Prepping for Step 1 in a BA/MD program

[Flarsheim]

---

Members don't see this ad.

After high school, I entered a 6 year combined BA/MD program in the Midwest, of which I am now in Year 2. I've completed Biochemistry, Cell Biology, and Genetics. Currently, I'm learning Gross Anatomy, Histology, Embryology, and Physiology taught in the same time frame, but as separate subjects, going thru each organ system. All our science classes are letter graded. Luckily so far, I have a 4.0.

I looked here: http://www.usmle.org/Examinations/step1/2010Step1.pdf, where it says "Some questions test the examinee's fund of information per se, but the majority of questions require the examinee to interpret graphic and tabular material, to identify gross and microscopic pathologic and normal specimens, and to solve problems through application of basic science principles." Our school exams, at least the ones so far up to this point, have been straight memorizing and recall questions from bullets on powerpoint slides or from a textbook, and not solving problems through application.

My question is, besides getting subject review books from the bookstore (or should I get the Kaplan Lecture Notes instead?) and First Aid to drive information into my brain, how do I start preparing to actually be able to answer a USMLE Step 1 type question (bc my classes so far, have been a joke when it comes to helping prepare). I've heard real USMLE questions integrate across subject areas (like testing Pathology and Physiology at the same time), rather than testing only 1 subject at a time.

Right now, I've gotten the basic science case books from Case Files. Should I maybe get the First Aid for the Basic Sciences books? Any guidance is appreciated.

 

[Flarsheim]

These are our required textbooks for classes on our bookstore website. I included them here as I was unsure whether med students actually use textbooks initially, when it comes to learning for Step 1, and if so, I wanted to have the right ones.

Cell Biology (college-level class)
Essential Cell Biology, Alberts, et al.

Genetics (college-level class)
Introduction to Genetic Analysis, Griffiths, et al.

Biochemistry (4 months)
Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations, Devlin

Gross Anatomy (6 months)
Gray's Anatomy For Students, Drake
Atlas Of Anatomy, Gilroy
Lachman's Case Studies In Anatomy, Cahill

Histology (6 months)
Histology: Text & Atlas, Ross
Atlas Of Descriptive Histology, Ross

Embryology (6 months)
Langman's Essential Medical Embryology, Sadler

Physiology (6 months)
Textbook Of Medical Physiology, Guyton

===============================

Medical Microbiology (4 months)
Sherris Medical Microbiology, Ryan, et al.
Immunology: A Short Course, Coico & Sunshine

Medical Neurosciences (4 months)
The Human Brain – An Introduction to its Functional Anatomy, Nolte.
Basic Clinical Neuroscience, Young
BRS Neuroanatomy, Fix

Pathology (4 months)
Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis Of Disease, Kumar
New Clinical Genetics, Read

Pharmacology (2 months)
Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Katzung, et al.

Behavioral Science (1 month)
none

 

[vicinihil]

(almost) no one uses textbooks to study for step 1's. If you peruse the forum a little more, you'll find that everyone relies on a solid set of prep books.

First Aid (most current)
Rapid Review Pathology
High Yield Neuroscience
BRS Physiology
Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple

That should about all you need and throw in a Qbank or two (Kaplan or UsmleWorld) and you're set.

 

[Flarsheim]

vicinihil, thank you! I realize for specifically the USMLE Step 1 review period (once classes are over) textbooks and syllabi are not used for review (as in the "Texts, Syllabi, and Notes" paragraph in First Aid.

I apologize as what I meant was using textbooks for learning, solidifying things in my brain to get the entire picture, when putting together information for the first time in a class, and using board review books to summarize and hit the main points. Or would I be better off relying on a prep book only, bc they're comprehensive enough (i.e. using only BRS Physiology for Physiology)?

 

[vicinihil]

I'm not sure what your school does, but do they hand out a set of notes for each class? I think for the most part, I relied on those notes to study for the course, then supplemented that with review books

for example...we got a 600+ page syllabus for all of Biochem but I supplemented that with Lippincott's or

We got a >1000 page syllabus for Path and I supplemented that with WebPath, Robbins and Cotrans, Rapid Review, and First Aid.

Using a textbook, in my opinion isn't a good use of time but if your school doesn't hand out notes then I have no idea what they expect you to do. It's probably best to check with an upperclassman for that.

 

[Flarsheim]

I'm not sure what your school does, but do they hand out a set of notes for each class? I think for the most part, I relied on those notes to study for the course, then supplemented that with review books

for example...we got a 600+ page syllabus for all of Biochem but I supplemented that with Lippincott's or

We got a >1000 page syllabus for Path and I supplemented that with WebPath, Robbins and Cotrans, Rapid Review, and First Aid.

Using a textbook, in my opinion isn't a good use of time but if your school doesn't hand out notes then I have no idea what they expect you to do. It's probably best to check with an upperclassman for that.

Usually we're given lecture powerpoint files in PDF format in advance. Faculty usually end up going thru the specific textbook chapter, although there are exceptions. Like in our Human Structure Function class (where we take Anatomy and Physiology together), our Gross Anatomy professors don't really follow the textbook at all, which makes it difficult after to class to get the entire picture of what you're learning when you can only get the info in lecture and can't find it anywhere in the book.

We're "lucky" in one respect that each basic science subject taught has 1 to 2 professors for the entire course, except Pathology (team of hospital pathologists) and Pharmacology (team of PharmDs). This is only my opinion, but I 😍 the ones who actively go through the specific textbook chapter in lecture and even explain things like the figures, etc. I feel like I'm getting my money's worth, for having to buy the textbook.

 

[turkeyjerky]

part of it, i'm sure, is that your current classes are factoid-heavy subjects--that's just the nature of the beast at this point. once you get into path and pathophys things get a lot more clinical and there are actually connections to be made.

fyi, i would avoid that nolte neuroscience book at all costs. worst. textbook. ever.

 

[Flarsheim]

part of it, i'm sure, is that your current classes are factoid-heavy subjects--that's just the nature of the beast at this point. once you get into path and pathophys things get a lot more clinical and there are actually connections to be made.

fyi, i would avoid that nolte neuroscience book at all costs. worst. textbook. ever.

You're right, it is a lot of factoid information so far. I just wish my professors would write their exam questions that test the Anatomy info in the same format that the USMLE does, rather than as one-to-two sentence recall questions which more measure memorization capability.

What textbook do you recommend for Neuroscience?

 

[turkeyjerky]

concise text of neuroscience is good. high yield neuroanatomy is awesome, but isn't sufficient