Step 1 review on a dime (or well $1k or less)

[Doctor Bagel]

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My goal is to save as much money as possible on Step 1 costs without compromising my score, and I'm guessing many of you are in the same boat. I'd like this thread to be a discussion of cost effective resources and things that you've found to save yourself a little money along the way. I know a lot of this info is in this forum already (in fact that's where I got most of it), but I thought it would be useful to have one combined thread.

If anybody found anything that saved them some moolah, please share. It doesn't matter if it's hundreds of dollars or $10.

I'll start. As you can see I'm just a lowly MS2 and will take the test in June, so my info is pretty limited right now. A couple of things I've discovered already (and please feel free to disagree) --

1. The general consensus with SDN users is that QReview does not provide much additional value over QBank. Consequently, my plan is to buy either 1 or 3 months of QBank instead of the QReview package offered by Kaplan at my school. This will save me a minimum of $100. If I only use one month of QBank, it will save me over $200. Also, several SDN users have suggested skipping QBank altogether and relying solely on USMLEWorld.

2. Kaplan QBook. They offer it for free if you buy one of their packages with your school deal, but you can get it new at Amazon for $25. Also, I searched this forum and discovered that the 2006 and 2005 QBook are almost identical. You can get a used copy of the 2005 QBook for $10 or less at half.com or amazon.

3. 1999 HY Molecular Biology book. From searching this forum, this seems almost like a must buy. It's out of print, and supposedly the new edition is much thicker and contains tons of superfluous information. I found plenty of cheap copies at half.com. The used copies at Amazon were selling for like $50 so don't look there. 😱

3. HY Anatomy and Embryology books. I found dirt cheap copies of these at half.com. They were all older editions, but I don't think anatomy and embryology have changed very much.

4. Robbins Review of Pathology -- I have the newest edition, but supposedly the last edition before this is almost identical to the new edition.

5. Free tests -- this was discussed earlier here. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=441313

 

[smq123]

3. HY Anatomy and Embryology books. I found dirt cheap copies of these at half.com. They were all older editions, but I don't think anatomy and embryology have changed very much.

Don't buy HY anatomy or HY embryology. The stuff in First Aid is enough - you'll only have 2-3 questions on anatomy/embryology on the exam. (Maybe 5 if you're truly unlucky.)

If you're one of the many people who will be studying for Step 1 at school - look into using your school's library. It's free, and most med school libraries have pretty good study guides for various subjects.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Ugh I think this is the wrong approach to scoring as high as you can.

 

[lord_jeebus]

I think those are good insights. I think this forum is responsible for the inflation in price of the 1999 HY Cell&Molecular -- can't believe I gave mine away!

Don't forget the free 150 released questions included in the sample program on the USMLE site!

I would not neglect any subject because people say it won't come up much. The test changes every year. People told me there would be very little gross anatomy and not to bother. Good thing I ignored them because I counted over 25 questions on that subject.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Don't buy HY anatomy or HY embryology. The stuff in First Aid is enough - you'll only have 2-3 questions on anatomy/embryology on the exam. (Maybe 5 if you're truly unlucky.)

If you're one of the many people who will be studying for Step 1 at school - look into using your school's library. It's free, and most med school libraries have pretty good study guides for various subjects.

That's a good point. I'll do a search there and see what we have.

 

[Law2Doc]

Ugh I think this is the wrong approach to scoring as high as you can.

Agree -- the goal shouldn't be to do things on the cheap. If you need a resource, you get it. That being said, hit up upper classmen for used things. You can get most written resources free, albeit a year old, this way. World is adequate -- some like it better than Qbank.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Ugh I think this is the wrong approach to scoring as high as you can.

Well, the point is not to skimp out on getting good resources, but if you can something as good for cheaper, why not do it? If something is truly worth buying, then I'm all for it. My intent is mainly not to waste money I don't have.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

And speaking of free stuff, I've heard SDN will be giving away 1 month free access to Qbank next money to a few lucky people, I think. Mushy mentioned this in a prior thread. 😀

Editing to add that I just looked it up. 100 lucky SDN users will get it, and it'll be in Dec/January.

 

[SoCuteMD]

I like USMLEWorld better than QBank.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I like USMLEWorld better than QBank.

Yeah, that seems to be the general opinion here. That points me towards buying a month at most of Qbank and doing a multi-month deal with USMLEWorld.

Would you still recommend getting Qbank?

