The Step 1 Thread

[xanthomondo]

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I wanted to make a marathon thread for those taking Step 1 next spring/summer (and maybe our wise elders will offer advice!) for any questions, tips, mnemonics, or just a place to vent.

My question is which micro/immuno and pharm review book is better? BRS or Lange?

 

[nogolfinsnow]

You should probably start this thread in the Step 1 forum or request it be moved , it will likely live a longer and more fruitful life there. That being said, I liked the Lange review book for the immuno section. I read the micro section during our micro unit 2nd year, but it didn't particularly help me. For micro i thought clinical micro made ridiculously simple was good during the year and I relied on First Aid during my dedicated Step 1 study time. Especially the flow charts in FA for lab ID of bacteria and viral family classifications.

I don't have any great advice for pharm; I read Lippincott's during the year and made flash cards based almost exclusively on the info in FA. During my dedicated Step 1 time, I reviewed the flash cards and supplemented them with info from UWorld questions.

 

[greg1184]

I am taking Step 1 next June. I am starting to put together a study plan that begins soon. The plan includes Kaplan Lecture Notes/Videos along with q-bank early on. Then later on use RR Path + UWorld in order to unify put all of the concepts together. FA will be used and annotated all throughout my studies.

It is easy to get bogged down with all the different sources together. I personally want to make my life as simple as possible. I will not study with "should I be using source X" in mind. One thing that a 3rd year friend of mine told me... do not spread myself thin with too many sources. Once I get my plan settled I will post a list of things I am going to use.

 

[kryptik]

Taking it in May, also plan to study kaplan for everything except micro and path where i am using CMMRS and Rapid Review. Annotate new concepts into FA and then hit FA a couple of times. As far as question banks, Qbank for initial review and uworld till i take the test

 

[Captopril]

When do US students typically begin their hardcore Step 1 prep? I only ask because I have a buttload of awesome materials I want to sell, and I need the little US lemmings jacking up the eBay prices when they need them most.

 

[AggieSean]

I'm taking it in June. I've been doing Gunner Training since June and hope to have done 100% of the flashcards before hitting my review period in May. I'm also planning on doing Doctors in Training online in May and doing his 20 week study plan. I'm going through the Gunner Training questions with each block I complete now and will do Kaplan QBank from Jan - March, and UW from March - June. Good luck to us all!

 

[xanthomondo]

Lame move mod

I was hopnig to keep this in Allo so that upper classmen would be able to chime in (traffic is probably heavier in allo, too)

 

[McGillGrad]

Lame move mod

I was hopnig to keep this in Allo so that upper classmen would be able to chime in (traffic is probably heavier in allo, too)

You could try to post another thread there with a less "Step I" specific title.

Something along the lines of "Allopathic Step Prep Thread" or some such gobbledegook.

 

[turkeyjerky]

So I was thinking about starting my prep by going over an old subject during winter break. What's a good one to do? I'm thinking either biochem, general path or micro/immuno. I don't remember anything from biochem (had it last fall), so I'm kinda inclined to go for that. Or would I be better off reviewing general path or micro, subjects I remember better but might be more high-yield?

 

[nogolfinsnow]

So I was thinking about starting my prep by going over an old subject during winter break. What's a good one to do? I'm thinking either biochem, general path or micro/immuno. I don't remember anything from biochem (had it last fall), so I'm kinda inclined to go for that. Or would I be better off reviewing general path or micro, subjects I remember better but might be more high-yield?

I think studying over Winter break will be low yield. The 2nd half of 2nd year is quite a bear, with all of your class work followed by the mental strain of Step 1 studying, and I feel you'd be better served by enjoying your friends and family and hobbies for 2 weeks. I didn't remember anything from biochem, but a few days of drawing and re-drawing cycles in FA + the UWorld questions during my month of studying had me very well prepared for the actual exam. Depending on your curriculum, you'll have a lot of path left this year, and micro and immuno should pop up again, too. There will be time to learn all of the material to the detail required for step 1. Vacations are a time to be enjoyed!

