Best USMLE review book?

Kaplan, Princeton....?

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Why you all up in the kool-aid and don't know the flavor..?

Answer: It depends.

A staple that everyone should own is First Aid for Step 1. The book doesn't go into details, but you should know everything inside of it before taking the step 1 since it is all high yield. Supplement your studies with other materials; diversity is key.

The kaplan set is probably one of the best overall study tools, but it is weak in certain subjects and over emphasizes in other areas. For example, pathology--the most important subject for step 1--is terrible in Kaplan. I would buy Pathology review by Goljan and listen to his audio before looking at Kaplan.

I don't know much about the Princeton review other than most people I know don't use it.

BRS for physiology is awesome. I also suggest Ridiculously Simple for Microbiology.

I don't know what semester you are studying, so I can't give you the best advice, because studying for the step 1 is really situation dependant. Concentrate on your weak areas and study hard the subjects you are taking at that time. If your a just beginging Medical School look at First Aid from the begining. It will serve as a refresher and won't be overwhelming. Also, do questions. Nothing is more important as you approach your test date. Hundreds and thousands of questions. Quality of the questions you do is just as important as the quantity. Start doing kaplan like questions from semester one, so when test time comes, you have seen all the material asked in different ways. Rapid review also makes good questions.

Let me know if you have specific questions.

So it seems the top 3 most reccomended books are:

1. First Aid for step 1
2. BRS anatomy
3.BRS physiology


are there any other must have books?

and are the reccomended USMLE road map the same as the BRS series books?

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Maverik

---99--- 99---- 99---- 99 whisper pectoriloquy OR magic board score predictor?? hmm

~Last of the bus Drivers~
SABA Meds - MAY 2006

The kaplan review series is good, starting in 2nd semester (physio, behavioral sciences). BRS is good all the time. Some 5th semester students are using the 'crush the boards' series. The Question Bank is also used.

First aid is a generalized, basic review...I'd hate to rely on it as the only review, but I think it offers a good idea of some of the types of questions

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"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

--Theodore Roosevelt

Hi Everyone,
I start in September and feeling anxious about books...

are there any companies that have free shipping and handling (i.e. if we spend above a certain amount)?

Thanks so much

University books online has free shipping 'windows' to Saba. Otherwise, their price starts at $35 for the first book, and goes up.

__________________
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

--Theodore Roosevelt

Hey
check it out. it says free shipping to saba if you order between march20 and april 3...

http://www.universitybooksonline.com/SABA/

anyone know if there's a catch to this?
heh heh heh cynical eh?

No catch, the books are at list price though. Shipping goes up quite a bit outside of the window.

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"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

--Theodore Roosevelt

so is the free shipping deal worth the list price that they charge?
(i.e. is it better to go elsewhere and pay the shipping, while getting a discount on the book price itself?)
thanks

There are numerous people willing to sell books on the island so you don't have to pay the high cost of new books (which aren't at all necessary-used are fine). Check out the Classified section for posts or contact an upper classman on the boards to ask about someone who might be selling their stuff.

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IHMS,

omega's