Official 2015 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

[KushWeedNuggetsStankyLeg]

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M2 here. Starting today, I am just going to be reviewing for Step 1 which I am taking next May, and nothing else. Here is my plan:

Oct 23-Dec 31: Memorize FA2014, Watch all of Pathoma
Jan 1-Jan 31: FA2015, Pathoma (pass 2), Kaplan QBank
Feb 1-Feb 28: FA2015 (pass 2), Pathoma (pass 3), USMLERX
March 1- March 31: FA2015 (pass 3), Pathoma (pass 4): UWorld
April 1- Mid May: FA2015 (pass 4), Pathoma (selective topics), UWorld (pass 2), all practice tests

Goal: High number

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

yea I think I've decided that I'm just gonna stick to FA micro and microcards if I need them. I just won't have enough time for pharm if I try to get through the book. but I think i'll start using the book for any micro we have next semester

and never used the DIT vids myself, but have only heard good things about them

I would skip the CMMRS book altogether, honestly, and work on qbanks instead. The more questions you do the more you'll realize that micro is one of those subjects where a little memorization goes a long way.

 

[seminoma]

Overall I think books like CMMRS are not worth the time for Step 1 prep, but I do think that Goljan's RR Biochem is pretty darn good so far. Maybe that's because my biochem course was a joke.

Have you looked at Kaplan biochem? I need to review biochem too and FA isn't written in a way that works for me.

 

[dextor2003]

Have you looked at Kaplan biochem? I need to review biochem too and FA isn't written in a way that works for me.

i thought the kaplan biochem vids were golden

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Have you looked at Kaplan biochem? I need to review biochem too and FA isn't written in a way that works for me.

Yeah, I have looked at it. I just need something to review integrated biochem, which Goljan's RR Biochem does a pretty good job of doing. I am not really a huge fan of Kaplan.

 

[Medicallyblonde88]

M2 here. Starting today, I am just going to be reviewing for Step 1 which I am taking next May, and nothing else. Here is my plan:

Oct 23-Dec 31: Memorize FA2014, Watch all of Pathoma
Jan 1-Jan 31: FA2015, Pathoma (pass 2), Kaplan QBank
Feb 1-Feb 28: FA2015 (pass 2), Pathoma (pass 3), USMLERX
March 1- March 31: FA2015 (pass 3), Pathoma (pass 4): UWorld
April 1- Mid May: FA2015 (pass 4), Pathoma (selective topics), UWorld (pass 2), all practice tests

Goal: High number

Personal advice, take with a grain of salt.

Took step 1 in november my score was a 243. I think Kaplan was a giant waste of time, the qbank was even worse than the video (I only did the anatomy section and it was horrible), did about 600 questions from there they are too nit picky and the info contained in them is not helpful. I did pathoma twice, goljan once, FA 3 times, Uworld twice (plus all my incorrects twice), and did 4 nbmes. The questions on step were not like nbmes or uworld they were longer and they were very difficult. If I could go back and do something differently I would have done more questions so maybe usmlerx is a good idea but I didn't like their questions, and I would have done the last nbme as well. Also the usmlerx videos help to memorize FA. Best of luck to you 🙂

 

[Medicallyblonde88]

Personal advice, take with a grain of salt.

Took step 1 in november my score was a 243. I think Kaplan was a giant waste of time, the qbank was even worse than the video (I only did the anatomy section and it was horrible), did about 600 questions from there they are too nit picky and the info contained in them is not helpful. I did pathoma twice, goljan once, FA 3 times, Uworld twice (plus all my incorrects twice), and did 4 nbmes. The questions on step were not like nbmes or uworld they were longer and they were very difficult. If I could go back and do something differently I would have done more questions so maybe usmlerx is a good idea but I didn't like their questions, and I would have done the last nbme as well. Also the usmlerx videos help to memorize FA. Best of luck to you 🙂

PS my last 2 nbme scores and exit exam were reflective of my step1 score.

