using old first aid editions to study

[alparkeruab]

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I'm considering buying a FA 2007 or 2008 edition to study for the boards next year in order to save some money. Will it really matter that I'm using an old edition to study?

 

[Knicks]

I'm using the 2006 edition. 😳

Hopefully it won't matter much in the end.

 

[Punkn]

I used FA '07 and don't think it mattered

 

[Chinorlz]

I'm considering buying a FA 2007 or 2008 edition to study for the boards next year in order to save some money. Will it really matter that I'm using an old edition to study?

you're trying to save... $10-20?

With your education costing 5 figures a year, the exam costing hundreds, etc. etc. why short change yourself and get an old copy?

There are running lists of errors in FA that the team works on correcting every year. Minor adjustments here and there but at least with the most up to date edition you can feel confident that it's the best that the FA folks have put out.

It's $35 online to buy the most recent edition. Don't be a cheapskate. You're only adding another variable into this exam.

 

[ENThopeful]

i think it will. between 08 and 09 there are like 50+ new sections, including new stuff that was on people's test last year that wasn't in the 08

 

[harrisonIM]

i think it will. between 08 and 09 there are like 50+ new sections, including new stuff that was on people's test last year that wasn't in the 08

i agree with ENThopeful. I've personally gone through the 09 edition and highlighted substantial additions to the 09 version. Whole new sections and extra tidbits in other ones.

 

[pepotonoto]

If possible, get the new edition or borrow it! There are many additional topics in the 09 edition when even compared to the 08 edition.

 

[mq123]

If possible, get the new edition or borrow it! There are many additional topics in the 09 edition when even compared to the 08 edition.

Does anyone know in detail how the 2009 edition is different from 2008? I have the '08, and randomly saw on Amazon that the 2009 is longer by quite few pages. I think I might buy the 2009 now, but just wanted to check around...

 

[doogoshly]

you're looking to save a max of $20 on a test that kinda determines your future? i'd much rather fork over the extra money and save in other ways than to risk having wrong info or outdated info.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

I agree. With all the other $$ that gets forked out for this test, the extra $20-30 to get the latest addition shouldn't even be a question.

 

[a winner is you]

Will it matter? Probably not. But is it really worth it to save 20 bucks on one of the most important exams of your life?

 

[decal]

I'd start off with a used copy (ideally borrowed from an upperclassmen) and then pick up the latest edition in the second semester of second year. That way you get familiar with the general layout of FA and go through the vast majority of what'll be in the 2010 edition without wasting any money.

 

[McGillGrad]

I used an old one during basic sciences. Then I bought the newest one for step studying so I could go through and annotate it.

 

[Knicks]

As I said in my 1st post in this thread, I'm using the 06 edition.

There was a pharmacology question I recently did on UW and in the explanation it described said drug as being a "new" drug in its class. This "new" drug they mentioned was in my "old" 06 FA.

Just wanted to throw that out there....

 

[ucsfstudents]

If the new version is out, I would recommend getting it. If the new version isn't out yet, then feel free to borrow an old version from a friend and use that as review until the new version comes out. Always check for errors.

 

[Natatiap]

I dont think it matters what edition you use. I'm using 07 but whatever you go with make sure to go on the FA site and see corrections. I was going to buy 09 but I'm not sure if they finished correcting the book. There will always be mistakes but just make sure you know your stuff!!

 

[NucleusAccumben]

Personally, I felt I needed to buy FA at the beginning of my 2nd year so I bought FA 2008. I had this grand plan of taking notes in it during the school year. Never happened. I was so busy during my 2nd year I never had a real chance to look at it. But I did read Goljan RR Path sections along with my path course. I used FA 2008 for my board prep and did just fine, 231. I think there's like 48 more pgs in 2009 edition. It defintely is longer than 2008. Do I think I would have done any better with the 2009 version? Probably not. I do think World questions are key to success for the Step. Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[doogoshly]

I dont think it matters what edition you use. I'm using 07 but whatever you go with make sure to go on the FA site and see corrections. I was going to buy 09 but I'm not sure if they finished correcting the book. There will always be mistakes but just make sure you know your stuff!!

it's not the corrections that are the only concern. FA will post corrections to gross errors in printing but won't publish updated information on disease states or altered treatment protocols, etc.

true, on a cursory glance, editions won't show many differences, but again why risk missing some info for $10? i just don't get why common sense can be so sorely lacking among people so "smart."

 

[Natatiap]

it's not the corrections that are the only concern. FA will post corrections to gross errors in printing but won't publish updated information on disease states or altered treatment protocols, etc.

true, on a cursory glance, editions won't show many differences, but again why risk missing some info for $10? i just don't get why common sense can be so sorely lacking among people so "smart."

Who are you saying doesnt have common sense? You must be talking to the wrong person. To the OP: It doesnt matter which one you get really. I took a boards review course so I had all the information and didnt "risk missing" any info but if you are using FA as your sole source maybe go ahead and and get 2009. As someone said above the key is to do plenty of questions and you will do fine!! Good luck to you 😀

 

[igottaquestion]

On my test (at least) one (pharm) question could be answered using the most recent FA, but not the previous edition of FA. As much as I don't like the idea of a yearly edition resource that retains and re-introduces mistakes from previous years, I wish I had used the most recent FA.

