To all recent test takers!

[pbnj003]

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just one quick question about Goljan.

are people just not using that anymore for board prep? goljan book/audio anything.

i feel like more and more people i hear they all say Goljan is too much to handle for board prep and they go some other route now.

just wondering

 

[indsha008]

I used it and loved it. In my opinion, Goljan audio is the best way to go through RR path first time. What he says is high yield may not necessarily be enough now but, it was damn helpful the way he teaches and some tips he gives.

Best of luck.

 

[Torquer]

I agree, the audio is golden. So many of the minute things you would generally skip/not remember seem to stick to you - broad based bud: BLASTO😛

 

[pbnj003]

thanks guys. i guess maybe ppl are using the audio more than the RR book.

what about BRS....seems its lost its identity somewhere lol i havent heard about BRS anywhere for a while.

recently started hearing about pathoma but im not too sure about it. seems good but too good.....still trying to figure out if its worth the 100 bucks.

 

[aliDO]

I didn't use it for COMLEX but now that I have some time before USMLE I'm using the audios and LOVE them! I already know most of the stuff but now I really understand instead of just memorization. I wish I had used it before. We'll see how much it helps on test day though.

 

[235009]

reading through the goljan RR book is overkill but listening to the goljan audio and following along with the pictures/diagrams (and occasionally text) in the book is very high yield!

 

[ArcGurren]

I took the exam on May 17th, the first day of the "new questions" added in and the score delay. Honestly, I'm a bit equivocal on the whole Goljan issue. I'm not an audio learner either so I'm not one of those people who was like "omg I had Goljan's voice in the back of my head the whole time helping me!" or whatever. I read a transcript of his notes beforehand to study with and found it sufficient.

I don't think it's absolutely necessary if you're pressed for time mostly because the test designers are wisening up and know the "tricks" behind achieving a good score (i.e. Goljan, in this case) and they know the resources out there. For that reason they often try to put in new questions which have somewhat of a different focus or aren't necessarily covered by all these resources. Plus it's beginning to get dated.

I do think some of the Kaplan lecturers DID help me though (particularly the Pharm lectures by Raymon). I distinctly remember getting 2-3 q's right b/c of him.

 

[DreamingTheLive]

If you're an M2, I highly suggest mastering class notes (if adequate) and if needing additional guidance, add some type of somewhat substantiative text (Robbins, etc.). Obviously, you'll hear a thousand opinions, and studying for class is probably the LEAST sexiest sounding option available, but it will definitely pay off in the end. Personally, the students in my class primarily studying off of FA and review books throughout the year seemed to be the ones who ended up with the lower scores. Most importantly, find a good source or two and crush them. Any way you study, as long as it is moderately efficient and as long as your time investment is substantial, is highly highly likely to get you where you want to be. It's funny and it may not make sense now, but a lot of the class material that my friends and I told ourselves wasn't "High Yield" during 2nd year, ended up being the material that separates a 220 from a 240. Take what I said with a grain of salt and just stay consistent. End Rant.

Good Luck👍

 

[Decicco]

just one quick question about Goljan.

are people just not using that anymore for board prep? goljan book/audio anything.

i feel like more and more people i hear they all say Goljan is too much to handle for board prep and they go some other route now.

just wondering

Audio is only worthwhile when you can't be studying first aid (ie, when exercising, etc). The things he says will definitely be on the test won't be and the pictures he says will definitely be on the test won't be. The RR Goljan book should only be used as a reference. Do not ever study this book.

 

[pbnj003]

If you're an M2, I highly suggest mastering class notes (if adequate) and if needing additional guidance, add some type of somewhat substantiative text (Robbins, etc.). Obviously, you'll hear a thousand opinions, and studying for class is probably the LEAST sexiest sounding option available, but it will definitely pay off in the end. Personally, the students in my class primarily studying off of FA and review books throughout the year seemed to be the ones who ended up with the lower scores. Most importantly, find a good source or two and crush them. Any way you study, as long as it is moderately efficient and as long as your time investment is substantial, is highly highly likely to get you where you want to be. It's funny and it may not make sense now, but a lot of the class material that my friends and I told ourselves wasn't "High Yield" during 2nd year, ended up being the material that separates a 220 from a 240. Take what I said with a grain of salt and just stay consistent. End Rant.

Good Luck👍

lol thanks. point taken.

but no i am not an M2 im studying for the step right now. I agree with you on studying really well "during"

i was just wondering what was going on with Goljan all of a sudden. More and more people i hear talk about either pathoma (seems like the new up and coming thing) or Goljan, but that it was overkill and a waste of time and in the end what helped was doing UWorld. Now a days dont hear much about BRS or goljan RR book.

 

[NdFrSpd]

I think some of the material in goljan is "outdated". Not in the sense that its wrong but more so that the audio tapes seem to focus more on information that was highly tested when the audio files were recorded. With that said, Goljan audio + RR-path was a great idea. Its FAR too much to pick up on the first run but if you take your time to go through it well before your exam prep, its a good base for your dedicated exam prep time. I have to say that there were some very difficult questions that I only really got because of reading goljan. I also see that a lot of pathology is just written outright and many people just memorize the pathology in FA, but the most important thing I think to getting a high score on this exam is UNDERSTANDING the pathology and relating it to other disciplines. RRpath has a lot of patho-phys which is quite useful in fully understanding the path behind many conditions.

I agree that it has far too many details, but focus on the portions of RR path that either you are historically weak on (or didn't pay any attention to in your first 2 years lol) or just the portions that goljan goes over in his audio recordings.

