Micro--for Step 1 and for classes

[TheJiggler]

I know Microbiology is supposed to be a "low yield" subject for boards....but the material seems to be good to know. How much of the detail of Micro made ridiculously simple is good to know? what's the best way to study for the subject for med school classes that will make it easy to study for boards and to just know for the future?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Law2Doc]

I know Microbiology is supposed to be a "low yield" subject for boards....

Um, it's pretty high yield actually.

 

[lord_jeebus]

the best way to study for the subject for med school classes that will make it easy to study for boards and to just know for the future?

Learning it as well and in as much detail as you can during your micro class, with whatever book you find is readable and useful for you personally. There are no shortcuts.

 

[TheJiggler]

There's no way it's "high yield".....the book everyone learns from is "Microbiology made ridiculously simple" and the BRS review book is combined with Immunology but shorter than the BRS behavioral science.....

My whole point of this thread is that micro is complicated (hence the name of the book above)....and learning it with pathology and pharm in school...you have to allocate ur time well. obviously, path and pharm may be more widely applicable. Ideally it's best to learn everything detailed but ur brain can only hold so much....

just wondering what good strategies are for micro.

 

[Law2Doc]

There's no way it's "high yield".....the book everyone learns from is "Microbiology made ridiculously simple" and the BRS review book is combined with Immunology but shorter than the BRS behavioral science.....

My whole point of this thread is that micro is complicated (hence the name of the book above)....and learning it with pathology and pharm in school...you have to allocate ur time well. obviously, path and pharm may be more widely applicable. Ideally it's best to learn everything detailed but ur brain can only hold so much....

just wondering what good strategies are for micro.

Micro is like pharm in that it can be combined nicely with other topics (eg pharm, path), and so you see a ton of it on the USMLE. That makes it high yield. High yield means you want to study it because it nets you more points than certain other subjects. It has nothing to do with what book you might use to learn it. Low yield is something like embryology where maybe you get one or two questions. And yes, the ridiculously simple book is a popular one for the USMLE.

 

[DreamRavyn]

I dunno - I did NOT use MMRS - I used Rapid Review (I've touted in on some other posts on sdn). It was fantastic AND it includes immuno as well, and it was shorter than MMRS. Others like MMRS b/c of those frickin pictures (I've used MMRS for class - didn't like it - I hate reading paragraphs when I can get away with an outline)

Also, I disagree - I found Micro/Immuno (put together) to be quite a large portion of the test - I would argue that while Phys and Path were probably the most represented, Micro/Immuno comprised of as many questions as Pharm - which I think is the reason why people want a resource like MMRS: easy points. I even contend that remembering bugs is easier than remembering drugs and their sometimes completely idiosyncratic side effects, but maybe that's just me - a topic for another discussion. Subjects that are "low yield" in my book are anatomy and anything in embryology not already in FA.

To remember bugs, I found it very helpful to invest in notecards, and then annotate with whatever you feel important from another resource. And then keep on pounding them little by little every day ... Sitting down with ALL of the bugs on one day -I- found to be overwhelming. My two cents.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Not only is Micro high yield (yes, we've taken the test and we know what we're talking about), it is going to keep popping up on 3rd year shelf exams and Step 2.

 

[BerkeleyMD]

I feel you on the time constraints.. Pharm and Path are no joke, but you can't get around getting at least the basics of each bug down from micro. I have that Mico made easy book and its a lot more concise than my Medical Micro book sitting on my desk.

I think the subject is actually clinically relevant which would make it totally high yield on step 1. I wish there was a way around it. All I tell myself is that these courses this year are still way better than having gross last year.

Good luck and hit those books!

 

[UCLAstudent]

It was high-yield on my exam ... moreso than pharm, for sure.

 

[34140]

so basically Path, Pharm, Phys, and Micro is where the moneys at with the STEP right?

 

[lord_jeebus]

so basically Path, Pharm, Phys, and Micro is where the moneys at with the STEP right?

Personally I thought I had equal amounts of Pharm, Phys, Micro, Behavioral, and Anatomy. I wouldn't risk neglecting anything -- embryo if you must cut corners.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

so basically Path, Pharm, Phys, and Micro is where the moneys at with the STEP right?

I'd put those on my "Top Tier" of things you have to know. Know them cold.

Second tier would be: Behavioural/Psych (including ethics and how to talk with patients type questions), Anatomy, Neuro/Neuroanatomy, Biochemistry. You're going to get questions on them, but not to the degree of Tier 1.

Third Tier: Embryo, Molecular and Cellular Biology (although pure biochem and this may be making a switch in tiers), and Statistics/Epi. Know them, study them once, but a superficial read through is plenty.

 

[Law2Doc]

I'd put those on my "Top Tier" of things you have to know. Know them cold.

Second tier would be: Behavioural/Psych (including ethics and how to talk with patients type questions), Anatomy, Neuro/Neuroanatomy, Biochemistry. You're going to get questions on them, but not to the degree of Tier 1.

Third Tier: Embryo, Molecular and Cellular Biology (although pure biochem and this may be making a switch in tiers), and Statistics/Epi. Know them, study them once, but a superficial read through is plenty.

I personally would move biochem to first tier (especially if we say that it encompasses nutrition and genetics/genetic diseases); it's the most tested first year course I think.

 

[MadameLULU]

I personally would move biochem to first tier (especially if we say that it encompasses nutrition and genetics/genetic diseases); it's the most tested first year course I think.

interesting. i haven't taken the test, but i thought physiology was the most tested first year course on step i, but i guess there are numerous forms of the exam, so anything is possible.

 

[Law2Doc]

interesting. i haven't taken the test, but i thought physiology was the most tested first year course on step i, but i guess there are numerous forms of the exam, so anything is possible.

Pathophys is heavilly tested -- pure phys is only moderately tested. So it kind of depends on how your school breaks it up.

 

[usmletutor]

I would agree with law2doc - pathophys is heavily tested. When focusing on micro - always combine with respective pharm protocols.

 

[flumazenil]

micro and immuno was super high yeild on my exam, I remembered having so many questions involving bugs! it is NOT low yeild

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I personally would move biochem to first tier (especially if we say that it encompasses nutrition and genetics/genetic diseases); it's the most tested first year course I think.

Well, I consider nutrition and most genetic diseases a path/pathophysiology courses, but yes I agree these are very much tested subjects.

I put biochem in second tier because it's important to know the major stuff and the "slam dunk" questions, but it's a huge subject and you could literally study it the entire Step 1 study period and not be fully versed in biochem, so I just want to let people they don't need to know everything.

 

[nontradappl]

micro and immuno was super high yeild on my exam, I remembered having so many questions involving bugs! it is NOT low yeild

agreed. my test had alot of micro/immuno and pharm.

 

[werd]

kaplan's 4-book series has pretty much everything you need to know about micro in 100 pages or so. by that i mean it covered everything i saw on qbank and on step 1.

 

[emlopez2]

Well I know Microbiology and Pharm are highly tested on COMLEX but is it still high yield for USMLE. Right now I just about have the Micro section down cold from First AID, is this still not enough for the USMLE?