 

[2012er]

PS my last 2 nbme scores and exit exam were reflective of my step1 score.

Referring to Kaplan videos, are you saying they are waste of time during dedicated or in general?

 

[Medicallyblonde88]

Referring to Kaplan videos, are you saying they are waste of time during dedicated or in general?

In my PERSONAL opinion in general I found them to be a waste of time (too much info not enough focus), but others have different opinions, during dedicated study time I would DEFINITELY call it an unproductive use of your time.

 

[dextor2003]

In my PERSONAL opinion in general I found them to be a waste of time (too much info not enough focus), but others have different opinions, during dedicated study time I would DEFINITELY call it an unproductive use of your time.

i haven't seen all their videos, but i thought their anatomy/development, biochem, and pharm videos were phenomenal. granted i wouldn't watch them during dedicated, but they saved me where our class lectures failed. particularly for anatomy/development (but also for the others), the guy doesn't just tell you the what, but also the WHY. my roommate isn't really a fan of kaplan either, but when he saw his videos, even he admitted they were super helpful. if you have the time before dedicated and are weak in the subjects i mentioned, i'd definitely recommend to at least try them if nothing else

 

[pathologyDO]

Alright so I just started MSK studying today by reading through FA anatomy/physio and then watched Kaplan videos. I then went ahead and was going to start with our Kaplan COMLEX Qbank and then move to USMLE Q's. The COMLEX questions just handed me my ass, not because the material was hard, but because they asked questions like "is this scenario a greenstick fracture, colles fracture, smiths fracture, etc."

That **** def wasn't in FA or the Kaplan HY lectures. So now I'm thinking I may need to get a quickfire anatomy review that isn't 1,000+ pages long like my clinically oriented anatomy book. What have you guys been using for anatomy review if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Mattinthehat250]

So I just finished first semester of M2 and I pretty much did only pathoma for my pathology class. I now realize that probably wasn't enough. What's a good way to fill in my pathology deficiencies over break/rest of the year? Or is pathoma+qbanks enough to do well on the boards?

 

[stepone2015]

So I just finished first semester of M2 and I pretty much did only pathoma for my pathology class. I now realize that probably wasn't enough. What's a good way to fill in my pathology deficiencies over break/rest of the year? Or is pathoma+qbanks enough to do well on the boards?

Pathoma, UW, Picmonic (I supplement it in for the stuff that just won't stick and is poorly taught at my school, like bone tumors), and the rest is just memorizing your notes/lectures. The more passes, the better for doing well in classes.

For Step 1, you can forget the lecture notes.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

So I just finished first semester of M2 and I pretty much did only pathoma for my pathology class. I now realize that probably wasn't enough. What's a good way to fill in my pathology deficiencies over break/rest of the year? Or is pathoma+qbanks enough to do well on the boards?

You might want to consider reading RR Path for the stuff that is most problematic for you.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Alright so I just started MSK studying today by reading through FA anatomy/physio and then watched Kaplan videos. I then went ahead and was going to start with our Kaplan COMLEX Qbank and then move to USMLE Q's. The COMLEX questions just handed me my ass, not because the material was hard, but because they asked questions like "is this scenario a greenstick fracture, colles fracture, smiths fracture, etc."

That **** def wasn't in FA or the Kaplan HY lectures. So now I'm thinking I may need to get a quickfire anatomy review that isn't 1,000+ pages long like my clinically oriented anatomy book. What have you guys been using for anatomy review if you don't mind me asking?

Learned those in class, but haven't seen them in Qbanks so far. They probably aren't HY for USMLE.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Pathoma, UW, Picmonic (I supplement it in for the stuff that just won't stick and is poorly taught at my school, like bone tumors), and the rest is just memorizing your notes/lectures. The more passes, the better for doing well in classes.

For Step 1, you can forget the lecture notes.

