Those of you who enroll in schools where classes run 8-5, how do you do it?

[shadowlightfox]

After few weeks of second year, this is hell, and for all the wrong reasons, too. It's really hard for me to start studying for boards. Hell, I barely opened my first aid book, let alone having time to even do practice questions.

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[DO2015CA]

After few weeks of second year, this is hell, and for all the wrong reasons, too. It's really hard for me to start studying for boards. Hell, I barely opened my first aid book, let alone having time to even do practice questions.

Don't worry do it slowly as you do class work. January is when most people start so some get serious as late as spring break. Don't burn yourself out. 2nd year is rough

 

[IslandStyle808]

After few weeks of second year, this is hell, and for all the wrong reasons, too. It's really hard for me to start studying for boards. Hell, I barely opened my first aid book, let alone having time to even do practice questions.

2nd year has been somewhat more kinder to me, but the hours aren't exactly what the faculty have told us (a lot of days end 2-3pm). It sure beats 1st year at my school. However, when you pile the board stuff in, I'm studying about the same...

 

[68PGunner]

Sigh... I have to be in school for about 3 days on average nowadays. But, I have adjusted by studying my FA and Sketchy flash cards during class unless something interesting is being presented. I'm always pissed off about days in which I have to be in school. We will see how things go from here. However, I'm very happy with my performance on Kaplan and USMLERx Qbanks so far.

I think the main important things are to set daily goals and keep a tight schedule in your head.

 

[ortnakas]

Don't worry do it slowly as you do class work. January is when most people start so some get serious as late as spring break. Don't burn yourself out. 2nd year is rough

Agreed. Your schedule does sound painful, but this early in second year, focusing on classes is fine. Don't panic quite yet.

 

[DO2015CA]

2nd year has been somewhat more kinder to me, but the hours aren't exactly what the faculty have told us (a lot of days end 2-3pm). It sure beats 1st year at my school. However, when you pile the board stuff in, I'm studying about the same...

2nd year is a lot easier than 1st in terms of class time because you don't have anatomy and histo labs. For me 2nd year was a breeze until spring. Board studying stress is what makes 2nd year rough. Even if you are putting in just as many hours studying per day as the past year it's the psychological torture that you are going to fail that is draining. Trust me, especially when starting to study UW will humble you. Then there is some breakthrough around question 1500-1700 that questions started clicking and I saw my banks increase a good bit. I didn't know if I'd ever hit avg on uw in the beginning

 

[IslandStyle808]

2nd year is a lot easier than 1st in terms of class time because you don't have anatomy and histo labs. For me 2nd year was a breeze until spring. Board studying stress is what makes 2nd year rough. Even if you are putting in just as many hours studying per day as the past year it's the psychological torture that you are going to fail that is draining. Trust me, especially when starting to study UW will humble you. Then there is some breakthrough around question 1500-1700 that questions started clicking and I saw my banks increase a good bit. I didn't know if I'd ever hit avg on uw in the beginning

Don't get me wrong, I may seem composed but I'm freaking out on the inside. You can even check the USMLE step 1 forums to see a few of my comments because I have no idea if I am correctly preparing. Its not just anatomy and histology that has been reduced (since they can be real time sinks) its also classes in general as well. The dread doesn't just comes from the approaching boards but whether you are balancing out classes as well. There is always this fear that if you are studying too much for the boards and that you could fail classes. Having a lower credit load eases this fear. I'm sure you know this better than me.

 

[DO2015CA]

Don't get me wrong, I may seem composed but I'm freaking out on the inside. You can even check the USMLE step 1 forums to see a few of my comments because I have no idea if I am correctly preparing. Its not just anatomy and histology that has been reduced (since they can be real time sinks) its also classes in general as well. The dread doesn't just comes from the approaching boards but whether you are balancing out classes as well. There is always this fear that if you are studying too much for the boards and that you could fail classes. Having a lower credit load eases this fear. I'm sure you know this better than me.

Ya all of that. You'll get through it though. You got this. Just slowly titrate down your amount of studying you do for each test. You know what you have to study in order to get a certain grade by now. Our last system was GI and I was board studying the full two weeks between tests then cramming powerpoints the weekend before the Monday test. GI was still one of my stronger subjects.

