USMLE review books for first year?

[nope80]

I've noticed a hand full of classmates that use these usmle review books for the first year courses - i have even heard that some of the questions we have on exams practically come straight out of these books. I was wondering what books people recommend for this purpose? The kaplan books or any specific titles would be appreciated...I've noticed that the multiple choice questions we get with clinical applications especially throw me for a loop.

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[MattD]

I've noticed a hand full of classmates that use these usmle review books for the first year courses - i have even heard that some of the questions we have on exams practically come straight out of these books. I was wondering what books people recommend for this purpose? The kaplan books or any specific titles would be appreciated...I've noticed that the multiple choice questions we get with clinical applications especially throw me for a loop.

I can't speak to what books will be cut and pasted from by your professor, but I will recommend the BRS physiology book for phys, as well as the robbins review qbook for path.

 

[Holladolla]

microbiology made ridiculously simple is so essential
i find brs anatomy is pretty good too

and lipincott biochemistry

 

[familyguy21]

Would a medical student please post up the "Best Books" to buy to supplement first year classes! I do not want to waste $400 on books to realize I was better off buying BRS X instead of Robbins!

 

[myKuduSlewaZulu]

BRS Anat and Embryo both came recommended by students at my school. I found them excellent as primary study sources. Micro made simple and Lippincott's Biochem are popular as well.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Wish I had gone through Kaplan Biochem, Anatomy, Physiology, Histology during first year.

 

[aldevani]

In canada, we use the Toronto notes, probably the best review notes book out there. See Amazon. In terms of questions, most use a website called:

www.MedicalStudentExams.com

Hope that helps.

Dr. AL

 

[alphaholic06]

I don't know how good Kaplan would be for class (outside of Biochem) but for the Shelf Exams they have been money.

 

[pseudoknot]

I liked BRS Biochemistry, although if I hadn't had a good background I would have wanted more explanation. So far I've liked all the BRS books I've looked at; I find that doing the questions really helps to solidify my grasp on each chapter.

 

[njbmd]

Our coursework was far more detailed than a review book and our coursework was pretty integrated thus review books were a waste of time for me. When second year was done, I did two weeks worth of questions on Q-Bank and did just fine with Step I. You actually cannot review what you haven't learned in the first place.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

BRS Anat and Embryo both came recommended by students at my school. I found them excellent as primary study sources. Micro made simple and Lippincott's Biochem are popular as well.

BRS anatomy is way to simplistic for use for study during the course, at least given the level of detail we are required to know.

 

[myKuduSlewaZulu]

BRS anatomy is way to simplistic for use for study during the course, at least given the level of detail we are required to know.

Sorry to hear that. Here, if you use scribes (which has less detail than BRS) or BRS, the "blue boxes" in Moore's, and an atlas, you'll do very well.

 

[kdburton]

Would a medical student please post up the "Best Books" to buy to supplement first year classes! I do not want to waste $400 on books to realize I was better off buying BRS X instead of Robbins!

The only books I've used so far (1st year) are Netters and Rohen for anatomy, Lippencotts for biochem, Robbins, and Wheaters Functional Histology. And I haven't even used these very much other than the anatomy atlases. All the older students said they used Robbins and Wheaters throughout the whole first two years though, so maybe those will end up getting some more use.

 

[Twitch]

Would a medical student please post up the "Best Books" to buy to supplement first year classes! I do not want to waste $400 on books to realize I was better off buying BRS X instead of Robbins!

Most of the folks (atleast in my class) don't "supplement" for MS1. Most of what you need to know will be provided to you. Now if you have trouble understanding something, yeah those are the times that there is a need. However, most of the time, good old Wiki, a short email to the prof or some combination thereof is good enough. Like other MS0's you can buy a pile of BRS/HY/Pretest/Kaplan and they'll sit there and gather dust.

 

[Reimat]

I'd say it doesn't hurt to get First Aid at some point during first year. However, some people will argue that a new edition comes out each year, so you may be better off waiting to buy it until early 2008 to get that edition (looks like it is released Dec 31, 2007.)

 

[Slide]

On that note is there any point for us M1s to buy First Aid now?

 

[madeyedhl]

the only part that changes in fa... well bits and bits from everywhere. but pharm is essentially the part that changes. just get one now if u think u need it now, or if u want newest edition while u r at step 1, buy it then.

 

[njbmd]

On that note is there any point for us M1s to buy First Aid now?

First Aid is a useful book for a couple of reasons. First, it's pretty cheap and second, it gives you a fairly good idea of the review books that are out there. Again, your main focus during your first year of medical school is your coursework period but having First Aid gives you an idea of broad topics to be mastered and which review books might be worth the money once you get to the point of studying for your USMLE steps.

 

[Docster]

*must have:
-First Aid -- gives you an appreciation of material to now cold enough to recite if woken up from Stage III sleep.

*solid REVIEW/should buy (and useful to have for Board prep next yr):
-BRS Physio

*something you MIGHT LIKE during MS-I for a nice re-cap of class notes:
-high yield neuroanatomy

*other stuff, primarily useful during MS-II board prep:
-Goljan Path (rapid review)
-Robbins Review of Path (kumar & klatt)
-high yield cell & mol bio
-Lange Biochem & genetics cards
-Lippincott Microcards
-Levinson Immuno & Micro (board exam review)--> succinct immuno review & gold appendices
-Pharmacology Recall
-Underground Clinical Vignettes series
-High Yield Behavioral Sciences
-high yield embryology
-high yield histology
-high yield anatomy
-USMLE World
-Kaplan QBook (2004 ed.) --> same as the newest ed. but dirt cheap on Amazon.

...mmm mm time to dig in and start board prep.