Year 2 Class material: fun facts or stuff I should know for Step 1?

[Rocket3004]

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Hey all

Well, I am a current second year student. So far, the year has been just fine, and I have been doing fairly well on exams.

For this year, I have picked up a few review books to use along side my classes. Every once in a while, I look through them for tables/figures/different perspectives - whatever, and I can't help but wonder (and this is probably school specific):

Will the nitty-gritty details, or "fun & random facts" as I put it, that I am tested on now show up on step 1? First aid for example is fairly bare-bones, and people always say to annotate it (as they study for step 1 in the spring). Do they annotate with these fun facts, or with other more pertinent info?

The reason I ask is that it is sometimes pretty hard cramming all this info in for our unit exams - with potential sketchy long term recall, and I can't really imagine having to do it all over again in the spring (with even MORE info gained throughout the year).

Looking through the books, some of those details (like from pharm/infectious disease currently) ARE in first aid and/or other review books although not quite as detailed, but surprisingly so... that's a bit unnerving.

Is there a good way to discern between fun facts vs. try to keep in the back of your mind for step 1/the future.

Thanks!

 

[docscience]

Excellent question that I am wondering myself!! Can anyone help out? Thanks!

Hey all

Well, I am a current second year student. So far, the year has been just fine, and I have been doing fairly well on exams.

For this year, I have picked up a few review books to use along side my classes. Every once in a while, I look through them for tables/figures/different perspectives - whatever, and I can't help but wonder (and this is probably school specific):

Will the nitty-gritty details, or "fun & random facts" as I put it, that I am tested on now show up on step 1? First aid for example is fairly bare-bones, and people always say to annotate it (as they study for step 1 in the spring). Do they annotate with these fun facts, or with other more pertinent info?

The reason I ask is that it is sometimes pretty hard cramming all this info in for our unit exams - with potential sketchy long term recall, and I can't really imagine having to do it all over again in the spring (with even MORE info gained throughout the year).

Looking through the books, some of those details (like from pharm/infectious disease currently) ARE in first aid and/or other review books although not quite as detailed, but surprisingly so... that's a bit unnerving.

Is there a good way to discern between fun facts vs. try to keep in the back of your mind for step 1/the future.

Thanks!

 

[SomeDoc]

Will the nitty-gritty details, or "fun & random facts" as I put it, that I am tested on now show up on step 1? First aid for example is fairly bare-bones, and people always say to annotate it (as they study for step 1 in the spring).

This is pretty self-explanatory. Students say annotate FA for a reason.

Everything you learn in years one and two are fair fodder for Step 1.

 

[nocebo]

On average, I found Step 1 to be less detail-oriented and more general concepts than exams for M2 courses. Part of that has to be because they only have < 350 questions to ask you about every subject from two years' worth of work. However there will still be quite a few nit-pickers thrown in. As for FA, if you know everything in there and absolutely nothing else, you would probably score above average. (For some reason a lot of people quote the 230 range, I don't know how accurate that is.)

 

[docscience]

On average, I found Step 1 to be less detail-oriented and more general concepts than exams for M2 courses. Part of that has to be because they only have < 350 questions to ask you about every subject from two years' worth of work. However there will still be quite a few nit-pickers thrown in. As for FA, if you know everything in there and absolutely nothing else, you would probably score above average. (For some reason a lot of people quote the 230 range, I don't know how accurate that is.)

Thanks for the input nocebo...quite a few nit-pickers thrown in??? I mean, for class we have to memorize the translocations of certain AMLs/ALLs...will tihs be on boards??

Also, if you know everything in FA and nothing else you can get a god score of a 230? what else does everyone recommend studying from? I hear/read from the step 1 forum about physio brs, mmrs....anything else?????

 

[VPDcurt]

Thanks for the input nocebo...quite a few nit-pickers thrown in??? I mean, for class we have to memorize the translocations of certain AMLs/ALLs...will tihs be on boards??

Also, if you know everything in FA and nothing else you can get a god score of a 230? what else does everyone recommend studying from? I hear/read from the step 1 forum about physio brs, mmrs....anything else?????

Yes it's possible that the translocations will be on step 1. Really it's a guessing game as to what you need to know and when you can stop learning all of the little facts. In the spring, you'll see that a time comes when you no longer worry about learning every little detail because your study time is so limited. It's a lot like a dying man - you begin to accept it and it kind of stops bothering you.

 

[nocebo]

Thanks for the input nocebo...quite a few nit-pickers thrown in??? I mean, for class we have to memorize the translocations of certain AMLs/ALLs...will tihs be on boards??

Also, if you know everything in FA and nothing else you can get a god score of a 230? what else does everyone recommend studying from? I hear/read from the step 1 forum about physio brs, mmrs....anything else?????

I don't know how many translocations you have to learn in your class. I would definitely know the Philadelphia chromosome (9,22) for CML--that's HUGE because there's a relatively new drug (Imatinib=Gleevec) for it. I'm racking my brain now, since I haven't seen a cancer case yet M3, but maybe something like a 15,17 for one of the AML's? 8,14 for Burkitt's lymphoma? I think any of the ones you'll find in FA will be fair game.

I'm not saying I necessarily agree with the FA = 230 thing, just something I've heard people say. I thought my most valuable book was perhaps BRS Path. Way more than Physio. If you know BRS Path cold and FA you'd be in decent shape. If I had it over again I'd also get a more concise Micro/ID book. (Well, also I would have probably actually studied more during M1/M2, but that would have just been way too little fun.)

