While taking step 2 I realized what I could have done to optimize my studying. I wanted to share what I found personally with the my studying and the exam.
My stats (so far): Step 1 241/99
Step 2: usmle world (87% done): Cumulative percent 68% on all timed random 46q blocks (no repeats).
(1) Finish Usmleworld. I saw some "copies" of world questions on my step 2. Even if I didn't see that question.. a lot of times the explanation to the wrong answer on world helped me answer a step 2 question.
This isn't a revelation (everyone here basically says to do U/W). However I wanted to explain exactly how world is beneficial. World does a great job of pointing out how to differentiate similar disease presentations (Measles, Rubella etc). My step 2 had many questions that I could narrow down to two and thanks to usmle world's explanations I "think" I was able to figure out the answer.
I also felt that when USMLE world state something was high yield for step 2... there were usually right. I had a lot of shock questions on my step 2 that kept coming up in world. I think that U/W prepared you for the types of questions you would see.
(2) Using Crush Step 2. When I started reading crush I felt that it was too superficial and was not happy I chose the source. However.. I now realize that it is a nice and concise review to go over before the exam. I could read through Crush about 3 times and pick up some high yield info. This did not take away too much from U/W question time. I think that had I read FA.. I would have been overwhelmed with how much material there was and could not have made multiple laps through the book (which is how I usually study).
I had kinkos put Crush Step 2 in a 3 ring binder. This way I could insert tables from printouts or add pieces of paper with my own notes to sections of crush. I probably only added about 10 pages.. but I think it was worth it.
(3) Side notes from my personal exam experience
No questions on storage diseases (thank god)
A lot of shock questions (diff Neurogenic, Septic, etc. ). It wasn't just solely based on cardiovascular parameters... there were a few times it was based purely on signs and symptoms.
I had a question about a woman who thought her inflammatory breast cancer was her fetus that would migrate to her uterus in 15 years and then deliver.
Good luck!
My stats (so far): Step 1 241/99
Step 2: usmle world (87% done): Cumulative percent 68% on all timed random 46q blocks (no repeats).
(1) Finish Usmleworld. I saw some "copies" of world questions on my step 2. Even if I didn't see that question.. a lot of times the explanation to the wrong answer on world helped me answer a step 2 question.
This isn't a revelation (everyone here basically says to do U/W). However I wanted to explain exactly how world is beneficial. World does a great job of pointing out how to differentiate similar disease presentations (Measles, Rubella etc). My step 2 had many questions that I could narrow down to two and thanks to usmle world's explanations I "think" I was able to figure out the answer.
I also felt that when USMLE world state something was high yield for step 2... there were usually right. I had a lot of shock questions on my step 2 that kept coming up in world. I think that U/W prepared you for the types of questions you would see.
(2) Using Crush Step 2. When I started reading crush I felt that it was too superficial and was not happy I chose the source. However.. I now realize that it is a nice and concise review to go over before the exam. I could read through Crush about 3 times and pick up some high yield info. This did not take away too much from U/W question time. I think that had I read FA.. I would have been overwhelmed with how much material there was and could not have made multiple laps through the book (which is how I usually study).
I had kinkos put Crush Step 2 in a 3 ring binder. This way I could insert tables from printouts or add pieces of paper with my own notes to sections of crush. I probably only added about 10 pages.. but I think it was worth it.
(3) Side notes from my personal exam experience
No questions on storage diseases (thank god)
A lot of shock questions (diff Neurogenic, Septic, etc. ). It wasn't just solely based on cardiovascular parameters... there were a few times it was based purely on signs and symptoms.
I had a question about a woman who thought her inflammatory breast cancer was her fetus that would migrate to her uterus in 15 years and then deliver.
Good luck!
