yoga
usmlelogy professor
Topics: 73
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i am developing my own strategy for preparing for step1 but i still need ur help please share what u think & tell if iam missing any thing ok?
my situation: international medical student willing to take it after my preclinical phase (means while in medscool)
my prep period almost 8 weeks
review books & other resources
physiology: BRS
pathology: BRS
biochem: lippincott
pharma: lipincott & katzung (depends on topic)
micro: clinical micro made ridicoulsly simple
immuno: chapters of immun in Levinson
cell/molecular bio: HY
gross anatomy, embryo,histo: HY
behavioral science: this one is dilemma for me believe or not i dont know what exactly this is all about ..i have been toght epidemiology, statistics, doctor-pateint relationship briefly & almost thats it so i have to but hard effort for this one ..do u think BRS will be sufficient for BS
& of course first aid
i actually have all the books above but recently i got kaplan lecture notes & they seem to be very good so i still not decided between reading kaplan or the above review books?
what do think should i read from kaplan & what should i read from specific review book
i will subscripe 2 kaplan Q bank
I will take NBME exams
I am aiming for a score above 90
could please give me ur reflection about my strategy that i explained please any advise will be appreciated
i dont know how many hour i am willing to study per day but i will do mcq every evening for at least 2 hours
the bottom line: i am inetresting in knowing what do u think about my prep plan & is there any thing to add or cancel? any tips ? thanx
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| ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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well i guess u hv read my step 1 experieince ..so tht is what i did for my studies
my advice to u...dont miss kaplan course...do it
if u want to do the other books (coz may b u hv just read them and so ur comfortable with them)
then do them , but do not leave kaplan...keep kaplan as ur main course n other books for reference..
because the other bigger books may seem to contain much more info n u might feel tht kaplan isnt enuff....but for the step 1...whtever u need is given in kaplan
once exception ,..is patho...do BRS or goljan for patho (i did BRS)
n in anatomy u may need to look at atlas or histo slides etc n may b actions, nerver supply of upper limb n lower limb muscles...
the bottom line is....if u want a good score then plz do not ignore the kaplan books...
hope this helps
n pray for me as i m now studying for my step 2....with my 4 month old 
take care
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 871
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I think you should do Kaplan. I used Kaplan and First Aid almost exclusively. I did quite well. You will think Kaplan is not enough, but they have it down to a science. They know exactly what to put in and what will be asked. Have faith in them and trust them. Use the NBME to see how you are coming along. It really does reflect your real score. Hard work and good material will see yo through this exam. It can be done.
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,123
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Agree with retroviridae,
But I suggest to add HY if you have time.
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| guest007
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 106
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Hi,
the first step will be cocreting ur determination to succeed.Next will be the books(i used kaplan,Hy,BRS and robins pathology,kaplan and hy for behaviourial sciences.My sincere suggestion is if u have time ,take the test only when u are realy confident specialy with the pathology part.For people still in medical school,i believe pathology will be real nut to crack.u will surely do good in anatomy,biochem and physiology.study hard for step1 as that should also lead u to top the school coincidentaly(thts posible).If u r the topper,and choose to enter tht info in ur CV.iT WILL HELP U IN GETING A GOOD RESIDENCY PROGRAM TOO.Take care.good luck.
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| Jinx
Forum Elite
Topics: 17
Posts: 316
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Ur material seems ideal--im not too sure 2 weeks is enough tho...since ur aiming for 90's, id say give it a real good effort for atleast a month or so
best of luck
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
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your resources are good but i join others in saying that you should make kaplan your main sources and the others as references.
it may be a bit tough sitting the exam without clinical exposure cos teh exam is so clinically oriented so i would add the underground clinical vignettes to your list of books. it will make you familiar with TYPICAL pt presentation.
time wise, 8weeks should be adequate wiht dedicated studying.
GL
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| yoga
usmlelogy professor
Topics: 73
Posts: 649
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thank u all
i will stick to kaplan but i heared about kaplan home study programme is it better than the lecture notes?
i started with pharma from kaplan lecture notes & it is really amazing
about the clinical vignette i have bonus  i am used to such questions & found them easier than other direct questions because i have familarity with clinical textbooks=>davidson, cecil, kumar...
in my medschools most of the exams Qs are CBQ => case based questions
but thanx tolito for reminding me of this, i will refer to underground clinical vignette as i need
i still feeling lost when it comes to behavioral science 
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| yoga
usmlelogy professor
Topics: 73
Posts: 649
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guest007 wrote:
Hi,
.My sincere suggestion is if u have time ,take the test only when u are realy confident
what u said really made me think deeply because if i felt not prepared enough i cant reschedule my exam because i wont have time i am starting my rotations after the intended day directly this is really scary i am starting to freak out
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| yoga
usmlelogy professor
Topics: 73
Posts: 649
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Jinx wrote:Ur material seems ideal--im not too sure 2 weeks is enough tho...since ur aiming for 90's, id say give it a real good effort for atleast a month or so best of luck
i said my prep is 8weeks=>2 months =>how about that?
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| dim.zam
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 6
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Hi,
What's BRS and HY?
What year edition of FA are you using?
Sorry for stupid questions but i'm just starting...
Thanks
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| AngelT
Forum Senior
Topics: 33
Posts: 111
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Is it enough to study Kaplan Lectures Notes just once?
I will not get time to read it again.. ; (
I intend to memorize FA after first read of Kaplan and do Qbank/Qbook/NBME.
I want score >90, but I am worried about the time..
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