please assess my plan . . .

[Arctic Char]

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OK, so i am in the middle of MS2. i'd love some feedback on what the veterans here think of my plan described below . . .

starting now, my plan is to finish QBank from 2005 by spring, studying along while i take the exams (no time limit, just comprehensive review in context of questions). i'm going to shoot for 25 - 50 questions a day, while looking up details to the answers.

I also plan to finish QBank 2006, QBook 2006, Robbins question book, NMS Review questions, and 3 NBME exams.

i will be using BRS for Path, Phys, Micro, and Anatomy; Lippincott for Biochem and Pharm, Micro Made Ridiculously Ridiculous to reference, and of course First Aid and Goljan audio all aong the way.

i would be very very grateful if anyone could comment on this strategy, pros/cons, anything. your honest and informative feedback is greatly appreciated.

thank you everyone.

all the best.

-the mountain

 

[lord_jeebus]

QBank 2005 vs 2006?

I would drop BRS Micro and Lippincott Pharm, and consider dropping BRS Anatomy. I would add HY Cell & Molecular.

I would also suggest not using up QBank at this stage and rather starting with webpath and Robbins Review. I have no experience with the NMS questions, perhaps you could use those now as well.

What courses do you have left this year?

 

[Arctic Char]

thanks for replying

QBank 2005 vs 2006 . . . i've only seen 2005, and i'm assuming they have different questions each year they publish the bank. maybe i'm wrong. anyone know if kaplan changes QBank every year?

i have nephrology, head and neck, neuro, rheum, repro, psych, and muskuloskeletal. i have a strong background in a lot of these subjects so i feel comfortable studying two things at once (class and board review). i'm planning on studying older material (biochem, mol bio, cell bio, etc) as the new systems come along.

i had my doubts about BRS micro and anatomy as well. i like lippincott pharm - what do you suggest for pharm instead?

again, thanks for your input . . .

-

 

[t33sg1rl]

Kaplan continuously adds new questions to Qbank, but none of the old questions are removed (unless there is a problem or mistake with one of them).
So, all of the questions from Qbank 2005 should be found in Qbank 2006. Even after you buy your Qbank subscription, every month you will find some new questions are added to your bank.

 

[Arctic Char]

that implies the bank gets bigger every year . . . ?

well, bummer. i'll have to add BSS to the list of Q sources then . . .

thanks

 

[lord_jeebus]

Not to mention that Kaplan doesn't add that many questions per year. Just enough to get paranoid med students to pay for the real thing instead of using a bootleg copy.

For Pharm just use FA. The time spent reading an additional pharm source could be better spent reading just about any other book, doing additional questions, or even reading FA Pharm one extra time.

 

[Arctic Char]

FA for pharm - cool, i got that i lockdown.

as regards QBank - would it be destructive to have gone through it twice? once along with my systems curriculum, then another round leading up to the exam? it would not offer the same kind of self-evaluation, but i would still get the practice and review of concepts . . . right?

or is webpath, robbins, BSS, enough for now? leaving QBank, QBook, NMS, and NBME for summer?

again, i really appreciate your advice

 

[Taus]

FA for pharm - cool, i got that i lockdown.

as regards QBank - would it be destructive to have gone through it twice? once along with my systems curriculum, then another round leading up to the exam? it would not offer the same kind of self-evaluation, but i would still get the practice and review of concepts . . . right?

or is webpath, robbins, BSS, enough for now? leaving QBank, QBook, NMS, and NBME for summer?

again, i really appreciate your advice

for whatever its worth...thats more along the lines of my plan

 

[Arctic Char]

for whatever its worth...thats more along the lines of my plan

are you shooting high as well? sounds like a silly question, but i know so many people that are merely aiming to pass. and i wouldn't want to share their study strategies. i am hoping to knock the socks off this thing . . . 235+ . . . with *dreams* of 250+

 

[Arctic Char]

OK, revision -


comprehensive review - FA, Gold Standard Audio, NMS Medicine

path - BRS, Goljan Audio

phys - BRS

anatomy - high yield

immuno - high yield

embryo - high yield

biostats - high yield

behav sci - high yield

cell and molec - high yeild

Biochem - Lippincott

Pharm - FA

micro - MMRS

Q's -
before summer: BSS (5 book series)
Robbins
Webpath

during summer: QBook
QBank
NMS
NBME

 

[lord_jeebus]

NMS Medicine?

