Which Kaplan DVDs should I listen to?

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nope80

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I don't think I will be able to get through all of them. Any recommendations on which ones are excellent/average/bad? I guess it depends on where a persons weaknesses are but if anyone could recommend the high yield or the best lectures and which ones were just okay vs those that weren't good, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
 
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Kaplan DVDs are really long but they get the job done. For example, it takes an hour to go through about 7-8 pages of lecture notes while following the video when you could read double or even triple that in that time. I did do the pharm DVD which was really good. Neuro sucks. I hate that dude... he just reads off the slides. I heard that physio was awesome, but its 30 hrs. I would probably only do the DVD for subjects that you feel very weak in. Hope this helps
 
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Not sure which "version" you're looking at.... but I'll highly recommend at least Pharm and Path as probably my favorites.

Physio is good as well, not as engaging lecturers but good teaching.

I've actually been warming up to Biochem. I've only seen the Dr. Seastone ones and I like them, definitely one of the few times I can stay alert while studying biochem.
 
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I haven't even bothered to look at the Kaplan path videos. Who teaches them and does anyone know how they compare to goljan audio? Honestly, I think Goljan is great but sometimes he speaks way too fast. I also have a hard time understanding renal from goljan. Hema/pul/cardio/GI are on point with goljan. I feel like goljan endocrine is pretty weak also.
 
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pepotonoto said:
What are your thoughts on substituting the lecture notes for some of the recommended review books that most use here?

I mean, just watching the videos to refresh theory and then read from the review books like brs physio, gojan (covers a lot of the biochem/genetics), cmmrs, hy yield neuro, hy behavior,hy cell+molec and First Aid and usmleworld questions for the rest?
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A lot of people I talked to seem to like the biochem stuff that Kaplan has (lecture notes and the videos that go along with them). I personally used the biochem lecture notes and found them to be very understandable and clear-cut, but I haven't taken the exam yet, so I'm not sure how well prepared I am after reading them :laugh: Also I was extremely weak in immuno (didn't have any in undergrad and the guy that lectured to us in med school didn't do a good job either), and when I went to read an immuno review book I didn't even have enough background to understand it. I watched the Kaplan videos and then read the review book to pound it in again and I found them extremely helpful.
 
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Thanks for writing back. I was initially going to substitute all the kaplan books that go with the videos, but I think I am going to stick with the related Kaplan books + FA, Goljan, HY Neuro + UW... some sections from CMMRS and Katzung for extra clarification.

I was searching around here and it doesn't seem many people substitute the major kaplan lecture notes for anything except for path and maybe the micro part - Am I right? 😕
 
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I enjoyed the Kaplan DVD's. I used as many as I could.

I highly recommend pharm/biochem (I met Dr. Raymon... excellent USMLE instructor!) and behavioral/biostats (Dr. Daughterty is fun to listen to). Pathology isn't that bad (if you can tolerate Dr. Barrone's delivery/corny jokes). Anyhow, its never a waste to re-review path.

I also listened to portions of anatomy (specifically brachial/sacral plexus sections because I always forget it).
 
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you're totally right terpskins99 - just started listening to Dr. Raymon and I'm totally loving it!!
 
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when you guys watch these, do you do one subject all in one day? they are soo long so I'm wondering how people incorporate them into the schedule?
 
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nope80 said:
when you guys watch these, do you do one subject all in one day? they are soo long so I'm wondering how people incorporate them into the schedule?
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I downloaded vlc and watch the videos at 1.5x or 2.0x speed. It took me about 3-4 days to get through all of the pharm vids. That included reading the relevant FA pages. I'll probably end up going through everything again to reinforce the info.
 
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i have vlc but i couldn't find the option to speed up... well i did find one but he ended up sounding like a french chipmunk

where is the option?
 
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harrypotter said:
i have vlc but i couldn't find the option to speed up... well i did find one but he ended up sounding like a french chipmunk

where is the option?
Click to expand...

That's the option. He does sound like a french chipmunk at 1.5x, but c'est le vie. The alternative is listening to him at 1x and taking 30+ hrs to finish.
 
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awww boo! does anyone know of any other players that can speed up like quicktime - gives you a range and you can fiddle w treble and bass so they don't sound so funny?
 
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harrypotter said:
im mac too and the only place where i found a speeder upper is under playback - speed up
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open the video file with quick time, press apple k, and click that bar on the lower right to speed up playback. the speed up with quick time is way better than VLC as with quick time he doesnt sound like a chipmunk.

im on pharm DVD 3 and I've spent almost 10 hours already.. stuff is slow as molasses but at the same time I feel its so high yield cause I'm learning so much. I thought I knew pharm, I really didnt know anything!

My favorite by far is when Dr. Raymon told me to slap myself.. :laugh:
 
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can quicktime play vob/ifo files? mine aren't avi 🙁

tho i can't wait to hear him say slap yourself! LOL
 
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does anyone know how to make a bookmark on a file in quicktime so you kno where you left off last?
 
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harrypotter said:
can quicktime play vob/ifo files? mine aren't avi 🙁

tho i can't wait to hear him say slap yourself! LOL
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And then, he said, "Don't slap too hard, or else you won't be able to finish watching the videos" .. lol..

Anyway, I love kaplan videos. Anatomy (upper extremity, lower extremity, quick review on embry) is pretty good too.
 
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Are you all taking notes when speeding these things up?
I tried but could not keep up with my slower writing speed!

Initially I thought there was not so much to add in notes, but I just finished physiology this past weekend and my book feels nearly double in weight! I watched these at regular speed and think I'll have to do it the same way for the others. It took me longer than I hoped with a bunch of rewinding.

I just started anatomy the other day and so far the guy seems ok! Any comments on the Neuroanatomy part of this?

How are you all reading the lecture notes? i.e. Are you reading a section before or during? I'm sure you all do read after - I did notice if I don't go over a section immediately within the same day or next, I forget certain points!

Are you setting certain time blocks of watching video lectures vs reading vs questions? I don't know how productive I would be if I sat and watched 8 hours of video/day and then read if I even could then!
 
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I have that same prob - I want to write it all - but I try to keep telling myself "don't transcribe - take notes"
I speed the vids up but I pause if I need to write something down.
I noticed that a lot of the info on the screen is in the notes, so I try to save time by just highlighting that portion.

Haven't done neuro yet so I can't comment. I'm trying really hard to like Barone - trying really really really hard 🙁

I'm still struggling w the watching - then studying - then questions part. I would love to hear how others are doing it!!
 
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harrypotter said:
I have that same prob - I want to write it all - but I try to keep telling myself "don't transcribe - take notes"
I speed the vids up but I pause if I need to write something down.
I noticed that a lot of the info on the screen is in the notes, so I try to save time by just highlighting that portion.

Haven't done neuro yet so I can't comment. I'm trying really hard to like Barone - trying really really really hard 🙁

I'm still struggling w the watching - then studying - then questions part. I would love to hear how others are doing it!!
Click to expand...

Neuroanatomy part is not as good as the other professor who do the upper and lower extremities. He basically read off a lot of stuffs. But he helped me focus with my neuro review because he did explain some stuffs. I am glad I did it. Besides, I find the neuro kaplan notes to be good.
I decided not to do Barone bc I was doing Goljan.

Yeah, I have the same problem with reviewing my notes as well. I did a lot of videos. But just to even review my notes of the videos take just as much time.
As for listening to new videos, I try to do it in the evening when I am a little tired. I get up and do about 50 questions in the morning, then studies a little bit. When I feel like not studying anymore, I try listening. Not sure if this will work out in the long run though.
 
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