Step I Taking Step II in December

Started by Pureride
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How did you do?
How long did you study?
Any one book or question aid that was particularly useful?

Youre quote is awesome!
 
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i took step 2 last month. i studied about 1-2 weeks (was reading on and off for a couple months, but not really studying hard-core).

NMS step 2 review is good for questions, 5 multiple choice tests, more difficult than the real exam.

USMLE Step 2 Secrets is great. It's in question/answer form, hits all the high points. Know it back and forth and you'll do fine.
 
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I took my boards in early September, and studied about three weeks. I hadn't planned on studying that long, but I had some scheduling problems. My two favorite books were the blue Mock Step 2 Exam Q&A book (sold on this site) and the 5 test question book mentioned by another poster. I found the 5 test book rather more difficult than the Mock Boards book, and the Mock Boards book just a hair easier than the actual boards. I found that both books were weak for hematologic malignancy, so you might want to look up some pearls for that subject.

Anyway, using those two books I got above the national average.

-Mary
 
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Thank god. I was worried too, since I've been just doing NMS and getting ~60%... Big load just slid off my back. Thanks for the tips!
 
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I heard great things about the Broochert books.
Besides MCQ's, what review books are the most high yield?

Also, I have been driving all up and downt he east coast interviewing, and I have some more to go. So I thought that audio review material migt be good. Has anyone heard anyting abpout the bold standars review tapes? I saw them in the back of the first aid.

Thanks
-Jordan
 
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Any opinions on the utility of First Aid for Step 2? My roomie sez he used only that, plus some practice questions, and he did well. But I've heard that First Aid isn't that great for step 2...any feelings on this?
 
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Although, I have not yet taken STEP 2 (5 more weeks) from what I have gathered from previous step 2 takers, is that First Aid is does not have the same utility that it had for Step 1 but it is a "GOOD" comprehensive step 2 review book. Probably Prescriptions and crush the board are all of the same caliber for step 2.

IN CASE YOU GUYS DONT ALREADY KNOW THIS...CRUSH THE BOARDS AND USMLE STEP 2 SECRETS ARE THE EXACT SAME BOOK JUST WRITTEN IN A DFIFFERNT FORMAT SO DONT BE A JACKASS LIKE ME AND BUY THEM BOTH.


Goog luck everyone!

-Jordan
 
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I just took Step 2 yesterday. I used First Aid and QBank alone. I thought First Aid was a decent enough review but there were definitely some questions on there that I knew the answer to, but knew I didn't read that in Step 2 or do it in QBank (I did all of the questions). I think this is going to be the case with any selection of materials.

I've heard good things about Crush the Boards, but I was lazy and had already bought First Aid. I studied about 1 week.

My test had a lot of Heme/Onc stuff and a lot of funny-looking-kids with weird diseases ----- ouch! Or maybe that's just the stuff I remember the most because the other stuff was better. The test was less obscure crap than Step 1 but ABSOLUTELY contained some weird stuff, more than you encounter in "real life."

mike
 
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