step 1 the summer before?

[crystalgreen]

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hey everyone! im finishing up M1, and was wondering if it's a good idea to get started on studying this summer for step1. one of my M2 friends said that it'd really help if i study the right stuff. she recommended that i focus on biochem and self teach path. if any of you guys did study over the summer, did it help? and do you have any recommendations?
also, i have a question that has nothing to do with medschool but i need a quick answer... what is the difference btwn the literary phrases "stepping out the square", "stepping out of the box" and "stepping out of the circle"? it seems to me like they're the same.

 

[Law2Doc]

hey everyone! im finishing up M1, and was wondering if it's a good idea to get started on studying this summer for step1. one of my M2 friends said that it'd really help if i study the right stuff. she recommended that i focus on biochem and self teach path. if any of you guys did study over the summer, did it help? and do you have any recommendations?
also, i have a question that has nothing to do with medschool but i need a quick answer... what is the difference btwn the literary phrases "stepping out the square", "stepping out of the box" and "stepping out of the circle"? it seems to me like they're the same.

I personally would hold off because the M2 courses are highest yield and so you get a lot less bang for the buck studying before you take that year. There are folks on here who will tell you it can't hurt, and that's probably true, but I still think having a last fun summer without studying is probably a better use of your time and lets you come back to M2 refreshed.

 

[WDeagle]

I personally would hold off because the M2 courses are highest yield and so you get a lot less bang for the buck studying before you take that year. There are folks on here who will tell you it can't hurt, and that's probably true, but I still think having a last fun summer without studying is probably a better use of your time and lets you come back to M2 refreshed.

That depends on your curriculum. In my case the highest yield material was from first year. Either way try to enjoy your break.

 

[Rendar5]

and dear god don't study biochem this far in advance. It's one of the lowest yield subjects on step 1. Step 1 is pharm, path, physio, and one more p iirc. Very low yield were biochem, anatomy, embryology, histology.

 

[crystalgreen]

and dear god don't study biochem this far in advance. It's one of the lowest yield subjects on step 1. Step 1 is pharm, path, physio, and one more p iirc. Very low yield were biochem, anatomy, embryology, histology.

Wat is p iirc? by low yield do you mean like a few basic questions? or will there be hard questions from these areas too? cuz i dont wanna study biochem or anatomy in depth if i dont have to.
can someone answer the second part of the post? i know it's off the subject but nobody knows the difference?

 

[EternalMD]

It is generally POINTLESS to study during that summer. If you really have the itch, the best thing you can do is to focus on the topics that you did terrible on during MS1. If there was nothing, then don't study. If there was something like Cardiovascular physiology, it wouldn't hurt to learn it properly now. Unfortunately, if you did terrible on everything, just gear up to kick ass during 2nd year. You can't learn all of 1st year in 2 months.

don't even bother trying to learn 2nd year information at this point in the game. you won't learn it

 

[TMP-SMX]

There will be questions related to biochemistry, but they will be revisited in pathophys and related to some disease process. You could revisit cholesterol synthesis and know that the rate-limiting enzyme is HMG CoA Reductase and it is inhibited by statins (learned in pharm). You will also learn about the different disorders of cholesterol metabolism in your endocrine pathophysiology unit.

So no, don't go over pathways now from biochemistry or even try to learn pharmacology. What's the point? You will have months dedicated to pharmacology. Biochem pathways are about as low yield as it gets besides muscle insertions/origins. You aren't going to have to remember the sixth step of the TCA cycle. You should know what happens where and what the results are but what I would recommend is mainly getting books together for M2. Buy BRS or High yield or whatever review book you want for every subject in M2 and get ready to use them during each course. You are also going to want a copy of First Aid and do the same. If you really want to look at something during the summer, take a look at First Aid and become familiar with the layout of the book and if you want to take a look at the relevant sections from your first year and read the introduction about Step 1. You'll find that anatomy is absent from the book. (There is a reason for this).

 

[TexasPhysician]

Go to the lake and have fun!

 

[Rendar5]

iirc = if i recall correctly. forgot that acronym is only used in certain internet communities.

 

[VoiceofReason]

Uh, if you're the type of person who doesn't go to class and self teaches from books (like me) then what difference does it make giving pathology a casual once over during the summer? It will help, and it's what I plan to do.

 

[TMP-SMX]

How do you give pathology a once over? You spend 7+ months on it in M2 at a very rapid pace.

