Year long USMLE study plan?

[UAAWolf]

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Basically, MS2's at my school warned us that our school
1- Does not thoroughly prepare us for boards with the course material nor do they teach towards the boards at all
2- Only gives us 2-3 weeks after MS2 to take boards (no study time...)
3- USMLE scores are barely national avg
4- Honors involves extra work or exams that is not relevant to the boards


We were told that if we want a good score, we should have already started studying...kind of freaked me out. Any ideas how to go about this? They said that if we wait til the end of MS2 we'll be in big trouble...and that the MS2 year is so busy you'll have a hard time studying during classes (a lot of essays and junk stuff that sucks time).

What is a realistic way to go about this? I'm not gonna read robbins over the summer or anything, lol trust me. Obviously, I've just finished M1 and don't have a good step 1 foundation so I'm not sure what my plan should be.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

First Aid. Kaplan Qbank.

(1) Kaplan during the year, UWorld for the test. UWorld is far superior to any of the competitors in terms of giving you the look and feel of the real deal. Therefore, it is best used as the test approaches. Kaplan has "ReKaps" (take away knoweldge from the question) and it has references to First Aid and MedEssentials (dont use MedEssentials, its crap). Doing 20 questions a week through all of Ms2 will give you some experience and exposure to Step content.

(2) What does "doing questions" mean? it does not mean not knowing the answer, picking randomly, and moving on. You have to engage the question. It should be 10 minutes reading the question, reading the answer choices, and understanding both right and wrong answers. Then it should be another 10 minutes jotting down notes into First Aid (why Kaplan is better for early Step Prep). By jotting notes in the relevant section you start to READ First Aid. So now you've read the question, attempted the answer, know the right and wrong answer with why, got a ReKap, read First Aid, and jotted down some tips.

(3) What else do I do with first aid? Every so often you're going to just READ THROUGH first aid. Cover to cover. Do it about 5 times. What's cool is that if you've been doing questions, and if you've been jotting notes, every time you read it, you get MORE information. That way, as you approach your dedicated study period, you can switch to UWorld and start drilling questions, 100-200 a day until test day.

(4) Other options. Goljan's Rapid Review with pirated Goljan Audio. Clutch for both Path (getting you the honors) and for the Step. I hated him, but I think I'm the only one. I used Kaplan's lecture series with John Barrone. Goljan is better, I just couldnt stand his obnoxious voice.

BRS / RR / HY is a weak way to study. Its usually too detailed without any connections to questions. Its not bad if you like outlines, but its not tremendously strong. People usually use BRS / High Yield / Rapid Review to cover the courses in their first year, as a refresher, while in MS2. Too much irrelevant information in my opinion.

(5) The bottom line is First Aid and Questions. In my opinion I would caution against wasting UWorld up front. Do Kaplan. Questions are harder, but the learning is robust.

 

[NOsquid]

The above is good advice IMO, wish I would have done it. Realistically, given time limitations you're probably going to have to give up some short term satisfaction (grades) for the long term goal of a good step 1 score. This is really difficult for a lot of medical students who are accustomed to near-perfect grades. Definitely keep your eye on the prize.

 

[lrkoehle]

a lot of essays and junk stuff that sucks time.

Essays? What the hell school do you go to? I feel like the worst we have is a CBI presentation each week and the occasional H&P write up...Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but when I think essays it takes me back to freshman english in undergrad BSing garbage essays.

 

[Guillemot]

It is indeed difficult to allocate time outside of coursework in 2nd year to study boards, but any work done in advance of a dedicated study period will help.

Even doing 20q a day from a q bank and nothing else board specific would be a huge advantage. I regret not getting a longer subscription than just the 3mo Uworld I purchased.

For prep during the year Id rank in terms of importance:

Questions>RR path+Audio>FA


I dont really have anything else to contribute that OvractiveBrain didnt say already. All his advice is good.

 

[lrkoehle]

The above is good advice IMO, wish I would have done it. Realistically, given time limitations you're probably going to have to give up some short term satisfaction (grades) for the long term goal of a good step 1 score. This is really difficult for a lot of medical students who are accustomed to near-perfect grades. Definitely keep your eye on the prize.

👍

 

[UAAWolf]

First Aid. Kaplan Qbank.

