Using BRS Pathology as main path book

[Mkapland1388]

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This might sound like a controversial idea but has anyone tried using BRS Pathology as your only source for pathology? Of course you need another book for the pictures and everything but I mean reading this book for everything except the slides? I've heard robbins is good and I've found another book called "Essentials of Rubins pathology" which is a concise version of Rubins, but nobody I know has ever used it.

But I've heard a lot about BRS pathology and I can't help but wonder if I should just use this for my pathology exam and maybe use robbins only for the pictures. I guess I'm wondering if I can use the BRS as a textbook rather having to read everything in Robbins or Rubins.

 

[njbmd]

How well this works depends on the quality of instruction at your school and the quality of the materials that will be provided by your school. BRS is a review book and like most review books, it assumes that you have knowledge of pathology. A pathology textbook assumes that you have no knowledge of the subject. You can't review what you haven't learned in the first place. Pathology is a well-represented subject on boards and not one that you want to "screw around" with.

 

[illixir]

Seems like a pretty bad idea. If you insist on not using Robbins, I would at least use Goljan Rapid Review.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

I'd certainly suggest Goljan's book if you're gonna do this. BTW, if your classes are good, you don't need to read Robbins.

 

[NRAI2001]

I'd certainly suggest Goljan's book if you're gonna do this. BTW, if your classes are good, you don't need to read Robbins.

At my school we do all of path and micro in 1 16 week term..so thats basically 1 organ system per week (1/3 of the course was basic path and 2/3 systemic path)...we did heme one week then did GI the next then did bvs/heart the next...etc

I found that BRS was probably the highest yield learning the big and medium sized concepts (kinda lacked on the smaller/detail type of concepts)...I would read through my 1) notes to get a quick idea of what my courses would emphasize, I would then 2) read BRS for the bigger and medium concepts..then we had a 3) lab manual that would go over histo images (my school emphasizes the histo a lot??) and then I would do the 4) robbins review questions......and if i had time (haha 1 week per organ doesnt allow much time) i would then do 5) Rapid review (usually didnt have time). I did this for the second midterm and I did very well on it compared to when I was reading my notes and the actual Robbins book.

 

[turkeyjerky]

Do people really use Robbins? I crossed it off my list after our first professor said he couldn't even get through it.

 

[TMP-SMX]

I tried reading Robbins during the class. I think I only read about 4 chapters. It's too much if you are provided notes for your course and have labs. BRS Path is a great book. I'm reading it now along with First Aid and other sources for Step 1. It's well written and involves concepts that are extremely important. The images are good too.

Robbins is also a good book, but what's the point on buying it if you don't have time to read it?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Another vote for Rapid Review

 

[silas2642]

This might sound like a controversial idea but has anyone tried using BRS Pathology as your only source for pathology? Of course you need another book for the pictures and everything but I mean reading this book for everything except the slides? I've heard robbins is good and I've found another book called "Essentials of Rubins pathology" which is a concise version of Rubins, but nobody I know has ever used it.

But I've heard a lot about BRS pathology and I can't help but wonder if I should just use this for my pathology exam and maybe use robbins only for the pictures. I guess I'm wondering if I can use the BRS as a textbook rather having to read everything in Robbins or Rubins.

I think these review books are just that... a review.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

I don't think there's a right answer to this. I read a good chunk of big Robbins; we're systems based so for example during the renal unit, I read the renal chapter. I think this worked really well for me, but Robbins makes a lot of other people fall asleep. I'm using RR for board review, I think it makes much more sense since I read Robbins during the year.

 

[JPmamd09]

I'm probably going to sound like a freak, but I'm a huge fan of Robbins. Our path course is a year long, and I used it a ton for the first semester; did quite well, and I'm no genius trust me. The second semester I didn't use it as much (because Pharm consumed my life), and mainly used BRS path and my class notes; ultimately didn't do as well. I can't attribute that entirely to not using Robbins as much as there were certainly other factors, but I do think it's a great text - really the only text I haven't regretted buying as a med student. As previously stated, I think it's very class note/lecturer dependent as well as student-dependent, but I'd definitely consider at least checking it out from the library from time to time. I will say that BRS is, in my opinion, an absolute must for boards and for reviewing, but maybe not best for learning first time around. (Please note that I've ultimately decided to pursue path as my career, so I might be a little biased). Good luck!

 

[vicinihil]

I'm probably going to sound like a freak, but I'm a huge fan of Robbins. Our path course is a year long, and I used it a ton for the first semester; did quite well, and I'm no genius trust me. The second semester I didn't use it as much (because Pharm consumed my life), and mainly used BRS path and my class notes; ultimately didn't do as well. I can't attribute that entirely to not using Robbins as much as there were certainly other factors, but I do think it's a great text - really the only text I haven't regretted buying as a med student. As previously stated, I think it's very class note/lecturer dependent as well as student-dependent, but I'd definitely consider at least checking it out from the library from time to time. I will say that BRS is, in my opinion, an absolute must for boards and for reviewing, but maybe not best for learning first time around. (Please note that I've ultimately decided to pursue path as my career, so I might be a little biased). Good luck!

So this is what I did for Path. We've only had 1 block of it (1/4) so I can't testify for the whole year yet but I felt very well prepared for our first exam.

I mainly went by the class notes, did webpath for images, and used the Robbin's Review of Pathology QUESTION BOOK. It had great questions and I went along with class and it helped reinforced what was taught.

 

[JPmamd09]

I mainly went by the class notes, did webpath for images, and used the Robbin's Review of Pathology QUESTION BOOK. It had great questions and I went along with class and it helped reinforced what was taught.

Good call on the question book - excellent resource for class, good for boards too.

 

[angiogenesis]

What about Underwood?