If you want to be really complete, throw in HY Neuroanatomy. It's a better use of your time than HY Gross Anatomy, which was not that useful for me.

 

[Arctic Char]

why not.

thanks again

 

[Taus]

are you shooting high as well? sounds like a silly question, but i know so many people that are merely aiming to pass. and i wouldn't want to share their study strategies. i am hoping to knock the socks off this thing . . . 235+ . . . with *dreams* of 250+

absolutely am....230+ is my goal

 

[Arctic Char]

word.

 

[surprisedgirl]

Taus....are you using BSS right now? How is it?

 

[Taus]

Taus....are you using BSS right now? How is it?

nah...not yet....I'm pretty much just annotating FA, RR Path and BRS phys as I go through classes and doing the webprep and Robbins questions a few days before my schools tests. I'm not really going to do anything besides this until about 8-10 weeks before the big day. Sources like BSS, NMS, Lange, Qbook will be done during my initial runs through the info that first month and then qbank/usmlerx during the last month to get used to the computer and timed format.

 

[domer621]

nah...not yet....I'm pretty much just annotating FA, RR Path and BRS phys as I go through classes and doing the webprep and Robbins questions a few days before my schools tests.

Man, you have time to do all the Robbins q's? Those things take forever to go through.

 

[Taus]

Man, you have time to do all the Robbins q's? Those things take forever to go through.

it usually takes a couple hours to thoroughly do all of the q's and read the answers for each chapter....but once you can comfortably handle those you should be able to rock anything your school throws at you......WELL worth the time and effort in my opinion

 

[Arctic Char]

yeah, robbins questions are valuable. agreed they take a long time, but NOT doing them is just inefficient.

6 am, time for an inspirational haiku . . .

The future i don't want:

turn your head and cough
obese trucker needs exam
i should have studied​

 

[surprisedgirl]

I do the Robbins questions as well...in fact there have been a few questions straight from them on my tests in the past.....definitely a bonus! And it helps me consolidate all my info very well!

 

[Taus]

I do the Robbins questions as well...in fact there have been a few questions straight from them on my tests in the past.....definitely a bonus! And it helps me consolidate all my info very well!

in ob/gyn I saw a question in Robbins that I only got right b/c of Goljan.....that same concept ( pain on defecation-->endometriosis) also ended up getting me one right on my class exam.....its pretty pathetic but I was pretty psyched about that...

 

[surprisedgirl]

taus, are you on a system based curriculum? if so do you listen to goljan for the stuff that you havent really covered as well? i've just been listening to him as we cover that topic.....what do you suggest?

 

[dynx]

OK, revision -
comprehensive review - FA
path - BRS OR Goljan
phys - BRS
anatomy - Moore's blue boxes
cell and molec - high yeild/Kaplan
Immunology -Kaplan
Biochem - Lippincott
Pharm - FA
micro - FA and Kaplan
Q's -
before summer: BSS (5 book series)
Robbins
Webpath

during summer: QBook
QBank
NMS
NBME

I edited your plan. You are making a common mistake, you are trying to do to much and you WILL screw yourself.
Pick ONE comprehensive review FA, no questions asked, thats it. Shut up and do it. If you have to many review sources you never focus on what is high yield and you bog yourself down.
Annotate it with your other sources, mine looked like a damn inkblotter when I was done it was so crammed with notes.

BRS IS adequate. I used it alone (with FA) and broke 250 by a wide margin. I didnt use Goljan but I hear he is good. Pick one or the other, doing both is a waste of time and time managment is key.