 

[nitecrawler]

i can't believe youre even CONSIDERING not using the most up to date FA version. i had FA 2007 to glance at through first half of 2nd year and then got FA 2009 when it came out, to mark up and study with for my test in july. I am very glad i got the 2009 edition -- there were MANY changes even in 2 years. For example, recently the boards has started to ask more about what diseases you get with certain CD4 counts in HIV+ pts -- this info cant be found in the 07 version but is there in the 09 version. dont be cheap!!!

 

[fergustsi]

to the OP: i got a second edition gray's anatomy circa 1860 if you wanna borrow it for your studying. nothing has changed in that time period right?

you should use the most current edition, always, in my opinion. for you it will be 2010 which will be released in late december, early january.

 

[braluk]

Is it really that ridiculous of a question that some people here feel the need to jump down someone's throat? Some book editions year to year are released with minimal changes, at most, yet the price is jacked up. For most med students, the extra 20 bucks you save by buying an older edition book that has very few changes means getting to go out to dinner on the weekend. The question here is if FA is one of those companies that do that? The answer is no, get the new edition. Was that too hard to answer?

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

Was that too hard to answer?

A board full of type As.... 😀

 

[priyanka]

We cannot truly worship God until we follow His word to the last of the last words. Now its upto us as to what we pick -- give our mind, body and soul and be a disciple of every word, or let the other persevered disciples conquer you and lead the way. Then we say, God is not fair. He gave us all the same rescources, but we lacked in our diligence, trust and therefore missed His last word

 

[igottaquestion]

We cannot truly worship God until we follow His word to the last of the last words. Now its upto us as to what we pick -- give our mind, body and soul and be a disciple of every word, or let the other persevered disciples conquer you and lead the way. Then we say, God is not fair. He gave us all the same rescources, but we lacked in our diligence, trust and therefore missed His last word

FA said it. I believe it. That settles it.

 

[McGillGrad]

Are you talking about Lord Goljan? He is definitely at least a demi-god in the realm of basic science medicine.

We cannot truly worship God until we follow His word to the last of the last words. Now its upto us as to what we pick -- give our mind, body and soul and be a disciple of every word, or let the other persevered disciples conquer you and lead the way. Then we say, God is not fair. He gave us all the same rescources, but we lacked in our diligence, trust and therefore missed His last word

 

[mq123]

Are you talking about Lord Goljan? He is definitely at least a demi-god in the realm of basic science medicine.

I'm not sure😀, but she seems to be talking about making choices and picking from the various options in front of you ... ie FA 2008 vs 2009 vs 2010. Then if you do badly after picking the wrong edition, don't say God isn't fair...or that someone on SDN said so-and-so 👍

 

[Proverbs31]

My two cents...I had 2007 and took COMLEX...then later decided to take USMLE and bought 2009. Theres really NOT a whole lot of difference because I actually combined my books. Yes--the HIV CD cell counts is new and they have a line about strabismus and amblyopia....and you might find one or two more 2 liners in there per each chapter. The main difference is that they added more pictures..i.e. you have your subdural and epidural CT images to distinguish bw diff bleeds, and they REORGANIZED the stuff so it looks different. For example, they put Hemoglobin O2 dissociation curves now in the Respiratory section when it used to be in the Biochem section. Additionally they switched wording instead of using the number "2" when describing something they wrote the number "two" out and vice versa. They also switched headings up, like in FA 2007 it was " Skeletal Muscle Cross Bridging" and then the later version was like "Crossbridging of Skeletal muscle"..something like that.

Yes, there was some new info...Like they gave the genetic mutation for one of the bone disorders not previosly listed in the older version, but in ALL HONESTY...FA IS that type of book to change organization and headings around to make it "look" different to people so they feel they're loosing out on not getting the top edition and thus go run out to buy the book. Also...we all get different tests and you really dont know which questions you'll be asked. ALSO...there is some things LEFT OUT of 2009 that WERE in my 2007 and I DID have "1" question on it that I got right did I have more...I dont know bc I only went back after the test to check things on my mind....so go figure. They do change things as well...Collagen synthesis "glycosylated vs hydroxylated" differs in 2007 to 2009. You can only include so much in a review book. Overall it just gave me a headache combining the two and I wished I had only used one version. Just my 2 cents. Did I go out and buy the 2009 when I had 2007 ...yes....would I do it again....Probably.....Did it really matter...NO

Best of luck to you!

 

[mahasanti]

I fretted over this question too, and ended up using the 2007 edition. It worked just fine, and I saved $20!

No matter what edition of FA you have, the question bank is really key. FA was great for a basic overview, but I felt I really learned the material with the question bank.

Pretty much anything that is worthwhile to know that is not in an older edition of FA will probably be in the question bank.

And still, there will probably be questions on the test that are not in ANY edition of any review book. I had questions that I still can't find the answer too... oh well... 🙄

My 2 cents--save money AND the environment by recycling those used FAs.

 

[hateroftheyear]

I used a 2007 FA edition throughout second year to scribble all over. For actual boards studying, I used the new edition. It was better. There was, in fact, a question on my board exam that I got wrong pertaining to the histological appearance of the male genital tract that (if I remember correctly) was in the 2009 but not the 2007 edition, and I blew off because it was a new picture and seemed pretty random. Oops.