Review everything, or just hit Path/Phys/FA?

[Rbrav]

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I've got six weeks blocked off to study for Step 1. I just drafted a study plan where I would spend the first three weeks giving two days to each subject, then spending the last three weeks using just BRS Phys, BRS Path, First Aid, and practice questions (mostly QBank).

To folks who have taken the test -- is this a good strategy, or would I be better off giving the "other" subjects just a cursory glance and devoting nearly all of my time to Phys, Path, and FA? I've always heard those are the "memorize these cold and you'll be fine" books. I want to pass, of course, but I'd like to do above average (maybe a 230 or so -- I don't have delusions of grandeur).

Thanks!

 

[THP]

I've got six weeks blocked off to study for Step 1. I just drafted a study plan where I would spend the first three weeks giving two days to each subject, then spending the last three weeks using just BRS Phys, BRS Path, First Aid, and practice questions (mostly QBank).

To folks who have taken the test -- is this a good strategy, or would I be better off giving the "other" subjects just a cursory glance and devoting nearly all of my time to Phys, Path, and FA? I've always heard those are the "memorize these cold and you'll be fine" books. I want to pass, of course, but I'd like to do above average (maybe a 230 or so -- I don't have delusions of grandeur).

Thanks!

I think those are sources are fine. You don't want to have too many sources. I would suggest maybe some extra pharm in addition to what 1st aid offers.

BTW, know cardiovascular path inside and out. It seemed like my entire exam was cardio pharm and path.

 

[Kashue]

I think those are sources are fine. You don't want to have too many sources. I would suggest maybe some extra pharm in addition to what 1st aid offers.

BTW, know cardiovascular path inside and out. It seemed like my entire exam was cardio pharm and path.

Which parts of Pharm do you suggest THP?

 

[THP]

Which parts of Pharm do you suggest THP?

I used flash cards from Lange. I thought they were good because they didn't have an overwhelming amount of info on them, and the crucial stuff was bolded. Definitely know mechanisms of action and side effects. You don't need to know any dosages. Everyone told me that you didn't need to know indications for the drugs but that is not true. Granted it wasn't emphasized as heavily, but there were still several questions about them.

For example, a question might describe a clinical scenario for an infection or cardiovascular symptoms and then ask the mechanism of action of the most effective drug. I had other questions that straight out asked what is the best drug for X condition and listed 5 that might be potentially useful. I thought it was pretty challenging.

So, if you have time, try to learn some indications but don't stress out over it. The Lange cards also had indications listed.

 

[Kashue]

I used flash cards from Lange. I thought they were good because they didn't have an overwhelming amount of info on them, and the crucial stuff was bolded. Definitely know mechanisms of action and side effects. You don't need to know any dosages. Everyone told me that you didn't need to know indications for the drugs but that is not true. Granted it wasn't emphasized as heavily, but there were still several questions about them.

For example, a question might describe a clinical scenario for an infection or cardiovascular symptoms and then ask the mechanism of action of the most effective drug. I had other questions that straight out asked what is the best drug for X condition and listed 5 that might be potentially useful. I thought it was pretty challenging.

So, if you have time, try to learn some indications but don't stress out over it. The Lange cards also had indications listed.

Thanks for the reply THP!

First Aid also covers indications too. Do you think that's enough if I know those cold?

I have the Lange cards too but I decided to go with First Aid and read Pharm for the boards and wards - they stress the really important stuff.

Kash

 

[kokonut]

I have to say that I think you should not skew your studying towards any one area (like Cardio) because one person got a lot of it. A friend told me that she had a ton of biochem on her test so I studied a lot of that, and I think I got 5 biochem questions total. I felt like I got a lot of GI and Renal on my test ... so you never really know how it's going to work. Almost none of the obscure diseases I memorized from BRS Path came up, except for one random one which came up four different times.

Also, my $.02 on the pharm on my test is that it was really straightforward. Some of it required some thought, but I thought First Aid was plenty (fact-wise).

Sorry, I'm not saying THP is wrong, just saying that it's hard to predict what your test will be like so keep your studying balanced. And for me, I memorized First Aid for pharm and still thought I spent too much time on it.

 

[THP]

I have to say that I think you should not skew your studying towards any one area (like Cardio) because one person got a lot of it. A friend told me that she had a ton of biochem on her test so I studied a lot of that, and I think I got 5 biochem questions total. I felt like I got a lot of GI and Renal on my test ... so you never really know how it's going to work. Almost none of the obscure diseases I memorized from BRS Path came up, except for one random one which came up four different times.

Also, my $.02 on the pharm on my test is that it was really straightforward. Some of it required some thought, but I thought First Aid was plenty (fact-wise).

Sorry, I'm not saying THP is wrong, just saying that it's hard to predict what your test will be like so keep your studying balanced. And for me, I memorized First Aid for pharm and still thought I spent too much time on it.

I agree with you. Everybody seems to get a test that emphasizes different things. Maybe I'm just venting because I wasn't prepared for all the cardio. That being said, still know the cardio path well, especially the stages of MI (its in first aid).