BRS physiology is great.

Anatomy is too big to cover, if you try to read a review it will be 98% useless ****. Spend your time reviewing physiology and path and pathophys again, and again and again instead. Moore's blue boxes and FA covers the clinically relevant stuff, that and the brachial plexus is the MOST high yield. Any thing else is gonna take you 15 days to get 2 more answers when you could get 20 more covering different subjects...just the nature of the beast.

Get ahold of Kaplan books for the subjects I listed above. They make money by knowing what is on the test. They cover what is on the test and nothing more...they are the BEST in depth resources available. After that, the high yield series is good.

High yeild neuroanatomy is high yield if you finish everything else above...not before.

As far as questions. Do and NBME test early to get a baseline and focus yoru studies. Dont start qbank before you start to study. and take it in timed mode. The best part about q bank is getting your timing down. Doing it in tutor mode is BS and you'll feel more prepared than you are. DO all blocks timed and with all subjects included. you'll feel dumber but do better on the test, which is better than feeling smart and getting your ass handed to you. Good luck.

 

[Arctic Char]

thanks dynx - and btw, i love the quotes in your signature.

as for moore - are you talking about the blue boxes in "essential clinical anatomy, 3rd edition"? if so, thats good. thats what i have used for anatomy class exams.

the Gold Standard stuff as comprehensive review is just because it is audio files and i figured i could absorb at least something while i work out. i never planned on it being "home base" like i do with FA.

kaplan . . . haven't seen any of it yet. i'll track some down and take a look and see if i like it. there is something about the concise format of high yeild that appeals to me. one book, one subject, read it, done . . . time for questions and review and review.

and your suggestion about QBank is exactly what i think, and plan on. glad i'm on the right track . . .

again guys, i'm very grateful for all your suggestions.

- the mountain

 

[Arctic Char]

and about BSS - as opposed to QBank, doing BSS in "tutor mode" throughout the spring semester is a-ok?

it'll have to be i guess . . . but i just want to know if thats the best way to use it. i plan on doing one exam every week, which puts me on schedule to finish the series right as school lets out for summer.

??

 

[Taus]

taus, are you on a system based curriculum? if so do you listen to goljan for the stuff that you havent really covered as well? i've just been listening to him as we cover that topic.....what do you suggest?

we're 100% systems....ie in GI we learn the path, physio, pharm, micro, biochem, etc etc...basically everything to do w/ GI medicine

I really don't think there is any reason or much benefit to listen to the man w/o having had that system or related path section yet. You may get something out of it but he is really great at tying things together after you have had it all....up to you though....I would just concentrate and master whatever you're learning in class

 

[Taus]

I plan on doing bss and the books w/ q's un-timed (lange, nms, qbook, robbins)......purely just to learn from in the months before the final month. I am leaving qbank and usmlerx for that last month specifically so I can master the format and the timing...not necessarily b/c they are superior question sources.

 

[surprisedgirl]

yeah thats wat i do w/ the goljan i just wanst sure it made no sense but i thought i'd ask 🙂 thanks!

 

[surprisedgirl]

Okay my turn. I finally decided what I'll be doing for everything--let me know if you think I'm deficient in any books as I feel I plan on using fewer books than most people! I will basically be reading BRS Physio/Path and goljan throughout this year with my classes but from the end of the school year to when I take the boards (about 5-6 weeks) this will be my plan:

Comprehensive: First Aid (annotating it this year for clarification purposes)
Path: BRS, Goljan RR 2nd Edition + Audio
Biochem: High Yield
Neuro: High Yield
Anatomy/Histology/Embryology/Behavioral Science/Pharm: FA
Micro: MMRS, FA
Physio: BRS

I am tyring not too use too many sources as I hear anatomy/histo/embyro are so low yield as it is and suposedly all you need for pharm is in FA.

Question sources
QBank
Physio Qbank (got it free as I work for Kaplan)
WebPath
Robbins Path ?s--use during the school year
BSS

Any suggestions/comments/additions/removal of books?????