 

[shinjiru]

I think studying over Winter break will be low yield. The 2nd half of 2nd year is quite a bear, with all of your class work followed by the mental strain of Step 1 studying, and I feel you'd be better served by enjoying your friends and family and hobbies for 2 weeks. I didn't remember anything from biochem, but a few days of drawing and re-drawing cycles in FA + the UWorld questions during my month of studying had me very well prepared for the actual exam. Depending on your curriculum, you'll have a lot of path left this year, and micro and immuno should pop up again, too. There will be time to learn all of the material to the detail required for step 1. Vacations are a time to be enjoyed!

I'll join in! I need all the motivation I can get right now.

Even for those of us taking the exam early? Do you think it would be a bad idea to start studying now? I am aiming for April to take my exam.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I'll join in. I'm a 3rd year DO student and on rotations. Took my COMLEX and did fairly well. However, I'm now contemplating taking the USMLE in maybe 3-4 months.

I'm trying to work through the Kaplan Home Study series (neuro stuff) at this point. I'm just kinda struggling going through material while on rotations (since my rotation consists of quizzes and soon, shelfs). I may end up using more of FA over this Kaplan stuff. Thoughts?

 

[mq123]

I'm taking it in June. I've been doing Gunner Training since June and hope to have done 100% of the flashcards before hitting my review period in May. I'm also planning on doing Doctors in Training online in May and doing his 20 week study plan. I'm going through the Gunner Training questions with each block I complete now and will do Kaplan QBank from Jan - March, and UW from March - June. Good luck to us all!

I was planning on getting a qbank to go along with 2nd year classes, and I heard that it's better to 'save' UWorld for later studying. Gunner Training looks very tempting, especially with the price and content, and I was wondering if anyone can comment on how useful it is to start using now.

I'm hoping that the 6 weeks we get between end of 2nd year and start of 3rd year should be enough time to go over UWorld as well as reread Goljan RR Path and FA (both of which I started reading in detail now along with classes).

 

[kryptik]

I was planning on getting a qbank to go along with 2nd year classes, and I heard that it's better to 'save' UWorld for later studying. Gunner Training looks very tempting, especially with the price and content, and I was wondering if anyone can comment on how useful it is to start using now.

I'm hoping that the 6 weeks we get between end of 2nd year and start of 3rd year should be enough time to go over UWorld as well as reread Goljan RR Path and FA (both of which I started reading in detail now along with classes).

I used gunner training for a while, and now am doing usmlerx alongside second year, i think usmlerx does a better job of reinforcing first aid than gunner training.

 

[shinjiru]

I used gunner training for a while, and now am doing usmlerx alongside second year, i think usmlerx does a better job of reinforcing first aid than gunner training.

How many question are in USMLERx? Someone else mentioned that they are the same questions as the FirstAid question book - is this completely true? If so, any point in buying it since the book doesn't require a wallet biopsy?

It seems like gunner training is trying to do a the supermemo format of learning. Was that your experience?

 

[defcon8]

How many question are in USMLERx? Someone else mentioned that they are the same questions as the FirstAid question book - is this completely true? If so, any point in buying it since the book doesn't require a wallet biopsy?

It seems like gunner training is trying to do a the supermemo format of learning. Was that your experience?

33xx questions currently in the bank.. book has 1000 questions

 

[kryptik]

yes usmlerx has a little over 3000 questions while the book like stated above is a 1000, if you look hard enough you may find the book somewhere online😀

 

[McGillGrad]

Just a word of warning on USMLErx, the questions are often badly written with no logical progression of information. It is simply a way to use key words to identify the answer, if you read though FA properly. It is a good way to review FA, but not a valid representation of step-style questions or question-asking.

 

[AggieSean]

Just a word of warning on USMLErx, the questions are often badly written with no logical progression of information. It is simply a way to use key words to identify the answer, if you read though FA properly. It is a good way to review FA, but not a valid representation of step-style questions or question-asking.

+1. I hated their questions. I tried to do some out of the FA Q&A book (which as I understand is just 1000 of the USMLERx questions) and it was like pureed vomit.

 

[shinjiru]

+1. I hated their questions. I tried to do some out of the FA Q&A book (which as I understand is just 1000 of the USMLERx questions) and it was like pureed vomit.

At least it as pureed, nothing like chunks to make you hurl again.

