STEP1 advice

[Roberta Kaleb]

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Hi everyone, I am an italian medical student starting her 2nd yr in October.
I plan to apply for a specialty in the States, and have been getting info around about required exams and so on.
I plan to start studying for STEP 1 this year in January, as we'll be taking clases like biochem2, anatomy 2, pathology , immunology, microbiology and medical semeiotics. Do you think it's too early to start studying or its better cos I am more prepared about preclinical subjects ?
Also, is there any specific time where I should register at ECFGM?
thanks for all the info! 🙂
roberta

 

[jfgavina]

you can go to ecfmg website they got all the info there =)

I'm also an IMG from europe!

I recommend you to study for your classes from step 1 books like brs physiology, hy anatomy, hy neuro, rr pathology, rr biochemistry and cmmrs. also, buy a copy of first aid to read and get used to the format because you'll need to dive in that book!

as you go studying from these sources for your classes after 2-3 months after reading it all once you can start doing a question bank like kaplan just to sedimentate your knowledge.

then, in your final preparation I'd recommend to leave all those books in the shelf except FA and dedicate 2 months of your life just to step 1. no classes and no fiesta! take UWSA 1 to see where you stand.

In this period you can start by doing DIT course along with 46 questions random tutor mode of USMLEWORLD question bank and take notes from concepts you didn't understand well. after this 15-20 days of DIT+UW questions you should be doing well already and start your final reads in FA. read 50 pages of FA per day and continue to do your UW blocks. do UW twice . in your last week read your UW notes from first round UW and DIT questions. do an NBME test per week until 2 weeks before the exam. you should do well with this plan 🙂 I'd say around 230-250

 

[Roberta Kaleb]

Thank you so much for all the info! 🙂
I'll read over it again and write up a study plan as you suggested.... can i just ask one last question: what does FA stand for?
thanks again!
roberta

 

[jfgavina]

FA stands for First Aid. It's the bible of step 1. buy it in the year you plan to do the exam because it changes every year! It might be tempting to read FA as a first source because it has all the info, but if you don't understand the concepts behind what's written there you won't take the best advantage of it. So, unless you're top student from your class I'd recomend you to read those other review books and only after that go to FA. you can do it section by section, for example, you read cardio physiology on BRS constanzo, then the pathology in rapid review goljan and after that read the cardio section in FA. it's up to you.. buy the materials and see what you can do with it. and do lot's of questions!!

 

[Roberta Kaleb]

ahh ok i see now! it makes sense 🙂

I intend to buy the kaplan notes first, so i can get prepared on all the subjects first (plus its useful for the exams i'll be taking). This is also because I noticed the membership on qbank expires after one year, then u have to renew it. the books are quite expensive too, but they're the latest edition and have got everything in them.

thanks again!
roberta

 

[jfgavina]

kaplan is a different strategy, it's more comprehensive to read all those kaplan books and will take you more time to achieve the same results.

 

[Roberta Kaleb]

Ah ok, so you think those rapid review books would be sufficient?
I mean I am not looking forward to spending almost 500 euros for the kaplan notes 🙂, but at the same time I want to be super-prepared. Also, the questions on the USMLE world also require a membership right?
Thanks 🙂

 

[jfgavina]

kaplan is too much, you'll get tired of it. my idea is that kaplan review books are used by old graduates looking forward to write step 1. those books I mentioned are more than enough, you should read those only once and after that use FA, uworld and/or kaplan qbank only!

uworld membership for 2 months its about 100 euros I think, but it is a must!! everybody does uworld. also, if if you have the money you can do doctors in training course which is very helpful to integrate concepts in FA.

I'd say that with DIT step 1 cost me around 1400 euros.

 

[Roberta Kaleb]

Ah ok, I see.
I talked with a graduate medical student doing his residency in the USA, (he studied in italy), and he suggested me I use the kaplan notes, because he said the way our medical course is built, we just don't come out as prepared to take step1 as US undergraduates do, because we surely study lots of theory, but it is not exam-focused, if u know what i mean.

I'll follow your advice about the other sources, but i don't wanna risk missing out on some reading that we don't thoroughly cover in our lectures 😳
If you don't mind me asking, did u study in an american school? Just to get an idea about where the other students are studying from 🙂

Thanks for the useful advice anyway, take care

 

[jfgavina]

I study in an european medical school! lol

 

[Roberta Kaleb]

ahaha! ok 😀

then i'm not sure what to say! I trust your advice anyway 🙂 bye