Optimizing DIT Use

[MDSlacker]

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Hey guys, I just had a couple questions about my study plan and basically how to optimize it. This may be more geared towards people who have already taken Step 1 but any advice would be appreciated. I was wondering when the optimal time would be to go through the DIT course. I know DIT recommends to do it within 6-10 days of taking the actual step exam but I wasn't sure if that's what other people have also noticed.

I have about 9 weeks until I take my step 1 exam and this is all step 1 dedicated study time. I have already been through First Aid my first time as a quick skim through and am now starting my second pass through. I am also planning on going over Pathoma as I go through First Aid and doing 1 block of UWorld every 3 days (will increase this as I get closer to step). I am also planning to do DIT and then just go over first aid as many times as possible until the exam.

I estimate that it will take me about 3 weeks to get through all of First Aid and Pathoma, 2.5 weeks to do DIT, and then be left with 4.5 weeks to hopefully get through First Aid 2 more times.

Would you guys recommend to do DIT first and then just keep going over first aid (and pathoma once) until my exam or would you recommend to do first aid and pathoma once, DIT, and then first aid some more.

I should also mention that I'm at about a 230-235 right now according to NBME exams and would like to score 250+

Sorry for the long post but any advice on this specific question or my study plan in general would be appreciated.

 

[kedrin]

I found DIT to only be helpful with the work book to memorize crappy details that I have trouble remembering but even still I have to go back and try to further memorize it. Basically it is only a good intro is what I have found. Nothing beats FA reading that I have noticed. I have not taken my exam yet.

 

[greenhat06]

Would also love to hear the advice. I am planning on starting my DIT course and have 5 weeks to study. I'm interested in seeing when exactly is the "better" side to start DIT vs. FirstAid and Uworld. Thanks

 

[msk86]

I did DIT a few years ago and used it ~3 weeks prior to my test. I did the regular 15 days it took to finish, so I had an extra week left at the end to study whatever I wanted. I would say it was helpful because it's nice to just listen to somebody vs. having your head in FA. Did it help me all that much in terms of learning? Probably not. But I do think it prevented me from burning out before the test.

 

[jm192]

I watched ~8 segments a day, which took 18 or 19 days to get through.

I took 6 weeks. I spent the first 2 weeks reviewing from other sources. I used BRS physio and Pathoma mostly. I had started World in late March. ~1 23 question section a day with review.

I did DIT in the middle 3 weeks--These would take anywhere from 5-8 hours. Then I'd do 46 Q-bank questions a day with review. That took another 4-5 hours. Every weekend was off from the videos. Just 46 questions, and redoing things in First Aid from the week.

At the end of the 3 weeks, I had a handful of videos left and knocked those out on a Saturday morning.

Left me with 1 week after I completed all the DIT stuff. I went back through FA using the DIT book to guide the direction. This way I was reviewing the DIT book questions as I went as well.