Preparing for Comlex 1

[Doc driven]

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Thanks for the time. I bought first aid for the USMLE for first year of DO school. Does anyone know if it is necessary to have first aid for comlex also? Can't you do great on the comlex by just studying your classes, reading first aid for USMLE and doing USMLE world questions? Any advice is appreciated as I'm trying to decide if I should buy first aid for comlex or not.

 

[AmyO]

First Aid for the COMLEX is a review book for OMT stuff, which I don't think is as important as having First Aid for the USMLE. I personally like Savarese for an OMT review book. Are you already a first year or are you starting this fall? If you haven't started yet, I personally wouldn't get First Aid for the COMLEX yet. OMT review books won't make much sense until you've gotten at least a couple of months of OMT under your belt. Plus First Aid for the Comlex is just in its 1st edition, so by the time you need it, a new edition will probably be available if you decide that you want to go w/ that book.

 

[Doc driven]

That's great. It sounds like all I need to do different to prepare for the comlex is study some OMT. I'll be starting DO school this fall!

 

[Tophcrock]

the only thing i would mention is USMLE world questions, while helping prepare you well with the stuff you're supposed to know, doesn't translate well to the "style" of COMLEX questions. i would suggest that a few days before your exam, find a source of COMLEX questions to get you familiar with them.

 

[kullad]

wow I am impressed preparing for Comlex before starting medical school. With that you have no excuse if you fail 😀, but on a serious note First Aid is a good book to review after you have learned the material. I would study First Aid after each semester/block whatever your school does. Also specifically for Path I would definitely look over Golgan and listen to the lectures while you are learning the material, then just review golgan for the boards, he is very good. Saverese is a good OMT book hard to find though.

OMT is probably included in at least 25% of all the Comlex I, II questions, and they are pretty easy. If you know the basics well you should be ok, don't be like my friend who sucks at OMT and on his Comlex II boards marked down 50% of his OMT answers wrong. It was all easy stuff, things you learn your first few months.... anyway hope that helps.. 😎

 

[Doc driven]

Thanks for more info. I always appreciate it. My plan is to read first aid for USMLE after blocks. Then in second year of med school, order USMLE world and a path book-Golgan maybe. Then just get a basic OMT book to study for comlex. That sounds good.👍

 

[DragonWell]

t i would suggest that a few days before your exam, find a source of COMLEX questions to get you familiar with them.

I'm looking for "COMLEX-style" questions. Any suggestions beyond the 150 question booklet and COMSAE?

Saverese is a good OMT book hard to find though.

Not that hard. 😉 http://www.amazon.com/OMT-Review-3r...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208922698&sr=8-1

Oh and BTW, it's Goljan.

 

[Tophcrock]

at KCOM, our tuition covered a Kaplan sponsored review course for Step 1. included in this was an online subscription to either a USMLE or COMLEX Q-bank and I chose the COMLEX. i don't remember how much the Q-bank costs if you want to pay out of pocket. i also took the USMLE Step 1 and used USMLE world for their Q-bank. i am not sure about other options for COMLEX practice questions.

 

[Amy B]

http://boardsbootcamp.com/
They have some great things to offer including a diagnostic exam that can show you where you are lacking as well as a question bank (question quest)with over 300 questions, to even a full comprehensive independent personalized program with all teh study material you need as well as a personalized plan to follow daily. It is a great program and I would recommend it!

I did it for Step 1 and will tell you that there was literally over 10 questions on the question quest that were almost identical to my actual exam.

 

[DragonWell]

http://boardsbootcamp.com/
They have some great things to offer including a diagnostic exam that can show you where you are lacking as well as a question bank (question quest)with over 300 questions, to even a full comprehensive independent personalized program with all teh study material you need as well as a personalized plan to follow daily. It is a great program and I would recommend it!

I did it for Step 1 and will tell you that there was literally over 10 questions on the question quest that were almost identical to my actual exam.

Thanks, Amy. I'm a bit overwhelmed with resources at the moment, but I will definitely check it out if I can. Everyone talks about how COMLEX questions are "different" than USMLE questions, but no one seems to really be able to explain how they're different...I'd just like to get an idea of what to expect.

 

[Doc driven]

http://boardsbootcamp.com/
They have some great things to offer including a diagnostic exam that can show you where you are lacking as well as a question bank (question quest)with over 300 questions, to even a full comprehensive independent personalized program with all teh study material you need as well as a personalized plan to follow daily. It is a great program and I would recommend it!

I did it for Step 1 and will tell you that there was literally over 10 questions on the question quest that were almost identical to my actual exam.

Thanks. That's a new one I'll check out.👍

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I happened to come across this site:

http://www.lulu.com/content/194208

It's an OMT Review Handbook for the COMLEX ...

Has anyone used this book or know anything about it? How does it compare to the mainstream Sevarese OMT Review? OPP/OMM class has been my achilles heel this semester and will likely get tougher next year (Year 2), so I am curious as to which book to pursue. Thanks for the help.

 

[DragonWell]

I happened to come across this site:

http://www.lulu.com/content/194208

It's an OMT Review Handbook for the COMLEX ...