 

[shadowlightfox]

2nd year is a lot easier than 1st in terms of class time because you don't have anatomy and histo labs. For me 2nd year was a breeze until spring. Board studying stress is what makes 2nd year rough. Even if you are putting in just as many hours studying per day as the past year it's the psychological torture that you are going to fail that is draining. Trust me, especially when starting to study UW will humble you. Then there is some breakthrough around question 1500-1700 that questions started clicking and I saw my banks increase a good bit. I didn't know if I'd ever hit avg on uw in the beginning

That's the problem. I don't mind 2nd year being tough because of board studying. However, in my case, I feel like it's tough for all the wrong reasons. Our school is busy preparing us for third year material and less on path/pharm over boards, and they keep stressing that it actually helps us for boards, but upperclassmen whom I've spoken to said that yeah it's a dumb move by the school.

With an 8-5 schedule, forget about doing practice question, I'm barely figuring out a time to even open up my first aid book and look at all the relevant topics sprinkled throughout my lectures. And on top of that so many lecturers are terrible at their job, that you're better off reading the slides on your own. And by the time I'm done reviewing the lecture materials, it's way past my bed time to even be doing practice questions.

I know you guys said it's early and focus on classes, but the schedule is the same during spring semester as well, which means they're not giving me any leeway then to prep for boards other than dedicated. But when the schedule is so tight and it will be just like this in the spring semester, couple it with the fact that the lecturers are not good at their job at teaching, (and I DON'T think what I'm learning is preparing me for boards whatsoever, but that's a whole other talkshow), it's very debilitating and demotivating. It's been already 5 weeks and I still feel like I'm trying to figure out how to get things rolling. And since I'm really interested in pursuing a competitive specialty, I'm having this pressure to figure out how to line things up for the board prep now rather than later. It would suck for me to not get what I want all because I couldn't figure out how to work out this year.

 

[DO2015CA]

That's the problem. I don't mind 2nd year being tough because of board studying. However, in my case, I feel like it's tough for all the wrong reasons. Our school is busy preparing us for third year material and less on path/pharm over boards, and they keep stressing that it actually helps us for boards, but upperclassmen whom I've spoken to said that yeah it's a dumb move by the school.

With an 8-5 schedule, forget about doing practice question, I'm barely figuring out a time to even open up my first aid book and look at all the relevant topics sprinkled throughout my lectures. And on top of that so many lecturers are terrible at their job, that you're better off reading the slides on your own. And by the time I'm done reviewing the lecture materials, it's way past my bed time to even be doing practice questions.

I know you guys said it's early and focus on classes, but the schedule is the same during spring semester as well, which means they're not giving me any leeway then to prep for boards other than dedicated. But when the schedule is so tight and it will be just like this in the spring semester, couple it with the fact that the lecturers are not good at their job at teaching, (and I DON'T think what I'm learning is preparing me for boards whatsoever, but that's a whole other talkshow), it's very debilitating and demotivating. It's the 5th week of school and I still feel like I'm trying to figure out how to get things rolling. And since I'm really interested in pursuing a competitive specialty, I'm having this pressure to figure out how to line things up for the board prep now rather than later. It would suck for me to not get what I want all because I couldn't figure out how to work out this year.

I understand. That's how my school is. I'm killing it 3rd year because they did such a good job focusing on clinicals but I felt like I was left out to dry for boards. There is no harm in getting a schedule going now. The problem with starting so early is that it's kind of a waste. Ya you'll get through the material earlier but it's a long time between now and next may so you'll more likely than not forget what you studied this early. You have also only seen half of the material that will be on the test so focusing on really learning the systems you are in right now will be more helpful than trying to review the material you have seen. The best way to handle board studying while in class is learn the physiology and pharm down pat in the systems you are in via study resources then just go through their ppts before the test. That way you'll be board studying. You only need Cs in class.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

That's the problem. I don't mind 2nd year being tough because of board studying. However, in my case, I feel like it's tough for all the wrong reasons. Our school is busy preparing us for third year material and less on path/pharm over boards, and they keep stressing that it actually helps us for boards, but upperclassmen whom I've spoken to said that yeah it's a dumb move by the school.

