Official 2014 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

Your USMLE Scores Increased, Guaranteed!
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Just gonna go ahead and put that I'm shooting for a 270. That way when I take my first exam and have to realistically drop my expectations, I can drop it down 20 points to 250 and still be fine. :idea:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Bancrofti said:
Just gonna go ahead and put that I'm shooting for a 270. That way when I take my first exam and have to realistically drop my expectations, I can drop it down 20 points to 250 and still be fine. :idea:
Click to expand...

270 is pretty weak... that's not even 0.5SD above the SDN mean.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
looking forward to this thread. I'll be taking mine around April. Best of luck to all
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Bancrofti said:
Just gonna go ahead and put that I'm shooting for a 270. That way when I take my first exam and have to realistically drop my expectations, I can drop it down 20 points to 250 and still be fine. :idea:
Click to expand...

I see that statement has kicked off the thread already :hardy:. I would be happy with a 240 plus; my NBMEs are in the 250s, but im fine with 240..
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My bad surgok; edited.

Plan: Step 1 sometime in August next year.
Goal: 265+
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
WGB said:
You make an excellent point. You should disregard our "advices". Good luck to you too.
Click to expand...

I was referring to upper classmen at my school in general. SDN usually states goal, what they got, etc, which is necessary draw comparisons and such. But yes, if you give out a blank advice without stating what your goal was or without what you have achieved, I'll mostly disregard your advice.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
taking mine in early June. shooting for 250+, but 260 won't hurt. 🙂
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hi,i'll be taking the exam on march or april..my target above 250...good luck to all of us
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I am trying to hammer down the lange pharma cards at the moment. Also Good luck for tomo CaliAtenza!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
BlueArc said:
I am trying to hammer down the lange pharma cards at the moment. Also Good luck for tomo CaliAtenza!
Click to expand...

Pharm's no joke. I used KissPharm to review it and I found it helpful. U have to subscribe of course, but there are people out there with the bootleg version which is actually legit.
Bon Chance!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Based on the above posts, someone should develop a thread asking about what shooting for a 270 vs 265 vs 260 actually means in terms of prep.

Shooting for 260+ = I'm going to kill myself with study.
Or shooting for a 250 = I'm going to kill myself with study, but not really kill myself.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Phloston said:
Based on the above posts, someone should develop a thread asking about what shooting for a 270 vs 265 vs 260 actually means in terms of prep.

Shooting for 260+ = I'm going to kill myself with study.
Or shooting for a 250 = I'm going to kill myself with study, but not really kill myself.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's individual specific, but do you think 260+ requires world of pain in general?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Yea i have heard about KissPharm, but since i am half way done with the lange cards i think i will stick with them, then review them with FA to add the resistance mechanisms, add some of the brenner drugs Phloston posted and do the initial chapters of kaplan pharma.
Phloston i am so glad to see you here!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
Taking mine the first or second day of May. Havent scheduled it yet. So soon
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
001100010010011 said:
What are you all doing to develop a study schedule?
Click to expand...

My school just thrusted the QBank (Combank) they provide onto us and I'm suddenly scrambling to start up a strategy too. My tentative plan:
-Now until March: FC + Combank until March; Combank will be minimal but I'll try and do blocks that coordinate with classes and FC
-In March: UWorld in random blocks + FC, with a Taus method-based strategy
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Personal goal is 255. Everything is made more difficult having a 10 month old son and a wife in med school too. Planning to take the exam in late June.

Currently studying system's relevant Lange pharmcards and completing system specific USMLE-RX, Goljian chapters, and little Costanza chapters before exams.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
kirbymiester said:
My school just thrusted the QBank (Combank) they provide onto us and I'm suddenly scrambling to start up a strategy too. My tentative plan:
-Now until March: FC + Combank until March; Combank will be minimal but I'll try and do blocks that coordinate with classes and FC
-In March: UWorld in random blocks + FC, with a Taus method-based strategy
Click to expand...

That's my plan through February (FC + qbank). Are you also reading FA alongside FC?

