or any other? I'm looking for a comprehensive resource. Would love to hear from people who used either of the two books as pretty much the sole resource (in addition to UW Q bank) and fared well.
Step 2 Secrets or First Aid
- Thread starter RaraBovis
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2009
- Messages
- 1,492
- Reaction score
- 39
Search function. Look at the forum. Get your answers. Believe it or not you aren't the first person to ask the question.
First Aid + Uworld
or
Step Up + Uworld
are the general recommendation. However, if you need a pocket book, or you can only handle reading 30 minutes at a time, Secrets is a good option. Secrets + World doesn't do as well as FA or Step-Up + UWorld, but if you're going for a pass, a 230 (average), or some similar score, it will totally work.
First Aid + Uworld
or
Step Up + Uworld
are the general recommendation. However, if you need a pocket book, or you can only handle reading 30 minutes at a time, Secrets is a good option. Secrets + World doesn't do as well as FA or Step-Up + UWorld, but if you're going for a pass, a 230 (average), or some similar score, it will totally work.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2006
- Messages
- 1,942
- Reaction score
- 166
Secrets is bascially Crush Step 2 in a different format. Plenty of people have used Crush or Secrets along with Uworld and have done very well on Step 2. I know upper classmates that did well beyond average using Secrets and Uworld. In fact some people on this site have only used UWorld and did amazingly well.
I personally rather have something that is high yield and can read over and over again over an unecessarily long book (FA) that I struggle to read once. The general consensus here is that FA Step 2 CK is not as good as Step 1. Not to say people don't do well on Step 2 with it., however. I love how Secrets is written. It is incredibly high yield and gives alot of information in an efficient amout of space. I read it on the train, during down time, etc. It fits right into my coat pocket. Secrets and UWorld I think compliment each other pretty well.
OP: I haven't really looked much at Step Up to Step 2. DIT does have a high regard for the book, and Step up to Medicine is outstanding. If you like the style or you are planning on using DIT, then Step up is for you.
What I am doing:
- I just finished my Medicine rotation and am currently on my family medicine rotation, with tons of down time. I am currently reading Secrets for the first time. I read when I can on the train, between patients in clinic, etc. I am mixing in some Uworld. Once I finish the year I am hoping that I have gone over UWorld twice and Secrets multiple times. I am making a notebook of the answers I get wrong (especially the questions I get wrong that 70+% of people get right). I plan on taking the UWSA and at least 1 nbme exam. I am trying to aim at a 240+ because of my disappointing Step 1 score. I want to take Step 2 in the summer sometime. Ideally June.