And do lots and lots and lots and lots of practice questions. It's way more "fun" than reading and memorizing books and it gets your brain in the habit of test taking. Most of all don't worry yet. It's still very early. I worried a lot, seeing as I don't even think I made the top half of my class at any point during the first two years, but then got a pretty good score on Step 1. (As in way better than the national average, although probably below average for this site.)

 

[VPDcurt]

I agree with the practice questions idea...the more the better. I definitely did not know everything in FA and I scored 240+. I also thought that RR Path was my best resource. Basically, it just depends on your personal preference, so get a book as early as possible and try to stick to it. M2 and beyond is really when you need to find something that works and stick to it...and most importantly, try something else quickly if it's not working.

 

[Blesbok]

The basics are what help you pass step 1. The details are what help you get a 270.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Don't think about slowing down now. As has been said, everything from the first two years is fair game for Step 1 - but, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology are what is going to determine whether or not you pass Step 1, so pay attention!! I'd say most of the rest of the exam is immunology. You'll probably have a question or two on biochemistry and a question or two of anatomy (I had exactly 1 anatomy question, but it depends on the particular form you happen to get). Probably 80% of the exam is second-year material. My exam for some reason hit biostatistics and human behavior very hard - but it was all the second-year human behavior stuff.

You need to annotate your First Aid book to help jog your memory from the way material was presented in your own classes - so you don't have to start learning from scratch when you start studying FA. FA covers everything pretty comprehensively - it leaves out a couple of details - but, if you know every word of FA, you'll do pretty darn well on Step 1. Note, however, that I said every word if you're going to use a book as compressed as First Aid. You can't just look it over a couple of times - FA is fine as a primary study source, but know that puppy forwards, backwards, and sideways. You do probably need a pathophysiology supplement to FA - Goljan or whatever you prefer.

 

[sendwich]

i'm conflicted as to when we should start hitting the questions. our school seems to recommend starting questions now but wha'ts the point of going thru them when they're fresh in your head? i won't remember much come april/may...wouldn't it be much better to do them after/while studying for them then?

I don't know how many translocations you have to learn in your class. I would definitely know the Philadelphia chromosome (9,22) for CML--that's HUGE because there's a relatively new drug (Imatinib=Gleevec) for it. I'm racking my brain now, since I haven't seen a cancer case yet M3, but maybe something like a 15,17 for one of the AML's? 8,14 for Burkitt's lymphoma? I think any of the ones you'll find in FA will be fair game.

I'm not saying I necessarily agree with the FA = 230 thing, just something I've heard people say. I thought my most valuable book was perhaps BRS Path. Way more than Physio. If you know BRS Path cold and FA you'd be in decent shape. If I had it over again I'd also get a more concise Micro/ID book. (Well, also I would have probably actually studied more during M1/M2, but that would have just been way too little fun.)

And do lots and lots and lots and lots of practice questions. It's way more "fun" than reading and memorizing books and it gets your brain in the habit of test taking. Most of all don't worry yet. It's still very early. I worried a lot, seeing as I don't even think I made the top half of my class at any point during the first two years, but then got a pretty good score on Step 1. (As in way better than the national average, although probably below average for this site.)

 

[docscience]

I'd say most of the rest of the exam is immunology. Probably 80% of the exam is second-year material.

80% of exam is second year material? How true is this?

I have got a great start (unlike last year) and am doing pretty damn well...trying to kick ass as an M2

 

[GoLakers310]

I would like to know this as well !

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

80% of exam is second year material? How true is this?

I have got a great start (unlike last year) and am doing pretty damn well...trying to kick ass as an M2

I'm just making it up to screw you up. Good heavens, we're supposed to be helping each other around here. Trust me - I just took the exam within the last six months. Most of your first year is learning the foundations needed for the pathology and treatment that you'll learn in second year, and that's most of what's tested. You could say that first year is included, because you're unlikely to rock M2 if you were asleep for most of M1.

 

[nocebo]

i'm conflicted as to when we should start hitting the questions. our school seems to recommend starting questions now but wha'ts the point of going thru them when they're fresh in your head? i won't remember much come april/may...wouldn't it be much better to do them after/while studying for them then?

Two reasons I can think of:

If you're referring to practice questions related to 2nd year material, it's another study tool for your school exams. If you're talking about first year stuff, it's probably about repetition. The more times you relearn something the quicker it comes back each time.

Or your school is just trying to be anal and get you guys going really early, figuring that you're a bunch of slackers who will wait until the last minute and ruin the school's average. Also when you have thousands of questions in a q-bank and a month to do them you're probably not going to finish them then anyway, so it's better now than never.

 

[docscience]

I'm just making it up to screw you up. Good heavens, we're supposed to be helping each other around here. Trust me - I just took the exam within the last six months. Most of your first year is learning the foundations needed for the pathology and treatment that you'll learn in second year, and that's most of what's tested. You could say that first year is included, because you're unlikely to rock M2 if you were asleep for most of M1.

True that. I guess I am exaggerating when I say that I totally screwed up M1. I did well, but not as well as I could have.
I do see a lot of pathology based on physiology obviously....but I am just worried about the Step totally drilling us on basic physiology and biochem.

I will continue to work hard this year and do my best! Thanks for the help Non-Trad.

Anyone started doing questions? If so, which qbank? Thanks!