I plan on hitting Kaplan and UWorld at some point too.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
honestly everyone, if you are ahead of the Step 1 schedule curve, do some Step 2 studying (not a joke.. but to reach the absolute highest scores, you have to realize there are a number of purely clinical type questions on Step 1 that is not basic science and belongs more in Step 2 in the sense that it is clinical medicine. Fortunately, these qusetions tend to be more of the outpatient family medicine variant)

Example: on my Step 1 years ago, they described a baby's head and you had to know how to differentiate a cephalohematoma from caput succedeaneum. That's not in First Aid Step 1 now is it?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
NewYorkDoctors said:
honestly everyone, if you are ahead of the Step 1 schedule curve, do some Step 2 studying (not a joke.. but to reach the absolute highest scores, you have to realize there are a number of purely clinical type questions on Step 1 that is not basic science and belongs more in Step 2 in the sense that it is clinical medicine. Fortunately, these qusetions tend to be more of the outpatient family medicine variant)

Example: on my Step 1 years ago, they described a baby's head and you had to know how to differentiate a cephalohematoma from caput succedeaneum. That's not in First Aid Step 1 now is it?
Click to expand...

What the . . . ? (Palm to face)
And just when I thought I was semi ready.
Yaaa, I probably would have answered that question incorrectly. . . for sure.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
900829 said:
What the . . . ? (Palm to face)
And just when I thought I was semi ready.
Yaaa, I probably would have answered that question incorrectly. . . for sure.
Click to expand...
rest assured, most of the test is NOT so advanced in level.

You'll come across about 5-6 of these questions and then think (wth?)

These are just questions that separate the 250s260s from the 270s280s

But honestly after finish Step 3 and reflecting backward, the surefire way to getting to know those type of "purely clinical questions" is just to grab a Family Medicine shelf exam book and then peruse through those questions. That shoudl be more than adequate to fulfill that niche of questions on Step 1
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
NewYorkDoctors said:
rest assured, most of the test is NOT so advanced in level.

You'll come across about 5-6 of these questions and then think (wth?)

These are just questions that separate the 250s260s from the 270s280s

But honestly after finish Step 3 and reflecting backward, the surefire way to getting to know those type of "purely clinical questions" is just to grab a Family Medicine shelf exam book and then peruse through those questions. That shoudl be more than adequate to fulfill that niche of questions on Step 1
Click to expand...

Sigh of relief!
Ya cos ain't nobody got time for that!

Thanks for the heads up! I'll be sure to grab a fam med shelf book.
Much appreciated.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
[quote="NewYorkDoctors,
the surefire way to getting to know those type of "purely clinical questions" is just to grab a Family Medicine shelf exam book and then peruse through those questions. That shoudl be more than adequate to fulfill that niche of questions on Step 1[/quote]

Can you please suggest a name?
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
BlueArc said:
[quote="NewYorkDoctors,
the surefire way to getting to know those type of "purely clinical questions" is just to grab a Family Medicine shelf exam book and then peruse through those questions. That shoudl be more than adequate to fulfill that niche of questions on Step 1
Click to expand...

Can you please suggest a name?[/quote]

Just peruse Case Files Family Medicine (you may need to get this for MS3 anyway) or Pretest Family Medicine.
I reiterate, only do this if you're a stud on the main Step 1 material. Do not focus too much on this.

But just like how there are some pure Step 1 basic science questions on Step2/3 (I seriously had to dig deep into my memory banks to recall the neutrophil burst for NADPH oxidase and recalling Vibrio vulnificus was a halophillic organism or how properdin deficiency can cause Neisserial infections.. why would I need to know that as a medicine resident?), there are some purely clinical questions on Step 1.

But seriously don't beat yourself up over this. Study the extra stuff near the end if you have time, but it's seriously diminishing returns...unless you want that 270+
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
How do you guys plan on studying for the steps? What sources are you going to use for ur preparations?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I guess it is time to join the ranks. I plan on taking both within the May-July block period. Goal is to break 240.

Core resources I plan to use (USMLE): FA + USMLE-Rx Qbank (2-3 months) + UWorld (2-3 months) + re-reading Pathoma +/- RR Path (prn). -- I'm wondering if I've allotted enough time to get through these two qbanks? I already bought USMLE-Rx so I figure I should at least devote a fair amount of time to it, esp. for its connection to FA.

I haven't registered for COMLEX yet, but I will most likely take it after the USMLE (I don't want to cram Chapman's point, viscerosomatics, and cranial before I absolutely need to). I might try to squeeze in some COMBANK along the way, but I don't realistically see myself doing much with it until after USMLE. I hope to have about 2-3 weeks between test dates to become familiarized with the different question styles and maybe going over Savarese once or twice.

