Thread: Preference for USMLE Step 1: KAPLAN 8 Vol. Series OR 4 Vol. at home KAPLAN study kit?

If I were to get my hands on either the 8 Volume KAPLAN USMPLE Step 1 set that comes with the class or the Home Study set that you can buy on the KAPLAN website which one should I go for? Also, is there a difference between First Aid from year to year? Thanks guys! See you in AUGUST!!

Most of my buddies from college are in their 2nd year of med school and are preparing to write the board this coming June. Most of them follow a 6 to 9 weeks reviewing schedule.

Their recommendation is to start early.
That is, learn the matterials from classes and supplement your study w/ First Aid. Also, get BRS for patho and physio. Qbank is a must. Kaplan is a waste when you have 2 years to study for this anyway.

Here is a schedule they sent to me. Hope this help.

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click link above to get 6-weeks schedule

I have both sets of notes you are talking about. Both have a ton of details to memorize (and the 4 book set is even supposed to be a little more condensed). I havent taken USMLE step 1 yet, I do on the 31st of March. I have completely given up on Kaplan at this point and am going to hit First Aid hard. Kaplan's material is geared around their classes where First Aid gives you the facts you want to know. If you have time, Kaplan is fine. If you're running out of time like me, First Aid seems to be the quickest.

And how anyone can study for Step I while in med school is beyond me. When you are preparing for a class exam, step I is the least of your worries at that time.

Yeah, I always had great plans to do some Step I prep during the term but barely even opened First Aid. I was just too busy trying to stay on top of whatever material we were learning and playing catch-up way too often for my liking.

But some can handle it and are able to do the above e.g. I knew people who would be doing practice Qs for Step I from at least 4th term. Good idea if you can but I, unfortunately, could not.

I got the Kaplan course books to follow along with the bootlegged videos from a few years back. I don't know what the home study ones would be like but I think that the course books are not good enough on their own i.e. I wouldn't have found them as useful without the vids.

I tried to follow along in FA as I went along and then, once I was finished the Kaplan vids/books, have just been hitting FA over and over again while doing practice Qs.

Originally Posted by Dr.Masr

I have both sets of notes you are talking about. Both have a ton of details to memorize (and the 4 book set is even supposed to be a little more condensed). I havent taken USMLE step 1 yet, I do on the 31st of March. I have completely given up on Kaplan at this point and am going to hit First Aid hard. Kaplan's material is geared around their classes where First Aid gives you the facts you want to know. If you have time, Kaplan is fine. If you're running out of time like me, First Aid seems to be the quickest.

And how anyone can study for Step I while in med school is beyond me. When you are preparing for a class exam, step I is the least of your worries at that time.

the BEST study you can do for step I is study the material presented to you over the 2 years of basics so you know it and UNDERSTAND it COLD!!!! No cramming for the exam, no just memorizing facts, understand why things work the way they do.

Then spend the 5-8 weeks REVIEWING the material you learned- whether that be using Kaplan, BRS, Hi-Yield, or a combo of them (Personally used Kaplan(books and Qbank) and Hi-Yield for weeks 2-12, week 1 was quick read of FA, Week 12 FA and qbank with NBME tests periodically)( weeks 1-6 were Kaplan class).

You cannot learn everything new (or even 50% new if you were only half paying attention in class) in a few weeks - you may PASS step I, but don't think you can excel (220+) if you cram for step I as well.

Thanks guys for all the advice. SGU people rock!

Just return the favor to the others that will be applying..

haha i was just thinking about that. will do!