USMLE Preparation!

[jabee_usm]

Hey Guys, If one wanted to study well in advance for the USMLE, what would you recommend? Step I? Step II? Step III? You guys who actually went through a step or steps, please give me feedback! Thanx.:D

[thecure4u]

Dude, slow down. I know you're anxious. We were all there once.

First, get into school. Once you're in school, buy a First Aid. This will be your bible. If you buy it before you get into school, it really won't do you much good. It's a review book. There's no point in reviewing something you haven't learned yet.

When you're studying for tests, use your first aid as part of your studying. Don't use it as your only study tool. It's not comprehensive. Some of the details that you'll need to pass your classes won't be in there. Focus on your class notes and texts if you like to read them. (I personally didn't). Make notes in it but don't write another book with your notes. In other words, don't over do it.

Just work hard when you get to school. Don't try to do too much extra until then.

[jabee_usm]

Thanx! This is not necessarily for me, it also for other students who might want to be prepared in advance!:cool::D;)

[islandthrift]

Thanx! This is not necessarily for me, it also for other students who might want to be prepared in advance!:cool::D;)

To anyone that REALLY wanted to prepare in advance, I would say take some classes in undergrad that are required in med school. Take a biochem class, take an anatomy class, take a micrbiology class, etc. Otherwise you're essentially attempting to learn a new language without any help before the first day of school! If you were talking about the best way to study, after basic sciences, before step 1 that would be a different story.

[x1433]

Step 1: First Aid was priceless. When I focused only on first aid my score jumped. For questions, Board Simulator Series is the toughest and best questions. Just don't get discouraged when your scores are 15 points below Q bank. Board Simulator Series questions were most representative of the actual step of any questions that I tried. (Q-Bank, Q-Book, USMLE-RX, and Board Simulator Series). The only problem with Board Simulator Series is a few questions are out of date because the series was last published in 1997 but the priniciples are the same.

Step 2: Haven't taken the exam yet but am finding the Kaplan videos to be very helpful. Will be taking it in a couple of months.

[thethom]

For step 1, kaplan lecture books are gold. Everything that was on my step 1, was in those books. And they're not that daunting either. First Aid is of course an adjunct.

Im studying for step 2 now (taking it in a month :-O) but using first aid, all the BRS's and kaplan lecture books (already watched all the videos).

ok back to studying..

[jabee_usm]

Step 1: First Aid was priceless. When I focused only on first aid my score jumped. For questions, Board Simulator Series is the toughest and best questions. Just don't get discouraged when your scores are 15 points below Q bank. Board Simulator Series questions were most representative of the actual step of any questions that I tried. (Q-Bank, Q-Book, USMLE-RX, and Board Simulator Series). The only problem with Board Simulator Series is a few questions are out of date because the series was last published in 1997 but the priniciples are the same.

Step 2: Haven't taken the exam yet but am finding the Kaplan videos to be very helpful. Will be taking it in a couple of months.
Thank you very much for that information!:D

[jabee_usm]

For step 1, kaplan lecture books are gold. Everything that was on my step 1, was in those books. And they're not that daunting either. First Aid is of course an adjunct.

Im studying for step 2 now (taking it in a month :-O) but using first aid, all the BRS's and kaplan lecture books (already watched all the videos).

ok back to studying..

Once again, great information!:D

[Almost Home]

Step 1: First Aid, memorize it. Also, get a boot leg copy of the Pass program from someone on the island. There are always copies of the program running around down there. Watch all the videos at least once.

Step 2CK: Kaplan videos (yes, I hate kaplan also). Watch them at least once (be prepared because there are around 120 hours of video). Then do all of the usmle world questions at least once (there are more than 2000 of them) Finally take the online comp exams to make sure you are ready.

Step 2CS: Get the first aid book, thumb through it for a couple hours. You will be good to go if you know how to do a basic write up and can speak fluent english.

[jabee_usm]

Step 1: First Aid, memorize it. Also, get a boot leg copy of the Pass program from someone on the island. There are always copies of the program running around down there. Watch all the videos at least once.

Step 2CK: Kaplan videos (yes, I hate kaplan also). Watch them at least once (be prepared because there are around 120 hours of video). Then do all of the usmle world questions at least once (there are more than 2000 of them) Finally take the online comp exams to make sure you are ready.

Step 2CS: Get the first aid book, thumb through it for a couple hours. You will be good to go if you know how to do a basic write up and can speak fluent english.

Thank you so much for that information! I wish there were more people on here that will just answer your question (s) without an attitude problem! Great information!:D

[Gator98MD]

The above recommendations are spot on. First aid while you are in school and kaplan/first aid for the usmle. good luck, it all goes so fast.