(1) Kaplan during the year, UWorld for the test. UWorld is far superior to any of the competitors in terms of giving you the look and feel of the real deal. Therefore, it is best used as the test approaches. Kaplan has "ReKaps" (take away knoweldge from the question) and it has references to First Aid and MedEssentials (dont use MedEssentials, its crap). Doing 20 questions a week through all of Ms2 will give you some experience and exposure to Step content.

(2) What does "doing questions" mean? it does not mean not knowing the answer, picking randomly, and moving on. You have to engage the question. It should be 10 minutes reading the question, reading the answer choices, and understanding both right and wrong answers. Then it should be another 10 minutes jotting down notes into First Aid (why Kaplan is better for early Step Prep). By jotting notes in the relevant section you start to READ First Aid. So now you've read the question, attempted the answer, know the right and wrong answer with why, got a ReKap, read First Aid, and jotted down some tips.

(3) What else do I do with first aid? Every so often you're going to just READ THROUGH first aid. Cover to cover. Do it about 5 times. What's cool is that if you've been doing questions, and if you've been jotting notes, every time you read it, you get MORE information. That way, as you approach your dedicated study period, you can switch to UWorld and start drilling questions, 100-200 a day until test day.

(4) Other options. Goljan's Rapid Review with pirated Goljan Audio. Clutch for both Path (getting you the honors) and for the Step. I hated him, but I think I'm the only one. I used Kaplan's lecture series with John Barrone. Goljan is better, I just couldnt stand his obnoxious voice.

BRS / RR / HY is a weak way to study. Its usually too detailed without any connections to questions. Its not bad if you like outlines, but its not tremendously strong. People usually use BRS / High Yield / Rapid Review to cover the courses in their first year, as a refresher, while in MS2. Too much irrelevant information in my opinion.

(5) The bottom line is First Aid and Questions. In my opinion I would caution against wasting UWorld up front. Do Kaplan. Questions are harder, but the learning is robust.

Wow, really appreciate all that input. That's awesome advice...sincerely appreciate it.

What do you think about the step 1 Kaplan Video series?

 

[hrandani]

You really just have to know what kind of learning is your style. My best friend just watches videos and would rather cut his balls off than read a textbook - I'm the exact opposite. I tried to force myself through doctors in training and didn't get much out of it because it just doesn't work for me.

However Kaplan Videos is a solid resource, although some of the topics are too low yield and I wouldn't waste time on them. Videos just take an unbelievable amount of time and you have to budget carefully and make sure you're retaining information rather than just passively listening while you're on facebook.

 

[deleted387928]

Pick whichever review book you like best for each subject. Study out of that review book and then put it aside when tests are getting closer so that you can pass your classes.

Try not to read a section in FA unless you've learned it well in a more detailed source. It's too barebones to learn from.

Start doing UW questions in January/February. Try to get through them twice. Start reading FA in February/March.

This is what I did for most of this year and it's working for me (got over 240 on my first diagnostic)

And I know how you feel regarding your school. We have pages and pages of worthless notes filled with minutiae and other junk. I worked hard on their crap early on to set a cushion so I wouldn't have to worry about failing all the time. It's relaxing now just getting C's & D's on tests and not giving a damn.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

I would agree with FA use after you've learned the material in class...use it all year long and add other sources (qbanks, cases, short subject review books as needed for weak subjects) the further you get along.

Questions early on will be useless, you won't know enough to randomize them, so do them subject based.

Goljan review lectures are a neat way to review material on the go (stuck in traffic or while working out)

With studying during the year, retention is going to be your biggest enemy.

Really organize your study material (make folders of classnotes, flashcards, annotate FA as you go along with more detail) so that when you have those 2-3 weeks before the step 1 you will have quick review materials.

Personally, I made 4 folders with each 4-5 subjects from FA (get it de-bound and hole-punched at officemax), added my own subject notes (mostly from class and/or goljan rapid review pathology) to each subject, supplemented with written up answers of subject-specific USMLE questions that I got wrong over the past weeks/months, and made content flashcards for the rote memorization stuff (i.e. what are most common peumonia pathogens in neonates, the elderly, immune compromised pts...etc).