How're you planning to retain the minute details from class notes? It seems like the only possible thing is to learn concepts for path which pathoma helps with, but am not sure is enough for qbanks or boards.

 

[stepone2015]

How're you planning to retain the minute details from class notes? It seems like the only possible thing is to learn concepts for path which pathoma helps with, but am not sure is enough for qbanks or boards.

Just do lots and lots of passes. It's hard, it's doable. Pathoma/UW/Picmonic help me mentally organize it as well as focus on what's highest yield.

I do this:

I'm an M2 at US MD school. I've been working my ass off in classes, but also planing ahead for Step 1. Using a new account to hide my identity, so I can be completely honest.

M1 grades: all honors. M2 grade goals: as close to all honors as I can get (currently all H). Step 1 goal: highest I can get.


Here's my plan:

1) Finish Pathoma with classes (multiple passes spread throughout the year).

2) Read FA14/15 once before exams. Not annotating because, according to a 3rd year friend, people who generally do well during the year don't need to annotate much. It's a waste of time because most of the information annotated either comes back rapidly or is retained throughout the year.

3) 90%+ completion of M2 material in RX and UW. I haven't done any M1 questions in the qbanks, and don't plan to until dedicated.

4) During dedicated studying, I plan study for roughly 6-7 weeks. I will do 2 detailed passes through FA and 1 quick one in the final week. I will start dedicated with a pass through RX then switch to UW until the last week or so when I will just focus on incorrects, personal notes, FA, and free 150s the day before. I also plan on doing ~1.5 passes through Pathoma along with some time spent looking through Microcards, Pharmcards, Anki cards I made, and maybe RR Path.

5) To build endurance and track progress, I will be doing double NBMEs/UWSA once per week.

6) Doing qbanks so far, I noticed I can generally do a block of UW/RX in under 30 minutes excluding review. Based on that, I plan on putting an additional time restriction on NBMEs. I'll start with only 50 minutes per block and slowly build to 25 minutes per block, or more, to emulate the time crunch everyone reports experiencing on the real thing. It will probably lower the accuracy of NBMEs in predicting my real Step 1, but as long as the prediction is in the negative direction compared to reality, I'm okay with it.


Yes, I sound like a cut throat psycho or a troll. That's why I made a new account for this. I'm completely serious.

When I was in college, I was cocky as hell about getting into med school, and it screwed me over badly. I learned the hard way that the only way I could get where I wanted to go was by working my ass off all the time. I don't know what I want to specialize in, but I want absolutely nothing to hold me back. I plan on rocking Step 1/2 and third year as hard as possible to ensure that.

I'd love to hear what you guys think.

 

[pathologyDO]

Learned those in class, but haven't seen them in Qbanks so far. They probably aren't HY for USMLE.

Thanks for the response. Yeah we also learned them in class but I don't really have time to sift through my notes from classes atm. I just finished doing Kaplan USMLE Qbank for MSK anatomy/physiology and got 68% overall which I'm happy with. You're right too, they didn't have any questions about naming wrist or elbow fractures in the USMLE questions

Anybody taking the COMLEX and have ideas for how to study anatomy for it? It would seem Kaplan videos and FA are not going to cut it.

 

[dextor2003]

Thanks for the response. Yeah we also learned them in class but I don't really have time to sift through my notes from classes atm. I just finished doing Kaplan USMLE Qbank for MSK anatomy/physiology and got 68% overall which I'm happy with. You're right too, they didn't have any questions about naming wrist or elbow fractures in the USMLE questions

Anybody taking the COMLEX and have ideas for how to study anatomy for it? It would seem Kaplan videos and FA are not going to cut it.

maybe try brs anatomy?

 

[pathologyDO]

maybe try brs anatomy?

That's a good idea and I'm thinking about ordering it on Amazon. Have you used BRS anatomy?

