Need advice on Step I preparation ?!?!

[amayer24]

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For those who have taken Step I would you mind telling, the books that you have used for each subject when preparing for the test. Which books did you find helpful and which would you recommend staying away from?
From what I have heard BRS Path, BRS Physio, Clinical MIcro Made Ridiculously Simple, High Yield Neuro, High Yield Gross Anatomy and obviously First Aid. How good are the Kaplan Review books? Is there particular subjects that are better to read from the Kaplan Books as opposed to lets say BRS....
Also, what would you recommed for Pharm? I was told Lippincott but I am not sure that it is too high yield? Did anyone use High Yield for Pharm and what did you think about it?

Please also advise us about the strategy you have used to study for this test and did it work?


Thank You
Alex 🙂

 

[Brewster]

It was a few years ago, but I will try and remember what I did.

1) First off, I continued to go to class. We were doing path/pathophys which are most definitely on the boards and learning these gave me a perfect opportunity to review normal anatomy/physiology. It also meant that my grades did not suffer as a result of studying for the boards.

2) I attended to bi/triweekly review sessions offered by my school.

3) I took Kaplan intense prep - I think this helped more than anything else. Forced me to study and keep a timetable. Also helped to focus my studying on the key information.

4) Kaplan review books and practice questions were included with the intense prep. These were fantastic. I think the books they sell separate may be different than the ones they give with the class, but I may be wrong.

5) First Aid - know everything in it. This will ensure that you pass although is probably not enough to do well.

6) I also used BRS Path and BRS Physio, both of which I felt were worth the time and money. Definitely look into them.

7) For pharm, I supplemented Kaplan with Lippencott when I felt the need.

It worked.

 

[JP2005]

interesting.......u sound like a nycom student amayer.....

 

[southerndoc]

Originally posted by Brewster
4) Kaplan review books and practice questions were included with the intense prep. These were fantastic. I think the books they sell separate may be different than the ones they give with the class, but I may be wrong.

The books that Kaplan sells separately are different form the lecture notes one receives with the Intense Prep or Medpass courses. Kaplan sells its "Home Study Program" books, which I highly recommend. That is what I used as the foundation for my step I studying. The books are 2 volumes, about 1000 pages each I think. (It's been a while, and a friend is borrowing the books.) It actually doesn't take long to read them since each page has wide margins for notes, lots of diagrams, etc. The home study program books are in paragraph form. Again, I highly recommend the Kaplan home study books.

Secondly, as previously mentioned, I also recommend BRS Path and BRS Phys.

Lastly, Kaplan qBank is an absolute must. This shouldn't even be a consideration. It should be a prerequisite to taking Step I.

FYI, I did rather well on Step I. The above is what I used to study.

 

[amayer24]

I appreciate all your responses.....Thank You
Keep them coming though


JP go study!!!
Stop browsing the internet, tests are soon!!!
And by the way, MSII and 3 years left...what happend you got left behind? 😀

 

[edfig99]

keep going to class, and first aid for the boards. that's it.
i opted not to really study. i flipped through the book, looked at the questions that came with the registration packet. i was happy with what i got, but i wasn't applying to an ultra specialty.

Personally I don't think for most people prep courses are worth the money - putting in some time with a couple of friends in an organized fashion paid off for many of my friends...while i was hanging out in Central Park.

those are the ones i can remember. i mean, i used them during the course of my studies and felt i understood and remembered most concepts well enough that i didn't need to hide in a locked room reading. that's probably the best overall approach. i took the last step 1 that was on paper, which was a 2 day 4 book exam...brutal. it's much "easier" now. i've seen some of the sample questions. i would've much rather done the computer thing.

-BRS physiology was very high yield - i used that during the class

-Clinical Micro made ridiculously simple was okay - though can be an annoying read after a while. the Lewinson and Jawetz microbio published by appleton and lange was useful during the course, but is a little too...big for quick review if that's what you want.

-High Yield Behavioral science is decent, but doesn't cover a lot of epi/biostats. it's also smaller than the BRS Behavioral science which is so-so. there tend to be quite a few behavioral questions, so use these as "gimme points".

-BRS path is a good read, though you need pictures - so keep Robbin's textbook nearby.

-Lippincott pharm sn't the best but it's at least manageable, unlike the other pharm book published by Appleton & Lange

-gross anatomy is an overall low yield subject and there wouldn't be that many questions on it...high yield anatomy is okay...though i think neuroanatomy is in a separate volume

-biochem is also an overall low yield subject. lippincott's pharm is alright too.