Skim FA and Goljan RR path after MS1?

[WashMe]

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Long story short, I'm interested in either Radiology or RadOnc so you can understand why I'm asking this question.

I own FA 2010 and I am considering buying Goljan RR Path now. My plan is to lightly read the entirety of Goljan and skim FA over the summer so I'll know roughly what's in them when I hit second year. I'm doing research all summer so I won't have a ton of time to look over the materials.

Does anyone have a better idea in terms of efficiency/ book choices/ etc.?

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really am talking about light reading. My goal for Step I is 250+, given my specialty interests.

 

[deuce924]

For starters, there is no such thing as "light reading" when it comes to Goljan's RR Path. That book is a condensed version of Robbins (and please don't even try to read that thing.) If anything, I would suggest listening to his audio lectures. They are about 40 hours, very high yield and can give you an idea of what to expect with Path.

As for 1st Aid, I would use it to follow along during your 2nd year courses and use it as a study aid while also adding material you feel is important for you to know. This way it may be easier when studying for the STEP. If you are totally driven this summer, you can go back to your 1st year courses and add that info.

With all that being said, I would do your research and spend the rest of the time relaxing. Once 2nd year starts you will be studying the entire year and then straight up until your STEP. Take this time to relax, travel, and do what you enjoy to do. Good luck.

 

[kdburton]

Long story short, I'm interested in either Radiology or RadOnc so you can understand why I'm asking this question.

No I don't understand... I saw an MS1 reading First Aid at the gym and I wanted to vomit.

I own FA 2010 and I am considering buying Goljan RR Path now. My plan is to lightly read the entirety of Goljan and skim FA over the summer so I'll know roughly what's in them when I hit second year. I'm doing research all summer so I won't have a ton of time to look over the materials.

If you already know your research wont allow a "ton of time to look over the materials" then you certainly shouldn't be trying to study for Step 1 in addition to research.

Does anyone have a better idea in terms of efficiency/ book choices/ etc.?

Relax, go on vacation, drink beer, do non medical school stuff.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really am talking about light reading. My goal for Step I is 250+, given my specialty interests.

People get 250+ all the time without studying before the end of MS2 even. People also match in radiology all the time with scores significantly less than 250. I'd put off any "light reading" now that likely won't help when it comes time to do the "heavy reading" required during real Step 1 study time

 

[sideways]

I'd put off any "light reading" now that likely won't help when it comes time to do the "heavy reading" required during real Step 1 study time

OP, if this comment doesn't resonate with you as being so obviously correct, so clearly indicating the common sense reality that: scoring well on Step 1 is about putting in the work during 2nd year and going ape **** towards the end of 2nd year, not about thumbing through RR Path during summer, then please just drop out of medical school and become a farm worker.

 

[WashMe]

For starters, there is no such thing as "light reading" when it comes to Goljan's RR Path. That book is a condensed version of Robbins (and please don't even try to read that thing.) If anything, I would suggest listening to his audio lectures. They are about 40 hours, very high yield and can give you an idea of what to expect with Path.

As for 1st Aid, I would use it to follow along during your 2nd year courses and use it as a study aid while also adding material you feel is important for you to know. This way it may be easier when studying for the STEP. If you are totally driven this summer, you can go back to your 1st year courses and add that info.

With all that being said, I would do your research and spend the rest of the time relaxing. Once 2nd year starts you will be studying the entire year and then straight up until your STEP. Take this time to relax, travel, and do what you enjoy to do. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice! Maybe I'll just plan on listening to the audio lectures. A guy at my school gave everyone some Goljan .mp3 files labeled #1 through #37; are these what you're talking about?

No I don't understand... I saw an MS1 reading First Aid at the gym and I wanted to vomit.

If you already know your research wont allow a "ton of time to look over the materials" then you certainly shouldn't be trying to study for Step 1 in addition to research.

Relax, go on vacation, drink beer, do non medical school stuff.

People get 250+ all the time without studying before the end of MS2 even. People also match in radiology all the time with scores significantly less than 250. I'd put off any "light reading" now that likely won't help when it comes time to do the "heavy reading" required during real Step 1 study time

Thanks for the opinion 🙂

OP, if this comment doesn't resonate with you as being so obviously correct, so clearly indicating the common sense reality that: scoring well on Step 1 is about putting in the work during 2nd year and going ape **** towards the end of 2nd year, not about thumbing through RR Path during summer, then please just drop out of medical school and become a farm worker.

lol, okay

 

[seelee]

Just a thought. I have been using gunner training for our end-of-year NBME exams, and I am going to keep using over the summer, not for new material, but for path, micro, immuno that we covered for MII. Ideally, that will keep me fresh on the material without eating up that much time.

