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[Snuke]

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Let me preface this by saying that yes, I understand that I am technically pre-allo. I will not change my status until I actually enter medical school in July, but I have a legitimate question that I would like answered before July, and it can only be answered by allo students. I apologize in advance if your sensibilities are offended, but you're going to have to get over it. You were pre-allo once.

Anyway.

It has come to my attention from multiple sources that my school does not teach as much biochemistry and microbiology as appears on the boards. I'm being nice - it's been insinuated that my school doesn't teach them much at all, only as much as necessary for understanding other subjects, not to the level of nit-pickyness that the board requires. Having a weakness of this magnitude is not acceptable for me.

If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

I have/can get review books for biochem and micro, but I've heard that they are not sufficient to teach content. Should I get a textbook and read that alongside the review books to hammer in the content once it has been (semi)introduced?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

I really like the biochem cards from lange. I also came from a school that did a reallllly ****ty job teaching the clinical aspect of biochem. Clinical Microbiology made ridiculously simple is a good starting text book for someone learning medical microbio (just skip the charts in the first few chapters till you finish reading the book).

 

[Snuke]

I really like the biochem cards from lange. I also came from a school that did a reallllly ****ty job teaching the clinical aspect of biochem. Clinical Microbiology made ridiculously simple is a good starting text book for someone learning medical microbio (just skip the charts in the first few chapters till you finish reading the book).

I've heard good things about Lange Biochem cards, and I have CMMRS. I was planning on reading it alongside with class - I haven't bothered to look at it because it's summer and I have no background in the subject. I've seen enough scorn about pre-studying to fall into that trap.

Is CMMRS enough to understand the subject? I'm not sure how much my school will or will not teach. I don't mean to put the cart before the horse, but nor do I wish to be unprepared. I don't mind spending a few bucks to make sure that I get everything I need.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

I used to be in your shoes. I know how it feels wanting to "pre" study so that you might get a possible easier time transitioning towards the med school classes. It is really a waste of time. If you must do something, I suggest brushing up on physio. That is something that is more conceptual and harder to forget but could be challenging to some medical students. Costanzo's physio book (not the BRS book) is good for students who did not begin medical school yet.

I thought CMMRS and FA + my classes was enough for me but some people use the MIcro LAnge cards

 

[Snuke]

I used to be in your shoes. I know how it feels wanting to "pre" study so that you might get a possible easier time transitioning towards the med school classes. It is really a waste of time. If you must do something, I suggest brushing up on physio. That is something that is more conceptual and harder to forget but could be challenging to some medical students. Costanzo's physio book (not the BRS book) is good for students who did not begin medical school yet.

I thought CMMRS and FA + my classes was enough for me but some people use the MIcro LAnge cards

Oh no, I don't plan on pre-studying. I'm just concerned about utilizing my time in the most efficient manner and making up for any inherent weaknesses in my curriculum.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I've heard good things about Lange Biochem cards, and I have CMMRS. I was planning on reading it alongside with class - I haven't bothered to look at it because it's summer and I have no background in the subject. I've seen enough scorn about pre-studying to fall into that trap.

Is CMMRS enough to understand the subject? I'm not sure how much my school will or will not teach. I don't mean to put the cart before the horse, but nor do I wish to be unprepared. I don't mind spending a few bucks to make sure that I get everything I need.

Yeah CMMRS hits on pretty much everything important. The tables are really nice for reviewing the important path/symptoms/diagnostics/treatment too. Pair that with Microcards to review during micro (it'll probably be overkill for the class for you but it'll help later) and you should be set.

 

[Snuke]

Yeah CMMRS hits on pretty much everything important. The tables are really nice for reviewing the important path/symptoms/diagnostics/treatment too. Pair that with Microcards to review during micro (it'll probably be overkill for the class for you but it'll help later) and you should be set.

Excellent, that's very good to know. So micro won't be a problem. I don't mind overstudying for class to make board review easier.

What about biochem? Do I need anything other than lippincott and Lange cards?

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

imo lange cards are enough for step 1. That textbook may be good for classes, but its too detailed for the boards

 

[Rendar5]

Its enough. Biochem is not on the board much at all. The. BRS book is also slim and sufficient.

 

[IlDestriero]

Consider yourself lucky. My school taught all the minutia and loved to test the most clinically irrelevant material. The boards were a joke compared to the detailed trivia we memorized for biochem, etc.

Cheers!

 

[Snuke]

Consider yourself lucky. My school taught all the minutia and loved to test the most clinically irrelevant material. The boards were a joke compared to the detailed trivia we memorized for biochem, etc.

Cheers!

In all honesty, I'd rather it be a joke. Still, I completely understand what you mean. I'm not complaining, simply being proactive.

Thanks for the input, all. It sounds like I will be fine with diligence and very good review books.

 

[Go Ducks]

My school did a very good job of teaching biochem at the start of year 1. I am now studying for the boards and remember noooothing. None of it at all. If I were you, I would focus on learning whatever the teacher teaches which will be on the test. Then Christmas or spring break of second year, study biochem specifically for the boards. It will be a much better use of your time.

In college, there is less material and it is much easier to remember details from two years ago that haven't been repeated since. Med school is a different story altogether.

You can learn all the biochem that you'll need for the boards in two or three full days of studying. It is not something to stress out about, or even think about during the next year and a half.

Microbiology is a different story. You need to start studying that early because there's way more to learn for the boards than with biochem. You should get a copy of Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple along with a copy of First Aid and go over those two together. Thus far, I'm finding that everything I've needed for the practices NMBE step tests have been in those two texts, but I haven't taken the real test yet. I didn't have microbio until second year, but I'm not sure how it works at different schools.

STEP is really heavy on micro. If you take micro first year, be sure to review it frequently during second year.