Resources: Osmosis, Firecracker, Others?

[bearintraining]

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I realize this has been asked in various forms throughout the forum, but I still feel like I don't have a great handle on what the best solution is.

I'm an M1 and I feel that I need to up my game. We have end of block exams (no exams during), and I want to do more comprehensive studying, in part to remember it better, and in part to do well on NBME practice exams (required as part of the end of a block). We are systems based and cover both normal and path in the same block.

What resources do people feel have been useful? I have been studying FA at the end of the block (perhaps one improvement is to start earlier with it), but not much else outside of lecture notes and other req. activities (e.g. PBL). Osmosis and Firecracker have specials currently, but I'm not sure that either is great.

 

[QualityProcess]

there is no best solution, just what works for you. I did a little FC but couldn't keep up. Those that keep up do well, it seems. First Aid is the only resource I recommend to every student regardless of circumstances.

 

[caramelbear]

I swear by firecracker and pathoma.

 

[Affiche]

I swear by firecracker and pathoma.

You don't find FC to be overwhelming? How much time do you spend on it per day? I'm in the same situation as OP and debating getting it.

 

[caramelbear]

It definitely can be overwhelming, but if I miss a day then I miss a day. I was spending hours making anki decks based off lectures, and that just wasn't a great use of time. I also knew they would not be good for boards studying. I go way overboard on firecracker some days and don't get all the questions done on others. I am noticing that I have about the same amount of cards due everyday now even if I didn't complete them all the day before.

I've been between 92-100% on my exams this year with the exception of our renal block exam which still went well. Class averages hover around 80. If you are a notecard person, I suggest it.

I probably spend 90-180 mins on it. It depends on if I am reviewing, etc. It was time that I used to spend on anki.

 

[medstu99]

Honestly guys, using too many resources can be so overwhelming.. you just don't know where to begin and feel even more frustrated. After trying out some stuff, I realized that using FA and Lecturio video lectures for more comprehensive studying is the most efficient way to kill my med school exams.

 

[bearintraining]

It definitely can be overwhelming, but if I miss a day then I miss a day. I was spending hours making anki decks based off lectures, and that just wasn't a great use of time. I also knew they would not be good for boards studying. I go way overboard on firecracker some days and don't get all the questions done on others. I am noticing that I have about the same amount of cards due everyday now even if I didn't complete them all the day before.

I've been between 92-100% on my exams this year with the exception of our renal block exam which still went well. Class averages hover around 80. If you are a notecard person, I suggest it.

I probably spend 90-180 mins on it. It depends on if I am reviewing, etc. It was time that I used to spend on anki.

Yes, this is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I feel that trying to make more condensed notes of lectures are going to be a waste of time, and I'd be better suited to utilize a different resource that may also fill in gaps or approach material in a different way

 

[bearintraining]

Honestly guys, using too many resources can be so overwhelming.. you just don't know where to begin and feel even more frustrated. After trying out some stuff, I realized that using FA and Lecturio video lectures for more comprehensive studying is the most efficient way to kill my med school exams.

Can you tell me a bit more about Lecturio? Never heard of it before.

 

[zaztong]

Can you tell me a bit more about Lecturio? Never heard of it before.

Lecturio has well organized and digestible medical lectures. I would consider it if your professor is not teaching it well. It has helped me learned a few concepts, but they do lack a few minor topics in biochem.

As a disclaimer, I got a free month to give a unbiased review.

 

[caramelbear]

I think the key is that everyone uses what works for them. Part of the appeal of firecracker to me was that I am absolutely a notecard person. Notecards are key. They are how I do well.

That being said, my interest in lecturio has increased now. I would need it more for boards review. My school overall was light on the biochem, and so I really have forgotten a lot of it.

 

[*brobro*]

I would also echo what has been said above in support of firecracker. I highly recommend it. I am a current 4th year and I've done very well in school because of spaced repetition studying and resource minimization. I initially used anki but switched to firecracker at the beginning of third year. This method fits my style very well and has paid off more than I could have hoped. It can be a significant burden but you just have to be consistent and persistent -- if you're not this type of student, then it may just bog you down and you'll give up. The other key to this is resource minimization. Don't neurotically gather resources and try to dabble in all of them. Pick 1 or 2 resources and that should be it (i.e. you don't need FA and firecracker). Your goal in the first two years should be to kill it on your school exams. Just learn the material perfectly. Don't try and throw a little FA in the mix because you think it's board relevant and don't try to decide what is BS and what is useful from your school's material...just learn it. I would start firecracker in the background at a very slow pace right at the beginning of 2nd year...and never stop. Early MS2 year is also a good time to start incorporating QBANKs, again at a very slow pace.

