Reasonable prep for Step 1 as a first year

[Corkboard]

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Hey y'all,
I just got into a US News top-10 med school. I'm excited.
However my MCAT-verbal was objectively bad, my reading uptake is slow, relatively speaking. I'm not at all a 'Gunner.'

I want a 250+ on Step 1's. duh, don't we all?

*I've used search function, I know what people suggest -- have fun this year. Travel, do things because you won't have time in med school, work out, etc.

Here's the thing -- I have too much fun.

if i didn't work out before work, i work out right after. Then I party (too hard). Then weekends are a haze of tox and detox. It's the life of somebody in the entertainment industry

It's not healthy. I need to recapture the focus that put me in this fortunate position, as I will be surrounded by very bright classmates, especially those straight out of undergrad who haven't had time to face the Sirens and temptations of the non-school life.

What's the most logical way to use the guides to start preparing?
Biochem first? Anatomy first? USMLE Step 1 for Dummies?


(and if you say travel, see: sex/drugs/rock-n-roll dilemma and multiply it by 5.)

-House MD
(kidding, but just beat you to the punchline)

 

[MrBeauregard]

Assuming you aren't a troll (this is your first post and all)...

Brother, chill. You can get a 250+ with 5 weeks of hardcore studying if you did well in your first 2 years. I'll say this once and I won't reply to this thread again (mainly because I seriously doubt you'll take any advice given to you, even if it goes against that which you obviously want to hear): do not study, at all. Absolutely do not attempt to study for Step 1, especially since you haven't even had your first medical school lecture yet.

Go smoke some more druuuug cigarettes or "tox and detox" or whatever it is you do. But seriously, don't try and get ahead. It just isn't worth your time, and anything you think you 'have down COLD!' you will just forget anyways. Step 1 is such a beast of a test, and there are so many minute details, that you need to cram them in at the end for them to stick with you for the exam.

tl;dr: there is nothing you can do right now to study for Step 1 so don't even try.

 

[Munchen]

1. Try and learn your cell and molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry well. Life really starts at that level.

2. Get a good understanding of human physiology- the functions of each organ and system. Have a good grasp of neurophysiology, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine physiology.

All in all, I'd say spend time learning the basics (the normal structure, functions, and workings of the human body at the biomolecular level) that your first year teaches you really well.

 

[gravitywave]

1. Try and learn your cell and molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry well. Life really starts at that level.

2. Get a good understanding of human physiology- the functions of each organ and system. Have a good grasp of neurophysiology, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine physiology.

All in all, I'd say spend time learning the basics (the normal structure, functions, and workings of the human body at the biomolecular level) that your first year teaches you really well.

this is good advice. the most valuable course in the traditional MS1 curriculum is physiology, far and away. the details from biochem and mol bio are going to fade away as soon as the test is done, but try to do well there as it will then take less effort to bring it all back at Step time. Overall: make sure you understand big picture concepts, don't sweat the small forgettable stuff.

Note that this is also good advice for doing well in your first year generally, but I'd venture that the most valuable courses for MS2 and the Step are

physio >>> mol bio > biochem > neurosci > histo > anatomy > embryo

 

[newdoc2013]

start with biochem, microbio and cell bio because you need little background knowledge in these subjects and they will keep popping up throughout medical school -- reinforcing concepts.

 

[bbaggins]

I'm a first year and have been using a program called gunner training, gunnertraining.com. And I think it is awesome. I would start using it at some point during first year. I don't know if I would start it right away, but maybe wait a bit. People used to say to start it after anatomy because there was no anatomy section on GT, but there is one now so maybe it would work to start it pretty soon.

Of course I have not taken Step 1 yet, but I have been doing good in my classes and often get an answer on a test because it is something I have learned/remembered on GT.

 

[SOML]

I'm a first year and have been using a program called gunner training, gunnertraining.com. And I think it is awesome. I would start using it at some point during first year. I don't know if I would start it right away, but maybe wait a bit. People used to say to start it after anatomy because there was no anatomy section on GT, but there is one now so maybe it would work to start it pretty soon.

Of course I have not taken Step 1 yet, but I have been doing good in my classes and often get an answer on a test because it is something I have learned/remembered on GT.

reading this post, I can't help but recall what an even earlier post in this thread mentioned about "don't sweat the details, you'll forget anyway, focus on understanding.. you should learn all the minutiae a couple weeks before the step"..

