Study for Step 1 even before going to Med School

[jubei]

Hi Everyone!

So I just got accepted to medical school, and am starting about Step 1 already. I was just thinking about buying a review book (Probably the FA), and just reading the book to familiarize myself with some of the material (I have been out of school since '98). Is this a good idea? Also, I am looking to do a ER/Internal Med combined program...can you tell me what score I should be aiming for?

Thanks!

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[CaptainJack02]

Hi Everyone!

So I just got accepted to medical school, and am starting about Step 1 already. I was just thinking about buying a review book (Probably the FA), and just reading the book to familiarize myself with some of the material (I have been out of school since '98). Is this a good idea? Also, I am looking to do a ER/Internal Med combined program...can you tell me what score I should be aiming for?

Thanks!

wow.

 

[Bevo]

wow.

I think ^^ that says it all.

or

😱

 

[obecalp]

Hi Everyone!

So I just got accepted to medical school, and am starting about Step 1 already. I was just thinking about buying a review book (Probably the FA), and just reading the book to familiarize myself with some of the material (I have been out of school since '98). Is this a good idea? Also, I am looking to do a ER/Internal Med combined program...can you tell me what score I should be aiming for?

Thanks!

Ummm...don't. I think we can all remember that we were pretty excited and enthusiastic before school started. But seriously, don't. Have fun. Do the things that you wouldn't be able to do for the next couple of years.

 

[lattimer13]

Hi Everyone!

So I just got accepted to medical school, and am starting about Step 1 already. I was just thinking about buying a review book (Probably the FA), and just reading the book to familiarize myself with some of the material (I have been out of school since '98). Is this a good idea? Also, I am looking to do a ER/Internal Med combined program...can you tell me what score I should be aiming for?

Thanks!

i needed a good laugh...thanks!

 

[wonderkid]

Hi Everyone!

So I just got accepted to medical school, and am starting about Step 1 already. I was just thinking about buying a review book (Probably the FA), and just reading the book to familiarize myself with some of the material (I have been out of school since '98). Is this a good idea? Also, I am looking to do a ER/Internal Med combined program...can you tell me what score I should be aiming for?

Thanks!

congrats jubei. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE i beg you. im on my knees begging. HAVE FUN FOR THE NEXT YEAR. if you dont and i knew you, i would seriously kick your butt...wait, i think youll kick your own butt next year if you didnt have fun before starting. your free time up to next year is something special. trust me!!!!!!!!!!!! GO F'IN HAVE FUN. THIS IS REALLY YOUR LAST CHANCE. GO TRAVEL IF YOU CAN...IF YOU DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, BORROW SOME AND TRAVEL.

but if you do want t abook, ide buy first aid for the usmle step 1 and/or step up for the usmle step 1.

have fun.

 

[Discobolus]

I think buying First Aid will be a waste of time. I bought a copy of First Aid before even getting accepted. I looked through it, but honestly didn't understand much of it and thought "there is no way I can learn all this stuff." The thing is at the time learning it from First Aid would have just been rote memorization, now a lot of the stuff in that book comes easy because I actually learned it in a systematic manner (i.e. med school). The only good thing about having First Aid at this point (and this is what I ended up using it for) is the review of review books which is a good guide on what to buy for class and board review.

 

[phoenixsupra]

I think you should simultaneously study for step 2 and 3 as well. While you're at it why not skim through all your med school textbooks for an extra challange. Have fun. 😀

 

[HiddenTruth]

You all are wrong, and OP, you are extremely off target on your book choice before starting med school. YOU NEED TO PURCHASE ROBBINS PATHOLOGICAL BASIS OF DISEASE (the BIG one too, not baby, or basic robbins)---and make sure you read it cover to cover before starting school.
PM me if you need the ISBN

sorry coudn't resist this one 😀

 

[bof]

i don't know about reading FA before medical school. doesn't sound very productive. i think you should defiantely have FA during your first year of med school though. for now might i recommend isersons' getting into a residency. much easier read than FA, and probably useful for you to start thinking about.