 

[SeventhSon]

I think those are good insights. I think this forum is responsible for the inflation in price of the 1999 HY Cell&Molecular -- can't believe I gave mine away!

more like YOU are responsible for the inflation of 1999 HY CMB!

 

[SirCuneus]

I just bought my HY MCB book last night on half.com for a mere 15 bucks (1999 edition). Take that.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I just bought my HY MCB book last night on half.com for a mere 15 bucks (1999 edition). Take that.

Good score! I think everyone should get on half.com asap before all the cheap copies disappear. If that doesn't work, as Law2Doc said, hit up the classmates for copies.

 

[lord_jeebus]

more like YOU are responsible for the inflation of 1999 HY CMB!

Everyone, if you want to ace Step I it is absolutely essential that you purchase a set of Psychology textbooks from 2000-2004. The newer editions are crap, and without these, you will miss all the behavioral questions that make up 65% of the test.

SDN members get a special discount -- $1000 plus shipping for the set.

I also have big stack of JAMA in my bathroom which boosted my score by 30 points. $500.

Finally, I have the old lean-and-mean edition of the PS2 which I will sacrifice in exchange for the inferior PS3 plus $300.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Everyone, if you want to ace Step I it is absolutely essential that you purchase a set of Psychology textbooks from 2000-2004. The newer editions are crap, and without these, you will miss all the behavioral questions that make up 65% of the test.

SDN members get a special discount -- $1000 plus shipping for the set.

I also have big stack of JAMA in my bathroom which boosted my score by 30 points. $500.

Finally, I have the old lean-and-mean edition of the PS2 which I will sacrifice in exchange for the inferior PS3 plus $300.

Do you accept credit card payments? 😀

 

[lord_jeebus]

Do you accept credit card payments? 😀

Sorry, everything's already sold.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Sorry, everything's already sold.

Well, I'm doomed to fail now. 🙁 😉

More free stuff that might work eventually. Kaplan releases a pdf with explanations to the free NBME questions. I clicked on the link, and it said "file not found." I'm guessing they're updating it or something. It might be worth checking out later.

http://www.kaplanmedical.com/Medica...ice-the-Step-1/ME_step1_items.html?cid=288467

And I think everybody and their dog knows about webpath, but if you don't --

http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/webpath.html

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Here's a link to the allo thread talking about free basic sciences resources --

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=298847

This site seems especially useful.

http://www.pimpnotes.com/index.php

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I'd recommend checking books out of your med school library, but that was really hit or miss for me. For some subjects it was great because I'd grab someone one shot books for subjects I really didn't want to hit hard: Embryo, anatomy, behavioral science. However, there were a few subjects where the freaking book was checked out in like APRIL and didn't come back until after I'd already taken the test. I had to basically bribe the librarian to tell me who checked out the HY Neuroanatomy so I could ask them to return it or borrow it for a day or two (She was kinda pissed about this too).

Also, hit up your upperclassmen. Some of them probably unloaded their stuff start of second year, but start snooping around now because when board prep time comes again, all the stuff that's left will go fast.

 

[SirCuneus]

If the book is constantly checked out, tell the librarian to put a hold on it. It's usually mandatory that it get checked in within two weeks. Then you can keep it as long as you want, granted no one else places a hold on it.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Free microbiology charts --

http://www.medfools.com/downloads.php

 

[djnels01]

Free microbiology charts --

http://www.medfools.com/downloads.php

Nice find!

 

[DragonWell]

At the risk of stating the obvious, a quick accounting of Taus' comprehensive plan seems like it could be pulled off for way less than 1K...and it uses resources that are tried and true by SDNers. Even allowing a generous $30/suggested book and 30 days of UWorld, it'd come in under $500.

The websites look helpful, but there are some resources that just seem worth the cash. I have yet to find a path review that holds a candle to RR Path...easily the best $30 I have spent during med school. I also couldn't imagine trying to prep for this monster w/o First Aid...they should pass it out on the first day of med school. Another thing that might become more of a consideration as the test draws closer is that time spent searching for and evaluating resources is time you could actually be studying for the test.

Personally, I think the big spending on boards comes when the fear kicks in and, like good Americans, many people throw money at the problem and end up buying every review book in sight, many of which they don't even find time to open before the test. (I'm as guilty of this as anyone).

Thanks again to Taus for passing this along. It seems like everyone needs to find what works best for their review; I just wanted to point out that there is some solid middle ground between the Kaplan $33K program and trying to do it for free.

