Step 1 books?

[microphage]

I know it's a bit early(ok, too early) but should we bring down some Step 1 books to start studying?

[SA]

i finished basic science in april. we had to take, but not pass shelf exams, unlike you. people say that review books should be started with the class, to facilate recall i guess, when actually studying for step 1. I tried that and i never seemed to have enough time to do it all. but a dedicated person can do it.
having said that, your noses should be deeper into your coursework. performing well on step 1 is based on first learning material, then memorizing that material. I knew people who habitually did that in reverse, and it doesn't work. Most review books are slightly integrated and trying to memorize them before you have had all your classes will put you off track. for example, a second semester buys brs biochem and begins to study it over the break, or better yet, a first semester studies it while still in the class. They read over the section covering lipid metabolism and get lost in references to drugs, endocrinology, or some other hard study that they haven't been exposed to and the prof isn't going to test. If you wan't the benefit of having read those books while in the class, set real narrow goals and go easy. Skip all the stuff you haven't learned and review only what you have. once you finish fith semester they make alot more sense, and really serve their purpose as review books.
You may not need to do any of this unless you are weak in an area, but because passing is contingent on shelf performance, it is a real good idea.
FYI, high yield seems more integrated than brs, but they are both good.

[anencephalic]

SA...Thanks for the advice! I am sure that stuying material "out of context" can be confusing and potetitally detrimental. Best of luck to you in your clinicals! :D

Jeff, I bought a series of nine "Board Review Series" books off of amazon.com after talking with many stateside US med students as well as on the advice from a few AUC students...it may be early in the game, but that ol' boy scout voice in the back o' my head says "Be Prepared"! (my den leader would be proud... :twisted: )

Aloha,

[AUCMD2006]

if you look at the review books without knowing the material more or less they don't really mekae sense. at the same time you need the style of questions in the review books to prepare you for it so what i gathered from upper div is to learn the class material first then look at the review questions in those sections some people do it daily some do it oin the weekend. i