Resources for Step 2

[Quetiapine]

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Was wondering what resources I should use for step 2 that coincides with rotations? From what I gathered it seems that Step Up to Medicine or Step 2 (not sure which one), First Aid, UWorld, USMLE Step 2 Secrets?

Also, I am contemplating on a getting a year long subscription of UWorld, not sure how beneficial that is? Can anyone comment? or should I get a year long subscription of Rx (not sure how good the qbank is either)? I would be using these throughout the year for my shelves etc. Thanks.

 

[greg1184]

Focus on your rotations. Get a book to study for the shelf, such as the case files series or step up to medicine, etc. If you go to the clinical rotations forum you will see tons of suggestions at your disposal.

As for UWorld year on, it is up to you. Some people do that, other people do pre-test, MKSAP, etc for each specific rotation and save UWorld for the end.

In addition I would like to add:

Step 2 FA or Step Up Step 2

and

UWorld​

Get you a 230. If you've ALREADY done both Step FA and Step Up Step2, you're in a really good position. Now, using Uworld is all you need. I would, however, recommend dedicating a weekend to read through one of the books you've already read to refresh you, AND I would "master the material in the question" by sometimes referencing the disease in FA or SU.

You're in a good place.

Thanks Overactive Brain for that wonderful post. 😀

I would just add Secrets if possible for high yield review.

 

[kissmyasthma99]

Was wondering what resources I should use for step 2 that coincides with rotations? From what I gathered it seems that Step Up to Medicine or Step 2 (not sure which one), First Aid, UWorld, USMLE Step 2 Secrets?

Also, I am contemplating on a getting a year long subscription of UWorld, not sure how beneficial that is? Can anyone comment? or should I get a year long subscription of Rx (not sure how good the qbank is either)? I would be using these throughout the year for my shelves etc. Thanks.

I agree with Greg for the most part. For shelves, visit the clinical rotations forum and they will be discussing the best books for that particular shelf. Case Files and PreTest and pretty good go-tos for most the shelves. However, I would highly recommended doing the UWorld for the year like you suggested. I did it for each shelf, and they were invariably questions that seemed verbatim from UWorld. This especially rang true for medicine. ALL I did for medicine was UWorld. I didn't open a book, and I scored in the 92%ile. I don't understand the concept of "waiting" for boards for UWorld. The idea is to learn all of the material in UWorld, and to me it would make sense that the more times you go through it, the better you know it. I did all questions for each shelf, and then I went back and redid the ones I missed/marked the days leading up the shelf. I did pretty well on all shelves (I think my lowest was 88%ile). Ironically, I have found Step Up to Medicine to be the best Step 2 board review book for me (besides Secrets of course), even though I didn't use it for medicine. I would have liked to, I just didn't have time. That is one thing I would add: go ahead and get Secrets. IMO, the boards review book - extremely high yield. I would read the corresponding chapter to whatever my next rotation is the night before I started to get a brief, HY introduction to the field (ex: Psych, Peds). Again, that will just give you more exposure to the material. If you want to know where you stand when it comes time for boards - this is what the NBME practice tests are for. This is NOT what UWorld is for. UWorld is for mastering the material. Another thing I might have done differently is to annotate the answers of UWorld into Step Up to Medicine. I personally think Step Up to Step 2 is a piece of crap without DIT - way to short and no explanations. Good luck on rotations!!

 

[Quetiapine]

I agree with Greg for the most part. For shelves, visit the clinical rotations forum and they will be discussing the best books for that particular shelf. Case Files and PreTest and pretty good go-tos for most the shelves. However, I would highly recommended doing the UWorld for the year like you suggested. I did it for each shelf, and they were invariably questions that seemed verbatim from UWorld. This especially rang true for medicine. ALL I did for medicine was UWorld. I didn't open a book, and I scored in the 92%ile. I don't understand the concept of "waiting" for boards for UWorld. The idea is to learn all of the material in UWorld, and to me it would make sense that the more times you go through it, the better you know it. I did all questions for each shelf, and then I went back and redid the ones I missed/marked the days leading up the shelf. I did pretty well on all shelves (I think my lowest was 88%ile). Ironically, I have found Step Up to Medicine to be the best Step 2 board review book for me (besides Secrets of course), even though I didn't use it for medicine. I would have liked to, I just didn't have time. That is one thing I would add: go ahead and get Secrets. IMO, the boards review book - extremely high yield. I would read the corresponding chapter to whatever my next rotation is the night before I started to get a brief, HY introduction to the field (ex: Psych, Peds). Again, that will just give you more exposure to the material. If you want to know where you stand when it comes time for boards - this is what the NBME practice tests are for. This is NOT what UWorld is for. UWorld is for mastering the material. Another thing I might have done differently is to annotate the answers of UWorld into Step Up to Medicine. I personally think Step Up to Step 2 is a piece of crap without DIT - way to short and no explanations. Good luck on rotations!!

Thanks so much for all the responses.

Is this the Secrets book?

http://www.amazon.com/USMLE-Step-Secrets-Adam-Brochert/dp/156053608X

Also, how big is the book? Can it fit into the white coat pocket? Thanks.

 

[kissmyasthma99]

That's it. That's the 2nd edition, and I have the third. Not sure if there's any difference. It's not really a book worth carrying around in your white coat (more like read the chapter the night before your rotation). Things like Pocket Medicine and Pharmacopoeia are much better for that.