Rate my list of books for step 1

[circepix]

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Hey guys, I'm going to get started with step 1 prep very soon, and I need you to tell me what you think of my book list. Some of these books i'm not sure of, I just put them on the list as a "maybe need them depending on what others say" and i've marked those with an X. So please tell me what you think, especially about the marked ones:

First Aid + FA Q&A + FA Cases
Kaplan Lecture Notes
(X) Kaplan MedEssentials(i'm not sure about this one, what do you think?)

(x) BRS physio(i'm not sure if i'll need it since i have the kaplan lectures...?)

Goljan RR Pathology
Robbins and Cotran Review (the one with 1000 questions about path, again, i don't know what to think about this one...seems nice to have that many questions to test yourself but idk if it's useful or not)

Brenner's Flashcards for Pharmacology(i love flashcards)

Microbiology made ridiculously simple

I've got the Lecture notes for anatomy, idk if i need anything else...?

(x)UCV Biochem - should i get this along with the kaplan book on biochem?

HY biostatistics(because it's my weakest subject)

anything for Mol Bio and Cell Bio? Or genetics? is the kaplan book enough?

 

[citr8]

I have Kaplan notes and videos; they are damn well detailed, make me worried I'm wasting time on them... suggestion- only use kaplan to cover weak or vaguely remembered subjects; questions the rest

 

[circepix]

I have Kaplan notes and videos; they are damn well detailed, make me worried I'm wasting time on them... suggestion- only use kaplan to cover weak or vaguely remembered subjects; questions the rest

thanks! 😀 anyone else? 🙂

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Hey guys, I'm going to get started with step 1 prep very soon, and I need you to tell me what you think of my book list. Some of these books i'm not sure of, I just put them on the list as a "maybe need them depending on what others say" and i've marked those with an X. So please tell me what you think, especially about the marked ones:

First Aid + FA Q&A + FA Cases
Kaplan Lecture Notes
(X) Kaplan MedEssentials(i'm not sure about this one, what do you think?)

(x) BRS physio(i'm not sure if i'll need it since i have the kaplan lectures...?)

Goljan RR Pathology
Robbins and Cotran Review (the one with 1000 questions about path, again, i don't know what to think about this one...seems nice to have that many questions to test yourself but idk if it's useful or not)

Brenner's Flashcards for Pharmacology(i love flashcards)

Microbiology made ridiculously simple

I've got the Lecture notes for anatomy, idk if i need anything else...?

(x)UCV Biochem - should i get this along with the kaplan book on biochem?

HY biostatistics(because it's my weakest subject)

anything for Mol Bio and Cell Bio? Or genetics? is the kaplan book enough?

You have far too many resources. Here is a post I made in 2011, pertinent to your studying now.


Ask what you want out of your program.

Kaplan = Augmentation. They will give you knowledge. You read the book, you watch the video, you learn alot. You learn alot using the product. It takes a rediculously long time but the payoff is huge. You use kaplan for augmentation. By augmentation, I mean like titties, as in they are already pretty nice, but now you are gonna make them wow. To push over a 250, you have to learn 10 things NOT on the exam, for every one thing that is on the exam. The problem is, you cant know which will be on the exam, so you have to learn hundreds of things you will never use, just in case they show up. Kaplan is good for this. You have to have a lot of time to dedicate, be willing to put up with a grueling pace, be fully dedicated to rigorous studying, and want a baller score. If you do, it will pay off.

DIT = A Schedule. There is nothing in this course you cannot get out of First Aid and a Qbank. Nothing. What this program does is provide a structure, a framework, a schedule. It makes you stay on track. Its shorter than Kaplan, and, as such, is meager on the information. It is for getting average or a little higher. I would not listen to their boasts about pushing 240s. The speakers are obnoxious, the content is weak, but it provides the framework. You will end up pausing the video to read the book only to realize that you could have just read the book and been done with it. That being said, it at least LOOKS like they've m,ade some upgrades since this was originally posted.

Qbanks are for training. Yes, you can learn from Qbanks, and some people do. It can be your only source of learning (especially when coupled with First Aid lookups for the information you get wrong). But really, what Qbanks do is train you on how to answer questions, how to read questions and figure out what they want you to answer. You do the thing that you are going to do on game day so that come game day, you are comfortable with the surroundings, the plays, and the action is smoother. If you're going to use one, use UWorld. If you're going to use two, do Kaplan for learning during 2nd year, and then Uworld for training.

Bottom Line:

1.) Have a lot of time and want a really high score? FA + Kaplan + Qbank
2.) Are you sort of ADD and need a schedule to keep you on track? FA + DIT + Qbank
3.) Have a really strong foundation or are looking to go average? FA + Qbank

I think everyone now agrees that its FA + Goljan RR + Qbank now

 

[Red15]

You have far too many resources. Here is a post I made in 2011, pertinent to your studying now.


Ask what you want out of your program.

Kaplan = Augmentation. They will give you knowledge. You read the book, you watch the video, you learn alot. You learn alot using the product. It takes a rediculously long time but the payoff is huge. You use kaplan for augmentation. By augmentation, I mean like titties, as in they are already pretty nice, but now you are gonna make them wow. To push over a 250, you have to learn 10 things NOT on the exam, for every one thing that is on the exam. The problem is, you cant know which will be on the exam, so you have to learn hundreds of things you will never use, just in case they show up. Kaplan is good for this. You have to have a lot of time to dedicate, be willing to put up with a grueling pace, be fully dedicated to rigorous studying, and want a baller score. If you do, it will pay off.

DIT = A Schedule. There is nothing in this course you cannot get out of First Aid and a Qbank. Nothing. What this program does is provide a structure, a framework, a schedule. It makes you stay on track. Its shorter than Kaplan, and, as such, is meager on the information. It is for getting average or a little higher. I would not listen to their boasts about pushing 240s. The speakers are obnoxious, the content is weak, but it provides the framework. You will end up pausing the video to read the book only to realize that you could have just read the book and been done with it. That being said, it at least LOOKS like they've m,ade some upgrades since this was originally posted.

Qbanks are for training. Yes, you can learn from Qbanks, and some people do. It can be your only source of learning (especially when coupled with First Aid lookups for the information you get wrong). But really, what Qbanks do is train you on how to answer questions, how to read questions and figure out what they want you to answer. You do the thing that you are going to do on game day so that come game day, you are comfortable with the surroundings, the plays, and the action is smoother. If you're going to use one, use UWorld. If you're going to use two, do Kaplan for learning during 2nd year, and then Uworld for training.

Bottom Line:

1.) Have a lot of time and want a really high score? FA + Kaplan + Qbank
2.) Are you sort of ADD and need a schedule to keep you on track? FA + DIT + Qbank
3.) Have a really strong foundation or are looking to go average? FA + Qbank

I think everyone now agrees that its FA + Goljan RR + Qbank now

Thank you! Really needed that!