As long as you prepare for very little study time after exams and before step 1 you'll be able to compensate by being more diligent throughout the year. Organization will be key.

Good Luck, You'll do just fine!

 

[Kalyx]

Check your PM

 

[justaregularmed]

Basically, MS2's at my school warned us that our school
1- Does not thoroughly prepare us for boards with the course material nor do they teach towards the boards at all
2- Only gives us 2-3 weeks after MS2 to take boards (no study time...)
3- USMLE scores are barely national avg
4- Honors involves extra work or exams that is not relevant to the boards


We were told that if we want a good score, we should have already started studying...kind of freaked me out. Any ideas how to go about this? They said that if we wait til the end of MS2 we'll be in big trouble...and that the MS2 year is so busy you'll have a hard time studying during classes (a lot of essays and junk stuff that sucks time).

What is a realistic way to go about this? I'm not gonna read robbins over the summer or anything, lol trust me. Obviously, I've just finished M1 and don't have a good step 1 foundation so I'm not sure what my plan should be.

Honest to god doing your best in class is literally the best thing you can do. Get familiar with first aid, maybe review it a bit for class. Maybe do questions second semester ish. You'll be fine.

 

[clinicallabguy]

Basically, MS2's at my school warned us that our school
1- Does not thoroughly prepare us for boards with the course material nor do they teach towards the boards at all
2- Only gives us 2-3 weeks after MS2 to take boards (no study time...)
3- USMLE scores are barely national avg
4- Honors involves extra work or exams that is not relevant to the boards


We were told that if we want a good score, we should have already started studying...kind of freaked me out. Any ideas how to go about this? They said that if we wait til the end of MS2 we'll be in big trouble...and that the MS2 year is so busy you'll have a hard time studying during classes (a lot of essays and junk stuff that sucks time).

What is a realistic way to go about this? I'm not gonna read robbins over the summer or anything, lol trust me. Obviously, I've just finished M1 and don't have a good step 1 foundation so I'm not sure what my plan should be.

In terms of upperclassmen giving lowerclassmen advice, I've noticed a pattern at my school of the upperclassmen telling us what they wished they would have done. I'm sure that happens everywhere. I appreciate the advice, but often it is too idealistic and not at all realistic, which explains why they didn't do it in the first place. Honestly, how many of these MS2s who talked to you really studied hours a day for step 1 on top of studying for their coursework? I don't disagree that people who pull that off will be handsomely rewarded, but I couldn't do it. That's no reason for you not to do it, if you're driven. You will find that you know the best way that you work, even though it's perfectly normal to feel a little panicked about such a big test.

I was told by MS2s (at the time, now MS4s) that my school's curriculum was worthless for the boards. Now that I'm where they were at the time, I'm not sure that I agree. Unless your professors are teaching you culinary science during your cardiology block, I don't see how any class could be "totally worthless." It may be poorly organized and taught, but you're going to learn something from it. You know how to learn without somebody spoon-feeding you. That's why you're a medical student; otherwise you wouldn't have made it this far. So don't freak out. You'll figure it out.

The advice above is really good, too. Question banks are probably the best resources outside of your class material. They will give you a feel for what the boards will want you to take from your classes.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

What do you think about the step 1 Kaplan Video series?

Im not a good test taker. I'm a Kaplan junkie. With the Videos I got 90th percentile on both Step 1 and Step 2. And so, I highly recommend Kaplan videos.

BUT

They are a HUGE time commitment. I mean HUGE. Most people cant handle 20 questions a week with some First Aid reading (in my original post). It is unlikely that you will be able to handle watching the videos as well. For the select few who can hammer out 12 hours a day of REAL studying, 6 days a week, it might be an option. I would say that if you care about MS2 grades, it wont work, there's just too much to be done.

I took 6 weeks with videos AFTER completing MS2. So if you have a period of time dedicated to Step Studying and nothing else, Kaplan videos for sure. Please pay for them.

 

[justaregularmed]

In terms of upperclassmen giving lowerclassmen advice, I've noticed a pattern at my school of the upperclassmen telling us what they wished they would have done. I'm sure that happens everywhere. I appreciate the advice, but often it is too idealistic and not at all realistic, which explains why they didn't do it in the first place. Honestly, how many of these MS2s who talked to you really studied hours a day for step 1 on top of studying for their coursework? I don't disagree that people who pull that off will be handsomely rewarded, but I couldn't do it. That's no reason for you not to do it, if you're driven. You will find that you know the best way that you work, even though it's perfectly normal to feel a little panicked about such a big test.

