no narrative arc, nor distinctive authorial voice. Unpleasant.

What I'm doing is Flash facts (12,000 cue cards!) and using USMLERX, both were pretty cheap with an AMSA membership. Sure the questions are mostly fact based and first order, but isn't that what I want to get out of First Aid anyways, some of that fact regurg?