 

[dextor2003]

That's a good idea and I'm thinking about ordering it on Amazon. Have you used BRS anatomy?

yea i used it some during 1st year. i didn't really read it per se but just used it for its questions–it has tons. and that's what was helpful. if you're interested, you can also find a copy of it online if you just do some searching

 

[doc10487]

Hey! First aid 2015 is now available. I am using 2014 and have annotated it quite a lot, mainly from uworld. Not sure if i should go ahead and start using 2015 FA.
I am thinking of doing one read of 2015 and add all new additions to my 2014 FA book. Has anyone done it? I think this might turn out to be more unproductive use of time.
or i can just go ahead and buy 2015 kindle and bookmark all the changes.

Whats the right course? @Phloston @kirbymiester And all the other SDN legends

 

[stepone2015]

I just got 2015 and am planning on reading through it over break. Is it worth it to spend first day of dedicated next summer annotating errors?

 

[Phloston]

We've improved FA15 quite a bit. More pictures too (everyone likes that). But people tend to be split when it comes to the decision to buy a fresh new addition vs adhere to a well-annotated prior year's copy. I'd say whatever decision you make won't be life or death though.

 

[doc10487]

We've improved FA15 quite a bit. More pictures too (everyone likes that). But people tend to be split when it comes to the decision to buy a fresh new addition vs adhere to a well-annotated prior year's copy. I'd say whatever decision you make won't be life or death though.

I will stick with my annotated FA but will give one read to 2015 to make sure i am not missing anything. Thanks Phloston 🙂

 

[dfib slim]

Thanks for the response. Yeah we also learned them in class but I don't really have time to sift through my notes from classes atm. I just finished doing Kaplan USMLE Qbank for MSK anatomy/physiology and got 68% overall which I'm happy with. You're right too, they didn't have any questions about naming wrist or elbow fractures in the USMLE questions

Anybody taking the COMLEX and have ideas for how to study anatomy for it? It would seem Kaplan videos and FA are not going to cut it.

Did you look at the anatomy sections in Savarese?

 

[Apoplexy__]

Hey! First aid 2015 is now available. I am using 2014 and have annotated it quite a lot, mainly from uworld. Not sure if i should go ahead and start using 2015 FA.
I am thinking of doing one read of 2015 and add all new additions to my 2014 FA book. Has anyone done it? I think this might turn out to be more unproductive use of time.
or i can just go ahead and buy 2015 kindle and bookmark all the changes.

Whats the right course? @Phloston @kirbymiester And all the other SDN legends

Normally, people recommend the latest FA unless there's some significant reason not to. When there is a significant reason (sounds like you), I think people generally agree that within 2 years of the latest version is passable. FA 2014 seemed to actually be a significant improvement from some predecessors, so it's not like you got a dud in the series or anything.

If we're just talking about <4 hours' worth of annotations though (i.e. you could copy them over in that time), it's worth it to get FA2015.

Whatever you do, don't add the FA2015 additions to FA2014. That's definitely a waste of time.

 

[syma]

I ordered the FA2015, but I plan on taking step 1 in August.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Do sources like microcards and CMMRS contain only HY micro for boards, or theoretically everything we've covered in classes?

 

[dextor2003]

Do sources like microcards and CMMRS contain only HY micro for boards, or theoretically everything we've covered in classes?

i think everything in class. at least that was the case for us

 

[mcloaf]

Do sources like microcards and CMMRS contain only HY micro for boards, or theoretically everything we've covered in classes?

I haven't actually read it but I have it sitting on my shelf and CMMRS looks way too thick to be limited to truly HY boards stuff. I thought Microcards seemed relatively HY but they probably include some things that wouldn't be considered necessarily worth knowing for Step 1.

 

[pathologyDO]

Did you look at the anatomy sections in Savarese?

I have not, didn't know savarese had anatomy things in it? Thought it was all OMT

 

[dfib slim]

I have not, didn't know savarese had anatomy things in it? Thought it was all OMT

It's scattered throughout. I remember seeing the different types of fractures.

