Soon to be 2nd year

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BRS path and first aid for Step 1 were amazing.
Utah WebPath too if the website is still up.
 
listen to Goljan and maybe WebPrep audio if you can squeeze it in during your blocks - listen to the relevant stuff for each block over and over. and I agree BRS Path + FA + WebPath = great prep for exams.

I would also add Robbins Review for questions, I did them prior to almost every Path test and did really well.

good luck in second year!
 
I would suggest just doing what you can and as much as you enjoy it. I liked the Robbins and Webpath questions when revieweing for tests during the second year Organ systems. It worked double in helping those classes and focusing for the boards. Goljan and Webprep lectures are good for the gym and between classes if you'd like to do more. Anything you do though will probably help in the long run.
 
To repeat what I've heard here and what I've discovered to be absolutely dead-on: The key to doing well on boards is to learn the most you can during second year. What also has been helpful was to take my own condensed notes from the course material, which I can then review quickly in May (now!!).

There is a lot of material, and unless you're a memory freak, you will probably need to see it many times and spend a lot of time on your own "figuring it out" and integrating. Goljan definitely helps with that. I also listened to Goljan throughout the year as we were doing the material in class.

I didn't find BRS too useful during courses as it wasn't detailed enough to do well on the tests. But right now I'm doing BRS + Goljan Rapid Review + Robbins Q-Book + Reviewing course notes, and I feel really solid in path. The Robbins Q-Book is outstanding at giving things a clinical presentation with very challenging, concept-oriented questions.

There are two things missing in that combo, however. First is pathophysiology. Especially in Renal, Respiratory, and Cards. For that, I'm especially grateful for my course notes. Some people like Pathyophysiology for the boards & wards, but I find this book easy to read: really small font and lots of flow charts that I don't feel like working through. Second is the pathology pictures. The Robbins Q-Book has some, and Goljan has some, but somehow I still feel like I need to skim daddy Robbins for more.

Disclaimer: I don't take the boards for another six weeks, but I've done well on the NBME assessments so far (240+).
 
This is a good question. It really is a good idea to have a Step1 study guide near at hand as you go through Path b/c chances are your class is going to focus alot on stuff not on the test while omitting stuff that is.

I used BRS, starting to see the appeal of Goljan's lectures though. Both of them have been used to by people who crushed Step1 so don't sweat this too much. Definitely avoid accumulating a stack of books 2 feet high for board prep, you won't even look at most of them.
 
vtucci said:
Hey everyone. I was wondering if you would recommend Goljan and Robbins for review during path course? Any other recommendations?

Wait until Rapid Review 2006 by Goljan is published late summer/early fall.
 
Thanks guys. I am not great at memorizing things (it takes me a lot longer than most) so I would like to do well not only in the course but on the USMLE. If you have other suggestions for other courses, please let me know.
 
nrosigh said:
To repeat what I've heard here and what I've discovered to be absolutely dead-on: The key to doing well on boards is to learn the most you can during second year.

...

Disclaimer: I don't take the boards for another six weeks, but I've done well on the NBME assessments so far (240+).
this is good advice. the part I really take issue with, nrosigh, is that you're waiting so long to take the test! seriously, move your test date up to like 2 weeks from now. I have taken the test and gotten my score back, and I'm telling you, please for your mental health move the test up. if you are already scoring 240+ on multiple NBME's you only need a week or two at the most to finish studying. 6 weeks is longer than many people spend studying total, and you're already testing close to the 90th percentile...
 
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