Step 1 course

[BlueElmo]

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Hey guys, I was wondering if taking a Step 1 prep course is worth it. I find that I like the structured and regimented nature that prep courses generally provide, this was the case when I took the MCAT prep course and subsequently did well on MCAT.
I talked to my dean and he recommended against it, saying most people take a prep course after having failed step 1 already, and that most people don't do a review course before their first try. Is that true? I guess I'm trying to weight the benefits of a structured environment vs freedom of self-studying.
Anyone here take a prep course, like Kaplan live lecture, Falcon, etc, and recommend it? Thanks in advance.

 

[celkon]

yeah its called 2 years of medical school

 

[Rollo]

I say take it because it sounds like you are the type of person that would benefit from the structured nature of prep courses. You have already benefited from a course like this (i.e. MCAT) so you might as well. Step 1 isn't the time to try a new learning strategy and, needless to say, isn't also the time to be cheap about prep expenses (don't think you're worried about the cost but I just wanted to make it clear regardless).

Don't listen to your dean. Most med school administrators have no clue what they are talking about as far as board prep goes because their opinion is based on anecdotal and hearsay. Listen to people like us, your colleagues because we have been through the process and know what works and what doesn't.

 

[thepoopologist]

Do some searches in the Step 1 forum.

I like DIT but that's me.

 

[golfman]

A lot of people in my class used DIT. I think it helps those that need to be told how to study, and need a schedule made for them.

I didn't use any review course, just good old FA, UWorld, and Goljan (book and audio) and I did just fine. I don't like to be told how to do things, I like to do what I want, at my own pace after finding out what the best resources are.

Just do what suits you best. You'll be fine either way. The secret is time. Put in the time, and you'll do fine no matter what approach you take. A lot of time.

 

[BlueElmo]

Thanks for the advice!