Studying for Step 2 Summer of 2nd Year

[Roy7]

I'm about to take step 1, and I'm of course pannicking that I wont do well. So, I'm starting to think 'bout what early prep I could do for step 2.

My main problem I felt w/step 1 was that I didnt review what I learned first year (biochem, anatomy, physio, immuno) the summer for first year.

So that being said, what's a good way to start preparing/reviewing for Step 2 at this stage in the game.

And I know everyones going to tell me to "relax, go have fun etc". I'll take care of that - I promise. But I can definitely spare a minimum of 4 hrs a day to just study - after 2 years of med school life w/0 studying'd be too strange for me to handle. Thanks in advance.

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[deleted113029]

I'm about to take step 1, and I'm of course pannicking that I wont do well. So, I'm starting to think 'bout what early prep I could do for step 2.

My main problem I felt w/step 1 was that I didnt review what I learned first year (biochem, anatomy, physio, immuno) the summer for first year.

So that being said, what's a good way to start preparing/reviewing for Step 2 at this stage in the game.

And I know everyones going to tell me to "relax, go have fun etc". I'll take care of that - I promise. But I can definitely spare a minimum of 4 hrs a day to just study - after 2 years of med school life w/0 studying'd be too strange for me to handle. Thanks in advance.

do question books such as A&L, pretest, etc during your rotations and read relevant material on your weak areas in textbooks like Cecil's essentials; great concise book even though it's around a 1000 pages. step-up to medicine is a great book for IM; it's 500 pages of concise BUT dense material.

also do USMLE world (do this at the expense of other question books) and get however long a subscription you want. i had a 30 day subscription but you might want a longer one to gauge your progress/knowledge.

if you do this 4 hrs/day, i see no reason why you wouldn't own the exam.

Good luck!

 

[turkdlit]

Hey Roy, I'm kind of doing the same thing at the moment...I've had this year off to do a research fellowship so I've been lightly studying for Step 2 a good year and a half in advance This is what I've done in the last 6 months:

1. (3 months) Started with Crush the Boards (a good general overview of step 2 material), and concurrently did NMS Version 2 questions on CD-ROM

2. (1.5 months) Studied Blueprints OB/GYN (my worst subject)

3. (1.5 months) Going over Crush again, doing NMS questions again

Then in July when I start 3rd year, I plan on doing:

1. Blueprints for Peds during Peds rotations

2. MKSAP 3 questions for my IM months along with Step-up to Medicine

3. Kaplan Surgery notes for Surgery rotations (hear this is very good), and blueprints OB/GYN again for that rotation

4. All other months will be doing USMLE World questions/going over Crush the Boards/listening to Goljan step 2 lectures. Plan on taking the exam early July 2008.

I know this plan seems a little psycho/overkill, but I wanna do much better than my Step 1 score. Hope some of this is helpful.

 

[jdh71]

questions, lots and lots of questions.

 

[Roy7]

So there arent any other review books for individual subjects like in step 1?

I'd be good just doing questions and reading first aid for step 2?