Wait for FA 2011 or just go with 2010?

[SB100]

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I'm a rising 2nd year student and our school is making us take Step 1 during the last week of April (we had our curriculum shortened). FA for Step 1 2011 isn't coming out until January, and although I'm not sure yet if I'll begin preparing before or after that date I'd like to know if you guys think it's worth waiting for it. Otherwise I was just going to buy the 2010 version. Can there really be that much different?

 

[Sangria]

I'm a rising 2nd year student and our school is making us take Step 1 during the last week of April (we had our curriculum shortened). FA for Step 1 2011 isn't coming out until January, and although I'm not sure yet if I'll begin preparing before or after that date I'd like to know if you guys think it's worth waiting for it. Otherwise I was just going to buy the 2010 version. Can there really be that much different?

I and a whole bunch of people in my class purchased it this spring and have even started marking it up. I've also had the beginning of this summer relatively free and boring, so I've been adding some first year stuff to it as well (I know people on here will say to just relax, but i really haven't spent much time on it and i think it's useful). I know i'm not retaining stuff by putting some clarifications in FA, but i think seeing it one extra time won't hurt, esp since i have the time.
My plan and the plan of the people i've spoken to that have the current FA is to buy the new one when it comes out and seeking out the differences. But I think the into to FA says that it changes by only about 5-10% from year to year

 

[IMGUSMLEStep1]

For First Aid, it's always better to wait for the newest edition, but if you have to start preparing before it comes out, then just go with the 2010 edition.

 

[MossPoh]

If you want to annotate then you can always buy some older edition dirt cheap and scribble in that and use for review during class but when it comes to actual step 1 studying get the newest one. By that time, you will probably know what is worthless annotations and what is useful as well.

 

[Knicks]

Oh look, this thread again.

 

[Ableton]

I had two copies. The first one I bought halfway into first year and just sort of scribbled random stuff in it... it wound up being pretty good for reviewing course material. The second one I bought when it came out in my second year and used that to annotate stuff into for boards.

 

[TheLesPaul]

Wait. You don't really know enough about anything to start reviewing until January of MS2 (when the 2011 comes out) anyway. I think you'd be better off doing Rapid Review Goljan path side-by-side and saving FA for later.

 

[turkeyjerky]

I say wait. I didn't and sorta regret it. FA isn't really useful for class and you don't know enough at the time to correctly annotate it.

 

[MossPoh]

Depends on the class. We have a few professors that essentially teach from and use FA as an outline. I always liked to use it as a light review for a few hours the night before the test since I knew the hundreds of ppt slides would just freak me out.

Nobody is saying to use it as a primary text to study from....

 

[C5toC9]

I used FA during second half of M1 and I regret not using it earlier. It's very high-yield and is great for big picture reviews before tests.

 

[NTF]

Use an old one until Dec. Then get the new one.

 

[deuce924]

I bought the older version and used it while studying for my 2nd year exams. I tried to annotate when I had the chance. I felt it allowed me to get familiar with the book before I had to sit down and study for the STEP. I used the same book to study for my STEP and felt like I didn't have any problems.

 

[Dr Roboto]

I used an older edition when I studied and, while I didn't exactly compare, I doubt there are major differences. Not to mention it takes time for the errata to be compiled. For a book that has a new version every year, I'm surprised at how errors are repeated.

With that said, get the newest edition available whenever it is you are prepared to start using it.