uworld and BRS

[Dr_Frederick_Frankenstein]

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Hello Everyone,

I'm a new student and embarking on a new career as a medical student. I'm MD1 and was wondering when is the best possible time to start taking UWORLD and is BRS a good source of material to read from? thanks for the response.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Start Uworld 3-6 months before your step 1 test date (so during M2).

And personally I’m not a fan of BRS, it’s pretty antiquated and too long IMO. Get First Aid, physeo videos, and pathoma videos. All in cost for those 3 is like $200.

If you want practice questions to prepare for tests, get USMLE-Rx. It’s a good primer for Uworld later on

 

[takeurmeds02]

Start Uworld 3-6 months before your step 1 test date (so during M2).

And personally I’m not a fan of BRS, it’s pretty antiquated and too long IMO. Get First Aid, physeo videos, and pathoma videos. All in cost for those 3 is like $200.

If you want practice questions to prepare for tests, get USMLE-Rx. It’s a good primer for Uworld later on

Yea I second getting USMLE-Rx, Save UWorld for dedicated/peri-dedicated

 

[Treebeard]

I have found BRS to be pretty terrible. Maybe OK for looking up something quick, but not good to learn from and the practice Qs tend be to non-clinical and deep in the weeds.

If you want practice questions for M1 courses, I like the Lippincott ones.

 

[intubesteak]

I would wait to use Uword until you start organ systems. If you need a Qbank for basic sciences, use Rx or Kaplan. Uworld integrates all the basic science into organ systems and would not be all that helpful for the most part.

Instead of the review books, I would recommend trying to read as much of the "real" books as possible, especially when you start organ systems. Instead of BRS physiology, use the real deal--Costanzo text. Pathoma is fine but if you have time to read Goljan or Robbins, do it. The more you can deeply understand and solidify during your actual courses, the better off you will be on step. There will be plenty of time for the review books later on, when you've actually learned the material. The review books are more like a study guide to help refresh your memory on what you already learned. This is much less important in basic sciences than in organ systems, but the same principles apply.

 

[Frogger27]

I would wait to use Uword until you start organ systems. If you need a Qbank for basic sciences, use Rx or Kaplan. Uworld integrates all the basic science into organ systems and would not be all that helpful for the most part.

Instead of the review books, I would recommend trying to read as much of the "real" books as possible, especially when you start organ systems. Instead of BRS physiology, use the real deal--Costanzo text. Pathoma is fine but if you have time to read Goljan or Robbins, do it. The more you can deeply understand and solidify during your actual courses, the better off you will be on step. There will be plenty of time for the review books later on, when you've actually learned the material. The review books are more like a study guide to help refresh your memory on what you already learned. This is much less important in basic sciences than in organ systems, but the same principles apply.

Would you use Uworld at the start of M2 organ blocks or use USMLE/Kaplan and save UWorld until closer to step?

 

[intubesteak]

Would you use Uworld at the start of M2 organ blocks or use USMLE/Kaplan and save UWorld until closer to step?

I would focus on Uworld. The explanations are really, really good and help you understand some important concepts that are often not taught in class. After Uworld I would do another bank (I did Rx). It was a lot easier and faster to get through the questions. It was still helpful to solidify important things, but Uworld is better. My philosophy is to learn things as well as possible during the block, and then step1 study becomes more of a review. Doing one pass of Uworld alongside systems also pretty much guarantees you will get through two passes total--a goal that most people have but that is really tough to do unless you get through it before dedicated.