GL everyone!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
NeuroLAX said:
I guess it is time to join the ranks. I plan on taking both within the May-July block period. Goal is to break 240.

Core resources I plan to use (USMLE): FA + USMLE-Rx Qbank (2-3 months) + UWorld (2-3 months) + re-reading Pathoma +/- RR Path (prn). -- I'm wondering if I've allotted enough time to get through these two qbanks? I already bought USMLE-Rx so I figure I should at least devote a fair amount of time to it, esp. for its connection to FA.

I haven't registered for COMLEX yet, but I will most likely take it after the USMLE (I don't want to cram Chapman's point, viscerosomatics, and cranial before I absolutely need to). I might try to squeeze in some COMBANK along the way, but I don't realistically see myself doing much with it until after USMLE. I hope to have about 2-3 weeks between test dates to become familiarized with the different question styles and maybe going over Savarese once or twice.

GL everyone!
Click to expand...
Awesome plan!
Like someone once said, the more questions u do, the better ur chances of u reaching ur goal. (Actually quite a lot of people said that lol)
All the best!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I'm scheduled to take it in late April. The plan is to bust through several subject review books (Pathoma, CMMRS, How the Immune System Works, BRS Physio, RR Biochem, BRS Neuroanatomy) and keep up with my self-made Anki cards between now and late March. I'm doing daily questions from both USMLE-Rx and Kaplan Qbank until late January when I'll switch over to UWorld. For dedicated study time, I'm sticking to just UWorld, FA, and Pathoma. I guess I'm the lone academic deviant in the group because I'm "just" shooting for a 235 as my target score.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Anyone hear if Goljan audio is outdated for the current Step? I have the most recent edition of RR and was planning on getting through it along with my Pathophys course while also listening to the audio during free time. Should I stick to the text only or is the audio still valuable?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Bancrofti said:
Anyone hear if Goljan audio is outdated for the current Step? I have the most recent edition of RR and was planning on getting through it along with my Pathophys course while also listening to the audio during free time. Should I stick to the text only or is the audio still valuable?
Click to expand...

I've been listening to his audio lectures for concepts and reading his text for content. Overall I think I benefit most from his text, but I definitely appreciate the conceptualized nature of his audio lectures.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
madcowz said:
I'm scheduled to take it in late April. The plan is to bust through several subject review books (Pathoma, CMMRS, How the Immune System Works, BRS Physio, RR Biochem, BRS Neuroanatomy) and keep up with my self-made Anki cards between now and late March. I'm doing daily questions from both USMLE-Rx and Kaplan Qbank until late January when I'll switch over to UWorld. For dedicated study time, I'm sticking to just UWorld, FA, and Pathoma. I guess I'm the lone academic deviant in the group because I'm "just" shooting for a 235 as my target score.
Click to expand...

with that study plan, if you did well in pre-clinical, you'll likely hit 250 (yes, yes, I know, nothing is guaranteed)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Bancrofti said:
Anyone hear if Goljan audio is outdated for the current Step? I have the most recent edition of RR and was planning on getting through it along with my Pathophys course while also listening to the audio during free time. Should I stick to the text only or is the audio still valuable?
Click to expand...

I can't speak to its relevance for the current step, but I'm also using his latest edition of the book and listening to the audio. They seem to go along fairly well, and I haven't noticed any big discrepancies in information.

IMO, it's worth it to listen to the audio, especially during free time like on the bus. He gives a lot of great tidbits, and it helps solidify the concepts.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
270 + my dream score
but anything above 250 would be great
aiming for August 2014
IMG doing IM residency(PGY 1 ) at my homecountry
It's an honour to join you guys 🙂
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
oraiby said:
270 + my dream score
but anything above 250 would be great
aiming for August 2014
IMG doing IM residency(PGY 1 ) at my homecountry
It's an honour to join you guys 🙂
Click to expand...
Welcome! Thanks for joining 🙂
270 would be great. How do u plan on studying?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Transposony
Official 2024 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread
Replies
0
Views
3K
Transposony
Transposony
dlrs123
Recommendations for STEP 1 Prep
Replies
0
Views
137
dlrs123
dlrs123
D
Step 1 and Level 1
Replies
1
Views
3K
DOcSto
D
C
Step 1 tutor available!
Replies
0
Views
2K
chauhanjugalkishor
C
A
USMLE Step 1 resources for sale
Replies
0
Views
3K
accurate_branch20
A
Top Bottom