USMLE plan for pre-MS2 summer

[pls accept me]

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Will be doing research, but there will still be downtime this summer. How does studying FA and USMLERx over the summer sound? Or maybe just review stuff from MS1 in FA and review books like microbiology and embryology.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Will be doing research, but there will still be downtime this summer. How does studying FA and USMLERx over the summer sound? Or maybe just review stuff from MS1 in FA and review books like microbiology and embryology.

hmm, did you consider not studying?

 

[bbake87]

I second my esteemed colleague's sentiment about not studying.

 

[DoctorFunk]

A recent meta-analysis conducted by me came to the firm conclusion (p<.0000000000252) that you should probably not study before even cracking a path book in class yet.

 

[justin334]

Don't study. You'll thank yourself later.

 

[slick177]

I agree with the previous posters. Try and relax and enjoy your free time, but if you insist on torturing yourself I would recommend looking over stuff from first year opposed to getting a headstart on second year material. Physiology and micro play a large part in understanding pathology and would serve you well in preparation for your pathology course as well as the USMLE. Throw your histo books away. If you want to study anatomy i would recommend studying only the clinical correlations. Having said all of this I still strongly suggest taking a chill pill and try and enjoy life.

 

[Roy7]

Will be doing research, but there will still be downtime this summer. How does studying FA and USMLERx over the summer sound? Or maybe just review stuff from MS1 in FA and review books like microbiology and embryology.

I disagree w/everyone - I WISH I studied first year material prior to second year. I wanted to study last summer but everyone was like "Dont study". Honestly, unless you've got a spectacular memory and you'll retain everything from first year I dont see why you cant put asside a day a week, or a couple hours a night to just review stuff - its not like it's hard, it a light, easy read. Read for 2 hours, then go out and get hammered - people make it seem like studying "even a little" will destroy your vacation.

It takes 1 hr a day to retain ALL your first year material in a level of detail you'll never have again - crack open BRS physio, biochem, micro, you'll thank yourself 10x next year when you can go over it real quick prior to board review AND know it all during the school year when your path and pharm build upon a firm understanding of physio. Organize your info, and take advantage of having a grasp of the material better now than you probably did during the unit.

A couple hours a day is nothing, it doesnt hurt, it isnt tiring, you dont feel sick. We're in medical school, what's 2 hours compared to the 14 we do now? Why waste all that knowledge you gained during the past year letting it atrophy when you can maintain it with a little bit of effort.

I take step 1 on the 18. I'm gonna start organizing my review material for step 2 the 19th. And I'll put in 2 hrs a day every day starting then.... Then get hammered right afterwards.

 

[pls accept me]

It's not going to be major studying. Just stuff that will fill in the spots when taking the bus or waiting for the western to finish.

Right now we've done a few chapters out of Robbins. Next year we go into the specific organ systems. I flipped through FA, and it doesn't seem that intimidating.

 

[misery]

preMS2 plan = drinking copious amounts of ETOH. You aren't going to know half of the stuff your reading, save it for later.

 

[PhatGtDmB]

do not study and spare yourself the above poster's screen name

 

[blz]

it's your life, do what you wanna do. a little studying wont hurt - probably won't help either.

 

[automan2]

I disagree w/everyone -

I take step 1 on the 18. I'm gonna start organizing my review material for step 2 the 19th. And I'll put in 2 hrs a day every day starting then.... Then get hammered right afterwards.

Life Lesson: "Your in-basket will have things in it when you die"

 

[Freshnstylin]

don't study. you'll have plenty of new information 2nd year....it all comes together. biochem/genetics you will forget anyway...just wait till april/may of next year

 

[The Buff]

I can barely remember boards stuff I went over four weeks ago, let alone last summer. It is not going to help you much, thus I agree with everyone else: don't bother.

 

[lord_jeebus]

THE ULTIMATE 260+ PRE-MS2 PLAN

Yes, this works.

0. Hopefully you learned your MS1 material well, there is no substitute now.
1. Spend your summer doing nothing academic. Party drink sleep whatever. Save your strength.
2. When MS2 starts, full steam ahead. Integrate review into your learning of new topics. Developed a well-spaced system for review and re-review.
3. Rock Step I

 

[doctorp82]

THE ULTIMATE 260+ PRE-MS2 PLAN

Yes, this works.

