What are the best resources for someone with a weak knowledge base?

[pampiniformplex]

---

Members don't see this ad.

.

 

[ulikedaggers]

You might start with your school lecture summaries.

 

[Renaissance Man]

What are the best resources for someone with a weak knowledge base and poor memory? I am currently using Firecracker and Rx and I find that Firecracker is extremely helpful with long term retention of things that are inherently understandable. However, I find Biochem very difficult because I simply do not remember anything and Firecracker and Rx are not helpful at making all the connections I need for things to make sense.


What resources do you recommend that I can study from? I hear good things about Kaplan’s books but I would prefer not to spend another 500$ on study materials…


My exam is the first week of June and the panic is starting to set in…


Thanks much!

I would start by reading BRS Physio, and then use Pathoma videos/notes for pathology. For immunology, Abbas has a super easy to read/understand book. With only 5 months to go, I would stick with Firecracker high yields (don't worry about the anatomy stuff), and start using First Aid 2014 for biochemistry. Finish up everything with a thorough UWorld pass, reading every explanation.

 

[001100010010011]

You can use FA in "lite mode" so you don't get bogged down. BRS Physio is going to be good. Pathoma is great--supplement it with Goljan blue writing.

I think you're underestimating your knowledge and memory skills. Be confident. You probably don't have a weak knowledge base. I fall into that trap too but have to remind myself that knowing HY topics, the resources above, and qbanks will go a long way.

Good luck.

 

[900829]

Are u having trouble with just biochemistry?
If u want the Kaplan books, I cld hook u up.
It will cost u a hug (kidding).

 

[Polymyxin]

I was in a similar situation. It is difficult to memorize if you don't know the context of the material.
- Read "Physiology" by Linda S. Costanzo (It is long, but worth it. This is not BRS Phsiology, which is by the same author. The BRS book is excellent, but when I first read it, I couldn't make sense of it. I read the longer "physiology", and then everything in BRS was crystal clear. If BRS Physiology is sufficiently clear for you, use that instead.)
- Subscribe to Pathoma and carefully listen/annotate in the book
- Biochem = Kaplan lectures (just listen to the lecturer, don't read too much of the book).

After a little bit under your belt, subscribe to some QBank (Rx is good in the beggining) and do as many Q's you can per day.

 

[madcowz]

Personally, the Kaplan 2010 lectures have been clutch. Time consuming, but totally worth it. I've only been through a few sections, but I've heard good things about every subject except for Path, which seems to get a unanimous thumbs down. I plan to skip it and just use Pathoma instead.

 

[notcool]

Hey, I asked roughly the same question in another place. And a bunch of helpful people gave me some good answers. See here. (See the last pages, around page 8 and on.) Hope that helps! 🙂

 

[pampiniformplex]

Thanks everyone for your help, I really appreciate it.

I think my biggest issue is retention. I can read my class syllabi two or three times and only retain 5-10% of it , while firecracker feels a lot more active and keeps me on the ball. I worry that a lot of the Questions on firecracker are not that helpful to memorize things- has anyone who has used the light version of FC have any thoughts on it's usefulness? I'm too committed to FC to drop it all together, but do wonder if it's the best use of my time.

Thanks!