Review Books and Other Materials:
* Using ebay, half.com, amazon, etc for used copies will save tons of $$

• FA 2007 (or most current edition…comes out each December)
• Rapid Review Pathology (by Goljan)
• Goljan audio and slides (available in bootleg only)
• High Yield Behavioral Science
• High Yield Neuro (some sections are too detailed….but basics and pics are good)
• High Yield Cell and Molecular (1999 edition…new one has way too much bs detail)
• Rapid Review Biochem (way more succinct and clinical then Lippincott and co-authored by Goljan)
- alternatively: the Kaplan Biochem book by Hansen is excellent and by far the best of the Kaplan series....if you can get it cheaply….do it
• Lange Review of Medical Micro and Immuno by Levinson (only for Immuno section ~80 pages)
• Micro Made Ridiculously Simple (edition 3 is fine)
• Savarese OMT Review
• BRS Physio

Question Sources:

• Reference and/or write wrong answers or anything you were even remotely unsure ofFA
• use questions primarily as a learning tool and don’t worry about your % til near the test

Books:
• Robbins Review of Path
• Savarese (OMM)
• Kaplan Qbook
- this will sound nuts…but its worth it: the book is subject based (ie path, phys, micro, etc….so take an hour or so to go through this book and mark which system each question fits into within each subject….it will be worth it when you need system-specific q’s later

Computer Based:
• UsmleWorld (~2000q)
• Webprep: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/EXAM/EXAMIDX.html

*purposefully not using Kaplans QBank… most questions do not represent the current style on the exam and are too minutia based…you will still get the benefits of Kaplan w/ Qbook

 

[Terpskins99]

Everyone, if you want to ace Step I it is absolutely essential that you purchase a set of Psychology textbooks from 2000-2004. The newer editions are crap, and without these, you will miss all the behavioral questions that make up 65% of the test.

SDN members get a special discount -- $1000 plus shipping for the set.

I also have big stack of JAMA in my bathroom which boosted my score by 30 points. $500.

Finally, I have the old lean-and-mean edition of the PS2 which I will sacrifice in exchange for the inferior PS3 plus $300.

jeebus, weren't you just named assistant mod? 😀

Is this how you plan to abuse your authority?!

 

[njbmd]

Cheap resources but worth their weight in gold for me were Pharm Recall (good review for me for Biochem, Physio and Neuro) and HY Biostats and Epidemiology. With two weeks of Q-Bank and these two books, I was golden. We used Big Robbins for Path and I made sure that I looked at photos in that book. It was a good thing because I encountered several on the actual exam.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Cheap resources but worth their weight in gold for me were Pharm Recall (good review for me for Biochem, Physio and Neuro) and HY Biostats and Epidemiology. With two weeks of Q-Bank and these two books, I was golden. We used Big Robbins for Path and I made sure that I looked at photos in that book. It was a good thing because I encountered several on the actual exam.

Thanks for the tips!

Adding that I just checked MD Consult, and they do have the Robbins images online along with the rest of the book. I'm guessing all students have free access to it through their school library. However, I think it would be a bigger pain to look at the images online than to just search through the book.

 

[DragonWell]

For us losers who didn't get the free 3 months 🙁, Kaplan is giving away 2 weeks of Qbank for free.

 

[DragonWell]

Adding link for WikiTestPrep - free Step 1 questions w/ explanations.

 

[viostorm]

If I were you guys although free stuff is good, if you are going to invest any money in your education it sure as hell is worth it for USMLE.

I don't think here is a place to cut corners on your education.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Adding link for WikiTestPrep - free Step 1 questions w/ explanations.

Cool! I've also got to make a plug for Test Prep Week here, which is officially starting on Monday. If you participate, you might win free stuff, and I believe there will also be discounts offered. Check out my sig. to see where to go.

 

[DwyaneWade]

It's way simple to get Step 1 under a $1k!!!

See below

Step 1: $480
BRS Phys: $10
BRS Path + Roadmap Pharm: $25
CMMRS: $10
Kaplan Lecture Notes Set: $30
BRS Cell Bio and Histo: $10
Robbins Review of Pathology, High Yield Behavorial Science, High Yield Embryology: $30
First Aid 2006: $20
Kaplan QBank: Free
USMLE World: $90/1 month subscription

That works out to $695, most of that coming from the exam itself. That's how it is working out for me at least.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Bumping this thread to thank everyone for their input so far!

Since I started this thread, I purchased the Board Simulator Series of 5 books for about $1 a piece and like them so far. The questions aren't at all like Kaplan questions, but they seem to be helping me retain some of those nitpicky details I've forgotten.

