Medical School

[Kappamd]

We are systems based, also blocks (so 4 weeks for pulm, 5 for cardio, etc.). I personally hate systems based, as it separates out the anatomy from the physiology from the pathology. Then, you get to Step 1 and have to integrate everything, so it definitely takes more of a shift in mindset.

I'm going to first give you the whole "well, really you should be studying throughout the year as you learn the course material." Riiiiiight. (Ok, maybe to some extent, because I did follow along in First Aid as we went through the systems).

Now, I'm going to tell you that I realistically REALLY started studying (as in starting committing First Aid to memory, doing UWorld) the day after we took the basic sciences NBME on our last day of M2. I studied for five weeks and did well. I don't think I could have studied any longer than that; I was starting to feel burnt out that last week and ending up taking the last couple days off from studying to rest.

And if anyone tells you that you need anything other than First Aid and Uworld (and maybe BRS phys depending on your level of comfort with phys), they are lying.

[AOII Angel]

I thought everyone had switched to systems. I will withhold my opinion.

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by Kappamd

We are systems based, also blocks (so 4 weeks for pulm, 5 for cardio, etc.). I personally hate systems based, as it separates out the anatomy from the physiology from the pathology. Then, you get to Step 1 and have to integrate everything, so it definitely takes more of a shift in mindset.

I'm going to first give you the whole "well, really you should be studying throughout the year as you learn the course material." Riiiiiight. (Ok, maybe to some extent, because I did follow along in First Aid as we went through the systems).

Now, I'm going to tell you that I realistically REALLY started studying (as in starting committing First Aid to memory, doing UWorld) the day after we took the basic sciences NBME on our last day of M2. I studied for five weeks and did well. I don't think I could have studied any longer than that; I was starting to feel burnt out that last week and ending up taking the last couple days off from studying to rest.

And if anyone tells you that you need anything other than First Aid and Uworld (and maybe BRS phys depending on your level of comfort with phys), they are lying.

Ok. That's exactly what I'm doing. I feel much better.

What's UWorld? I have BRS (I was a big fan of the practice tests first year) but I'm getting the feeling they aren't too terribly helpful for Step 1.

[Kappamd]

Originally Posted by AOEforme

Ok. That's exactly what I'm doing. I feel much better.

What's UWorld? I have BRS (I was a big fan of the practice tests first year) but I'm getting the feeling they aren't too terribly helpful for Step 1.

Question bank. http://www.usmleworld.com/

You NEED to do these questions. There are 2000, and I went through the whole bank twice. The questions are modeled from actual USMLE questions, and IMO, are actually more difficult than the real thing. Also, the interface is the same as on the actual test. Go through the questions, and read the explanations THOROUGHLY. I honestly think I learned just as much from UWorld as I did from First Aid. Plus, I had probably a dozen questions on the actual test that were nearly identical to the ones in the test bank.

If your school is anything like mine, people will be coming in all year trying to sell you one question bank or another (especially Kaplan). UWorld is the best.

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by Kappamd

Question bank. http://www.usmleworld.com/

You NEED to do these questions. There are 2000, and I went through the whole bank twice. The questions are modeled from actual USMLE questions, and IMO, are actually more difficult than the real thing. Also, the interface is the same as on the actual test. Go through the questions, and read the explanations THOROUGHLY. I honestly think I learned just as much from UWorld as I did from First Aid. Plus, I had probably a dozen questions on the actual test that were nearly identical to the ones in the test bank.

If your school is anything like mine, people will be coming in all year trying to sell you one question bank or another (especially Kaplan). UWorld is the best.

Awesome! Thank you so much!