So I took a quick look at the book, and it is nothing like USMLE world. Thanks for the heads up fellas -- out of mind, out of sight.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

I'll join in! I need all the motivation I can get right now.

Even for those of us taking the exam early? Do you think it would be a bad idea to start studying now? I am aiming for April to take my exam.

I took mine at the end of June, our classes ended at the end of May, so I'm not really sure how to approach the earlier test date. I still think 4-6 weeks max of dedicated study time should be plenty otherwise you'll burn out.

 

[Dirt]

Just scheduled...June 9. June 10 will be a good day. Gonna keep it simple...FA, Goljan, and USMLEworld. We are done with class in early April, then have 2 weeks to study for a comprehensive year end final. I am giving myself like 4.5 weeks post year end final.

 

[C6789]

Just scheduled for mid-June. Not exactly sure what my plan is for hardcore studying just yet. We get up to 6 weeks, and people at my school swear by Doctors In Training with an even split between UWorld & Qbank. DIT sounds good in theory, but I don't want to shell out the money only to decide I don't want to sit through online lectures all day during our study period.

I've been using GunnerTraining and RR+audio along with my classes so far this year (as time allows), and I've been really happy with both. There's always a few questions that I end up getting right on exams that I totally would've missed otherwise. I think it's been helpful so far to make some of the multi-system path connections that Goljan stresses, but that our individual system blocks gloss over.

I know I do better with repetition, and I've already forgotten material from August, so I feel like I should be starting to study next semester, but have no idea how much or how little to do.

 

[DRJJ1]

Just scheduled for mid-June. Not exactly sure what my plan is for hardcore studying just yet. We get up to 6 weeks, and people at my school swear by Doctors In Training with an even split between UWorld & Qbank. DIT sounds good in theory, but I don't want to shell out the money only to decide I don't want to sit through online lectures all day during our study period.

I've been using GunnerTraining and RR+audio along with my classes so far this year (as time allows), and I've been really happy with both. There's always a few questions that I end up getting right on exams that I totally would've missed otherwise. I think it's been helpful so far to make some of the multi-system path connections that Goljan stresses, but that our individual system blocks gloss over.

I know I do better with repetition, and I've already forgotten material from August, so I feel like I should be starting to study next semester, but have no idea how much or how little to do.

wow this is 6 months away and you already scheduled? wow wow wow

 

[C6789]

wow this is 6 months away and you already scheduled? wow wow wow

My school made us all apply and get our forms authorized around Thanksgiving. Got my scheduling permit last Friday. There's another school in the area, so they advised us to pick our preferred date as soon as we could.

 

[GZA]

Ok... So I watched the Doctor's in Training vid on their website... I have no interest in taking their program, but was only curious what that guy would have to say. The part where he mentions

"12 hrs. studying/day for the 4 weeks before the test"

nearly made me laugh. Even if I wanted to I seriously doubt I could. I mean, there are many things I can do 12 hours per day for a month, unfortunately studying probably isn't one of them. I'm not being a jackass, only being realistic.


Does anyone else find this estimate a tad ridiculous?

 

[McGillGrad]

Ok... So I watched the Doctor's in Training vid on their website... I have no interest in taking their program, but was only curious what that guy would have to say. The part where he mentions

"12 hrs. studying/day for the 4 weeks before the test"

nearly made me laugh. Even if I wanted to I seriously doubt I could. I mean, there are many things I can do 12 hours per day for a month, unfortunately studying probably isn't one of them. I'm not being a jackass, only being realistic.


Does anyone else find this estimate a tad ridiculous?

I couldn't study more than 8 hours a day, not counting breaks. I took a couple weeks longer than a month at 6-8 hours per day. Although since this exam is all about what you've seen most recently, 10-12 hours a day would be necessary for only 4 weeks.

 

[Captopril]

Ok... So I watched the Doctor's in Training vid on their website... I have no interest in taking their program, but was only curious what that guy would have to say. The part where he mentions

"12 hrs. studying/day for the 4 weeks before the test"

nearly made me laugh. Even if I wanted to I seriously doubt I could. I mean, there are many things I can do 12 hours per day for a month, unfortunately studying probably isn't one of them. I'm not being a jackass, only being realistic.


Does anyone else find this estimate a tad ridiculous?

