Hi all, I'm going to be an MS2 in August. I'm going to have a bit of free time this summer and was hoping I could brush up on MS1 fundamentals to better prepare me for next year/ provide a good foundation for step studying. I don't plan on buying first aid, uworld, etc. until closer to the step, so I am hoping for some recommendations to help me brush up on Physio, Gross, Immuno, Neuro, and Biochem. I'd appreciate any suggestions! Thank you
MD & DO Preparing for the Step/MS2 Year
- Thread starter xsxoxfx7
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2013
- Messages
- 1,497
- Reaction score
- 1,251
Buy first aid now.
Imagine a society where you are sorted into the geographical location and job based on innate intellect and abilities. That's step 1 in a very basic form. If you convince yourself that your score will keep doors open to those heavenly gates of coastal living/prestigious hospitals/desirable cities then don't fall victim to the secret communistic method of doctor sorting in this country. Our solution right now to the distribution problem is to ship low step scorers in hordes off to Idaho and Wyoming, to cow towns to provide care since very little others want to do it.
Because step 1 is a test of your memory and test taking ability, if you're lacking in one of those depts then start studying now with first aid and Uworld. Don't wait till the end. By working now you can raise your chances of a high score against some of those with gifted brain cells who rock 250's without studying for more than a couple weeks, and especially against those who assume anyone <230 didn't "want it badly enough" or "didn't work hard enough". Sounds awfully familiar to the idea that poor people just "didn't work hard enough or didn't want it badly enough" without considering the obstacles they had to overcome. If you are fortunate enough not to have obstacles you will be ok as long as you do the usual UFAP, but if not then start studying beginning of second year. Don't fall victim to the chains of a bad step 1 score and be shipped off to an undesirable location or specialty that you didn't even intend to do in medicine.
Best of luck. You have one shot at this test that shuts doors on countless hopeful med students. Don't listen to the brainwashing stories of special snowflake N=1 on SDN of a guy who knows a guy who matched ophtho with a 220 that will only crush thousands of dreams when the reality of statistics kicks in. Don't even listen to the threads that state there is more to the application and getting your foot in the door if you are he son of Harvard's dean. These threads are just extra motivation when you are tired of watching YouTube motivational videos to tell you that there's still a chance. Fight this test with all that you've got. Don't give in to the sorting hat of step 1.
Imagine a society where you are sorted into the geographical location and job based on innate intellect and abilities. That's step 1 in a very basic form. If you convince yourself that your score will keep doors open to those heavenly gates of coastal living/prestigious hospitals/desirable cities then don't fall victim to the secret communistic method of doctor sorting in this country. Our solution right now to the distribution problem is to ship low step scorers in hordes off to Idaho and Wyoming, to cow towns to provide care since very little others want to do it.
Because step 1 is a test of your memory and test taking ability, if you're lacking in one of those depts then start studying now with first aid and Uworld. Don't wait till the end. By working now you can raise your chances of a high score against some of those with gifted brain cells who rock 250's without studying for more than a couple weeks, and especially against those who assume anyone <230 didn't "want it badly enough" or "didn't work hard enough". Sounds awfully familiar to the idea that poor people just "didn't work hard enough or didn't want it badly enough" without considering the obstacles they had to overcome. If you are fortunate enough not to have obstacles you will be ok as long as you do the usual UFAP, but if not then start studying beginning of second year. Don't fall victim to the chains of a bad step 1 score and be shipped off to an undesirable location or specialty that you didn't even intend to do in medicine.
Best of luck. You have one shot at this test that shuts doors on countless hopeful med students. Don't listen to the brainwashing stories of special snowflake N=1 on SDN of a guy who knows a guy who matched ophtho with a 220 that will only crush thousands of dreams when the reality of statistics kicks in. Don't even listen to the threads that state there is more to the application and getting your foot in the door if you are he son of Harvard's dean. These threads are just extra motivation when you are tired of watching YouTube motivational videos to tell you that there's still a chance. Fight this test with all that you've got. Don't give in to the sorting hat of step 1.
- Joined
- May 24, 2016
- Messages
- 89
- Reaction score
- 174
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2013
- Messages
- 1,497
- Reaction score
- 1,251
See OP.
Take our kind Elessar, for instance. A worthy example of a student who finds his or her mastery in the form of memorizing anki cards. This method is quite effective for those who were blessed with a good word to word association for encoding memory. It also happens to be a form of memorization that not all of us are lucky to have, but is very very common in medical students with a good baseline of memory capabilities.
