Step 1 book?

[PneoDr]

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I was planning on reading through a book for the boards as we cover the sections in medical school. Maybe even use it as a supplement, a way to study for the exams. What is the best step 1 book to buy and use for this purpose? Do particular schools recommend a certain book?

Also what about an anatomy picture guide? I have heard Netter's or something like that???


Any help, ideas, or suggestions?


neo

 

[TrojanDoctor]

i'd suggest FIRST AID. If I had to do it over again, i would have bought the book before classes started and used to it make a skeleton of my own class notes. What I mean is, cut the spine off the book, hole punch the pages, and put each little section in its own 3-ring notebook. That way I could add my class notes to the FIRST AID notes for each section. It might be ambitious, but I think would be an excellent way to keep organized during classes....just an idea...

 

[mlw03]

yeah, first aid kinda is the one book everyone has. as to using it during a course: i doubt it has enough detail, or the right kind of details, for the majority of test questions you'll get during MSI and MSII. it's good for big picture and great for step I, but for course supplements you're better off with BRS books I would think.

 

[DW3843]

use BRS Phys during your Physiology class
likewise, use BRS Path during Path.

I did this and am now at the point where I am about to start a month or so of intense studying for Step 1. It's nice to already be familiar with these 2 books as I begin to go back through them in an attempt to "master" the material.

I have heard from several respected sources that if you know BRS Path, BRS Phys, and First Aid cold you can ace Step 1. These sources also suggest rocking QBank as much as possible (get at least half to 3/4 the way through the Qbank questions.)

In hindsight, Fist Aid would have been excellent to use before the final exam in each of my classes throughout the first 2 years. However, like others I doubt that it would have been adequate for each individual test during the semester.

There are other good review books out there but these 3 are hands down the most useful both for your classes and Step 1 prep in my opinion

 

[DW3843]

also invest in Netter
that book got me an A in anatomy

I would also suggest taking a look at Rohen's atlas. It has color photgraphs of cadavers... a nice change of pace from the Netter drawings.
You might want to try to find this in the library though because I didn't feel like it was necessarily worth buying.

 

[PneoDr]

Thank you for the help...

What does BRS stand for? Are there different editions? And last, is the best place to buy them SDN bookstore?

Sorry for so many questions.

 

[DrNick2006]

You want to ace the boards? Study hard your first two years. Read Robbins pathologic basis of disease cover to cover, but don't worry about histology too much. This helps you really organize disease in your head. Also know pharm, micro, pathophys for each organ system. That is you assignment for your first two years.

Now it's time to study for boards. This is how you do it. Questions questions questions. Do Kaplan (about 2000 question), get the NBME CD for step 1 (about 1000), get pre-test books in micro, path, phys, pharm, pathophys (2500 questions). and review BRS path and phys and first aide and do those questions (500) thats 6000 practice questions. You can do 1000 a week by doing 150 a day (about 4-5 hours when reading explinations, looking up wrong answers) and easily review the three books I mentioned in the extra 2 hours or so a day. You'll study 6-8 hours a day for 6 weeks - not too much, Do this and I garaunteee a 235 or better.

 

[DW3843]

BRS is the Board Review Series of books

The Phys book is blue and Path is red. I think there is a new version of the Path book out there.

Search around and find the cheapest place to buy any of your books, not just these in particular. Used books are also a good option. Personally, I'm not a big fan of having to sift through other people's highlighting, so I have forked over quite a bit of money to get new books most of the time.

 

[DOctorJay]

First get First Aid, then flip to the back and see what it lists as good sources, see if you like those and get some along the way to study with your classes (BRS Path & Physio are really good to go along with class material).

The other text I'd recommend, especially if your school is systems based, is Step Up. Our first year wasn't really systems based but second year was all modules broken down by systems and it was helpful to read Step Up at the beginning of each module for a quick overview of the high yield info I could expect to see. However, with FA now being in systems format Step Up may not be necessary (you might like the different format from FA though so worth a look).

-J

 

[Babylonian]

I had a few questions about step 1 books. I would appreciate sincere assistance.

Which BRS Physiology book are people referring too? There are two which appear to be different, but are called almost similar names:

The Gold book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...=pd_bbs_11/103-0678202-6821424?_encoding=UTF8

The Blue book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...f=pd_bbs_1/103-0678202-6821424?_encoding=UTF8

And which Robbins book is the one people call Robbins Path and Self assessment and review?

One more question. Do the FA books change alot year to year? Why do they come out with a FA book every year?


Thanks

 

[lexy10]

One more question. Do the FA books change alot year to year? Why do they come out with a FA book every year?

going to ask the same thing!

 

[G0S2]

The 2006 edition is systems based, which is different than previous editions. I like it.

 

[allendo]

I had a few questions about step 1 books. I would appreciate sincere assistance.

Which BRS Physiology book are people referring too? There are two which appear to be different, but are called almost similar names:

The Gold book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...=pd_bbs_11/103-0678202-6821424?_encoding=UTF8

The Blue book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...f=pd_bbs_1/103-0678202-6821424?_encoding=UTF8

And which Robbins book is the one people call Robbins Path and Self assessment and review?

One more question. Do the FA books change alot year to year? Why do they come out with a FA book every year?


Thanks

I think the gold one is the newest edtn. I use the blue one

 

[funshine]

I had to spend $5 more before I qualified for free SUPER SAVER SHIPPING on amazon.com so I decided to go ahead and get the BRS review book on phys. More summer leisure reading, w00t! 😳

 

[lord_jeebus]

The gold BRS phys is a questions and cases book; get the blue one.

 

[Babylonian]

The gold BRS phys is a questions and cases book; get the blue one.

Ah ha, thank you meee lord.

 

[funshine]

yeah, thanks for alerting me b/c I had originally ordered the gold book!
Is it not worth it to get the other BRS books, like in biochem, embryo and stuff?

Do you think I should bring my current science textbooks with me to med school, like Kandel's neuroscience, Alberts' The Molecular Biology of the Cell, Voet's (sp??) Biochemistry, and others? Should I start reviewing the stuff I learned in undergrad? I was a Molecular Bio major but honestly, I couldn't even tell you how DNA transcription works anymore, let alone the steps of metabolism. My dad keeps getting on my case about previewing for med school...

 

[dajimmers]

Should I start reviewing the stuff I learned in undergrad? I was a Molecular Bio major but honestly, I couldn't even tell you how DNA transcription works anymore, let alone the steps of metabolism. My dad keeps getting on my case about previewing for med school...

I wouldn't review it, it will probably come back to you pretty easily in lecture. For me, studying for the MCAT was a mix of learning new things and things I had "forgotten," and the stuff I'd seen previously was MUCH easier to remember. I'm going to hope M1 will be like that somewhat as well. Remember there's plenty of non-science majors who've learned nothing but bio and orgo, so you've got plenty of a head start there!

 

[Voodoo]

We all know that our job is to learn a lot in med school, but right now your job is to get as high a score as possible on step 1.

If you _memorize_ first aid for step 1, you can easily get a 240. And I mean memorize - not just be familiar with. In the path section there are those "high yield" pages (at least there were when I took step 1). Know those - it's scary how many of those phrases come up on the test. Oh yeah and you also need to invest time as well as the $30 for the book. I'm talking 10+ hours a day for a month is what I did.

Good luck.

p.s. that first sentence was just a disclaimer to keep those easily offended people off my back