With an 8-5 schedule, forget about doing practice question, I'm barely figuring out a time to even open up my first aid book and look at all the relevant topics sprinkled throughout my lectures. And on top of that so many lecturers are terrible at their job, that you're better off reading the slides on your own. And by the time I'm done reviewing the lecture materials, it's way past my bed time to even be doing practice questions.

I know you guys said it's early and focus on classes, but the schedule is the same during spring semester as well, which means they're not giving me any leeway then to prep for boards other than dedicated. But when the schedule is so tight and it will be just like this in the spring semester, couple it with the fact that the lecturers are not good at their job at teaching, (and I DON'T think what I'm learning is preparing me for boards whatsoever, but that's a whole other talkshow), it's very debilitating and demotivating. It's the 5th week of school and I still feel like I'm trying to figure out how to get things rolling. And since I'm really interested in pursuing a competitive specialty, I'm having this pressure to figure out how to line things up for the board prep now rather than later. It would suck for me to not get what I want all because I couldn't figure out how to work out this year.

This is unfortunately a thing at my school too. I think it has to do with COCA making them publish their step 2 rates (which always seem to be lower than step 1), so they are trying to take care of the 'problem' area while ignoring step 1 cause its good enough. Its frustrating. On top of that, I believe my school is going to institute a deadline for step 2 soon (I am gonna guess July, because it would be easiest for them to insert a 'refresher' 2 week course then when no one else is in the building).

The solution is never more dedicated time, its always 'what extra stuff can we add to the curriculum.' One of the biggest differences I believe between MD and DO is that DO schools believe by and large that more lectures is the solution, and MD schools have started letting go of that concept and giving more study time. Medical students didn't get this far cause we don't know how to study, they need to be real.

 

[Tozanzibarbymotorcar]

Imagine having to be in class from 9-5 pm AND having a flipped classroom where you need to listen to lectures for the next day.

 

[68PGunner]

That's the problem. I don't mind 2nd year being tough because of board studying. However, in my case, I feel like it's tough for all the wrong reasons. Our school is busy preparing us for third year material and less on path/pharm over boards, and they keep stressing that it actually helps us for boards, but upperclassmen whom I've spoken to said that yeah it's a dumb move by the school.

With an 8-5 schedule, forget about doing practice question, I'm barely figuring out a time to even open up my first aid book and look at all the relevant topics sprinkled throughout my lectures. And on top of that so many lecturers are terrible at their job, that you're better off reading the slides on your own. And by the time I'm done reviewing the lecture materials, it's way past my bed time to even be doing practice questions.

I know you guys said it's early and focus on classes, but the schedule is the same during spring semester as well, which means they're not giving me any leeway then to prep for boards other than dedicated. But when the schedule is so tight and it will be just like this in the spring semester, couple it with the fact that the lecturers are not good at their job at teaching, (and I DON'T think what I'm learning is preparing me for boards whatsoever, but that's a whole other talkshow), it's very debilitating and demotivating. It's been already 5 weeks and I still feel like I'm trying to figure out how to get things rolling. And since I'm really interested in pursuing a competitive specialty, I'm having this pressure to figure out how to line things up for the board prep now rather than later. It would suck for me to not get what I want all because I couldn't figure out how to work out this year.

Talk to your upperclassmen that score high on board. Don't talk to people that regurgitate the admin bs. Always straight up ask for their board scores before taking their advice seriously. If I am in your shoes, I would talk to upperclassmen that do well on boards and listen to their advice. If they don't disclose their board scores, I'm going to assume that it's a crappy #.

 

[SurgDoc95]

That's the problem. I don't mind 2nd year being tough because of board studying. However, in my case, I feel like it's tough for all the wrong reasons. Our school is busy preparing us for third year material and less on path/pharm over boards, and they keep stressing that it actually helps us for boards, but upperclassmen whom I've spoken to said that yeah it's a dumb move by the school.