He or she is also fortunate enough to have very much enjoyed his first year of medical school having contributed to those less fortunate who were burned out from MS1 showing them great concern for their MS2 drive. A common example of how some students adapt well to the stressors while some aren't quite as fortunate.
He or she would be a very good example of someone to follow if you go through anki cards as quickly and as efficiently as he or she does, but there may be a chance you were not born with or molded into this way of learning.
Fret not! Everyone has different learning styles so you will surely find your way of memorizing UFAP to the most of your capabilities.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2014
- Messages
- 1,730
- Reaction score
- 1,665
I got out of class a week ago and started hitting First Aid.
Quick question...
Should I just buy Uworld and use that? or keep using USMLE Rx?
Quick question...
Should I just buy Uworld and use that? or keep using USMLE Rx?
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2014
- Messages
- 513
- Reaction score
- 460
I just took step 1 a few days ago so make of that what you will. I'm not sure that brushing up on anything is really worth your time in the summer. In the absence of an upcoming test, your brain won't be as inclined to absorb and integrate the details. You will spend your time passively learning and then promptly forgetting the material you just covered within a matter of days. I also found that it wasn't until March/April of 2nd year that I really knew enough about every subject to integrate and solidify the details that are relevant to boards. By that time, you will have a much better grasp on what details are worth remembering for boards, or even studying in the first place. You just don't have this knowledge base when you've only finished first year. This makes studying over the summer a huge waste of time when you could be relaxing and recuperating for the coming marathon that is 2nd year/step 1. If you want to be productive, try and hop onto some research, read the news, learn how healthcare insurance/industry works, etc. Anything but study the different cytoskeletal proteins in cells, because I can assure you, that stuff is useless--you just don't realize it yet.
That being said, if you already started systems 1st year (we had completed MSK/Cardio/Respiratory) and haven't done the relevant questions from one of two question banks (Kaplan/Rx), you can do those. But that's it. Seriously. All you need to worry about until about December of 2nd year is having done the 200 or so board questions from either Kaplan or Rx for each system you've done. Once December comes along, start doing the other qbank on random timed. Finish that by about March. Start UWorld. Finish first pass by May. Start 2nd pass. Take boards in early June. This will undoubtedly produce a score that you desire, and none of it requires studying during the summer. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy life a little. We all know that it's far too short to spend a summer inside studying when you will have nothing to show for it.
That being said, if you already started systems 1st year (we had completed MSK/Cardio/Respiratory) and haven't done the relevant questions from one of two question banks (Kaplan/Rx), you can do those. But that's it. Seriously. All you need to worry about until about December of 2nd year is having done the 200 or so board questions from either Kaplan or Rx for each system you've done. Once December comes along, start doing the other qbank on random timed. Finish that by about March. Start UWorld. Finish first pass by May. Start 2nd pass. Take boards in early June. This will undoubtedly produce a score that you desire, and none of it requires studying during the summer. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy life a little. We all know that it's far too short to spend a summer inside studying when you will have nothing to show for it.
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2014
- Messages
- 513
- Reaction score
- 460
Don't do UW until about March at the earliest if you're taking step 1 in June. Do Kaplan/Rx before that point.
Thank you for your advice! I know I'm someone who has the potential to do pretty well on the step but I can take a while to retain information so I could benefit from a refresher of basic concepts. I'm taking the step in June so definitely planning on aggressively studying starting March/April. In the mean time, do you think BRS could be good for brushing up a bit? I found it helpful for physio but did not buy it for any other class.
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2014
- Messages
- 513
- Reaction score
- 460
I feel like I'm the same way, which is why I started doing a little bit in December. I did the BRS anatomy comprehensive exam (in the back of the book) in May and it was okay. I felt the relevant anatomy was covered well enough through all the UW/Kaplan/Rx questions. Did one of the physio chapter tests in May, but I think it was a bit overkill and your time could be better spent doing something else. If anything, I'd recommend using it as a comprehensive study source along with classes (when discussing the relevant material in class) and maybe doing some of the end-of-chapter questions then. I found that "reviewing" material was often much less productive than simply doing questions. I'd recommend doing as many questions as you can get your hands on, as this will readily more identify your weak areas than passively reviewing a chapter or something.