I was told by MS2s (at the time, now MS4s) that my school's curriculum was worthless for the boards. Now that I'm where they were at the time, I'm not sure that I agree. Unless your professors are teaching you culinary science during your cardiology block, I don't see how any class could be "totally worthless." It may be poorly organized and taught, but you're going to learn something from it. You know how to learn without somebody spoon-feeding you. That's why you're a medical student; otherwise you wouldn't have made it this far. So don't freak out. You'll figure it out.

The advice above is really good, too. Question banks are probably the best resources outside of your class material. They will give you a feel for what the boards will want you to take from your classes.

I think the most important thing to realize about the above advice was the annotating first aid. First aid is the absolute bare minimum, it does not contain everything (as you will find out). Aside from practice thats the importance of your classes and questions banks (and RR etc).

 

[MilkmanAl]

You have to engage the question. It should be 10 minutes reading the question, reading the answer choices, and understanding both right and wrong answers. Then it should be another 10 minutes jotting down notes into First Aid (why Kaplan is better for early Step Prep).

I agree with the sentiment completely but couldn't disagree with the methodology more. Perhaps it's not meant literally in the sense that you mean to take time to thoroughly digest the info in front of you, but taking 20 minutes working on each question is just plain absurd. There is no way in hell even the most complete, painstaking analysis of each question should take you that long. That'd put you in the neighborhood of 700 hours for one pass through UWorld and FA. Not gonna cut it.

I'm also not at all a fan of Kaplan's questions. They're way too picky and are often written poorly. I prefer USMLERx, especially if your goal for the year-long question bank is to supplement FA effectively.

Outside of those two points, agreed all around. I'd also use Goljan throughout the year. It's a great resource.

 

[45408]

I agree with the sentiment completely but couldn't disagree with the methodology more. Perhaps it's not meant literally in the sense that you mean to take time to thoroughly digest the info in front of you, but taking 20 minutes working on each question is just plain absurd. There is no way in hell even the most complete, painstaking analysis of each question should take you that long. That'd put you in the neighborhood of 700 hours for one pass through UWorld and FA. Not gonna cut it.

Agreed. That was the one thing that jumped out at me. Definitely take the time to thoroughly understand the question and why you're picking the answer you're picking, but you have about one minute per question on the USMLE, and you really shouldn't need much more than that. Now, when you go back through and read the answers, if there's something that you didn't know, you should take the time to read it until you understand the reason why you got it wrong. If you got it right the first time and you knew why it was right, then don't bother spending more time on it. Just my opinion.

 

[lrkoehle]

I'm also not at all a fan of Kaplan's questions. They're way too picky and are often written poorly. I prefer USMLERx, especially if your goal for the year-long question bank is to supplement FA effectively.

Another benefit is that USMLERx is way cheaper ($329/12 mo vs $499/12mo). So is the general consensus that Kaplan or USMLERx during the year, and UWorld for more dedicated time right before the real thing?

 

[ProtossCarrier]

I personally used USMLErx and done about 1700 questions throughout second year. It was helpful.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Essays? What the hell school do you go to? I feel like the worst we have is a CBI presentation each week and the occasional H&P write up...Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but when I think essays it takes me back to freshman english in undergrad BSing garbage essays.

You guys don't write essays? We have to write a bioethics essay every week. We also do an H&P/SOAP note every week.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I agree with the sentiment completely but couldn't disagree with the methodology more. Perhaps it's not meant literally in the sense that you mean to take time to thoroughly digest the info in front of you, but taking 20 minutes working on each question is just plain absurd. There is no way in hell even the most complete, painstaking analysis of each question should take you that long. That'd put you in the neighborhood of 700 hours for one pass through UWorld and FA. Not gonna cut it.

I'm also not at all a fan of Kaplan's questions. They're way too picky and are often written poorly. I prefer USMLERx, especially if your goal for the year-long question bank is to supplement FA effectively.

