Microbiology for Step1

[Atomic1000]

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How do those who got 255+ recommend to approach Micro?

For all I hear is: FA for Micro (and Pharm ) is more than enough.

Do the question banks out there (UWorld - I hear Kaplan is rather useless for Micro) cover 100% of Microbiology?

Thanks.

 

[lord_jeebus]

For 255+, I disagree that FA is "enough" for Micro (but agree that it is for Pharm). I didn't use UW so I can't comment on that.

I don't have specific recommendations, unfortunately. I was lucky enough to take the test a couple of weeks after my cumulative micro final.

 

[DarlynVMD]

Although I haven't taken the exam yet (taking it a couple of weeks) I would highly recommend that you supplement the Micro section with one of the popular review books, this is of course if you require a refresher on micro. I finished micro 2 weeks ago, and read CMMRS 2 weeks before starting my study schedule, here I added some explanation to things that FA didn't really explain well, or added notes that I thought would be important. I did the same for Immuno, I used the immuno section off of Levinson's acouple of weeks before my step 1 prep. So when I reviewed these topics again during my step 1 prep (2 wks ago), I did so a lot faster and was able to hone in on the material a lot better because it all made a lot more sense to me. So with that I followed it with UW q's on those respective topics and scored in the 75-80% range for micro, and 80-81% range for immuno. But if you're not that strong in micro/immuno, I would highly recommend that you lend yourself to a review book such as CMMRS and definitely, definitely get your hands on the Levinson's textbook (Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology) for the immuno section. This book explains immuno so well and doesn't bother with all the extra unnecessary crap. BTW, most of the diagrams, schematics, and tables in the micro and immuno sections of FA are right off of this book.
I wouldn't be able to say if FA is enough for Pharm or not as I haven't taken the exam yet, but the vast majority of recent test-takers say that it is more than enough. However, I will say this, and not that it hasn't been said before... PHARM q's in World are MASSIVELY difficult!! Okay, maybe not massively difficult, but very challenging.

Best of luck

 

[lankysudanese]

Do the question banks out there (UWorld - I hear Kaplan is rather useless for Micro) cover 100% of Microbiology?

I actually disagree with that statement. Some of Kaplan's micro questions are too detailed and over the top, but for the most part the questions are well-written and cover the entire breadth of the subject. I actually had 2 questions from Kaplan show up on my Step 1 (almost verbatim).

So my advice for getting 255+ is using all available resources to make sure that you have no weaknesses, and that you are particularly comfortable answering questions on the major topics (micro, path, biochem, pathophys, neuroanatomy etc).

Good Luck

 

[Atomic1000]

I actually disagree with that statement. Some of Kaplan's micro questions are too detailed and over the top, but for the most part the questions are well-written and cover the entire breadth of the subject. I actually had 2 questions from Kaplan show up on my Step 1 (almost verbatim).

So my advice for getting 255+ is using all available resources to make sure that you have no weaknesses, and that you are particularly comfortable answering questions on the major topics (micro, path, biochem, pathophys, neuroanatomy etc).

Good Luck

Lord_jeebus: thanks.

Lanky, thanks and one more question for you: do you agree with lord_jeebus that FA is enough for Pharm? No doubt he knows what he says, but I am just trying to see whether it is becuase it was something he was especially strong in.

Also I did look at Kaplan books but did not particularly like them, although they are not bad. What do you think of Microbiology by Levinson/Jawetz? Is it an overkill? It does have the summary of the bugs. Is that enough or is Kaplan more detailed?

And what do you think about it Lord-jeebus?

Thanks.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Levinson is an excellent book, but too long and detailed for boards micro. The bugs summary might be too brief. It does feature an excellent set of immunology chapters that are short and worth anyone's time.

 

[lankysudanese]

regarding Pharm: I approached the subject with the mentality that "FA is NOT enough", mainly b/c my roomate (who got Honors in Pharm in MS2) used only FA for pharm (and knew it cold) and still got killed on this subject on his Step 1. It was the only subject in which he didn't get an asterix. So I supplemented FA with Kaplan and doing ExamMaster pharm questions. My exam was NOT pharm heavy, so FA might ave been sufficient for my test. But I wasn't about to take chances.

Regarding Levinson/Jawetz: I have no experience with this book. I recently looked through Levinson's "Review of Microbiology & Immunology 10th edition" and liked it a lot. The last chapters (Brief Summaries of Medically Important Organisms, Clinical Cases, Pearls for the USMLE and USMLE (National Board) Practice Questions) looked pretty good. So I would recommend that you check this book out and see if these chapters fit what you are looking for.

Best of Luck

 

[lord_jeebus]

I forgot there was a huge Levinson, ie. Levinson/Jawetz. Obviously too big for boards. I think even the Review is too long for Micro.

 

[Lamborghini1315]

Yes now i am officially sold on CMMRS, i read may be close to a chapter and found it extremely helpful. Levinson was a drag to read when i skimmed through it last year but i wasn't quite in the board study mode. Alright but now on a second look immuno seems a lot easier to get through along with the USMLE style questions at the end of the book. I second cmmrs for micro, levinson for immuno.

 

[studmed]

hi
are you an undergraduate student? have you taken step 1 yet? I intend to start soon. Im in 3rd year at St. George Medical School ,London
Look forward to hearing from you
Thanks
James

 

[UditNarayan]

Hey guys,

Def agreed with the big hitters above...go in with the mentality that FA is NOT enuf. I used CMMRS for micro and in the last few days before the exam reviewed with FA. For Pharm, try to integrate drugs, side effects from different sources that you study. If you are doing UWorld and you're reviewing a pharm question try to remember and integrate that info jus as you would with FA. On Step 1, you may get asked pharm questions that could come from anywhere, obviously not just FA. When I took the real deal, I remember needing to recall some info from the question banks for certain drugs and I was glad I spent sometime reviewing pharm from sources other than just FA.

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

z

 

[potato51]

Don't know if micro was one of my strengths on the Step 1 that got me the score I got, but I think CMMRS, First Aid and QBank questions were plenty. FA is definitely not enough though. I hated CMMRS for studying for 2nd year micro, but it was terrific for the USMLE.

 

[Atomic1000]

thanks for all your comments.👍