All in all it seems like its all far too much when your going through RR-path but if you go through it in advance and mark it with your own notes its an amazing resource for the step. With such heavy emphasis of pathology and patho-phys currently in the step 1 exam, it is in your best interest to make sure you have this down COLD for a great score. I took the exam and glad I used RR-path in retrospect and got a great score.

Good luck to those who are preparing to slay the beast 😛

 

[235009]

Audio is only worthwhile when you can't be studying first aid (ie, when exercising, etc). The things he says will definitely be on the test won't be and the pictures he says will definitely be on the test won't be. The RR Goljan book should only be used as a reference. Do not ever study this book.

i disagree with all of this.

i listened to goljan audio while sitting there and following along in RR at my desk. you need to treat it as seriously as you treat any other study time/method to get the most out of it.

the great thing about goljan is that he gives you a different perspective on the material and says some quirky things that end up being great memory tools. if you're looking for hints and shortcuts then goljan isn't going to give you that. sure, sometimes he says that stuff is going to show up and it didn't but so what?

PS: i hope you guys are aware that there's a 2009 version of the audio. i don't think there's anything "outdated" about it. the questions you get are random so of course he's not going to tell you exactly what's going to be on your test but its still a great resource.

 

[Chirurg]

i disagree with all of this.



PS: i hope you guys are aware that there's a 2009 version of the audio. i don't think there's anything "outdated" about it.

you serious??
any difference between that and the 2001?

 

[Brewmeister]

Goljan RR was my bible throughout 2nd year and I read most of it again during the month before the exam. I didn't use the audio (I am not an auditory learner) but most of my classmates did and also swear by it. Anyone who says Goljan is "outdated" or "overkill" for step 1 is severely mistaken and missed out on a great resource. It may be helpful for the OP to create some sort of a poll to correlate step 1 score with religious use of Goljan materials.....

 

[235009]

you serious??
any difference between that and the 2001?

srs

i didn't listen to the 2001 version so i can't compare but it follows beautifully with the 3rd edition of the RR book which is very helpful

 

[Val7]

where can i get the 2009 version?

 

[Phlame217]

Not anywhere legally.

 

[jfgavina]

Honestly, goljan may be the coolest hipster around the corner but I still prefer DIT as it follows FA whereas goljan follows RR which is in terms of HY content in a fair distance from FA.

 

[CatFactorial]

Haven't stepped yet but I like RR path + GT. I use audio for driving, dishing, and other gerunds.

 

[Tig2575]

I listened to it while I was eating meals and walking from the library (never to the library! Always listen to pump-up music when walking to the library!). It's also easy to put on in the background when you're trying to do some more passive learning (like flashcards) because you're starting to burn out.

It's not a primary study source any more, but you can fit it into your schedule in the cracks and increase your exposure to it, which will definitely help you out (compared to not having it during those down times)

 

[Decicco]

I listened to it while I was eating meals and walking from the library (never to the library! Always listen to pump-up music when walking to the library!). It's also easy to put on in the background when you're trying to do some more passive learning (like flashcards) because you're starting to burn out.

It's not a primary study source any more, but you can fit it into your schedule in the cracks and increase your exposure to it, which will definitely help you out (compared to not having it during those down times)

Exactly. If you choose to use Goljan audio or RR, don't plan your study schedule around it. Just use it when you physically can't be studying first aid. I got a 244 and I know this isn't a top score on SDN (but top 15% nationally) and I really don't think either Goljan resource was very high yield.

 

[ArcGurren]

I listened to it while I was eating meals and walking from the library (never to the library! Always listen to pump-up music when walking to the library!). It's also easy to put on in the background when you're trying to do some more passive learning (like flashcards) because you're starting to burn out.

It's not a primary study source any more, but you can fit it into your schedule in the cracks and increase your exposure to it, which will definitely help you out (compared to not having it during those down times)

Yeah forgive me but screw that... when I'm not studying I would rather be doing something that relaxes me, not listening to more crap just so I can earn a few extra points on my USMLE (which I doubt it would do).

 

[ArcGurren]

i disagree with all of this.

i listened to goljan audio while sitting there and following along in RR at my desk. you need to treat it as seriously as you treat any other study time/method to get the most out of it.

the great thing about goljan is that he gives you a different perspective on the material and says some quirky things that end up being great memory tools. if you're looking for hints and shortcuts then goljan isn't going to give you that. sure, sometimes he says that stuff is going to show up and it didn't but so what?

PS: i hope you guys are aware that there's a 2009 version of the audio. i don't think there's anything "outdated" about it. the questions you get are random so of course he's not going to tell you exactly what's going to be on your test but its still a great resource.

I've heard nothing about a 2009 version. PM me with more info about this... not going to get it, just curious (already took my exam).

 

[Tig2575]

Yeah forgive me but screw that... when I'm not studying I would rather be doing something that relaxes me, not listening to more crap just so I can earn a few extra points on my USMLE (which I doubt it would do).

That's fine. You have to set your own goals, and know when you're willing to put in less than full effort for the sake of your own comfort.

 

[JasonE]

i have never seen/heard of a goljan 2009

 

[ArcGurren]

That's fine. You have to set your own goals, and know when you're willing to put in less than full effort for the sake of your own comfort.

What are you talking about? Just because I didn't live and breathe the exam doesn't mean I didn't put in full effort. That's like saying if you don't work any time you're not sleeping then you're bad at your job...

 

[Tig2575]

Who said anything about being good or bad? 😕

 

[ArcGurren]

Who said anything about being good or bad? 😕

The implication in your post was that I put in less than full effort into my studying, which is ridiculous. I just made sure that when I wasn't studying I had ways to relax my mind.

 

[Tig2575]

I'm not getting into a semantic argument on an internet forum. 🙄