0. Hopefully you learned your MS1 material well, there is no substitute now.
1. Spend your summer doing nothing academic. Party drink sleep whatever. Save your strength.
2. When MS2 starts, full steam ahead. Integrate review into your learning of new topics. Developed a well-spaced system for review and re-review.
3. Rock Step I

👍 When you do cardio path, review your cardio phys. On top of that, review cardio pharm. Look at cardio embryo while you're at it. You might end up studying more in second year because of this, but it will work better this way than doing it over summer.

Although, I do have a friend who read Robbins last summer. No, seriously. But he was burnt out come August. Still, he's raking in 260+ on his NBME's and took the test today. Don't be him though, because he is half insane.

 

[lord_jeebus]

👍 When you do cardio path, review your cardio phys. On top of that, review cardio pharm. Look at cardio embryo while you're at it. You might end up studying more in second year because of this, but it will work better this way than doing it over summer.

Although, I do have a friend who read Robbins last summer. No, seriously. But he was burnt out come August. Still, he's raking in 260+ on his NBME's and took the test today. Don't be him though, because he is half insane.

But that's not all, and here's the key

When you're done with cardio path and doing pulmonary path (or whatever), take 45 minutes to revisit cardio pharm AGAIN.

1 month later, 30 minutes to revisit cardio pharm AGAIN.

2 months after that, skim it AGAIN.

If you space it right, you get a lot of benefit from even short review.

 

[AK_MD2BE]

Why are there so many people who are so negative about studying during the MS1 - MS2 summer? So what if, God forbid, a student actually enjoys studying and learning material that will be relevant to his future practice? (I am talking about learning important things like disease states, etc. not all of the origins and insertions of the muscles of the foot) Personally, I am going to do some light review of MSI material and skim over the Goljan RR book. Nothing hardcore, just 30 or so hours a week will my wife is at work anyway. I think I would feel like a useless sloth if I just sat around all day. BTW, I already did a full summer of research (and was published...thank God!), so I really don't want to do any more research. I say, if you have the motivation to do so, go for it.🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

Will be doing research, but there will still be downtime this summer. How does studying FA and USMLERx over the summer sound? Or maybe just review stuff from MS1 in FA and review books like microbiology and embryology.

No real point spending too much time with the MS1 stuff -- the bulk of the high yield info for the boards will come in second year. I agree with everyone who suggests that it's too early to spend too much time studying. But working in some First Aid throughout the second year is a good idea.

 

[Law2Doc]

Why are there so many people who are so negative about studying during the MS1 - MS2 summer?

It's largely a waste of time and you get a whole lot more benefit if you show up to second year reinvigorated and ready to get back to the books after the much needed respite rather than burnt out from still studying. Second year is long and will grind you down. You don't need to get a head start on that. Come into it with your brain well rested.

 

[SeventhSon]

But that's not all, and here's the key

When you're done with cardio path and doing pulmonary path (or whatever), take 45 minutes to revisit cardio pharm AGAIN.

1 month later, 30 minutes to revisit cardio pharm AGAIN.

2 months after that, skim it AGAIN.

If you space it right, you get a lot of benefit from even short review.

sounds a lot easier to do when you don't have a test every 7 days.

 

[lord_jeebus]

sounds a lot easier to do when you don't have a test every 7 days.

dude, we go to the same school. There are fewer tests next year, particularly winter and spring.

 

[cubsrule4e]

Why are there so many people who are so negative about studying during the MS1 - MS2 summer? So what if, God forbid, a student actually enjoys studying and learning material that will be relevant to his future practice? (I am talking about learning important things like disease states, etc. not all of the origins and insertions of the muscles of the foot) Personally, I am going to do some light review of MSI material and skim over the Goljan RR book. Nothing hardcore, just 30 or so hours a week will my wife is at work anyway. I think I would feel like a useless sloth if I just sat around all day. BTW, I already did a full summer of research (and was published...thank God!), so I really don't want to do any more research. I say, if you have the motivation to do so, go for it.🙂

"Nothing hardcore...30 hours a week..."

I never studied 30 hours a week even during the school year, unless it included a weekend cramming session before a test. Its SUMMER for crying out loud....find a new hobby or something if you have to, but dont waste 30 hours a week on the USMLE when you havent even started MS2.

 

[SeventhSon]

dude, we go to the same school. There are fewer tests next year, particularly winter and spring.

hahaha i know im just expressing my frustration with finals this week. Why do we have a 3rd ERM midterm, then only 5 new lectures, then a cumulative finals... wtf is the point of that... 😕