My question to you is: Is GT too details (for the Step) oriented? You're using it during 1st yr (after anatomy) right? So how relevant is this program to your understanding of med school material ( and medicine in general) vs Step material (which I agree with the above, that true step studying happens near the test)?

I briefly contemplated trying GT out before, and now I'm just about done with 1st sem. Thanks, and sorry all if this isn't in the GT thread (but it is about studying for 1st yr).

 

[SOML]

1. Try and learn your cell and molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry well. Life really starts at that level.

2. Get a good understanding of human physiology- the functions of each organ and system. Have a good grasp of neurophysiology, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine physiology.

All in all, I'd say spend time learning the basics (the normal structure, functions, and workings of the human body at the biomolecular level) that your first year teaches you really well.

Addressing the concerns of the OP, I completely agree with the above.

From what I've seen so far, the best prep for the Step (right now for you) would be to really just understand basics. Really know the basic overview of Biochem/molecular bio, such as the basic flow of the metabolic map (process of glycolysis in relation to the rest of metabolism).. this way, when the task of memorizing minutiae comes around, you'll already have a mental skeletal network of knowledge for that random piece of information to fall into.
Right now, most of First Aid and other Step-specific material will just throw seemingly random pieces of info at you, and you WILL forget these details.

To entertain your desire to study (the fact that you posted this, I assume that you're not asking in the spirit of practicality, but want some confirmation it), there is a book that is Step-oriented that I would recommend, even before med school. It is BRS physiology by Costanzo. Get a hold of this book and know it cold. Assuming you had some type of physio in undergrad, this book is both relevant and invaluable.

Since FA is the gold standard reference for Step material, I realized that annotating and taking notes in it as the material pops up during school works out. For ex/, when brachial plexus lesion leading to Klumpke's palsy is taught in anatomy, note it's presence, annotate, highlight within FA. But not having anatomy before, this info would be alien to you, so reading about it beforehand is truly, useless.

 

[blue0rchid]

To entertain your desire to study (the fact that you posted this, I assume that you're not asking in the spirit of practicality, but want some confirmation it), there is a book that is Step-oriented that I would recommend, even before med school. It is BRS physiology by Costanzo. Get a hold of this book and know it cold. Assuming you had some type of physio in undergrad, this book is both relevant and invaluable.

Like the OP, I'm looking to spend some time studying as well... Thanks for the advice. FYI, I won't be trying to memorize details, just trying to learn concepts.

 

[Corkboard]

I appreciate the responses, y'all.

Once again, I know I'm not supposed to 'study' for Step 1 at this point because there are so many details. But if I can at least have overview / increased familiarity with, say, physiology at this point it'd help me in my 1st year amongst my undoubtedly very bright classmates.

I took a lot of science courses during undergrad (double majored in Human Biology and Chemical Biology) but that was a couple years ago. If I can teach myself a lot of physio/biochem over the next 9 months, that'd just make the transition back into school easier.


Also, I've never touched -- let alone smoked -- a cigarette in my life.

Great, useful forum. Thank you guys. I'll look into BRS Physiology and if anybody has any other books they recommend please let me know!

 

[mtwop]

I appreciate the responses, y'all.

Once again, I know I'm not supposed to 'study' for Step 1 at this point because there are so many details. But if I can at least have overview / increased familiarity with, say, physiology at this point it'd help me in my 1st year amongst my undoubtedly very bright classmates.

I took a lot of science courses during undergrad (double majored in Human Biology and Chemical Biology) but that was a couple years ago. If I can teach myself a lot of physio/biochem over the next 9 months, that'd just make the transition back into school easier.


Also, I've never touched -- let alone smoked -- a cigarette in my life.

Great, useful forum. Thank you guys. I'll look into BRS Physiology and if anybody has any other books they recommend please let me know!