 

[njbmd]

If I were you guys although free stuff is good, if you are going to invest any money in your education it sure as hell is worth it for USMLE.

I don't think here is a place to cut corners on your education.

The two people who failed in my class were the ones who had ton's of books. For USMLE, pick a couple of key resources and stick with them. Having tons of books can spread you too thin and you wind up failing because you never got your focus.

If you have done solidly in your coursework, a couple of key review books (for those pesky things that don't stick) and a good question source Q-Bank or USMLEWorld is all you need. This is where overkill can "kill" and you end up with loads of books and a failing score. Retakes are expensive.

 

[lankysudanese]

The two people who failed in my class were the ones who had ton's of books.

i think that this argues more to the fact that they probably did not perform well in MS1/MS2 and therefore bought ton's of books to try and salvage something in Step 1 (but ended up doing as poorly as predicted). It is less likely that they failed b/c of "overkill".

your advice of picking a couple of resources and a good Qbank works very well, as long as it is followed by somebody who did above average in MS1/MS2.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

The two people who failed in my class were the ones who had ton's of books. For USMLE, pick a couple of key resources and stick with them. Having tons of books can spread you too thin and you wind up failing because you never got your focus.

If you have done solidly in your coursework, a couple of key review books (for those pesky things that don't stick) and a good question source Q-Bank or USMLEWorld is all you need. This is where overkill can "kill" and you end up with loads of books and a failing score. Retakes are expensive.

This makes sense to me. I can really see myself getting spread too thin by all the sources out there. Like most things, I'm guessing it's more about doing the work and not about buying all the right things.

 

[SPINE DOCTOR]

Sorry to hijack, but i was thinking of starting to study for boards as a 1st year (right now) and thought about buying older versions to study, but woudl i need to rebuy new ones to study before the boards bext year?

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Sorry to hijack, but i was thinking of starting to study for boards as a 1st year (right now) and thought about buying older versions to study, but woudl i need to rebuy new ones to study before the boards bext year?

For most stuff, no. There's seem to be about a 50/50 divide on whether you need the latest First Aid or whether an older version will work. I'd also think more updated material for path, pharm and microbiology would be good, but you probably hit those topics your first year anyway. I wouldn't see any harm in having older versions for anatomy, embryo, biochem, physiology, etc. and using them for board prep.

 

[SPINE DOCTOR]

For most stuff, no. There's seem to be about a 50/50 divide on whether you need the latest First Aid or whether an older version will work. I'd also think more updated material for path, pharm and microbiology would be good, but you probably hit those topics your first year anyway. I wouldn't see any harm in having older versions for anatomy, embryo, biochem, physiology, etc. and using them for board prep.

awesome, thanks. I guess I will be visiting online bookstores, and still be able to eat more than ramen noodles for the next year!. I always feel good buying cheaper books and feeling like I just stuck it to the man!

 

[radiodoc99]

Hey

I am same, but my budget is even lower..i guess all med students r poor!

my advice: DONT get Kaplan QBank

instead get USMLERx.com and FIRST AID book.

USMLERx is cheap,way better and has more questions!

I want a Kaplan refund!

Best Books are FIRSTAID, BRS Path, Rapid Review Goljan, USMLE Roadmap Neuro.

 

[lankysudanese]

my advice: DONT get Kaplan QBank

instead get USMLERx.com and FIRST AID book.

USMLERx is cheap,way better and has more questions!

I want a Kaplan refund!

USMLERx does not have a strong allegiance in SDN. A lot of people have done very well using Kaplan Qbank. what evidence do you have to support your advice?

 

[lord_jeebus]

Hey

I am same, but my budget is even lower..i guess all med students r poor!

my advice: DONT get Kaplan QBank

instead get USMLERx.com and FIRST AID book.

USMLERx is cheap,way better and has more questions!

I want a Kaplan refund!

Best Books are FIRSTAID, BRS Path, Rapid Review Goljan, USMLE Roadmap Neuro.

Have you taken Step I yet?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

He sounds like a shill for usmlerx.

 

[radiodoc99]

my advice: DONT get Kaplan QBank

instead get USMLERx.com and FIRST AID book.

USMLERx is cheap,way better and has more questions!