With an 8-5 schedule, forget about doing practice question, I'm barely figuring out a time to even open up my first aid book and look at all the relevant topics sprinkled throughout my lectures. And on top of that so many lecturers are terrible at their job, that you're better off reading the slides on your own. And by the time I'm done reviewing the lecture materials, it's way past my bed time to even be doing practice questions.

I know you guys said it's early and focus on classes, but the schedule is the same during spring semester as well, which means they're not giving me any leeway then to prep for boards other than dedicated. But when the schedule is so tight and it will be just like this in the spring semester, couple it with the fact that the lecturers are not good at their job at teaching, (and I DON'T think what I'm learning is preparing me for boards whatsoever, but that's a whole other talkshow), it's very debilitating and demotivating. It's been already 5 weeks and I still feel like I'm trying to figure out how to get things rolling. And since I'm really interested in pursuing a competitive specialty, I'm having this pressure to figure out how to line things up for the board prep now rather than later. It would suck for me to not get what I want all because I couldn't figure out how to work out this year.

Yikes at least your time management skills will be polished going into rotations?

 

[IslandStyle808]

Imagine having to be in class from 9-5 pm AND having a flipped classroom where you need to listen to lectures for the next day.

I don't need to imagine that because I've been through it. I'm just lucky that the majority of professors didn't do this.

(and this was 8-5)

 

[Giovanotto]

I think I have already done this but I'd like to send out my deepest sympathies for you 8-5pm folks.

 

[shadowlightfox]

So I stopped going to any classes altogether. I'm relying on notes given by other classmates and studying those on my spare time. And make time to do some pathoma/sketchy and hope things go well.

This is just getting ridiculous. 8-5 alone is bad enough, but spending over 80% of that time learning stuff not useful for your boards just takes on a whole other level of BS. The professors are all terrible at lecturing, too. Actually, they're not even main professors, most of them. They're just specialists from hospital who come in and lecture whenever they get called. Not full time faculty, so they don't even know how to teach.

As for asking the upperclassmen who did well. The average advice among them was yeah, it was bad. And one of them whom I spoke to literally didn't attend class, and relied purely on first aid and brosencephelon along with pathoma, etc, and did other people's notes for the course that teaches us 3rd year BS. It's a risky move, but it paid off immensely. I kinda wanna do the same, even though I used to be a class goer last year.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Yikes at least your time management skills will be polished going into rotations?

I'm very good with time management. That was never an issue. However, even with such a good time management skills, one way or another, stupid move by the school hampers what you can fully do with yourself.

Also, LOL I forgot to mention this, but the administrators have been saying don't listen to folks here on SDN, listen to them because you guys don't know what you're talking about and they do.

While I'm not in any position to tout them for saying that, I've gotten more benefit out of listening to you guys than listening to them, so screw them.

 

[68PGunner]

So I stopped going to any classes altogether. I'm relying on notes given by other classmates and studying those on my spare time. And make time to do some pathoma/sketchy and hope things go well.

This is just getting ridiculous. 8-5 alone is bad enough, but spending over 80% of that time learning stuff not useful for your boards just takes on a whole other level of BS. The professors are all terrible at lecturing, too. Actually, they're not even main professors, most of them. They're just specialists from hospital who come in and lecture whenever they get called. Not full time faculty, so they don't even know how to teach.

As for asking the upperclassmen who did well. The average advice among them was yeah, it was bad. And one of them whom I spoke to literally didn't attend class, and relied purely on first aid and brosencephelon along with pathoma, etc, and did other people's notes for the course that teaches us 3rd year BS. It's a risky move, but it paid off immensely. I kinda wanna do the same, even though I used to be a class goer last year.

So... I just got done with a block. My Kaplan qbank average for that block of 120 quests was around 80%. According to Kaplan, that kind of performance if I maintain it for the other blocks would equal to around 250 on Step 1. Yet, on my recent in house exam, there were questions to where I was like wtf is this crap. So yeah... Whatever... Going back to gunning later tonight. Hopefully, all of these efforts will translate into a high Step score.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Imagine having to be in class from 9-5 pm AND having a flipped classroom where you need to listen to lectures for the next day.