BRS phys is a truncated version of Costanzo's larger text, which won't make much sense to you until after you have read the larger one (much like first aid likely doesn't make sense right now either, but will later on). I was exactly like you during first year. It's great that you have the motivation, but you will honestly have an entire new appreciation of this material AFTER learning most 2nd year material. This is why so much of the review books aren't very helpful during 1st year. I really wish somebody would have emphasized this point to me when I was in your shoes last year. You might as well spend your time memorizing the minutiae that will at least help your class rank. This was a mistake I made, and it's going to cost me AOA. Think about it. As for other 1st year books I would also highly recommend Clinical Micro made simple OR Microcards (I tried both-too overwhelming) and Lippincott Biochem (Goljan is better ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE PATH). Sorry for the beast of a post, but I truly wish I would have taken this advice when I was in your shoes last year. Good luck!

 

[bbaggins]

My question to you is: Is GT too details (for the Step) oriented? You're using it during 1st yr (after anatomy) right? So how relevant is this program to your understanding of med school material ( and medicine in general) vs Step material (which I agree with the above, that true step studying happens near the test)?

I really don't know how detailed GT is compared to Step 1. I think to decide if you want to use it or not depends on whether or not it gets in the way of classes. That's one reason I think it would be good to wait until after anatomy to start it. They offer a free two week trial, and you can find codes for a free 1 month trial and see if it works to use it in addition to your courses once you are past the initial getting used to medical school stage. And it has been relevant to what I have been learning in all my classes.

I really feel like it is a good program that works. I frequently will see a question on a topic that I haven't seen for 60-90 days and I know it right away because of the way I have reviewed it on a regular basis, and the time commitment is not enough to make it a hassle.

 

[gravitywave]

BRS phys is a truncated version of Costanzo's larger text, which won't make much sense to you until after you have read the larger one (much like first aid likely doesn't make sense right now either, but will later on). I was exactly like you during first year. It's great that you have the motivation, but you will honestly have an entire new appreciation of this material AFTER learning most 2nd year material. This is why so much of the review books aren't very helpful during 1st year. I really wish somebody would have emphasized this point to me when I was in your shoes last year. You might as well spend your time memorizing the minutiae that will at least help your class rank. This was a mistake I made, and it's going to cost me AOA. Think about it. As for other 1st year books I would also highly recommend Clinical Micro made simple OR Microcards (I tried both-too overwhelming) and Lippincott Biochem (Goljan is better ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE PATH). Sorry for the beast of a post, but I truly wish I would have taken this advice when I was in your shoes last year. Good luck!

i don't know about BRS Phys not making sense if you haven't read big Costanzo... I've never ever seen a copy of the textbook but I can tell you that the BRS version makes plenty of sense to me, now that my physio course is done I do feel it's a waste to try to work out of any review book until you're pretty close to done with the source material from school i.e. don't try to study BRS before school starts, as someone else suggested.

The RR series is really where it's at, but as you say, it's impossible to use it well until you're toward the end of the second year.

 

[manny99]

I'm an MSII and I would highly reccomend starting Gunnertraining and using it throughout the first two years. It will keep all the important Phys/Biochem/Anat etc that you worked so hard to learn fresh in your brain. So now when I look at first aid that info has already been hammered in and I don't have to relearn, not to mention it has helped a ton in MSII classes.

 

[SOML]

i don't know about BRS Phys not making sense if you haven't read big Costanzo... I've never ever seen a copy of the textbook but I can tell you that the BRS version makes plenty of sense to me, now that my physio course is done I do feel it's a waste to try to work out of any review book until you're pretty close to done with the source material from school i.e. don't try to study BRS before school starts, as someone else suggested.

I both agree and humbly disagree, offering a clarification: I stated that BRS Physio IS useful and invaluable IF you've had physio in undergrad. Everything in the book was covered in my undergrad physio (ucsd), save for a couple clinical correlations (which do make sense upon first read, assuming you understand the physiology.

I do agree that much of it won't make sense if you don't have the right background. Most ppl that want to "pre-study" I assume, do have some background.

 

[gravitywave]

I both agree and humbly disagree, offering a clarification: I stated that BRS Physio IS useful and invaluable IF you've had physio in undergrad. Everything in the book was covered in my undergrad physio (ucsd), save for a couple clinical correlations (which do make sense upon first read, assuming you understand the physiology.

I do agree that much of it won't make sense if you don't have the right background. Most ppl that want to "pre-study" I assume, do have some background.

i completely agree with you; i was responding to a couple things that mtwop said, and not to your post.