 

[IMGUSMLEStep1]

If you haven't taken Pathology yet, you probably won't understand much of what Goljan says. First aid and Rapid review are review books so they're more valuable to you AFTER you've learned these subjects. If you're very motivated to study and it's something you consider fun, you COULD read a short review book for the classes you've done. I honestly don't think you should though. I'm sure there's something better you can do with your time.

 

[WashMe]

If you haven't taken Pathology yet, you probably won't understand much of what Goljan says. First aid and Rapid review are review books so they're more valuable to you AFTER you've learned these subjects. If you're very motivated to study and it's something you consider fun, you COULD read a short review book for the classes you've done. I honestly don't think you should though. I'm sure there's something better you can do with your time.

Yeah, I listened to the first two Goljan lectures on cell injury and I was kind of like "what!?"

I didn't have a strong enough base to understand everything at the pace he was going...

I think what I am going to do is just focus on anatomy, immunology, and biochemistry review this summer. I completed these courses this year and I won't see them again in the 2nd year curriculum (in the general sense; the concepts are sure to show up though, they just won't be re-explained).

 

[MilkmanAl]

Eh, I find post-M1 review a waste. Just chill, and enjoy your summer. Going over things now, a year before you'll see them again, isn't going to be worth your time at all.

 

[NTF]

Maybe you've got more stamina than me, but I'd worry about burn-out. From everything I've heard M2 is more grueling than M1, and after that marathon we go straight to Step 1 boot camp.

I'll be doing research as well, but I'm content to spend all my time outside the lab relaxing and having as much fun as possible.

 

[drizzt3117]

I think it'd be of more value to read something like RR biochem or Costanzo and make sure you have a really good foundation of phys/biochem and the other first year stuff, micro also perhaps, the ridiculously simple book is decent for that, or any of the lange books. Prestudying for M2 is pretty much an exercise in futility because your school will most likely teach it differently than the prep materials.

 

[C5toC9]

I've used FA and RR Goljan for some of my MS1 classes. Some are more applicable than others and I find it a good review, although not sufficient by itself.

Also, some people have commented that there is so little MS1 material on the boards. But in FA and RR Goljan, there have been whole chapters and sections that I've covered in MS1. Is this standard at most med schools? If yes, why do people say there is little MS1 stuff on boards? Is it in FA/RR, but isn't really tested on the Step?

 

[drizzt3117]

I've used FA and RR Goljan for some of my MS1 classes. Some are more applicable than others and I find it a good review, although not sufficient by itself.

Also, some people have commented that there is so little MS1 material on the boards. But in FA and RR Goljan, there have been whole chapters and sections that I've covered in MS1. Is this standard at most med schools? If yes, why do people say there is little MS1 stuff on boards? Is it in FA/RR, but isn't really tested on the Step?

It just depends how your med school structures their years. The boards is path/pharm heavy with a good amount of physio. Those subjects are probably 75+% of the boards and path/pharm (the systems) are in m2 in most schools.

 

[gatoradedrinker]

making the absolute that step 1 "isn't heavy on MS1 material" is simply ridiculous... it totally depends on the curriculum. at my school for instance, we've covered the overwhelming majority of what's in first aid minus a few topics here and there.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I'm not sure I believe that unless you're at Duke or one of the 1.5 year programs, but in any case, what's in First Aid isn't a very good gauge of what you'll need to know for Step 1. There's a reason most people use supplemental pharm and path sources when studying.

 

[gatoradedrinker]

i'm not sure i believe that unless you're at duke or one of the 1.5 year programs, but in any case, what's in first aid isn't a very good gauge of what you'll need to know for step 1. There's a reason most people use supplemental pharm and path sources when studying.

ucla

 

[DermViser]

Reading Rapid Review Pathology by Goljan will probably not be helpful to you at this point, as your school may teach you Pathology differently than the way Goljan does. Goljan emphasizes more concepts, application, and pathophysiology, in comparison. I would say RR Path is best used along with your Path course, as you progress through each organ system.

It really does depend on:
a) how long basic sciences is at your school - some schools really do have it for only 1.5 years instead of 2
b) if it is taught as organ system blocks or as subject based courses, and c) how long you get after MS-2 to take USMLE Step 1 - assuming you go to one of the medical schools that require USMLE Step 1 completion for promotion to MS-3 - there are many schools that don't require it for promotion and don't care when you take it.

If you are dedicated to studying something regardless, which it seems like you are, read Costanzo's longer Physiology text (not BRS) to solidify Physiology - one of the 3 P's -(which will help to understand alterations that occur in Pathology later, as well as Pharmacology), as well as RR Biochemistry & 1st edition of High-Yield Cell and Molecular Biology.