Most important pre-clinical classes for Step 2 CK

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

boanssi

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
100
Reaction score
2
Hello,

This may seem like a straightforward question but I have to ask: which preclinical classes (M1/M2) will lay the best foundations for my clinical years and, consequently, for step 2 CK? Which are the best textbooks for each class?

I realize that every class in med school will be important in their way, nevertheless I'd like to know which are the most relevant.

Thank you in advance.
 
Last edited:
So of all the M1/M2 classes

Most important- pharm and path
Next: physiology
Next: whatever your evidence based medicine/biostatistics class is
Micro and Psych fall in here too

Anatomy is pretty far down. You need to know a few very basic things (does the neurovascular bundle go above the rib or below the rib? etc). The surgeons might pimp you on some of the other stuff, but it will not be on any shelf exam or step 2.

Least important:
Embryology/Development
Biochem
 
focus on Step 1 before Step 2 man, its a much harder test and, truth be told, you have to know everything for that damn monster
 
Thank you for the input.
I'd appreciate more opinions though, as well as a list of recommended textbooks to build solid knowledge on these classes.
 
Hello,

This may seem like a straightforward question but I have to ask: which preclinical classes (M1/M2) will lay the best foundations for my clinical years and, consequently, for step 2 CK? Which are the best textbooks for each class?

I realize that every class in med school will be important in their way, nevertheless I'd like to know which are the most relevant.

Thank you in advance.

Medical Education blows. You must learn all topics in depth in order to succeed on Step 1. Then, once you're done with that, you're expected to turn around and learn an entirely new different set of skills. You will bridge Step 1 to Step 2 knowledge, but the further you get up the ladder, the more evidenced based medicine matters and less the basic sciences.

That being said, Path and Pharm are the most important, then physio. But by "physio" i don't mean intracellular mechanisms of 2nd messenger cascade, i mean "cardiac output" and "systemic vascular resistance." The physio that relates to path and pharm. Everything else is pretty useless minutia, though can come in handy from time to time.
 
Medical Education blows. You must learn all topics in depth in order to succeed on Step 1. Then, once you're done with that, you're expected to turn around and learn an entirely new different set of skills. You will bridge Step 1 to Step 2 knowledge, but the further you get up the ladder, the more evidenced based medicine matters and less the basic sciences.

That being said, Path and Pharm are the most important, then physio. But by "physio" i don't mean intracellular mechanisms of 2nd messenger cascade, i mean "cardiac output" and "systemic vascular resistance." The physio that relates to path and pharm. Everything else is pretty useless minutia, though can come in handy from time to time.

You forgot microbiology. HUGE on step 1.
 
Medical Education blows. You must learn all topics in depth in order to succeed on Step 1. Then, once you're done with that, you're expected to turn around and learn an entirely new different set of skills. You will bridge Step 1 to Step 2 knowledge, but the further you get up the ladder, the more evidenced based medicine matters and less the basic sciences.

That being said, Path and Pharm are the most important, then physio. But by "physio" i don't mean intracellular mechanisms of 2nd messenger cascade, i mean "cardiac output" and "systemic vascular resistance." The physio that relates to path and pharm. Everything else is pretty useless minutia, though can come in handy from time to time.

That sucks, but I've been following this topic (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=228830) and it seems that the people who already took step 2 CK really stress out the importance of knowing pathophysiology, treatments and biostats inside out. They also say that this exam is a lot more intuitive than step 1.
 
That sucks, but I've been following this topic (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=228830) and it seems that the people who already took step 2 CK really stress out the importance of knowing pathophysiology, treatments and biostats inside out. They also say that this exam is a lot more intuitive than step 1.

Yes, I always thought being a pathophysiology master/monster was the key.. And of course treatment!
 
Top