 

[pathologyDO]

It's scattered throughout. I remember seeing the different types of fractures.

Interesting indeed, I will have to purchase it first before splurging on a gross anatomy book. Thanks

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Microcards >>> CMMRS hands down.

 

[aspiringdoc09]

I only have 2 weeks off for a break, so I will officially start doing some prep since classes have been so hectic. My school also requires us to take a practice CBSSA/NBME (I guess these are one in the same) to gage our progress before we return from break. I get my FA 2015 on Monday. I need to make a reasonable schedule now.

 

[ALUCSD18]

What do you like most about the microcards Mr. Mojo. are those the best micro resources you've encountered so far?

 

[lunalight]

What do you like most about the microcards Mr. Mojo. are those the best micro resources you've encountered so far?

I know this question wasn't directed at me, but I'll put in my $0.02. 🙂 I like the micro cards, but they have a decent number of errors. They have just enough to make me give them 3 out of 5 stars. If they fixed the errors, then I think they'd be an excellent resource. That said, I'll still probably use them bc it's easier than using a book or some other resource.

I just moved my exam up 3 days (taking it May 2015, 4 weeks to study) so that I can start at 2pm instead of 8am. I'm glad I got an afternoon time bc I know that it will suit me much better, but even though it's just 3 days less, part of me is afraid that somehow those 3 days will matter. Ugh, med school has turned me into such a weirdo!!

 

[ALUCSD18]

I know this question wasn't directed at me, but I'll put in my $0.02. 🙂 I like the micro cards, but they have a decent number of errors. They have just enough to make me give them 3 out of 5 stars. If they fixed the errors, then I think they'd be an excellent resource. That said, I'll still probably use them bc it's easier than using a book or some other resource.

I just moved my exam up 3 days (taking it May 2015, 4 weeks to study) so that I can start at 2pm instead of 8am. I'm glad I got an afternoon time bc I know that it will suit me much better, but even though it's just 3 days less, part of me is afraid that somehow those 3 days will matter. Ugh, med school has turned me into such a weirdo!!

I appreciate your response. What resources are you using for Step 1? Good luck.

 

[lunalight]

I appreciate your response. What resources are you using for Step 1? Good luck.

No prob! I'm going with First Aid, Pathoma and UWorld as my primary resources (plus micro and pharm cards). I also have Goljan and Costanzo to use when/if needed, but I'm hoping to stick with just UFAP and the cards. I plan to buy Qmax for now, then wait to buy Uworld til closer to my dedicated study period. Maybe around March? Sad I missed the $79 deal Qmax had a few days ago. Will they offer it again in the next month or so?

I just started winter break and am trying to decide on what I want to do review-wise for these 2 weeks. I have Goljan audio and 2014 DIT videos. Any advice on what to focus on for the break would be greatly appreciated.

Also, is anyone who owns the 3rd edition of Goljan Rapid Review upgrading to the 4th? I heard that its ~150 pgs longer. Wondering if I should stick with my 3rd edition (not annotated) for the sake of money and my sanity, lol. But if the 4th edition is truly worth it, then I'll go for it, of course!

 

[dextor2003]

No prob! I'm going with First Aid, Pathoma and UWorld as my primary resources (plus micro and pharm cards). I also have Goljan and Costanzo to use when/if needed, but I'm hoping to stick with just UFAP and the cards. I plan to buy Qmax for now, then wait to buy Uworld til closer to my dedicated study period. Maybe around March? Sad I missed the $79 deal Qmax had a few days ago. Will they offer it again in the next month or so?

I just started winter break and am trying to decide on what I want to do review-wise for these 2 weeks. I have Goljan audio and 2014 DIT videos. Any advice on what to focus on for the break would be greatly appreciated.

