Inefficiency. I went out too much so I decided to move out to the boondocks.
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if you guys were interested, I just finished posting some of my USMLE study stuff under the falcon vs. kaplan thread. I wound up with a 257/99 using a lot of the same things that basurpan did. It's good advice if you try to get a certain amount done each day. You'll have plenty of time. I think one of the key things is questions, questions, questions...and not just the questions, read the answers too!!! I only did USMLE World on tutorial mode, learned the most that way. My book list is on the other posting too, I actually hated the Micro Made Ridiculously Easy book and preferred the Rapid Review for Micro, but remember, it's personal preference, use the books that you think will be best for you. Good luck on Step I!!

oh, and on my exam, the big subject was PATH!! So, pay attention in 4th term... I had hardly any straight physio questions, mainly pathophys, only had 3 stats questions, around 30 micro questions, probably 45 or so pharm. But, all in all, every person I've talked to who took the exam in the past few months has had different experiences.

K. girl....257/99 - thats freakin awesome...congrats on getting whatever residency your heart desires...I really like your approach to the exam...I read your piece of advice on Kaplan vs. Falcon and I was planning on heading in the same direction....my only hang up was which books to use, but my core is FA, UWorld, Goljan Path, and BRS/RR Physio...got some others too - lots from the RR series (eg. biochem and micro) to have as references to fill in some gaps with FA....out of curiosity, what did you feel was the best source for molecular biochem? I'm earing from numerous students who took the exam recently that molecular bio has been a "new" topic that has been more heavily tested as of late since all the latest research for cancer is coming from that field....In terms of anatomy and histo, how did you approach those subjects? Again, I bought the RR for both of them to have as quick references...Besides completing UWorld and FA and using them as your two main sources, did you have time to actually read any other books cover to cover? Since I am so far removed foem Biochem and the fact that it was never easy for me, that is my weakest subject....is it worth killing a whole book on it, or do you feel FA mixed with another book as reference will suffice? Thanks for your advice and congrats again on your score

thanks, for physio I used the BRS as a quick read (that's one of my stronger subjects so I didn't need too much past that), read the BRS for BChem twice through as that's my weakest subject too! I felt that the BRS plus FA (memorize the glycogen storage disease page and all of your cancer markers) plus USMLE World was more than enough for the exam. I did have a bit of molecular on the test, but nothing that I didn't see concept-wise off of USMLEW and the NBME exams. The molecular bio doesn't need to be memorized or really studied for, you've seen it all in the genetics and in bchem courses, and the questions I encountered you just needed to work through using logic. One piece of advice is DON'T buy the high-yield cell and molecular bio book by Dudek (however, his embryo one is really good), it's so full of mistakes you won't catch them all, you'll find all that you need on USMLEW. Histo I didn't really study for, I looked at it in conjunction with path, lets just say that it's not a very high yield topic, not one question that was pure histology on my exam. I didn't buy a specific book for that. Used the RR Anatomy, it's a quick read and about all you'll need, that's not very high yield either, just know your nerves in your arms and legs and what happens when they get injured and your lymphatic flow. That being said, the High-Yield Neuroanatomy is an awesome book, that one I definitely recommend, it'll get you through every single neuro based question on the exam. So, don't worry too much about the bchem, don't kill yourself memorizing every step of every pathway, if you don't like it that much, go high-yield with the enzymes and learn by doing USMLEW. I actually hated bchem and micro when I was in Grenada but as soon as I started studying for them on my own, I found that they became fairly interesting, that might happen to you too! Hope that helps!

This thread is golden. Thanks to those that went before.

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IF YOU READ SOMETHING THAT OFFENDS YOU, PUT ON YOUR BEST DRESS AND QUIT GAGGING EVERYBODY UNDER A VAGUE DOCUMENT.

I attempted to make myself a step 1 study schedule today for the summer....no easy trick...For those of you who have taken it and have sgudied are your own, how did you go about allocating a specific amount of time towards the various subjects/body systems? For example, I can't figure out whether I'll need 4 days to get through neuro (including UWorld Q's from that area), or 6 days. I'm in a the same bind for just about every subject area....no clue how much time to put into it all....I would really appreciate if any of you could tell me how you came up with the amt. of days spent on a given subject? Did you do it by subjective strengths/weaknesses in that area, or by how heavily it is most likely to be tested (by following the question allocations on Uworld)? Thanks for the advice.

i first did everything by subj and used kaplan qbook for each subject test qs...after than then i went to UW and did all timed random 50qs block

as far as how much to spend on each...that will vary for each person and depends on what is your strong and weak areas.

it is nice to use the kaplan qbook, as it does test how much you have learned and remember for each subj, you can use that as a guide. and the qbook doesnt cost that much, probably around $40?

I actually found it very difficult to set a schedule before I started studying, it's difficult to know how much time to allot to a subject until you actually start going through your material. I basically broke it down into the separate subject areas, bought myself the books that I liked and took the time I needed to read through them. A big problem with that may be if you tend to buy too many books, keep it down to one book per subject outside of FA if you can, that should be all you need.

As far as scheduling time based on how heavily a subject is to be tested, that could backfire on you. After hearing from a lot of my friends, it seems that each of our exams emphasized different areas. Try not to skip anything, at least go over the FA in full.

Some people spread the questions out over their studying, doing questions immediately after they are done reviewing the subject. However, I spent two weeks after I was done the subjects doing the USMLE World questions on tutorial mode and took extra notes in my FA. Never did the USMLEW on timed b/c I liked learning from the explanations, do it how you learn the best. After that, I spent the next two weeks reviewing my FA and notes, especially in my weak areas, did the timed NBME exams (three of them) and went over all of the questions I got wrong on USMLEW initially. I can't comment on the Kaplan QBook b/c I never used it, but if you're looking to only buy one question bank and save some money, I personally recommend USMLEW. I wasn't too impressed with the QBank. I guess the only other major question book I used was the Review of Robbins, they are more difficult than what you will see on Step I and the explanations are in-depth.

So, in a nutshell, if you put together a schedule now, be flexible with it. Be prepared to change everything around once you get started studying. If you feel you need longer on a subject, take the time, but, if you feel you're strong on something, go through it fast and move on. Also, if you want a schedule that has already been set up, check out The Rumors Were True, a great blog with tips for the USMLE. Good luck with the scheduling!

Once again, thanks very much for your great advice - WHen it's all said and done, I definitely will have taken more than a piece or two of your words of wisdom and incorporate it into my studying. My biggest hang-up at this point with my scheduling is probably trying to tone down my propensity to read "everything", which I am aware of is NOT the approach one should to take to this exam. I suppose that I will attempt to limit myself to FA and UWorld as my 2 main sources, and have a few other books (GOljan path and biochem...) to fill in the gaps when a more complete explanation is needed. I will figure it all out with time though...hopefully in the next 2 weeks...thanks again