 

[ruralmd]

Yeah I also feel that trying to go through 7+ months of path will be an essential waste of time. There's really not much you can do in 8-10 weeks that will give you any significant advantage....

But that's my opinion

 

[Tiger26]

studying after m1 year will be useless and you'll hate yourself next spring when you need to be studying at a very high level

 

[EternalMD]

It will help, and it's what I plan to do.

I can imagine the advice you shall give in a year. "it DOESN"T HELP!!! don't do it"

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Get your hands on the kaplan step I videos and watch them at a leisurely pace.

 

[coldweatherblue]

I'm tentatively planning on reviewing the important stuff from first-year this summer. Just going over the vocab, remembering as many clinical details as possible to keep it fresh and retrievable. Once you've learned something it's pretty easy and painless to review it and remember what makes sense. there's a good chance I'll end up not doing this though, even if it seems like a good idea.

 

[VoiceofReason]

look guys i understand where you're all coming from on this issue but sometimes i feel like we can be almost schizophrenic about the subject of advanced preparation.

What I mean is, I'm pretty sure we're all at a consensus on the idea that you need to make multiple passes through material in order for it to stick. Right? So a casual, not deep, reading of some pathology over the summer seems like a good idea to me, given that.

 

[bodonid]

I started reading Robbins before M1! 😎

Honest to God. Helped calm my nerves- I just read the intro chapters (1-10) that aren't really covered in path. I knew at the time that it wouldn't be useful... but somehow at the same time I knew that it would keep me from being anxious.

This summer I'm going to do BRS Pathcards to get some of the vocab in my head, and First Aid. A little bit of immuno right before M2, and then get the guns ready again! just kidding...

besides, what else would I read at the beach? Danielle Steele??

 

[TMP-SMX]

I started reading Robbins before M1! 😎

Honest to God. Helped calm my nerves- I just read the intro chapters (1-10) that aren't really covered in path. I knew at the time that it wouldn't be useful... but somehow at the same time I knew that it would keep me from being anxious.

This summer I'm going to do BRS Pathcards to get some of the vocab in my head, and First Aid. A little bit of immuno right before M2, and then get the guns ready again! just kidding...

besides, what else would I read at the beach? Danielle Steele??

Well in your case since you have some anxiety disorder having to do with medical school... I don't know how anyone would find Robbins calming. 😉

 

[badasshairday]

I'm tentatively planning on reviewing the important stuff from first-year this summer. Just going over the vocab, remembering as many clinical details as possible to keep it fresh and retrievable. Once you've learned something it's pretty easy and painless to review it and remember what makes sense. there's a good chance I'll end up not doing this though, even if it seems like a good idea.

Yeah, I agree. I may end up doing nothing, but if I can motivate myself, I'll crack open First Aid and look at the high yield stuff from 1st year.

 

[blackbird11384]

I bought First Aid Step 1 to glance over the relevant sections for this upcoming summer before 2nd year. Then I opened it and realized how it's just a text full of details. Blargghhh I have a few BRS books that I bought during the year intending to use them for extra material (hahaha....hah..), so I might look through those, but they are also detail heavy. When it comes to science or medicine, for it to be somewhat enjoyable to read, it has to have a bit of a story to tell. So maybe I will look into those high yield books that are purposefully short, funny, and quick.

There is no way I am looking through any 2nd year material this summer.

 

[Law2Doc]

Get your hands on the kaplan step I videos and watch them at a leisurely pace.

To do this legally will cost a fortune and require you to go to their centers to watch. One summer of this should be enough if this is your study approach. If you are suggesting something illegal like copyright infringement, it doesn't belong on SDN.

 

[Law2Doc]

I bought First Aid Step 1 to glance over the relevant sections for this upcoming summer before 2nd year. Then I opened it and realized how it's just a text full of details. ...

Yeah FA is useful to refresh things you've already learned, but nearly useless for things you haven't. So you can't really sit down and try to teach yourself things from this book usefully.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Seriously in life there will always be something that you could be reading. It never ends. EVER!

Between MSI-MSII is one of very few opportunities that you will have to do WHATEVER you want to do. I wouldn't waste it by studying. Either way you will be re-reading whatever you do during your MSII-III summer to prepare for Step 1.

Neither my roommate nor I picked up a book that summer, and we both did fantastic on Step 1. Quit worrying so much and enjoy yourself. Don't add regrets to your life.