Study Guides for USMLE Step 3

[waterski232002]

Any recommendations on study guides for Step 3.... I realize that I really won't need to study much to pass, but I figure it's a good time to buff up on some basic broad medical knowledge... Any good suggestions for study guides/books?

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[Apollyon]

Dude, I took Step III ~3 months before the end of residency - cold. Passed EASILY. It's win-win as an EM resident - if you take it intern year, the stuff is fresh. If you do it as a PGY2, you have your units, so the stuff is still fresh. If you wait (or forget, like I did) until you are a PGY3, it's stuff you do all day, every day.

Seriously, save your money. If you did even average on Step II, you'll pass III just by showing up.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Dude, I took Step III ~3 months before the end of residency - cold. Passed EASILY. It's win-win as an EM resident - if you take it intern year, the stuff is fresh. If you do it as a PGY2, you have your units, so the stuff is still fresh. If you wait (or forget, like I did) until you are a PGY3, it's stuff you do all day, every day.

Seriously, save your money. If you did even average on Step II, you'll pass III just by showing up.

I didn't study for Step 3. Only nerds and dweebs study for that thing.

 

[JackBauERfan]

I didn't study for Step 3. Only nerds and dweebs study for that thing.

my pocket protector lets me know I am NOT a nerd/dweeb.

just joking, I don't even have a regular pen I use haha.

Saying that, for those of us that feel we do have to study, and I'm taking it in April or so, what would most recommend? I'm thinking of just getting the first aid and going through a few times.

 

[GeneralVeers]

my pocket protector lets me know I am NOT a nerd/dweeb.

just joking, I don't even have a regular pen I use haha.

Saying that, for those of us that feel we do have to study, and I'm taking it in April or so, what would most recommend? I'm thinking of just getting the first aid and going through a few times.

I passed it without studying, seriously you don't need to. If you're OCD and chronically guilty/frightened (which you probably are, as you went through med school) then I recommend studying up on Family Medicine topics:

Oral Contraceptives
Amenorrheic 15 yo females (I had approx 20 questions about amenorrheic high school students!)
Cholesterol prevention/treatment
CAD prevention/treatment (should know 1st, 2nd, 3rd line therapy)
Blood pressure prevention/treatment
Diabetes prevention/treatment

 

[turtle md]

I took it near the ned of my EM-1 year. I only used the CD that comes w/ registration - basically to practice w/ test format, esp. the 2nd day type of "interactive" testing. No need to read a study book.

 

[DrMom]

I've been instilled with a healthy dose of fear. I'm on the COMLEX route & last year (when they *finally* instituted the computerized step 3) a bunch of people failed.

Sooo...I'll be the geek who really studies for this thing. 😳

 

[waterski232002]

Yeah... I realize I don't need to study to pass, it's more for my own knowledge. I'm not stressed at all... just want to expand my base (okay, I'm a nerd! whatever) Any rec's.... and no more "you don't need to study.." I already know that.

 

[Apollyon]

Yeah... I realize I don't need to study to pass, it's more for my own knowledge. I'm not stressed at all... just want to expand my base (okay, I'm a nerd! whatever) Any rec's.... and no more "you don't need to study.." I already know that.

But that's the point - what you're learning from your reading and on the job is what you need - a less-specific source like a review for Step III is actually divergent.

 

[waterski232002]

ummmm... Rethink what you just said. You're saying that knowing less is better than knowing more! It may not be relevant to my job as an EP, but that doesn't mean it is not useful information.

 

[Apollyon]

ummmm... Rethink what you just said. You're saying that knowing less is better than knowing more! It may not be relevant to my job as an EP, but that doesn't mean it is not useful information.

You don't know me. If you did, you would likely admit that I know "more stuff" than probably anyone you've ever met. I am NOT saying "knowing less is better than knowing more". I don't know why I remember them, but I can talk about bacteriology for hours - literally. It's by God's graces that this virtually never happens. At the same time, if you want free beer on trivia night, I'm your ringer.

You asked about Step III study guides for general information. You can get better reviews that, if you want to recapitulate prior education, address the information in a much more meaningful manner.

