USMLE Step 1 Books

[CornellToWashU]

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Hey all. I'm a second year, in the midst of step 1 review book purchasing mayhem. I was curious if any of you know how to find the newest editions for each book online (there seems to be quite a few old editions floating around that I want to avoid)...does anyone know the best sites to buy the following? Also, do you happen to know which editions are the most updated?

BRS Physiology - Costanzo
Goljan Pathology
Robbins Review of Pathology - Edward C. Klatt
Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple - William Trattler
Lippinicotts Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology
Lippinicotts Illustrated Reviews: Biochem
Any of the "High Yield" series

Thanks! I'm hoping this thread will be a help to all of us second years who haven't figured this out yet : )

 

[rahulb]

First aid + UWorld = 99 👍

 

[Depakote]

Don't buy so many books you won't have time to read them all.

Core Resources (knew these cold):
First Aid (got newest)
UWorld (subscribed)
Goljan RR Path (used 2nd edition, 3rd just came out)


Supplemental Resources (used these for reference):
HY Neuro (hand me down copy worked just fine)
Lippincott Biochem
BRS Phys
HY Behav (hand me down copy worked just fine)


I also used the Doctors In Training prep class, which was a good presentation of the FA material if you are an audio learner, like quizzing to help drive home some of the rote memorization and something to help keep you on a set schedule during your study month.

 

[username456789]

Don't buy so many books you won't have time to read them all.

Core Resources (knew these cold):
First Aid (got newest)
UWorld (subscribed)
Goljan RR Path (used 2nd edition, 3rd just came out)


Supplemental Resources (used these for reference):
HY Neuro (hand me down copy worked just fine)
Lippincott Biochem
BRS Phys
HY Behav (hand me down copy worked just fine)


I also used the Doctors In Training prep class, which was a good presentation of the FA material if you are an audio learner, like quizzing to help drive home some of the rote memorization and something to help keep you on a set schedule during your study month.

Thanks for the post, Depakote. At what point did you start utilizing these resources to any appreciable degree (i.e. when did you start putting effort into studying for Step I)?

 

[Depakote]

Thanks for the post, Depakote. At what point did you start utilizing these resources to any appreciable degree (i.e. when did you start putting effort into studying for Step I)?

I probably did some UWorld questions (and the DIT emails they send when you sign up) here and there during the semester if I had a free hour or two, but I didn't do major studying until the end of the semester in May, then I gunned hard-core for 6 weeks.

edit: actually, now that I think of it, what I did for Uworld was I used them to help study for my classes as an extra study resource, by taking subject specific tests just to get used to the test format. Then, since I had a 6+ month long subscription, I reset the questions in May and did hardcore prep.

 

[username456789]

I probably did some UWorld questions (and the DIT emails they send when you sign up) here and there during the semester if I had a free hour or two, but I didn't do major studying until the end of the semester in May, then I gunned hard-core for 6 weeks.

edit: actually, now that I think of it, what I did for Uworld was I used them to help study for my classes as an extra study resource, by taking subject specific tests just to get used to the test format. Then, since I had a 6+ month long subscription, I reset the questions in May and did hardcore prep.

Good deal. I was thinking of buying 6 months of UW here in the next few days since that'll last me through my test date at the end of June. How reasonable is it to assume you'd get through all of them before May? I've heard people suggest getting QBank during the school year, and then saving UW for May-June? I'm just really trying to sort out a game plan here and feel a little lost.

I also have Robbins Review in Path (or whatever the question book is called) and really didn't even put it to much use during the last month or two (when we started Path) because I always felt like I should be making myself learn all the nitty gritty details in our notes first to honor the class and never got around to the question book. I'd like to make it more of a point to do questions during this semester, whether from the book or from question banks.

What are your thoughts (or anyone's thoughts) on focusing on doing questions from Robbins, or should I maybe put that on the backburner and do a few here and there when I have time, but focus more on Qbank or UW questions during the year (assuming I'm taking care of business in class first, of course). So far I've been getting honors, it's just that I feel like my study methods take up a lot of time, perhaps more than a lot of other people.

 

[Depakote]

Good deal. I was thinking of buying 6 months of UW here in the next few days since that'll last me through my test date at the end of June. How reasonable is it to assume you'd get through all of them before May? I've heard people suggest getting QBank during the school year, and then saving UW for May-June? I'm just really trying to sort out a game plan here and feel a little lost.

I also have Robbins Review in Path (or whatever the question book is called) and really didn't even put it to much use during the last month or two (when we started Path) because I always felt like I should be making myself learn all the nitty gritty details in our notes first to honor the class and never got around to the question book. I'd like to make it more of a point to do questions during this semester, whether from the book or from question banks.

What are your thoughts (or anyone's thoughts) on focusing on doing questions from Robbins, or should I maybe put that on the backburner and do a few here and there when I have time, but focus more on Qbank or UW questions during the year (assuming I'm taking care of business in class first, of course). So far I've been getting honors, it's just that I feel like my study methods take up a lot of time, perhaps more than a lot of other people.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a second qbank. Pacing yourself to get through all of them before May would be overkill and would probably detract from your coursework. Mastering your coursework between now and May is the best way you can prepare yourself for Step I. A solid foundation will be your best friend, everything else is just review.

As for Robbins Review, I found that to be a good companion review book for my coursework. Worth using when prepping for a test, but probably not the best path resource when prepping for Step I.

 

[tavankitsingh]

i am an IMG from india and i hav just started preparation for step 1..i have been recommended to do these books:

Physiology: BRS, kaplan for cardiovascular and respiratory systems
Gross anatomy : high yield
Neuro anatomy: high yield and pictures from snell's neuroanatomy
Embryo : High yield
Histology : High yield
Pharmacology : Katzung review or kaplan
Pathology: Goljan
Microbiology : either kaplan for micro and levinson's review for immuno or the whole thing from levinson's review
Behavioural sciences : BRS
Cell biology: High yield
First Aid
Questions from qbank and USMLE World

Are these books fine or do u recommend any change??please let me know..

 

[vicinihil]

Depends on how long you have to prepare. Most of us in the states get about a month before 3rd year begins so such a long list is not feasible. Basic science topics like Anatomy, Embryo, Histo, Behavior, etc should not warrant the extensive list you have formulated.

I think a basic list of

FA
RR Path
BRS Phys
UWorld

is what MOST people need

To supplement with HY Neuro and Cell and perhaps MicroCards and PharmCards is more than enough.

Any more is a burden.

 

[bostonhopes]

Hope this is helpful...its a compiled list of book reviews to help you make your decision:

http://medstep1prep.blogspot.com/