OMG, I can see several professors who would love this at my school and then claim it was 'active learning' while their students fail boards left and right. I am so sorry for those of you who have to deal with this. It is just an ego trip, pure and simple. It seems like the professor who lecture the worst care the most about attendance.

 

[shadowlightfox]

I think I have already done this but I'd like to send out my deepest sympathies for you 8-5pm folks.

Hey man, tell your administrators to come work at my DO schools. We could really use the help!

 

[Giovanotto]

So... I just got done with a block. My Kaplan qbank average for that block of 120 quests was around 80%. According to Kaplan, that kind of performance if I maintain it for the other blocks would equal to around 250 on Step 1. Yet, on my recent in house exam, there were questions to where I was like wtf is this crap. So yeah... Whatever... Going back to gunning later tonight. Hopefully, all of these efforts will translate into a high Step score.

Congrats man, that's an incredible score. I did about 40 Endo Kaplan questions last night and scored a 55%. Keep at it, it looks like its paying off.

 

[68PGunner]

Congrats man, that's an incredible score. I did about 40 Endo Kaplan questions last night and scored a 55%. Keep at it, it looks like its paying off.

Last year, I was hovering around 50% on the Kaplan quests while being above average on in-class exams. This year, I'm hovering between below average-average on in-class exams while killing those Kaplan quests. We will see where I am in Feb once I start taking those diagnostic tests. I'm all smiles nowadays despite my average to below average on in class exams. I'm just getting low Bs nowadays instead of high B's to low A's.

 

[Giovanotto]

Last year, I was hovering around 50% on the Kaplan quests while being above average on in-class exams. This year, I'm hovering between below average-average on in-class exams while killing those Kaplan quests. We will see where I am in Feb once I start taking those diagnostic tests. I'm all smiles nowadays despite my average to below average on in class exams. I'm just getting low Bs nowadays instead of high B's to low A's.

Right, looks good. I'm an above average student on in-class exams, and I'm trying to slowly shift away from that, but I'm not as hard-core as you. I have two plans at the moment:

1) Do review board study with everything mixed in I have done so far during a specific block on the daily.
2) Use board materials to learn a block and just focus on one block at time w/o reviewing past stuff.

Right now I'm doing 1), so I'm still relying on lectures to learn the block. It's only after I finish the block that I do Qbank questions on it (along w/ everything else) and that's it. Am I doing it wrong?

 

[68PGunner]

Right, looks good. I'm an above average student on in-class exams, and I'm trying to slowly shift away from that, but I'm not as hard-core as you. I have two plans at the moment:

1) Do review board study with everything mixed in I have done so far during a specific block on the daily.
2) Use board materials to learn a block and just focus on one block at time w/o reviewing past stuff.

Right now I'm doing 1), so I'm still relying on lectures to learn the block. It's only after I finish the block that I do Qbank questions on it (along w/ everything else) and that's it. Am I doing it wrong?

There are more than one way to skin a cat. My goal is to just to do as many questions as possible. Maybe you can ask @AlbinoHawk DO and @Ibn Alnafis MD on these matters themselves. I honestly decide on my current plan after talking to these two guys. My cutoff in term of grade sacrifice is a 80 overall in class.

My goal is to finish 2000 Kaplan Quests 2000 USMLERx and Uworld.

 

[getfat]

My cutoff in term of grade sacrifice is a 80 overall in class.

I see this quote all the time from 2nd years but I'm busting my tail to barely pass classes (71 on the 1st test).

 

[68PGunner]

I see this quote all the time from 2nd years but I'm busting my tail to barely pass classes (71 on the 1st test).

What's your definition of busting a$$? My def of busting ass is doing 50 mins study w/ 10 mins break 6-8 times a day six days a week.

 

[getfat]

What's your definition of busting a$$? My def of busting ass is doing 50 mins study w/ 10 mins break 6-8 times a day six days a week.