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

 

[lord_jeebus]

Okay my turn. I finally decided what I'll be doing for everything--let me know if you think I'm deficient in any books as I feel I plan on using fewer books than most people!

If you're trying to keep things efficient, pick one of BRS and RR for Path -- doubling up will be minimally beneficial, even vs. studying a "low yield" subject like anatomy or histo beyond FA.

Also as I mentioned above you should have some review source for molecular and cell biology. Similar yield to the rest of biochemistry, in my opinion, with fewer things to memorize.

 

[surprisedgirl]

which one do you recommend out of the two...only reason i picked both is that i know path is so high yield i thought i'd cover all bases....but do you recommend one?

 

[lord_jeebus]

One more thing, I don't think anyone fresh out of MS2 should study more than 4 weeks for this thing, unless the first couple of weeks are really leisurely.

 

[lord_jeebus]

which one do you recommend out of the two...only reason i picked both is that i know path is so high yield i thought i'd cover all bases....but do you recommend one?

Neither is perfect but both are excellent, check out both and go with the one you prefer.

Path is indeed high yield but you'll get over 95% of the facts you need from either.

 

[surprisedgirl]

lord jeebus.....mind if i ask how you prepped?

 

[Arctic Char]

i guess i should mention about now that i have 8 weeks in summer to study for step 1.

i should maybe relax a little . . . but man i want to nail it! absolutely make this thing my b**ch

 

[sandg]

what is "bss"?

 

[surprisedgirl]

board simulator series.....old school ?s but i'm not using them as my "qbank" just for extra practice

 

[Arctic Char]

yes, board simulator series . . . and i am honestly a bit unsure of how to use it.

since it has mixed questions, i find myself getting stuck in the middle of a question set because i haven't had that system yet (e.g. behavioral science, or neuro). i'm not sure if i should skip it and come back after i've had the system, or if i should just read ahead in first aid or high yield. and i am also finding i am having to do A LOT of biochem back tracking. i guess its a good thing, but man its daunting.

 

[dynx]

as for moore - are you talking about the blue boxes in "essential clinical anatomy, 3rd edition"? if so, thats good. thats what i have used for anatomy class exams.

the Gold Standard stuff as comprehensive review is just because it is audio files and i figured i could absorb at least something while i work out. i never planned on it being "home base" like i do with FA.

Yes on the Moore question.

I guess if you're using it when you work out its not a waste of time, I could never really do that though. How do you run and not listen to something with a beat?

 

[lord_jeebus]

i guess i should mention about now that i have 8 weeks in summer to study for step 1.

i should maybe relax a little . . . but man i want to nail it! absolutely make this thing my b**ch

it's not an issue of relaxing

i think that there is an advantage to taking the boards close to your ms2 finals, especially if you ended with high yield stuff like path. if you wait 8 weeks you have to re-review that material, and in the process lose retention on the stuff you reviewed during the initial weeks. i don't think anyone (unless you've been out of school doing something else) would benefit from studying beyond 4 weeks.

i think the best approach is to find ways to integrate review into the last couple of months of your ms2 coursework, and then make a concentrated and efficient review block of about 2-4 weeks.

that having been said, i'm sure that someone on this thread will comment on how they studied 6 or 8 weeks and did great.

 

[Arctic Char]

Yes on the Moore question.

I guess if you're using it when you work out its not a waste of time, I could never really do that though. How do you run and not listen to something with a beat?

i know what you mean, but believe it or not i find listening to audio lectures the most motivating thing while working out. it pumps me up, just knowing that this is what i am preparing for, this is my focus and highest priority . . .

"this is my bitch . . . alpha-thalassemia . . . this is my bitch . . . southeast asia . . . who's your daddy . . . cryptorchidism . . . "

to each their own i guess . . .