Has anyone used this book or know anything about it? How does it compare to the mainstream Sevarese OMT Review? OPP/OMM class has been my achilles heel this semester and will likely get tougher next year (Year 2), so I am curious as to which book to pursue. Thanks for the help.

I've looked at this book, and it didn't seem much different than Savarese to me. Savarese has the advantage of having a lot of questions.

Just my opinion, but if you're looking for a book to supplement for OMM, I highly recommend Osteopathic Medicine Recall. A lot of OMM is pure memorization and this little book helps you memorize what's important. It's also a fast read.

Mnemonics might help as well. I can't tell you how many questions "BITE" has helped me get right... bottom -inhalation, top-exhalation

There's some more info about books in this thread.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I've looked at this book, and it didn't seem much different than Savarese to me. Savarese has the advantage of having a lot of questions.

Just my opinion, but if you're looking for a book to supplement for OMM, I highly recommend Osteopathic Medicine Recall. A lot of OMM is pure memorization and this little book helps you memorize what's important. It's also a fast read.

Mnemonics might help as well. I can't tell you how many questions "BITE" has helped me get right... bottom -inhalation, top-exhalation

There's some more info about books in this thread.

Thanks! So, Sevarese and Osteo Recall ... hopefully I can find them cheap. Would you recommend targeting older Sevarese or newer?

 

[DOctorJay]

if you can get this book: http://www.amazon.ca/Handbook-OMT-Review-Msc-Dolinski/dp/1411663217
it'll be a lot more high yield than Savarese although the combo would be best as the questions in Savarese are worthwhile

i believe this is the book doctor4life was talking about - once i got this for boards boot camp i started using it solely for OMT and it worked out very well (would have been great to have during first year actually)

 

[DragonWell]

if you can get this book: http://www.amazon.ca/Handbook-OMT-Review-Msc-Dolinski/dp/1411663217
it'll be a lot more high yield than Savarese although the combo would be best as the questions in Savarese are worthwhile

i believe this is the book doctor4life was talking about - once i got this for boards boot camp i started using it solely for OMT and it worked out very well (would have been great to have during first year actually)

Yeah, it's the same book. The file doc4life linked to is a pdf download of the same.

 

[gouda]

Yeah, it's the same book. The file doc4life linked to is a pdf download of the same.

So I LOVE this book. I only discovered it during my second year, but it is so concise. I like Sarvese because the questions to practice, but I find the OMT Handbook to be very easy to rapidly understand most OMM subjects.

 

[BMW19]

To answer the OP I did like the 1st Aid for the COMLEX. The disclaimer is that you should rely on Savarese (in my opinion) as your primary source (unless you think you can get thru the light reading of the 800 pound green book). The 1st AID COMLEX did have some nice additional pointers about Sacrum stuff (which can be confusing in Savarese's book at first) and other little mneumonics to remember OMT stuff. Again I would NOT rely on this as a primary source but good addition

Thanks for the time. I bought first aid for the USMLE for first year of DO school. Does anyone know if it is necessary to have first aid for comlex also? Can't you do great on the comlex by just studying your classes, reading first aid for USMLE and doing USMLE world questions? Any advice is appreciated as I'm trying to decide if I should buy first aid for comlex or not.

 

[Amy B]

That handbook for OMT review is written by Dr Dolinski who is the same person in charge of the Boards bootcamp program. That book is one of them you get with teh bootcamp program. I believe lulu also sells the bootcamp hi yield compendium.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

That handbook for OMT review is written by Dr Dolinski who is the same person in charge of the Boards bootcamp program. That book is one of them you get with teh bootcamp program. I believe lulu also sells the bootcamp hi yield compendium.

Is it worthwhile to purchase or should I stick to purchasing Sevarese? At this time I have nothing except the massive green monster and some other long-strung out textbook ...

Should I purchase both since it appears Sevarese is good for Qs? Do editions matter? Thanks!

 

[WannaBaDoc]

So I have a quick question.

I'll be starting med school in the fall and plan on buying FA 2008. My question is, everyone always seems to want the latest version. When I'll be in my 2nd year, won't the FA for 2009 be out already?

So, is it better to buy the FA now, or buy the new version when I'll be beginning 2nd year and/or starting to review from the USMLE?

 

[jbone]

IMHO, I wouldn't buy first aid until the summer before your second year. Study hard your first year, get the basics, and follow along with your FA during the systems in second year. Has worked for me thus far....but we'll find out June 20th if it works out or not. Good luck.

 

[Amy B]

Is it worthwhile to purchase or should I stick to purchasing Sevarese? At this time I have nothing except the massive green monster and some other long-strung out textbook ...

Should I purchase both since it appears Sevarese is good for Qs? Do editions matter? Thanks!

I would buy both. I had both and did well on the OMM part because of using both I beleive. The handbook is a shorter read and gets right to the point!!!

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I would buy both. I had both and did well on the OMM part because of using both I beleive. The handbook is a shorter read and gets right to the point!!!

Thanks for the tip!!