my usmle final list-thoughts from the big hitters of sdn

[Ramoray]

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ok after reading a bunch this summer and researching and reading many books i have compiled what i will use for step 1, which some i have started with at the end of may but i want to see if i just stick with this list and focus on it for the next year i will be good and wont need any other sources.
BRS behavioural
HY neuro
HY gross
Lipincotts biochem
Costanzo text( i prefer reading text over review and it is short enough i think)
Lange Micro and Immuno
MMRS
Lange Pharm
BRS Path
Robbins big path
path, micro and pharm card
FIRSTAID

I dont plan on using any source other than first aid for embryo.. is that bad? and does this list look solid? also this doesnt incluce review question books and such. ok thanks for the input i know these posts get super annoying!

 

[coop528]

Oh my! If you can do everything in that list, you deserve a BigFrank-type score.

Get started early.

 

[Jalby]

I think that's a great list. I would also add Robbins Review of Path (1100 questions) and mov HY Gross Anatomy to a book you check out from the library. You can read it in 4 hours (trust me, I did) Also, I read High Yield Embryo from the library.

 

[bigfrank]

I agree with all the books, except for a few. If you have time, then more power to you. However, my thoughts...

BRS behavioural -- I would use HY Behavioral instead (shorter, essentially same info.)
HY neuro
HY gross
Lipincotts biochem --- I would use HY or BRS Biochem. instead
Costanzo text( i prefer reading text over review and it is short enough i think)
Lange Micro and Immuno
MMRS
Lange Pharm --- this is a huge time commitment and I didn't like it. If you can *memorize* the Pharm. FA section, you're in great shape, and most would tend to agree.
BRS Path
Robbins big path
path, micro and pharm card
FIRSTAID

 

[trouta]

I think this is a great list, but look carefully at the amount of time that you have. I made the mistake of trying to get through too much. If this happens to you, you wont get through what you really should. That being said I did pretty well on the test.

Specific thoughts on your choices.
BRS behavioural - great book, loved it, it covered everthing I saw and not too much extra
HY neuro - used this also, liked the extra detail, this was my weak subject coming into the test
HY gross - good resource, FA is lacking in this area as is Qbank
Lipincotts biochem - I used HY, Lippincott is a thick book, in reality you only need to know things that pertain to the diseases related to biochem, knowing pathways in and out wont help you w/ too many questions
Costanzo text( i prefer reading text over review and it is short enough i think) - is this BRS Physio?, if so it is great, it really builds on FA, I know I got lots of points from this book
Lange Micro and Immuno - I used this for immuno, and HY for micro. Lange is good for a subject like immuno where you need explanation, but I think is too detailed for a memorization subject like micro
MMRS
Lange Pharm - Dont know anything about this, I used HY pharm and didnt really like it, but it was short
BRS Path - I used this but it is almost 100% redundant to the material in FA, if you are cutting down, lose this
Robbins big path - OK... but way too much detail (this test is about memorization not understanding)
path, micro and pharm card
FIRSTAID - YES YES YES

 

[Ramoray]

thanks alot for all the tips guys, will definetly check out all your ideas! so much material out there it really helps to get solid advice from everyone! thanks again!

 

[Bevo]

Costanzo text( i prefer reading text over review and it is short enough i think) - is this BRS Physio?, if so it is great, it really builds on FA, I know I got lots of points from this book

not BRS. Her Stars Physio book. Follows the BRS exactly, but she explains everything in the stars book.
I loved ths stars book

 

[newbie5]

I agree with everything except for the pharm. I would use FA for pharm and supplement with pharm cards....they are seriously awesome.

 

[sophiejane]

Robbins big path - OK... but way too much detail (this test is about memorization not understanding)

Am I screwed? I am one of those people that needs to understand in order to memorize and recall. I don't need to know vast details, but I need to be able to relate things and know why they are true, at least in a rudimentary way. I loved Robbins. How about Baby Robbins? Is that a useful tool for boards instead?

Also, what are the pharm cards---who publishes them?

Thanks!