 

[kito]

Just listen to everybody who has opined and be sure not to overload yourself. Try to use one book per subject, and spend some time trying to understand the most efficient way for you to learn. For some that might be lectures, for others it may be books, for others it may be questions and answers.

The only caveat to this excellent advice is Goljan, who somehow manages to integrate most of every subject into his material (comprising the lectures, pdf notes, and all of his high yield lists). If you are considering the Goljan avenue, I recommend making use of ALL of his stuff, and not just the lectures, and you can rest assured that you will have a strong grasp of all of the facets of medicine that could be tested on the boards in a very integrated and practical way.

All 2nd years should use their year to learn how they best learn, and use that experience to study for the boards.

 

[Arctic Char]

after doing the BSS diagnostic tests, i realize i need a once-through review with a lot of subjects before i even attempt to learn by doing questions.

all i can say is that i am glad i learned this sooner than later.

 

[surprisedgirl]

are you going to be doing ?s after studying a partciular subject or no? just curious

 

[Arctic Char]

hey surprisedgirl-

maybe, but not from BSS. i'd like to do a review of subjects, then go straight through BSS Q's, then review the answers. otherwise i'd be jerking myself off.

for example, i'm going to read high yield immuno, then answer whatever Q's i can find (but not from BSS or other previously listed Q sources). once i finish basic review of all subjects, then i'll feel it is appropriate to start questions. otherwise, like i said, i'd just be studying individual questions without synthesizing the facts within the systems i need to understand.

i hope to finish a comprehensive review before the new year. then i'll plug away at Q's. i just found doing the questions at this point to be counterproductive.

of course, this is mostly due to my lax study habits over the past year and half. i didn't learn a lot of material as well as i could have or should have, so this is the backtracking i have to do as a result. again, glad i caught myself before it was too late . . .

 

[gerido]

When you guys talk about BSS, are you talking about the books or the Stimulation software. I'm using the software and everytime I reload it, it starts off somewhere random. Can't seem to get it to continue from previous lecture and make sure no question are repeated

 

[Arctic Char]

i wish i could help you out. but i am using the books. haven't seen the software yet

good luck

 

[mules05]

Here's my study plan...feel free to comment:

Total study time: 5 weeks from day 1 of studying till boards, with 3-4 days off for graduations and such (about 4 weeks total of studying)

First Aid (of course)- using/annotating during 2nd year courses
1.5-2 weeks of studying/questions focused on the topic I'm studying that day (BRS, PreTest)
Path- BRS (annotating during 2nd year)
Physio- BRS (also with notes from this year)
Micro- MMRS
Pharm- FA/Lange
Anatomy/histo- FA, maybe a look at Moore's blue boxes
Behavioral sci- BRS, hi-yield stats
Embryo- BRS
Biochem- BRS
I also plan to read through Underground Clinical Vignettes and FA Cases for each subject (I tend to read quickly, so I'm not worried about getting through all of it).

Last 2-2.5 weeks: lots o' questions on everything, reading explations for the ones I'm not 100% sure on
-Qbank
-Qbook
-BSS
-NMS
-USMLERx
-Lange question book
-Pretest Clinical Vignettes
-WebPath

I'm not going to really start studying until after finals, but I'm trying to stay slightly on top of things- e.g. if something from first year comes up that I can't remember (say, an abnormal blood count and I realize I don't remember erythropoiesis), I'll go look it up and try to associate first year topics with the more clinical topics we're learning now. My goal is to break 230, ideally 240+. Thoughts?

 

[Arctic Char]

thats what i've been doing, more or less. i found that i get really good review on micro if i just take 5 minutes - when i see some random bug mentioned - and look it up in MMRS. totally worth it. but thats mainly because i suck at micro

i haven't looked at BRS anatomy or biochem. they do not come highly recommended. so i would say if you are used to this source, use it. if not, lean towards more highly referenced sources.

anyway, it sound slike your Q sources are just in line with mine. i started on webpath, but after a while i just didn't like it. i might do some more, but its off my list of staple Q sources