Using board review series books as you go along

[Pewl]

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I just purchased several of the board review series books that I plan to use as I take classes first and second year. I hope this will be similar to like using an mcat review book to help study for undergrad requisites. The mcat books were pretty good at summarizing concepts, so I'm hoping the board review series books will do the same. Does anyone think this is a good idea?

Also, the physiology board review series book is one edition out of date. Will that make much of a difference?

Thanks

 

[DOctorJay]

yes
no

-J

 

[beponychick]

I did the same. Everyone seems to recommend buying board review books (BRS, First Aid) before starting school. If anything, I think these books will be good for their summary charts and tables.

 

[predodoc]

I believe that the BRS PHYS. 4th edition is comming out in August so if you decide to get a new one wait until then.

 

[Pewl]

Do people also get that "First Aid" book before school starts, as well??

 

[DOctorJay]

Yeah, get the newest edition of FA you can and use that all throughout med school. A new version comes out each year around December I think. You could wait til beginning of second year but it might be helpful to have it earlier for your first year classes so you can add your own notes in while it's fresh to you.

take a look at the USMLE book list sticky at the top of this forum for recommendations of the really good books for each subject. you may also consider buying flashcards. this topic has also been discussed at length so do a search for the recommended items. focus on learning everything well the first time and board review shouldn't be too bad. and practice LOTS of questions.

J

 

[Pewl]

I'm hearing about a ton of errors and typos in FA 2006, is it better to get FA 2005?

 

[lord_jeebus]

All editions of FA have had errors and I imagine that will continue. (just about every review book has errors somewhere)

The trick is to learn the material well so when you encounter an error, it will seem fishy if not obviously wrong.

 

[SoCuteMD]

Ok, so I don't want to hijack this thread, but this sort of goes along with the spirit of this thread and saves me from creating a whole new one.

I am a first year med student finishing up the year with some decent grades. Nothing spectacular, nothing dismal. I am working this summer but will have a TON of spare time. Next summer, when I will be studying for the boards, I will have the option of going back to Africa for a few weeks before my clinicals begin if I can get my butt in gear and take the boards soon enough (early June, which is VERY early for my school).

I'm not a gunner, and I don't need a 240+, but I would like to score above average, but I'd also like to live my life (translation: go to Africa!). So, my plan for this summer is to review physio using BRS and pre-test, and neuroanatomy using High Yield and Pre-test so that I know both of those subjects cold. I figure that knowing physio will give me a good foundation for path next year and if I really know my neuro, I won't need much time for review.

So, my questions are: 1) Are there any other subjects that are worth a good review this summer to take the studying burden off next summer? I know biochem is a chunk of the USMLE, but I did pretty well in the class and I feel like that's the kind of stuff that just falls out of my brain the moment I finish studying it. 2) Is this a feasible plan or am I foolish to even think about it.