Outside of class is probably 5-6 hours with 30 minute break every three hours. Still trying to convince myself its ok to skip. Just seems to early since I haven't got a real feel for the professors yet.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Last year, I was hovering around 50% on the Kaplan quests while being above average on in-class exams. This year, I'm hovering between below average-average on in-class exams while killing those Kaplan quests. We will see where I am in Feb once I start taking those diagnostic tests. I'm all smiles nowadays despite my average to below average on in class exams. I'm just getting low Bs nowadays instead of high B's to low A's.

At least you have time to do questions. I'm barely scavenging time to open up my first aid book.

Should've gone PBL route....

 

[68PGunner]

Outside of class is probably 5-6 hours with 30 minute break every three hours. Still trying to convince myself its ok to skip. Just seems to early since I haven't got a real feel for the professors yet.

I see. Did you take any of these classes in undergrad? If not, you have to catch up w/ most of the other kids. Spending that much time and barely passing classes mean that you're not learning at an effective rate. You need to figure that out.

 

[Atom612]

Last year, I was hovering around 50% on the Kaplan quests while being above average on in-class exams. This year, I'm hovering between below average-average on in-class exams while killing those Kaplan quests. We will see where I am in Feb once I start taking those diagnostic tests. I'm all smiles nowadays despite my average to below average on in class exams. I'm just getting low Bs nowadays instead of high B's to low A's.

Would you recommend doing Qbanks as a first-year with a traditional curriculum? Or is skimming along FA enough for now?

 

[68PGunner]

Would you recommend doing Qbanks as a first-year with a traditional curriculum? Or is skimming along FA enough for now?

I remember that I was struggling to use all my materials since my first 4 classes are in basic science. However, here're my recommendations for pre-system curriculum:

1) Learn as much as you can from the professor lectures
2) Use Bros deck as a review after you're done with that class
3) Start hitting those qbank questions once you're satisfied with your review

Once you move into the system, here're my recommendations:

1) For each Bro+Pathoma system deck, suspend all cards
2) As you are going through class material, use the browse button and search for those topics and un-suspend those cards
3) Annotate ahead using FA and Pathoma
4) Once you finish with all pathologies for that block, start doing Kaplan or USMLERx questions in blocks of 20-30 quests in timed mode
5) My goal is to finish all Kaplan qbank questions before the final exam for that block. A week after my final exam, I start using the other qbank questions in blocks of 20 in order to test my retention

At the same time, I'm also reviewing my cards from other blocks.

 

[Neopolymath]

I see this quote all the time from 2nd years but I'm busting my tail to barely pass classes (71 on the 1st test).

We did not receive any statistics about the exam scores (as far as I know) so although you definitely need to do better you don't know how everyone else did either. Do you know what the rough average was for our class or what MS2s said their average was? It changes things if you get that score and the average is an 80 vs a 60. It's also the first test so try to relax.

 

[getfat]

We did not receive any statistics about the exam scores (as far as I know) so although you definitely need to do better you don't know how everyone else did either. Do you know what the rough average was for our class or what MS2s said their average was? It changes things if you get that score and the average is an 80 vs a 60. It's also the first test so try to relax.

Rumor has it that average was mid 60s. My biggest problem is that I focused on clinical stuff when they just wanted minute details. Made anki cards but never got around to really reviewing them either


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Neopolymath]

Rumor has it that average was mid 60s. My biggest problem is that I focused on clinical stuff when they just wanted minute details. Made anki cards but never got around to really reviewing them either


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

You have to remember who ultimately writes the exam... PhD anatomists. There is a reason the mock exam had so many clinical questions versus the real deal, for example. The one guy known for writing clinical questions was the only faculty at the mock exam apparently. It sucks, but essentially every medical student struggles to deal with what PhD faculty want and what actually matters as a clinician (and for boards). You will do better on the next exam I'm sure.

