USMLE likely to change?

[12hey12]

Hello.

I have a gift certificate to the bookstore at my medical campus. I was thinking of buying USMLE review material, but I won't be taking it for a couple of years. Obviously, the material will pretty much stay the same. But, have any of you found that using older material to prepare for the USMLE is not useful? Or, should I go ahead and buy some of the USMLE review books?

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[randomlogik]

If you are starting first year this august, I would go on and buy some review books that correspond to first year courses. Good choices include BRS Anatomy, BRS Physiology, First Aid for Step 1, etc. If you are not starting med school this year, I would wait on buying the review books. New editions are usually released every few years.

 

[idq1i]

Don't worry about the usmle. You will have plenty of time for that in 2 years.

I wouldn't go around buying review books (eg BRS, hi-yield) either. Don't start bad habits. Use your GC to buy 1st year books. Study from these books. Tutor your classmates as they wonder why they only got a 60% on an exam while you are sitting on a 95%.

Keep it up for 2 years, and you won't have to buy review books/FA to prepare for step I

-true story

 

[Pox in a box]

Hello.

I have a gift certificate to the bookstore at my medical campus. I was thinking of buying USMLE review material, but I won't be taking it for a couple of years. Obviously, the material will pretty much stay the same. But, have any of you found that using older material to prepare for the USMLE is not useful? Or, should I go ahead and buy some of the USMLE review books?

Take the gift certificate and max it out on the most expensive book you can find (new). Take the book back in two days and tell them you want a refund. Double down at the casino and buy a Sony PSP.

 

[texdrake]

Hello.

I have a gift certificate to the bookstore at my medical campus. I was thinking of buying USMLE review material, but I won't be taking it for a couple of years. Obviously, the material will pretty much stay the same. But, have any of you found that using older material to prepare for the USMLE is not useful? Or, should I go ahead and buy some of the USMLE review books?

I used two main books for studying for boards. First Aid and Step-Up. Step-Up is the absolute greatest review book for boards but it is excellent for during school study. Its system's based making it very easy to read while you go through a class.

I found First Aid more helpful for Boards and 1st year and Step-Up more helpful in second year though as 2nd year is completely system based at my school.

 

[chak_de_phatee]

Hello.

I have a gift certificate to the bookstore at my medical campus. I was thinking of buying USMLE review material, but I won't be taking it for a couple of years. Obviously, the material will pretty much stay the same. But, have any of you found that using older material to prepare for the USMLE is not useful? Or, should I go ahead and buy some of the USMLE review books?

It all depends on what score you are looking to get on the Step 1. Many people on this board claim to only have studies ~4weeks and got top 5%. Others who scored high started studying during the first year. If you are aiming for a top score get Firstaid and mark it up with the appropriate course you are taking like Anatomy, embryo, phys. Also get the review books for those courses and read them a couple of times. Yes you will forget the material after your first year but it will come back much quicker than if you had not studied those books. Good luck