Also, is anyone who owns the 3rd edition of Goljan Rapid Review upgrading to the 4th? I heard that its ~150 pgs longer. Wondering if I should stick with my 3rd edition (not annotated) for the sake of money and my sanity, lol. But if the 4th edition is truly worth it, then I'll go for it, of course!

goljan RR 4th is available online if you're interested. just gotta do a quick search 😉

 

[aspiringdoc09]

If you are an AMA member you can get the golijan RR for $10 cheaper through them. That's if you like an actual text. That's what I did when classes started this fall. I just started reading a few pages of FA to go through it for the first time. I'm trying to read 20 pgs for understanding and do 25Q from Kaplan. I liked USMLERX better but I guess I have to get use to Kaplan since my RX expired. I'll look at corresponding videos too and whatever else high yield offers.

 

[faisal 2000]

are there alot of mistakes in fa 2013 ?

 

[pathologyDO]

Welp, just finished my pass through MSK. Scored about 70% on the Kaplan Qbank for the entire section (huge improvement from my 45% over Neuro). I've noticed that In FA the micro isn't really found in the MSK section so I basically had to wing it on those, which were very few questions. Trying to figure out how I will incorporate the micro. I've also realized that FA, pathoma, and kaplan HY videos do NOT contain everything you need to know (I know, I know it's obvious but still it was a little surprising running into some questions that tested material I had not even remotely touched on in studying)

 

[faisal 2000]

what should we know about ecg ?

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Welp, just finished my pass through MSK. Scored about 70% on the Kaplan Qbank for the entire section (huge improvement from my 45% over Neuro). I've noticed that In FA the micro isn't really found in the MSK section so I basically had to wing it on those, which were very few questions. Trying to figure out how I will incorporate the micro. I've also realized that FA, pathoma, and kaplan HY videos do NOT contain everything you need to know (I know, I know it's obvious but still it was a little surprising running into some questions that tested material I had not even remotely touched on in studying)

They are reviews, so I'm not quite sure what you're expecting them to be otherwise.

As for systems micro, that's more or less covered at the end of the micro chapter. So, every time you read through a systems chapter in FA, it would be a good idea to go back to the end of the micro chapter and review each part relevant to that system. For example, regarding MSK, the one that comes to mind is the osteomyelitis part of the micro chapter. For respiratory, there's the section on pneumonia for each age group.

 

[pathologyDO]

They are reviews, so I'm not quite sure what you're expecting them to be otherwise.

As for systems micro, that's more or less covered at the end of the micro chapter. So, every time you read through a systems chapter in FA, it would be a good idea to go back to the end of the micro chapter and review each part relevant to that system. For example, regarding MSK, the one that comes to mind is the osteomyelitis part of the micro chapter. For respiratory, there's the section on pneumonia for each age group.

Oh nice I didn't realize that there are systems based pages in the micro section... rock on. I will probably incorporate studying that on the days I cover systems based pharm too. Thanks

 

[pathologyDO]

what should we know about ecg ?

everything.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Oh nice I didn't realize that there are systems based pages in the micro section... rock on. I will probably incorporate studying that on the days I cover systems based pharm too. Thanks

No problem. I do that too. Micro pharmacology is pretty important in general and can be easy points if you keep up with it.

 

[Mattinthehat250]

Any DO students here doing combank? How do you like it?
Anyone else getting their butt kicked by qbanks? I think I'm not doing too well because the questions integrate subjects so much.

 

[AtlasCarraway]

Any DO students here doing combank? How do you like it?
Anyone else getting their butt kicked by qbanks? I think I'm not doing too well because the questions integrate subjects so much.

I've used it a little bit alongside Comquest, and I think Combank is the better of the two. I would still recommend doing UWorld and/or USMLERx to learn the material and then rely on Combank to get the hang of OMM and those weird "match one of the following to each of these 5 questions".

Also, I think it's pretty standard to be getting below 50% when you start doing questions over multiple systems. It'll come.