Step 1- should I start NOW?

[GAdasooka]

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😕 I have a question- when do MOST people start studying for Step 1? I attend a PBL, organ system based curriculum medical school, and I just finished up a full dose of endocrinology. Next, I'll spend about 4 weeks focusing on infectious diseases... Lots of folks around here are already starting to read review books. Is this necessary? What's the best time frame to start really focusing on board review material??????? Should I just focus on finishing the next 4 weeks or should I be reviewing intensely?

Also, what should I be reading? I've ordered Kaplan Q Bank, First Aid, and I already own a few BRS books that I used during the last two years. I have TONS of notes that I've taken and gathered over the last year or so also. Should I review old notes?

Thanks! I'll take (or at least listen to!) all the advice I can get... 🙂

 

[michigan]

You sound like a 2nd year, and you have Step I scheduled for beginning of summer? It's good that you have some BRS books. Everybody studies totally differently. What is your goal? To pass or to beat the mean by a lot? Also exactly how long do you have to study? I did use review books (BRS mainly) to study for my 2nd year exams. I took notes in them and used them as 'main' texts. Ideally I'd say that 4 weeks of good studying for Step I is enough to do well. Here's what I used from what I can remember:
BRS Path and BRS Phys, know both pretty cold.
I used Robbin's review of path question book. Very similar to/harder than actual questions.
Lippincott Biochem
High Yield Neuroanatomy and High Yield Behavioral Science
Lippincott Pharmacology

Of these I would say that seriously one of the highest yield books was behavioral sci. There are a good deal of these questions that defy logic and that book helps you through them. Also know First Aid by heart. If you know the 'weird' details in there it can save a bunch of time from other books. Don't review embryo except for what's in there. Concentrate on biochem from there too. But BRS Path and Phys will help you on some of the more complex stuff.

hope this is somewhat helpful

 

[southerndoc]

I started studying a week after the end of the second year. I had planned to begin studying the Monday following the last day of the second year, but a tornado hit near my parents' home. I spent the first week helping them to clean up.

I ended up taking 5 weeks to study for the exam. I used the Kaplan Home Study Program (which I highly recommend), BRS Phys, BRS Path, BRS Pharm, and Kaplan Qbank. I didn't do First Aid. I ended up with a 246/99, which I'm quite pleased with.

Good luck on boards. You'll do fine.

 

[irlandesa]

just started working with the BRS books and first aid this week and have Q-bank. I am also a second year MD student and plan to take step 1 on 6/09/03. Based on the recommendations of third years at my school, I am using FA, BRS Path, BRS Phys, Pharm cards I made up during the semester we took Pharm, notes from Board review sessions at school, and High-Yeild Behavioral Science and Epi/Bio. I think going back through old notes is not worth it for the time it takes, but sometimes things like Pharm recitation notes or Anatomy notes might be helpful. Good luck to you and everyone else taking Step 1 in June!