Outside of those two points, agreed all around. I'd also use Goljan throughout the year. It's a great resource.

If people burn through USMLERx during M2, will they have enough questions with just UWorld for dedicated Step 1 studying? (I haven't looked into the lengths of the different question banks.)

 

[ProtossCarrier]

If people burn through USMLERx during M2, will they have enough questions with just UWorld for dedicated Step 1 studying? (I haven't looked into the lengths of the different question banks.)

You will. There are more than 3000 questions.

 

[MilkmanAl]

You will. There are more than 3000 questions.

Indeed. If you get through it, you can either start over, do questions you missed, or work on subjects you're weak in. Chances are you won't remember the questions, but even if you do, as long as you get them right for the right reasons - that is, you know why the right answers are right and the wrong ones are wrong - you're still getting the full benefit.

 

[Fleur de Me]

Indeed. If you get through it, you can either start over, do questions you missed, or work on subjects you're weak in. Chances are you won't remember the questions, but even if you do, as long as you get them right for the right reasons - that is, you know why the right answers are right and the wrong ones are wrong - you're still getting the full benefit.

So, with this in mind do you think it is better just to stick with UWorld the whole year and then be thorough about going through missed questions or doing it a second time?

Or do you vote for two Qbanks- one for the year, and then save UWorld for the "dedicated" 4-6 week STEP 1 studying at the end?

This is my current debate....

 

[lrkoehle]

You guys don't write essays? We have to write a bioethics essay every week. We also do an H&P/SOAP note every week.

No, we don't write essays, especially not every week either. That sounds like a major pain in the ass/waste of time. I know bioethics on my own. Example, you see a homeless guy passed out on the street, what do you do? Answer: cut out only one of his kidneys to sell on the black market...see the dilemma is that you'd get twice as much for both kidneys, but the guy would die. For those interested in harvesting organs to pay your tuition, the left kidney is preferred.

 

[chet]

What about Gunner Training?

I've been considering using this for a long-term study plan during M-2.

Anyone have personal experience with using GT exclusively?

 

[MilkmanAl]

So, with this in mind do you think it is better just to stick with UWorld the whole year and then be thorough about going through missed questions or doing it a second time?

Or do you vote for two Qbanks- one for the year, and then save UWorld for the "dedicated" 4-6 week STEP 1 studying at the end?

This is my current debate....

I still say do Rx for the year. you should easily have time to get through UW twice during your study period.

 

[GoBeers]

stupid question but when you guys say look over First Aid and do USMLE Rx / Kaplan questions throughout the 2nd year, do you mean doing subjects learned from previous blocks or doing the subject you're currently on?

And if done concurrently, do you just suck up the fact that you may or may have not yet learned the material either?

 

[lrkoehle]

I still say do Rx for the year. you should easily have time to get through UW twice during your study period.

Two full times through in 6 weeks? Damn. Is that assuming that our main plan of attack during that time would be like 200 questions in the morning, then the afternoon reviewing them, then the evening reviewing weak points?

stupid question but when you guys say look over First Aid and do USMLE Rx / Kaplan questions throughout the 2nd year, do you mean doing subjects learned from previous blocks or doing the subject you're currently on?

And if done concurrently, do you just suck up the fact that you may or may have not yet learned the material either?

Probably to start the year it would be best to not do randomized blocks, and instead have it focused on material covered first year or currently being covered. It will depend on your school's curriculum though. If you don't have pathology until second year, that may complicate things. My school is organ system based, so by the start of second year we will have covered more than half of the high yield material. This means I should be able to do a neuro block and expect that any question asked is one I should have seen the material for at some point.

Truthfully, it's probably best for us to just learn everything for second year before it starts, so we can do random blocks...🙄

 

[MilkmanAl]

Two full times through in 6 weeks? Damn. Is that assuming that our main plan of attack during that time would be like 200 questions in the morning, then the afternoon reviewing them, then the evening reviewing weak points?

I realize that I went way faster than most people, but I got through it 3 times plus a decent amount of Rx and had about a week to spare. It's very doable. I was running at about 5 tutor mode blocks per day.

Probably to start the year it would be best to not do randomized blocks, and instead have it focused on material covered first year or currently being covered.