When he says that, I think he means 6hrs of DIT videos + 6hrs of studying = 12hrs. That isn't really too absurd. If we are talking pure reading, though, I'd say 10hrs is the absolute maximum for any sane person.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

8-10hrs a day is doable if a chunk of that is questions and reviewing questions and you have good breaks built in every couple hours. Not doable if it's all reading, you'll die from boredom.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

I couldn't study more than 8 hours a day, not counting breaks. I took a couple weeks longer than a month at 6-8 hours per day. Although since this exam is all about what you've seen most recently, 10-12 hours a day would be necessary for only 4 weeks.

I very much agree with this. If you're studying 10-12hrs a day, you need 4 weeks maximum total study time. You'll feel burned out well before test time on this schedule.

 

[xanthomondo]

Does the pharm portion on step one place a lot of emphasis on route of entry for the drugs?

Like should I memorize what's IV, PO, etc?

 

[McGillGrad]

Does the pharm portion on step one place a lot of emphasis on route of entry for the drugs?

Like should I memorize what's IV, PO, etc?

I did not see anything that detailed. MAYBE if it involves 'Penicillin G' vs. other types for syphilis. But that's it.

 

[greg1184]

Just mailed out my Certification of ID for step 1. Once that is in I should be fully registered for Step 1. Boy, I remember when there was a time when Step 1 was this entity which was far away. Where has all the time gone?

 

[premeddick]

Just mailed out my Certification of ID for step 1. Once that is in I should be fully registered for Step 1. Boy, I remember when there was a time when Step 1 was this entity which was far away. Where has all the time gone?

I just signed up for my day to take Step 1 in June. It makes me kind of excited and yet a bit nervous. Did anyone else get their scheduling permit by email and not mail? I was surprised because I was expecting it in a few weeks by mail. Oh yeah, any drawback to taking it on a Saturday?

PMD

 

[PistolPete]

Yeah, got my permit by e-mail as well. Looks like this is all starting to become very real!

 

[ACSurgeon]

I wanted to make a marathon thread for those taking Step 1 next spring/summer (and maybe our wise elders will offer advice!) for any questions, tips, mnemonics, or just a place to vent.

My question is which micro/immuno and pharm review book is better? BRS or Lange?

I did review flash cards for both and thought it was more than enough. I only went through select drugs ~100 and most of the micro cards. I obviously also went through first aid and most of UW-qbank and tried to learn pharm/micro that way. Pharm is tested in the most basic way imaginable. Micro was also fairly straight forward, I thought. Best of luck!

 

[ACSurgeon]

Does the pharm portion on step one place a lot of emphasis on route of entry for the drugs?

Like should I memorize what's IV, PO, etc?

nope. Aside from knowing that horrible, horrible infections (endocarditis, tertiary syphilis, etc) are treated IV, you need not know any routes.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Just mailed out my Certification of ID for step 1. Once that is in I should be fully registered for Step 1. Boy, I remember when there was a time when Step 1 was this entity which was far away. Where has all the time gone?

Before you know it, it will be a distant memory. Pretty scary!

 

[greg1184]

Got my exam scheduled for June 3. The countdown begins. I have my January planned in terms of balancing my classes and Step 1 studying. I am starting with a Basic science that was taught poorly... Biochemistry/Medical Genetics. I will be using Kaplan Lecture notes. I will be alternating days of step 1 studying (3 chapters a day) and studying for my current class. The week of my class's exam I will focus on studying for that exam and put Step 1 aside. On saturdays I will do 2 blocks of questions from Qbank along with another block on sundays (annotating accordingly). I have reserved a few days for catch up and FA review. After I finish Biochem I will reward myself with a subject I enjoy greatly: Immunology.

I am using a desk calendar to write down my "syllabus" along with my exam dates for classes.

 

[DrBowtie]

What was the time between mailing the cert form to them sending you your scheduling permit?

 

[Rabbit Hole]

What was the time between mailing the cert form to them sending you your scheduling permit?

You will get an email once they receive your certification form. From that point it can take up to 3 weeks until they issue the scheduling permit.

 

[greg1184]

What was the time between mailing the cert form to them sending you your scheduling permit?

From the time they emailed me that they received my cert form to when they emailed me my permit, it was 3 days.