I want a Kaplan refund!
quote]

USMLERx does not have a strong allegiance in SDN. A lot of people have done very well using Kaplan Qbank. what evidence do you have to support your advice?

hi,
i didnt mean to post some evidence because right now i am using both USMLERx and Kaplan(which I dont like anymore). But quality and user experience is better with USMLErx for me. I can understand if Kaplan worked for some people, but for me, I love the FIRST AID and USMLERx integration. I think everyone likes one bank over another, but I am def on the USMLERx side....good luck with the prep!!!!

 

[Doctor Bagel]

USMLERx is definitely cheaper. I broke down and bought it since it was $99 for 3 months. So far, I give a thumbs up for their customer service. However, I think their questions are a little more poorly edited than Kaplan. But overall, I'd say the questions seem fairly similar, and I do like the shorter explanations. We also just had a board prep meeting with 3rd years at our school, and one person just used USMLERx with success.

 

[DragonWell]

Hey

I am same, but my budget is even lower..i guess all med students r poor!

my advice: DONT get Kaplan QBank

instead get USMLERx.com and FIRST AID book.

USMLERx is cheap,way better and has more questions!

I want a Kaplan refund!

Best Books are FIRSTAID, BRS Path, Rapid Review Goljan, USMLE Roadmap Neuro.

Appreciate you sharing your opinion, but it's always odd when someone joins and makes a flurry of similar sounding posts gushing over a product, especially when they always type FIRST AID in all caps. wdt

 

[evenflowcarter]

STOP WASTING YOUR MONEY.

262/99 <---------- AND I AM DUMB (21 MCAT SCORE)

ALL I USED WAS FIRST AID (MEMORIZED IT COLD, WENT THROUGH IT 5 TIMES)

USMLE WORLD QUESTIONS 1x

and

GOLJAN RR or PDFs 2x

DONT WASTE YOUR FRICKIN MONEY OMG

YOU WILL END UP LIKE MOST KIDS WASTING TOO MUCH TIME GOING OVER EACH BOOK ONLY ONCE INSTEAD OF THE HIGH YIELD INFO MULTIPLE TIMES AND DO POORLY.

HEED THESE WORDS.

 

[lankysudanese]

YOU WILL END UP LIKE MOST KIDS WASTING TOO MUCH TIME GOING OVER EACH BOOK ONLY ONCE INSTEAD OF THE HIGH YIELD INFO MULTIPLE TIMES AND DO POORLY.

which kids are you referring to? and what is your definition of "poorly"?

 

[lilnoelle]

If I've already purchased Kaplan's webprep program that includes access to Qbank and I their class notes, is there any point in buying other board prep books? I have a few already that I purchased (probably unnecessarily) during first year, but I haven't bought very many of them. I have Micro made ridiculously simple and goljan's path, and a few others. Should I be buying more? (Such as the HY Cell and Molecular Bio mentioned earlier).
I'm having a hard time believing I'm going to have enough time to look at extra books in addition to the Kaplan's webprep system and their notes.

 

[Clin2008]

If I've already purchased Kaplan's webprep program that includes access to Qbank and I their class notes, is there any point in buying other board prep books? I have a few already that I purchased (probably unnecessarily) during first year, but I haven't bought very many of them. I have Micro made ridiculously simple and goljan's path, and a few others. Should I be buying more? (Such as the HY Cell and Molecular Bio mentioned earlier).
I'm having a hard time believing I'm going to have enough time to look at extra books in addition to the Kaplan's webprep system and their notes.

I am also preparing for the Step 1 exam, so I cannot backup my words with a SDN type of score. In spite of that, I would advise you to wait until you have gone though the books you already have before getting any additional ones. I made the mistake of buying more than I could possibly chew, and having too many review books can end up creating some anxiety.
In my opinion, it is best to concentrate on your Webprep course. Try to get the best out of it, and once you have mastered the material then go through RR Pathology.
On the other hand, if during your preparation you find a particular subject to be very difficult and you need any additional reference you might consider an additional book, but as reference only. Do not be afraid to use a book you happen to feel comfortable with, just because others are not using it. By the same token, do not worry if you cannot review a book everyone is talking about.
My point is, there are excellent review materials from many different sources, and it is very unlikely we can go through all of them. A good review book, Kaplan lecture notes in your case, and a good Qbank would be more than enough.
I hope it helps. Good luck in your exam.

 

[lilnoelle]

I just checked half.com for the HY Cell and molecular biology and the lowest priced one is $60!
Amazon is $46.

I think I'm going to stick with what I have for now. If I need something later, I'll get it. I got a bunch of books from an upper classman a year ago. I'm not even sure what books I have. (going downstairs to dig through my books right now).