 

[waterski232002]

Great... can you share some of these sources.

 

[Apollyon]

Harrison's and Cecil's just to leaf/page through. The Garcia EKG book. "Death to Dust: What Happens to Dead Bodies?" by Ken Iserson. "Spitz and Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation of Death" (which is where CSI has gotten a lot of their ideas). The Marino ICU book just to leaf/page through (although some pages take some more intense study than just casually viewing) - the new third edition has just been published.

These are things I browse through that put more "leaves on the tree" or "meat on the bones".

 

[waterski232002]

Harrison's and Cecil's is a little much to just "leaf" through... Do they have a condensed manual? Is it any good?

 

[Apollyon]

Harrison's and Cecil's is a little much to just "leaf" through... Do they have a condensed manual? Is it any good?

Not for me.

I think there's a "baby Cecil", and there may be a Harrison companion, but I'm not sure, as I've never seen/needed/used one.

 

[waterski232002]

my bad

 

[waterski232002]

Not for me.

I think there's a "baby Cecil", and there may be a Harrison companion, but I'm not sure, as I've never seen/needed/used one.

I know "more stuff" than probably anyone you've ever met.

I can talk about bacteriology for hours - literally. if you want free beer on trivia night, I'm your ringer.

Excuse the rest of us bottom-feeders that are not quite as brilliant as yourself. EXHALE.... and you just might be able to fit through the doorway sideways!

 

[Apollyon]

Excuse the rest of us bottom-feeders that are not quite as brilliant as yourself. EXHALE.... and you just might be able to fit through the doorway sideways!

Do you read your own posts? Pot, kettle.

edit: nice cut and paste job, too.

edit #2: it's pretty bad form to solicit opinions, get opinions, then use them to insult the person who offered them.

 

[waterski232002]

Find a post where I claimed I was the "most intelligent person you have ever met" or am "the ultimate trivia ringer". I appreciate your input, but not the condescending posts. I'll refrain from saying anything else.... you can have the last word.

 

[Apollyon]

Find a post where I claimed I was the "most intelligent person you have ever met" or am "the ultimate trivia ringer". I appreciate your input, but not the condescending posts. I'll refrain from saying anything else.... you can have the last word.

Nice. Dig me, then say "I quit". I didn't say I was the most intelligent; I said

you would likely admit that I know "more stuff" than probably anyone you've ever met

And, yeah, I'm a trivia ringer. "Ultimate"? Your word - NOT mine.

And, again, read your own posts about condescension. That's why I asked before if you were in the beginning of your second year of residency - because you speak with such an air of authority (but, occasionally - more than rarely but less than commonly - you are wrong), yet it is authority that you do not yet command.

 

[Jeff698]

I got Crush the Boards for Step 3. My OCD made me get it. After this long, I've realized I either take Paxil or I buy study books.

Actually reading them, on the other hand....

Take care,
Jeff

 

[GeneralVeers]

I got Crush the Boards for Step 3. My OCD made me get it. After this long, I've realized I either take Paxil or I buy study books.

Actually reading them, on the other hand....

Take care,
Jeff

Don't worry, there's a little bit of Internal Medicine OCD inside all of us. The trick is keeping it subdued with plenty of alcohol.

 

[DrQuinn]

Find a post where I claimed I was the "most intelligent person you have ever met" or am "the ultimate trivia ringer". I appreciate your input, but not the condescending posts. I'll refrain from saying anything else.... you can have the last word.

So, back to the OP, I used Crush Step 3, I think it was by Adam Brochert. I read it twice (its a very quick read, outline format). I did very well on Step 3. You don't need to study much. If anything, just study OB and Pediatrics, leaf through the rest.

Q

 

[wook]

So, back to the OP, I used Crush Step 3, I think it was by Adam Brochert. I read it twice (its a very quick read, outline format). I did very well on Step 3. You don't need to study much. If anything, just study OB and Pediatrics, leaf through the rest.

Q

I took COMLEX III. Used Boards and Wards...I haven't got the results yet. Did some questions from USMLEWORLD too.


Wook