Rising M2: Any suggestions for a Second Year Strategy with a Step I Mindset?

[Asklepian]

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I am starting my second year of med school at a US school this coming week.

As I begin this year, I really want to have a good strategy (please spare the "just do well in your classes and you'll do great on boards").
I know there are many different flavors of studying, but I would like to hear especially from those who have done really well on Step I.

What are some suggestions going in that you wish you had known, or things you think would help me bust at least a 250?

Let me first add that one of my friends (who scored above a 250) has given me access to his High-Yield Kaplan lectures, and had recommended trying to watch some of those during cores to help pull together the high-yield material gained from lecture. I also have FA 2011, BRS Path and the latest Big Robbins.

Thanks a lot!

-A

 

[ijn]

If you're going to do Kaplan, I'd pirate the full set of 2010 videos instead of just relying on their high yield series. I had two classmates use high yield last year and they weren't too happy with it.

It couldn't hurt to watch Pathoma alongside your pathology classes. It will help make sure you're reinforcing STEP 1 relevant points in addition to whatever your professor thinks is importnat.

My advice is pretty much what you don't want to hear. I worked extremely hard for the first two years of medical school. I did do question banks for STEP 1 alongside whatever organ system we were doing. I bought Kaplan/USMLERx and my school bought us (or our tuition money did, rather) USMLEWorld. I thought that helped a lot to prepare for the subject NBME exams we had after each block.

I guess it would be a good idea to start opening First Aid and review the relevant chapters as you progress to second year. Make note of areas where you feel your school totally missed the boat. Go read up on those subjects in your free time.

 

[mrfuumanchu206]

The best way to study for Step I is just to do well in 2nd year. I didn't start studying until after classes were over and studied for those 6 weeks.

Just study hard and when you start going thru FA you'll realize you already know a lot of it

 

[Ilovewater]

The best way to study for Step I is just to do well in 2nd year. I didn't start studying until after classes were over and studied for those 6 weeks.

Just study hard and when you start going thru FA you'll realize you already know a lot of it

Agreed. I know you said you didn't want to hear this advice, but 2nd year really laid the foundation for Step 1. I didn't study for boards at all until the dedicated study time. Most of my close friends who scored 250+ also didn't study during the year. I know they honored every block during 2nd year though.

The most I would do is Pathoma and maybe a question bank, so that you have enough time to study for classes and not get overwhelmed. Don't spread yourself too thin.

 

[da Vincis World]

The best way to study for Step I is just to do well in 2nd year. I didn't start studying until after classes were over and studied for those 6 weeks.

Just study hard and when you start going thru FA you'll realize you already know a lot of it

I don't think this is true for everyone and certainly depends on what score you are shooting for. In early January I began spending more time doing Step I studies than course studies. Going through FA and doing at least 46 Uworld Q's most nights and going over answer explanations the next morning.

Some people may not require this much study time to get a high score but I certainly would not have scored high without starting early.