 

[bearintraining]

Decided to cough up the cash for firecracker. At least for step 1 and go from there. How much overlap is there between Brosencephalon's anki deck and Firecracker??

 

[*brobro*]

I didn't use the bros deck for step 1. I used the old slyfaux one which was based on FA 2012. This served me well and I only had to update or correct a few things along the way. I didn't start using firecracker until I started MS3, so I can't really compare the step 1 content. I did have close friends that used firecracker for step 1 and also did really well. I would trust their content as it was spot on for MS3 shelf exams and step 2. Considering the step 1 content has been around longer, I imagine that it's just as good. It's likely that either firecracker or bros anki deck will be more than enough if you put in the necessary time and effort.

 

[mymembernames]

Bros all the way, if you enjoy anki. FC was too much for me to handle.

 

[Goro]

My students like these, and also Najib, Goljian [sp??], Pathoma, Anki, Quizlet, and Sketchy Micro.

I swear by firecracker and pathoma.

 

[caramelbear]

My students like these, and also Najib, Goljian [sp??], Pathoma, Anki, Quizlet, and Sketchy Micro.

Sketchy Pharm is good, too. The sketches are more congested than micro for sure, but I would have been dead on my bugs and drugs exam without it for all the antibiotics. They are still rolling it out, I think.

 

[medstu99]

Can you tell me a bit more about Lecturio? Never heard of it before.

They are like newcomers for medical education but since they didn't seem overprized I've given them a try. I heard about them for the first time when I saw DocOssareh's video recommending their lectures www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6BYhOXJzs. So, I use Lecturio as a second resource to complement FA and it has been great so far. The tutors are excellent and you also have questions and notes which match the lectures..

 

[bearintraining]

Sketchy Pharm is good, too. The sketches are more congested than micro for sure, but I would have been dead on my bugs and drugs exam without it for all the antibiotics. They are still rolling it out, I think.

Is Sketchy Pharm and Sketchy Micro one product? Or do you have to buy them separately?

 

[bearintraining]

My students like these, and also Najib, Goljian [sp??], Pathoma, Anki, Quizlet, and Sketchy Micro.

Thanks @Goro. I assume Goro's students do very well 🙂

 

[Goro]

They do!

Thanks @Goro. I assume Goro's students do very well 🙂

 

[Ioannes Paulus]

I've heard firecracker can be too overwhelming for your first year. Can an FC user comment on this?

 

[caramelbear]

Is Sketchy Pharm and Sketchy Micro one product? Or do you have to buy them separately?

They're both done through the same website, Sketchymedical. You purchase them together.

 

[drdking]

I've heard firecracker can be too overwhelming for your first year. Can an FC user comment on this?

MD1, I've been using Firecracker for a bit over the last two weeks.

I'm absolutely loving it so far. My studying currently is about 95% spaced repetition with that split about evenly between Anki and Firecracker.

My biggest complaint about firecracker as a MD1 is that there are some topics that it goes way more in depth in that I need to know, and in others it doesn't cover what our profs feel is important. This is why I still heavily use Anki. For the questions that I don't need to know I answer honestly and read the background without spending more than a few seconds on. A lot of them for this block I actually know now just because I've seen them so many times. While this has helped in some of our small groups, it does make me look like a jackass when I get the "How the heck do you know that?" look from classmates.

I also have all my past learned material checked. Most of these are topics that I see a question, I recognize what it is asking, but I completely forget the answer. For these I do the same as the above, I mark them that I don't know, read the answer, but I don't spend too much time worry about it. Since Firecracker always gives you all your Urgent and Current questions before Past by the time I get to them I've already learned/reviewed the important stuff. Honestly I've ended up skipping them the last few days, and chosen instead to study specific areas as we're nearing our next test.

I wish I would have known about Firecracker when I started classes four months ago. It would have made my first few tests much.... not easier, but less stressful. Especially since someone at my school has partnered with Firecracker to make custom question sets based on our lecture material for most of the MD1 classes.