Agree except that I'd ignore first year material until your dedicated Step 1 studying. All of the M1 material that doesn't get repeated during M2 is going to be a pure memorization sort of topic (assuming you have a reasonably standard curriculum), so don't even bother trying to refresh that during the year. Focus on your M2 topics, and do questions accordingly.

 

[deleted387928]

I'd like like to stress that doing well in your classes is priority #1 (provided that they're not terrible).

I learned some sections better than others in class - I'll always perform better on those sections on UW. It takes a lot of work in review books to make up for things I didn't learn well in class.

 

[thesauce]

Oh lord, is Kaplan still making their Qbank? Stay far, far away.

USMLERx during the MS2 year and USMLEWORLD closer to step 1 should do the trick.

 

[badasshairday]

Two full times through in 6 weeks? Damn. Is that assuming that our main plan of attack during that time would be like 200 questions in the morning, then the afternoon reviewing them, then the evening reviewing weak points?

Al is giving you guys good advice. With that said, everyone is a little different. My style is a lot slower. I went through UWORLD 1x in my study period, but I took really long to get through it. I spent a lot of time reading the right and wrong answer choices. Literally read all of the UWORLD explanations word for word. I would do read FA/Goljan/BrsPhys 6 hours a day, and spend another 6-8 hours with UWORLD. I would do 2 blocks of UWORLD on random/timed a day. One block takes one hour to complete, but to review everything took at least 2 hours for me, sometimes 3.

You kind of have to find what works for you. Some people like to go through qbanks fast, albeit less thoroughly, but do them multiple times for the repetition. Others like to do them slow, and thoroughly, at the expense of repetition.

 

[dienekes88]

On each of the pathophys blocks, I would read BRS Physio in the first couple days, try to breeze through relevant pharm/embryology/biochem/etc., read First Aid, and then finish it off with two runs of Goljan RR. Close to the end of the block, I would do half of the Kaplan Q's and all of the UWorld Q's. Pretty much did the same thing in condensed form in the last 5 weeks with a practice test every Friday.

The important thing is to come up with a plan and stick to it.

Repetition is king.

 

[MilkmanAl]

The important thing is to come up with a plan and stick to it.

I can't emphasize that statement enough. There's just way too much material to tackle without an organized, methodical approach. One of the huge benefits of doing questions and reviewing Goljan and FA throughout the year is that you get a sense of what your study pace is and can plan your Step 1 studying accordingly.

 

[Staradmiral]

Essays? WTF school do you go to, for real...

 

[lrkoehle]

You kind of have to find what works for you. Some people like to go through qbanks fast, albeit less thoroughly, but do them multiple times for the repetition. Others like to do them slow, and thoroughly, at the expense of repetition.

Thanks badasshair. I'm usually the kind of person who likes multiple passes through things to pick up little details I might miss on the first time through, so I'll probably shoot for a quicker pace. .

On each of the pathophys blocks, I would read BRS Physio in the first couple days, try to breeze through relevant pharm/embryology/biochem/etc., read First Aid, and then finish it off with two runs of Goljan RR. Close to the end of the block, I would do half of the Kaplan Q's and all of the UWorld Q's. Pretty much did the same thing in condensed form in the last 5 weeks with a practice test every Friday.

The important thing is to come up with a plan and stick to it.

Repetition is king.

I couldn't agree more. This is why have been trying to do some pathology review from first year stuff too (my school is organ system based), so that I will have reviewed things more frequently. I think if I could review everything like 5 times over before step-I, there would be no way I wouldn't destroy it, but that's not realistic, especially not in 6 weeks, so starting earlier seems smarter to get more times through.

I can't emphasize that statement enough. There's just way too much material to tackle without an organized, methodical approach. One of the huge benefits of doing questions and reviewing Goljan and FA throughout the year is that you get a sense of what your study pace is and can plan your Step 1 studying accordingly.

Yeah, this is part of the reason why I want to do it this way. I feel like it will give me a better idea of where I stand sooner so I can have the proper plan of attack ready to roll for the last 6 weeks.

I must say I really appreciate the realistic responses in this thread. I know everyone has different goals and desires for step-I, so starting early isn't for everyone, but its great to get some solid advice that isn't "read Cecil's, Robbins, and just focus on the minutiae in your classes."