requesting input on 4wk intense prep schedule

[Igor4sugry]

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I am taking the USMLE in last week of May 2010, and have about 26 days of full study available. In addition, I plan on starting daily review in the 2nd semester; so I will not be looking at this material for the 1st time.

I have put together a daily study schedule: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AaW59Rk6okJGZGR4bXp6OXRfMTA3Y3J3ZGdkZHY&hl=en
The schedule focuses on 3Ps and goes by systems. I'm using RR, goljan, FA for pharm; BRS phys

Is this schedule realistic?

My main challenge is that I don't know whether the time I alloted will be appropriate.

What should I include in the last week of study?
Have I left out anything very important?

I will greatly appreciate input.

 

[vicinihil]

I took a quick look at your schedule and I'm thinking something very similar. Roughly a system a day and a few days for the basic sciences with UWorld mixed in daily.

However, I wonder if you should be using FA more for each system instead of just Pharm. Goljan is very good and his audio is excellent, however, FA also has things that he doesn't include and vice versa. FA also does a good job giving out good ways to remember things. CAPTOPRIL recently took the test and said the test itself also relies heavily on the information in FA. I think it'll be wise to work that in.

Also, for your last week of studying, I plan on doing UWorld (5 blocks) daily and spending the rest of the day going over what I was weak on and kind of doing a random but targeted review. If I get 90% on neuro but 10% on reproductive, then I know I need to look over reproductive some more and I'll go back through the FA section, etc.

 

[Igor4sugry]

Thanks for your advice. This semester is quite scary because the boards are fast approaching.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

I am taking the USMLE in last week of May 2010, and have about 26 days of full study available. In addition, I plan on starting daily review in the 2nd semester; so I will not be looking at this material for the 1st time.

I have put together a daily study schedule: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AaW59Rk6okJGZGR4bXp6OXRfMTA3Y3J3ZGdkZHY&hl=en
The schedule focuses on 3Ps and goes by systems. I'm using RR, goljan, FA for pharm; BRS phys

Is this schedule realistic?

My main challenge is that I don't know whether the time I alloted will be appropriate.

What should I include in the last week of study?
Have I left out anything very important?

I will greatly appreciate input.

It's definitely realistic. The best thing about UWorld is that it tracks your progress. 2 weeks in I realized my biochem sucked, so I altered my schedule to increase biochem time and moved other things around. I really like that you broke it down hour by hour. That's what I did too, and it's a great way to stay on track. Just keep yourself flexible as you go through it so you can make changes if necessary; I adjusted my schedule at the start of each week based on successes/failures of the previous week. For the last week a combo of FA and UWorld + focusing on any deficits identified by UWorld would probably be pretty good. My last suggestion would be to throw in a practice test, either UWorld or one of the NBME ones after 2 weeks or so to gauge your overall progress. Best of luck.

 

[orthomodel]

I'm also looking to take step 1 at the end of May (29th). I'm studying during the semester as well but I'm using the Taus method. I tried to make a plan on my own, but until I take a diagnostic I really don't know what my strengths and weaknesses are. The Taus method breaks things down nicely and gives me room to adjust. I'll be interested to see how those who have started boards stuff now are going to progress as the semester goes on. I for one am so glad my class schedule is a little lighter now.