? new R1s thinking about this vs Kaplan, Kaplan seemed to cover things okish, but how is Premier Review, personally I think that just questions and practice on the ccs software is sufficient.
Premier review for USMLE Step 3
- Thread starter andwhat
- Start date
wowwwwww lol I did write this at that particular time. Yes Premier was amazing, and Kaplan was ATROCIOUS!!!!!!!!!!! that is how I can compare and contrast.
Kaplan didn't cover USMLE Step 3 topics AT ALL HELLO ANYBODY KNOWS WHAT DIABETES IS, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT A STROKE IS, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HYPERTENSION IS, BUT WHAT IS TESTED ON USMLE STEP 3??
Kaplan MISERABLY FAILED to answer that most important question. Kaplan is way way way off, and Premier was almost right on target most of the way.
Truth is nothing covers everything tested on this examination, but Premier comes the closest.
I think that USMLE World is good too, but the explanations are key, some of those questions are too vague. The ccs portion is organized in such a manner that its tough to remember all of those details, albeit if you spend enough time with it then maybe it can work.
First Aid covers almost every ccs case you can get on step 3. I cannot say that this is a guaranteed thing, but its close enough to it.
Kaplan doesn't even come close to providing adequate information required to pass USMLE Step 3.
Kaplan riddled with errors, Premier right on as far as accuracy of medical material, that is up to date and CORRECT most importantly. Taught by academic physicians, and not ones in private practice with no knowledge whatsoever of academics, or what is tested on USMLE most importantly.
single book with questions? Probably the best one for step 3, is the Primary Care book from MKSAP 14. You can get the CD rom sometimes off of Ebay. Swanson's is ok for a review, but the questions are tougher on the real test.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2005
- Messages
- 67
- Reaction score
- 0
are you talkkng about Swanson's Family Medicine review?
I am looking for materials my self.
I am looking for materials my self.
yup, Swansons book isn't bad. A nice book though, is the Primary Care book from MKSAP 14. Kind of hard to get but worth it.
If you cannot, NMS will easily suffice, its a great source of tougher questions -- the format of questions (negatively phrased) is different than the actual examination, but it really does reinforce important concepts. NMS is tough.
That NBME test is worthwhile doing also a couple of days or weeks outside of your test.
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2007
- Messages
- 940
- Reaction score
- 620
andwhat: Did you bring up this thread because you just took the Premier Review course a few weeks back? If so, I also just took it and we may have met. I'm starting to study for Step 3 right now. To anybody else preparing for the exam, I also have the Kaplan material and I don't think it's as useful for Step 3. It's easy to say know about DM, HTN, CAD, CHF, Obesity, COPD, etc. but what to know is better highlited with Premier. There are a number of examples that come to mind as I go through the notes and compare with Kaplan, which makes me believe Premier is more thorough: 1. HIV is covered in only 2 pages Kaplan!! There's way more to know about it that and Premier has 6 (plus there's more writing per page) 2. Other topics like Tb, rabies, Tetanus vaccine indications, and lesser known (but high yield) things like Polymylagia rheumatica, mixed cryoglobulinemia are covered 3. A lot of Step 3 is preventive med which is glazed upon, at best with Kaplan e.g. vaccines, cancer screening, etc. 4. Newer meds are included e.g. treating Chronic HBV that's Lamivudine-resistant w/ Adefovir dipivoxil (Although they say it takes a few years for the boards to update medical advances, if something's the new accepted standard of care, it's probably fair game)
No, I don't work for Premier but just want to be done with this exam like everybody else. I guess the best way to tell if the material is really superior is after two months when I take the test.
No, I don't work for Premier but just want to be done with this exam like everybody else. I guess the best way to tell if the material is really superior is after two months when I take the test.
hey dude, no check it out the thread was created over a year ago, when I took Premier.
11-12-2006, 09:06 PM #1
andwhat
Senior Member
I did very well on step 3, considering the amount of time crunch that I was facing, and let me tell you that Kaplan was not only a severe waste of time and money, effort and energy. It was a severe disappointment, considering that these courses charge money, and these are PAID EDUCATORS supposed to be teaching the world of step 3 takers something.
Now how in the world can they possibly get away with that? They dont even cover stats, ethics, or epidemiology??? What do they want people to just WING IT??
They are quite argumentative during the course also, they are afraid of taking questions, and bicker with the students. Totally low class and ridiculous.
I think that Premier has an excellent teaching method. Thing is, that you should learn it line for line, whatever they say in the course, believe me it will pay dividends later on.
No dude, sorry I took it a year ago, and THANKS TO PREMIER AND NOT KAPLAN I am moonlighting and doing upper level call with my permanent license.
USMLE World is way way overhyped here I am not sure why. I think that the explanations are pretty darned good, but the questions are so vague at times?! leaves the reader lost and clueless..
ccs don't forget to use first aid, excellent ccs scenario set in the back, and practice with the software diligently.
NMS is an awesome question set, you can conquer it in less than a week.
For God's sake, please do not use Kaplan step 3 material, throw it out.