 

[phoenixsupra]

You all are wrong, and OP, you are extremely off target on your book choice before starting med school. YOU NEED TO PURCHASE ROBBINS PATHOLOGICAL BASIS OF DISEASE (the BIG one too, not baby, or basic robbins)---and make sure you read it cover to cover before starting school.
PM me if you need the ISBN

sorry coudn't resist this one 😀

Ha ha. That cracks me up. Still getting over my path ptsd. 🙂

OP I fear with this regimen you might have too much freetime and may not be really pushing yourself. Try planning your future family, maybe get your midlife crisis out of the way early and... oh yeah start planning your funeral. Never too early to start that. Whatever you do don't relax and enjoy life. That's strictly for losers. 😀

i don't know about reading FA before medical school. doesn't sound very productive. i think you should defiantely have FA during your first year of med school though. for now might i recommend isersons' getting into a residency. much easier read than FA, and probably useful for you to start thinking about.

Oh and don't forget to swear when the time comes that you did four weeks study and no more. Ha ha.

 

[HiddenTruth]

alrite alrite--people, chill out! quit givin the dude (OP) any more smack--he/she is just being naive and asking a decently 😀 legitimate question (i am sure many of you had smiilar thoughts when you were in those shoes a year or two or three or four ago)

OP: I think with all the sarcastic and humerous comments (to say the least), you get the idea what people are tryinig to say--just chill out--enjoy the year, and get ready to tear it up when you start in the fall. You obviously seem driven and motivated, and that's all you really need-- to do well in med school--good luck with your future endeavors.

HT

 

[phoenixsupra]

OP when you get to medschool. Don't even think of going around talking about this stuff. There is a buttload of denial in medschool about study. You don't want to become one of the "gunner" scapegoats. The social atmosphere in medschool is somewhere between highschool and kindergarten so keep your cards to yourself and tread cautiously. Just a heads up. 🙂

 

[fourthyearmed]

There's no point in reading First Aid right now, you won't understand any of it. Maybe be the end of second year you'll understand about half of it if you're lucky! (I don't mean you personally, I mean all med students in general)

 

[rachana]

that makes me feel less inadequate...

signed,
2nd year who just started looking at FA this past week 🙂

There's no point in reading First Aid right now, you won't understand any of it. Maybe be the end of second year you'll understand about half of it if you're lucky! (I don't mean you personally, I mean all med students in general)

 

[jaboy]

congrats jubei. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE i beg you. im on my knees begging. HAVE FUN FOR THE NEXT YEAR. if you dont and i knew you, i would seriously kick your butt...wait, i think youll kick your own butt next year if you didnt have fun before starting. your free time up to next year is something special. trust me!!!!!!!!!!!! GO F'IN HAVE FUN. THIS IS REALLY YOUR LAST CHANCE. GO TRAVEL IF YOU CAN...IF YOU DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, BORROW SOME AND TRAVEL.

but if you do want t abook, ide buy first aid for the usmle step 1 and/or step up for the usmle step 1.

have fun.

Although I agree with your general idea that is isn't too worthwile to study early, I don't think that it will be the last chance to have fun. I am only in my first year, but I have had a lot of fun so far this year. I don't think that the first semester of med school (at least where I am) is too bad.

 

[jaboy]

OP when you get to medschool. Don't even think of going around talking about this stuff. There is a buttload of denial in medschool about study. You don't want to become one of the "gunner" scapegoats. The social atmosphere in medschool is somewhere between highschool and kindergarten so keep your cards to yourself and tread cautiously. Just a heads up. 🙂

Interesting point. You really hit it dead on where I am at.

 

[Hawk22]

The year before medical school you should:

1. Get alot of sleep and work out. Take care of your body because the next 4 years of school and 3-6 years of residency will abuse you big time.

2. See your friends and family as much as possible. Your opportunities to do this will be much more difficult in school and at times practically non-existent.

3. Travel, have fun, and do everything else you enjoy doing.

First Aid is filled with random facts and acontextual information....don't waste your time with it. If you feel you MUST read something before starting, pick up Medical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple or a good physiology book. They'll help you more than FA.

 

[Harrie]

I didn't even know what First Aid WAS before med school. In fact, I remember as a first year seeing people studying FA in the library and I really thought that it was a book about first aid (you know, stopping bleeding with pressure, tourniquets, CPR).
Seriously, I did not even buy FA until after I finished 2nd year. We had 6 weeks off, I studied for 5 weeks and got a 256.
PLEASE DO NOT START STUDYING NOW!

 

[mikegoal]

Its not too early. My wallpaper as a kid was the pages cut out of first aid.

 

[jubei]

I just love the sarcasm from this post! 🙂 Thanks for all the insight on the boards...time to go on vacation then...Ciao.