 

[68PGunner]

Rumor has it that average was mid 60s. My biggest problem is that I focused on clinical stuff when they just wanted minute details. Made anki cards but never got around to really reviewing them either
Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

I have been in your shoes before. Last year, the most frustrating thing for me was to outwork everyone just to be above average and then get a reality check in Qbank by scoring 40-50%. There's no reason for this sort of things to happen if I was being properly taught. I am one of the biggest critics about PhDs not being able to properly teach medical students by not testing high yield stuff and instead focusing on stupid stuff. That's the only reason for above average students @Giovanotto to get shredded on Qbank. Now that I'm in board prep mode since Day 1, that feeling is being reinforced first hand by seeing stuff being tested on in house exams not being emphasized in both Kaplan and USMLE-Rx qbanks, while Kaplan and USMLE-Rx Qbanks testing on ignored stuff. For example, in Endo, the distinctions between Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma are heavily expressed and tested in qbanks. Yet, in my class lectures, I didn't see a single ppt slide about Homer Wright Rossete or vignette trying to point to Neuroblastoma. That's setting your students for failure. Currently, my in house exams are pointing to an average student. Yet, my Qbank results are saying something different. If you put in the work, have faith in yourself. Your first two years are defined by your Step 1 score, not some PhD outdated eval.

 

[getfat]

I have been in your shoes before. Last year, the most frustrating thing for me was to outwork everyone just to be above average and then get a reality check in Qbank by scoring 40-50%. There's no reason for this sort of things to happen if I was being properly taught. I am one of the biggest critics about PhDs not being able to properly teach medical students by not testing high yield stuff and instead focusing on stupid stuff. That's the only reason for above average students @Giovanotto to get shredded on Qbank. Now that I'm in board prep mode since Day 1, that feeling is being reinforced first hand by seeing stuff being tested on in house exams not being emphasized in both Kaplan and USMLE-Rx qbanks, while Kaplan and USMLE-Rx Qbanks testing on ignored stuff. For example, in Endo, the distinctions between Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma are heavily expressed and tested in qbanks. Yet, in my class lectures, I didn't see a single ppt slide about Homer Wright Rossete or vignette trying to point to Neuroblastoma. That's setting your students for failure. Currently, my in house exams are pointing to an average student. Yet, my Qbank results are saying something different. If you put in the work, have faith in yourself. Your first two years are defined by your Step 1 score, not some PhD outdated eval.

Thanks for the advice. Definitely makes me feel a lot better. You think they are just emphasizing COMLEX material (which we all have to take anyway) or is it just pure idiocracy?

 

[68PGunner]

Thanks for the advice. Definitely makes me feel a lot better. You think they are just emphasizing COMLEX material (which we all have to take anyway) or is it just pure idiocracy?

I have no idea. The Comlex is becoming an obsolete test day by day. You will really have to try diff methods of studying and see the results for confirmation. If your curriculum doesn't prepare you for boards like most med school curriculums out there, there will come a time when you have to prioritize boards and hope that your board prep study is enough to pull around a class average in the 80s. But, the hardest problem about being a med student is not to compare yourself to your peers. You just need to put a honest 7-8 hrs of work everyday and let the results fall where they are bounded to fall. I want to emphasize that your USMLE Step 1 defines your first two year of preclinical not the other way around. Does that mean you should dismiss class lectures? No. But, your lecture ppt slides are bound to have some hidden gems pics or figures that can be used to clarify some mechanism of actions that aren't covered in First Aid. Personally, I just don't study off First Aid. I study First Aid alongside class ppt slides. If there are some clinical stuff that I have questions about, I personally look them up on UpToDate and annotate them in my Anki cards.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Would you recommend doing Qbanks as a first-year with a traditional curriculum? Or is skimming along FA enough for now?

I would recommend it, but only if you have time. The only Qbanks worth doing during first year is Rx with first year questions, but even then, that's if you decide to have first aid book with you. Depending on how your school runs, having a First Aid book can be useless during your first year.

 

[wubalubadubdub]

I would recommend it, but only if you have time. The only Qbanks worth doing during first year is Rx with first year questions, but even then, that's if you decide to have first aid book with you. Depending on how your school runs, having a First Aid book can be useless during your first year.

I think it's not 100% useless to have around. It's helped me with mnemonics and simple overviews of certain diseases.

I've used it as a supplement textbook rather than a primary source, so in regards to it being useless as primary text then yeah, it's not that good since slides are more detailed.

 

[shadowlightfox]

I think it's not 100% useless to have around. It's helped me with mnemonics and simple overviews of certain diseases.

