md2b
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I noticed a lot of people in different areas here asking for advice on how to prep for step I, and since I posted this idea under another thread I thought I might just list it as a topic for people to look at.
It is by no means THE ANSWER to anyone's problems preparing, it just happens to be the most logical method I can think of. I also know people who have used it and passed with very high scores. I don't claim to have invented the wheel, I just hope I can use it.
This approach boils down to using Pathology as the backbone in an attack on what I believe is 80% of USMLE content. I don't claim it covers everything, I just want to use my time effectively, and not try to memorize 15 or so textbooks. In all honesty if thats what it takes I am doomed to failure.
But, I do have hope....so here was my reply to another post on this forum:
I also know people who have written the exam....and this guy does nail it on the head.
1) Too many sources will not help you study, they will just keep you busy.
2) If you know the key words and key elements of all the diseases (Path), you have the step I in your pocket.
Why? Because Pathology is really not 1/3 of the exam, as the # of purely Path questions would indicate. The question will STILL be a second or most likely a third order question talking about a patient...what about that patient? Well something he/she came in to see a doctor about...to see if there IS a disease process going on.
Sure the question may be trying to ferret out what chromosomal abnormality is involved by describing symptoms, etc. Sure you may say, that is a genetics question.....and it is. But it is also a Pathology question if you think about it that way...we go over those same diseases in Path and look (quickly I realize) at the chromosomal defect.
If you look in the Underground Clinical Vignettes for pathology of that disease you will see that chromosomal defect there.
How about a Biochemistry question on the step I......lets think, how about something like G6PD def. Do you have to go study your Biochem book from cover to cover? Maybe not, because that same info will again be in the clinical vignettes under G6PD. There wont be any questions on the kreb's cycle, only "Pt John Doe is a 65 y/o male who..." and this is either pathology, or it is not. If it is not, send the patient home feeling better with a pat on his back.
3) What this guy is saying is that by studying Pathology to the exclusion of anything else is impossible....you WILL be seeing the genetic, embryologic, histologic, anatomical, biochemical, microbiological, immunological, and even epidemiological references to those disease processes.
With an occasional glance at other source material for when you just cant remember what part of the renal tubule does what, or at microbiology for details you've forgotten about a bug, and a HEALTHY dose of Pharm, you probably have 80% of board material licked. IF, and this is the BIG IF........you can really absorb 5 or so relevant facts about each of several hundred diseases. I forgot to mention, you still will have to practice many questions so you know how they are asked.
This was my personal plan before I saw this guy's post. It doesnt surprise me that someone wants to sell what is the most straight-forward way of studying for this thing I can think of, but you dont need to buy anything from him to do it.
Anyway, I am 4 months from finishing basic sciences, and 5 months from taking step I, so I'll let you know what happens....lol
Aron
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