Please critique my plan/resources

[turkeyjerky]

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Hey all, I'm taking the step in june and I'm looking for some input on the books I plan on using. We finish classes at the end of april and then have 4 weeks off before rotations start, I'm still debating whether to take 4 or 5 weeks to study. So here are the resources I plan on using, please let me know if this is sufficient/overkill or if I should make any substitutions.

First aid--I have 2009, but should I go ahead and buy the 2010 anyway?
RR Path, Goljan audio (already going through it with class)
Robbins review of path (have already been using it for coursework)
HY Neuro (I have the 2nd edition, is this fine or should I get the 4th?)
HY Behavior
BRS Physiology
CMMRS
RR Biochem
UW qbank

So what do you think? For reference, I'm looking to get 250+

Thanks!

 

[thinkin]

Yea, I'm going to have a similar approach and I want to get about 240+

I also would like to know what others think of this plan.

 

[mq123]

Hey all, I'm taking the step in june and I'm looking for some input on the books I plan on using. We finish classes at the end of april and then have 4 weeks off before rotations start, I'm still debating whether to take 4 or 5 weeks to study. So here are the resources I plan on using, please let me know if this is sufficient/overkill or if I should make any substitutions.

First aid--I have 2009, but should I go ahead and buy the 2010 anyway?
RR Path, Goljan audio (already going through it with class)
Robbins review of path (have already been using it for coursework)
HY Neuro (I have the 2nd edition, is this fine or should I get the 4th?)
HY Behavior
BRS Physiology
CMMRS
RR Biochem
UW qbank

So what do you think? For reference, I'm looking to get 250+

Thanks!

Here's what I plan on using (similar to your list with some modifications)
1. FA 2009: I'll stick to the '09 and look over the '10 version to see what's new/different
2. Goljan RR Pathology
3. Goljan Audio lectures
4. Robins Review of Pathology
5. BRS Physiology
6. Microcards by Harpavat and Nissim: Best ever, IMO (I used CMMRS during the course and annotated onto the flascards)
7. HY Neuro
8. Biochem: I heard that the Kaplan Biochem notes are pretty good, and I have a friend's set from 2005. I'll probably use that...
8.Immunology: I have a strong background in this, so don't know what I'll use, but most recommend the immuno sections from Lange: Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
9. UWorld

Except for UWorld, I'm using everything else along with coursework. Hope this helps 👍

 

[greg1184]

My rough plan:

During this semester - Foundational review:
Kaplan Webprep:
Kaplan Lecture Notes
Kaplan Lecture Videos
Kaplan Q-Bank/Physio Qbank/IV Qbank ---> Annotate into First Aid 2010 using the page references qbank provides

Approx 8-10 weeks before exam:
Rapid Review Pathology - Unifying everything I studied through Kaplan
USMLEWorld ---> Annotate into First Aid 2010
BRS Physiology ---> Quick Review of basic Physiology concepts I studied in Kaplan
Kaplan Full Length Simulations

Other items I will use throughout:
Brenner's Pharm cards
MicroCards
NBME practice exams

Week Before Exam:
FA, FA, FA, FA, FA until I know every single word on every single page.

 

[Captopril]

My rough plan:

During this semester - Foundational review:
Kaplan Webprep:
Kaplan Lecture Notes
Kaplan Lecture Videos
Kaplan Q-Bank/Physio Qbank/IV Qbank ---> Annotate into First Aid 2010 using the page references qbank provides

Approx 8-10 weeks before exam:
Rapid Review Pathology - Unifying everything I studied through Kaplan
USMLEWorld ---> Annotate into First Aid 2010
BRS Physiology ---> Quick Review of basic Physiology concepts I studied in Kaplan
Kaplan Full Length Simulations

Other items I will use throughout:
Brenner's Pharm cards
MicroCards
NBME practice exams

Week Before Exam:
FA, FA, FA, FA, FA until I know every single word on every single page.

Cut down on the Kaplan and load up on the FA. Otherwise, looks legit.

 

[vicinihil]

It seems like a lot of people are relying on Kaplan materials in addition to its Qbank. I was wondering why? I usually hear of people using some HY material, First Aid, goljan and UW and that's it but it seems like quite a few people enjoy Kaplan prep material. What subjects is it strong in and where can you get it?

 

[gluon999]

Kaplan notes were strong in the basic sciences. For example, I remember that biochem was particularly strong. FA biochem was quite weAk on the other hand. Other than that, I didn't use kaplan all that much.

I skimmed thru the thread and most of the books look solid. The best advice I can give to score a 245+ is repetition and questions. There are those that can do well on the step 1 with seemingly minimal studying. I knew I wasn't one of them. So I hammered my way in with tons of repetition and 5000+ questions.

 

[bola]

Hey all, I'm taking the step in june and I'm looking for some input on the books I plan on using. We finish classes at the end of april and then have 4 weeks off before rotations start, I'm still debating whether to take 4 or 5 weeks to study. So here are the resources I plan on using, please let me know if this is sufficient/overkill or if I should make any substitutions.

First aid--I have 2009, but should I go ahead and buy the 2010 anyway?
RR Path, Goljan audio (already going through it with class)
Robbins review of path (have already been using it for coursework)
HY Neuro (I have the 2nd edition, is this fine or should I get the 4th?)
HY Behavior
BRS Physiology
CMMRS
RR Biochem
UW qbank

So what do you think? For reference, I'm looking to get 250+

Thanks!

Speaking as someone that had roughly the same amt of time as you did, your list looks pretty solid. It seems like you have laid a good ground work during the school year so you can cut off a few things in my opinion. Robins review Path is likely not worth doing again during your dedicated study period, and as I found, you might not have time to listen to all of the Goljan audios again but going thru his book as you go thru the various FA sections will be more than sufficient. Maybe the first year path stuff will be worth relistening too (necrosis, etc)

If you have not annotated FA 2009 yet, I'd get FA 2010 - no point wondering endlessly if you are missing something.

With the short time you have, I'd say the most important things will be setting a reasonable schedule and following it as much as possible + doing NBMEs at strategic points to evaluate your progress. All the best.

 

[ar2388]

what do you guys think of:
http://www.gunnertraining.com/

??