I've used it as a supplement textbook rather than a primary source, so in regards to it being useless as primary text then yeah, it's not that good since slides are more detailed.

Like I said, it depends on the curriculum your school has. If your first year is stuff like learning immunology, physiology, biochemistry, etc, there is only so much you can do with first aid, even with the mnemonics that it provides. I should've worded it better. I should have said it's more useless than useful in it in this case.

I'm not gonna spend over 40 bucks on a book where I can only make use of like 15% of it, and then have to buy another version a year later, when I could've already survived without needing those first 15-20% of the book.

 

[Atom612]

I would recommend it, but only if you have time. The only Qbanks worth doing during first year is Rx with first year questions, but even then, that's if you decide to have first aid book with you. Depending on how your school runs, having a First Aid book can be useless during your first year.

This is USMLE-Rx Qbanks right? So the Step 1 Qmax (not the flash facts or express videos)?

 

[Atom612]

I remember that I was struggling to use all my materials since my first 4 classes are in basic science. However, here're my recommendations for pre-system curriculum:

1) Learn as much as you can from the professor lectures
2) Use Bros deck as a review after you're done with that class
3) Start hitting those qbank questions once you're satisfied with your review

Once you move into the system, here're my recommendations:

1) For each Bro+Pathoma system deck, suspend all cards
2) As you are going through class material, use the browse button and search for those topics and un-suspend those cards
3) Annotate ahead using FA and Pathoma
4) Once you finish with all pathologies for that block, start doing Kaplan or USMLERx questions in blocks of 20-30 quests in timed mode
5) My goal is to finish all Kaplan qbank questions before the final exam for that block. A week after my final exam, I start using the other qbank questions in blocks of 20 in order to test my retention

At the same time, I'm also reviewing my cards from other blocks.

Thanks for the advice! Looks like I'll have to up my anki game. Do you make your own cards or just rely on Bros exclusively?

 

[68PGunner]

Thanks for the advice! Looks like I'll have to up my anki game. Do you make your own cards or just rely on Bros exclusively?

I use Bros as a base and then modify it by adding cards, deleting cards, or adding figures/diagrams to clarify mechanisms or treatment guidelines.

 

[68PGunner]

BTW, don't dilute Bros deck with useless crap from class lectures that don't mean jack. Any modification to that deck should be used to clarify stuff that weren't explained well in either Bros, FA, or Pathoma. I usually create a separate deck for a Block Exam and then dump it after the end of the block.

 

[shadowlightfox]

I gotta give you guys an update to see how ridiculous this year is. To give you guys a good idea of what I'm going through, here is my schedule for this current block:

2 hours of pathology
4 hours of pharm
17 hours of clinical science (this is the one where we're all like wtf are we learning, btw)

Oh, and the previous block, the distribution was similar, but with 20+ hours on the last one, and the block before that, we learned no pathology or pharm. Just over 30+ hours of clinical science.

And yeah, no wonder people said our school doesn't prepare us for path/pharm on our boards...

 

[68PGunner]

I gotta give you guys an update to see how ridiculous this year is. To give you guys a good idea of what I'm going through, here is my schedule for this current block:

2 hours of pathology
4 hours of pharm
17 hours of clinical science (this is the one where we're all like wtf are we learning, btw)

Oh, and the previous block, the distribution was similar, but with 20+ hours on the last one, and the block before that, we learned no pathology or pharm. Just over 30+ hours of clinical science.

And yeah, no wonder people said our school doesn't prepare us for path/pharm on our boards...

At my school, we have about 4 hrs of OMM and 4 hrs of clinical medicine per week on top of our normal schedule, which is an additional of 20 hrs of class lectures per week. So, I don't think you have it that bad. However, the school curriculum is def not preparing you for board.

 

[getfat]

Started skipping non-mandatory classes this week.

Holy cow what a difference.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Started skipping non-mandatory classes this week.

Holy cow what a difference.

Do you still listen to the recording of those lectures?

 

[getfat]

Do you still listen to the recording of those lectures?

Yeah I'm still on the anatomy block at my school. Grey's is pretty low yield in my school because they mostly focus on minute details.