zizo_mb
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Topics: 8
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I'll try to write here some tips for the study of step 1 as much as I can, like the best books, different ways of study, sources of mcqs & how to get the most benefit of them......etc
Best books and my comments in brief;
1.Pathology----------Board Review Series ( really great book)
2.Physiology----------Board Review Series ( well, I didn't like it, but it is still better than Kaplan)
3.Microbiology--------Made Ridiculously Simple ( an amazing book )
4.Immunology---------Kaplan or High yield (both r good , I did it from high yield and I recommend it )
5.Biochemistry--------Kaplan ( really good one.....N.B.: avoid Board Review Series, it is an awful book.
6.Pharmacology------- they say Kaplan or Lippincott ( I only did it from the First Aid and I am doing well, so I recommend do it directly from the First Aid).
7.Neuroanatomy------high yield series ( great book though its too big but the subject is high yield, so give it your time and effort )
8.Anatomy-------- High yield or Kaplan ( but I recommend to do it directly from First Aid, beside a lot of mcqs, this is much better that reading a whole text book. )
9.Embryology------- Kaplan or high yield ( don't ever waste your time in these silly books, First Aid and the few mcqs you will find in the USMLEWORLD and kaplan q-bank are more than enough )
10.Behavioral science--------High yield series ( it is really great book, but whether u study this subject or no, you will really suffer from it in the exam )
11.Biostatistics---------Kaplan
Regarding the revision FIRST AID is the king, no doubt .
Well, in the next post, I will tell you the best way in studying these books (from my point of view) together with First Aid and solving mcqs.
hope u get benefit from what I said and wait for more...
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| zizo_mb
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welcome back to my tips
In the previous post I wrote about the best books and in this one isA I'll tell you the best way to study them (from my point of view)
After choosing your book for each subject , Start reading the first book ( no book should take more than 3 weeks whatsoever), this reading is neither memorizing nor 2erayet garayed, try to concentrate to understand and know the general principles and mechanisms.
After finishing this reading, do the same subject form the First Aid ( no more than 3-5 days ) this time try to memorize but not so much.
After finishing the First Aid, Solve a block or two from the kaplan qbook or qbank.
Then shift to the following subject and do the same till you finish all subjects.
the status now is that u did the textbooks once, the first aid once and solved some mcqs.
Now it is time for the second reading which should be from the first aid apart of some topics (topics and not subjects) that you might need to read again from the textbook. In this reading you will try to memorize much more and will do also the same by solving 1 or 2 blocks after each subject.
This reading is the second most important part of your preparation for the exam so give it your effort and time (3-4 weeks are perfect BUT NO MORE )
After this, it is time for the most important part of your preparation, which is solving the USMLEWORLD Q-bank, but how will you solve it to get its max. benefit?
This is what I am gonig to speak about in the next post ,so wait for it...
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| zizo_mb
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back to my tips;
Here we reached the most important part in step1 exam preparation, which is solving the USMLEWORLD Q-bank.
The bank is around 2000 questions, try to do 100 questions per day or at least 75 questions.
The best way to get benefit from this bank is; After solving a block, you gonna read the explanations. Try when reading the explanation of each question to open its topic in the First Aid and read it. This is really a very good way to consolidate the knowledge in your mind. You will find your self after finishing several blocks almost opened and revised most of the First Aid and by the end of the bank, you will find that you have revised the First Aid several times and most of the important informations are already in your mind or at least you can reach it by proper thinking and exclusion of the distractors.
This is the ultimate way to benefit from this great q-bank.
You will find many new informations that is not found in the First Aid. You will have to add it to the first aid or a notebook for this BUT BE CAREFUL not to add every single information you find, Just add the informations you think them high yield or related to important topics as HIV, Alzheimer,....etc
By this you are ready now to ace this tough step and get high score inshaAllah
In next post i'll answer some inquires concerning listening to the dvds and goljan tapes. Are they important ?, Do they make a difference ?,.....etc , so wait for it.
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| zizo_mb
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Again, I say it; what i am going to say is my personal opinion.
I am not the one who like hearing audios in general , I prefer reading than listening and this of course affect my opinion in this topic.
I didn't hear Kaplan dvds, and I didn't feel defective at any point of my study even in the bio and behavioral. So I don't recommed them at all, unless you got bored from reading so you changed your way by listening to the dvds.....It is sometime entertaining and useful.
Concerning Goljan tapes , well, I heard them and yes they are nice and useful but not that important that others show , and that if you missed them you wont do well in the exam, absolutely no. If you studied well form the BRS then FirstAid and did the USMLEWORLD you will do great even if you didn't listen to goljan lectures.
So end of discussion , they are helpful but not a must and if u didn't do them u still have the chance to understand the subjects and do well in the exam.
The next post I will speak about what to do in the last week before the exam so what for my tips...
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| zizo_mb
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Topics: 8
Posts: 42
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Here are the things you should do in the week before the exam;
1.Revise the First Aid.
2.Watch pathology & micro slides (Goljan slides and First Aid slides are good).
3.Watch CTs as much as you can, they are very high yield ( from Kaplan, high yield gross anatomy and neuroanatomy).
4.Read the Goljan 36 high yield pages.
5.Look for the persons you did harm them and apologize for them (especially your parents )
Try to be calm and sleep well the night before the exam.
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| shohreh
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 312
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thanks a lot zizo_mb
can you give me a link that i can find these slides Watch pathology & micro slides (Goljan slides and First Aid slides are good)?
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| zizo_mb
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 42
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You will find in this link Goljan audios, slides and notes. Enjoy it 
http://dryahya.com/ArabIMGs/showthread.php?t=26
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| Royaldoc99
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 135
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Thanks Zizo.....I was not able to open the site.....it asks for login info.....
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| shohreh
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 312
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thanks zizo....
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| zizo_mb
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 42
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Royaldoc99, register in the forum first to be able to login.
By the way I got today my score report , Thanks to GOD, I got 97
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| shohreh
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Topics: 17
Posts: 312
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congratttssssssssssss...
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| shohreh
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 312
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zizo the file for goljan slides are not valid..would you please check it for me?
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| zizo_mb
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 42
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I'll fix it today or tomorrow max.
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| mona1976
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 119
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congratulations zizo.. well i tried the link but that does nt work for me so pls fix it
thanks
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| Kalyann
Forum Elite
Topics: 4
Posts: 530
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http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5JM7N081
This is the link
And it works.
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| zizo_mb
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 42
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Well, I fixed it and it works now
http://www.mediafire.com/?dgowmwul00n
enjoy it 
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| doctor123
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 251
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Hai Everybody
Ihave chosen following books for myself
The Great Pathology ---- Goljan Rapid Review 2nd edition
All in all Phhysiology---- BRS + BRS cases and problems
Mr. Volatile Pharmacology--- USMLE Road Map Pharmacology 2nd edition + Charts & Qs from Katzung Review + Pharm Cards by Conrad Fishcer
Biochemistry--- Rapid Review 2nd edition by Goljan
Genetics ---- USMLE Road Map Genetics
Microbiiology & Immunology --- Rapid Review 2nd Edition.
Gross Anatomy-- USMLE Road Map 2nd Edition
NeuroAnatomy-- USMLE Road Map 2nd Edition
Histology & Cell Biology-~ Rapid Review 2nd Edition or USMLE Road Map Histology.
Embryology --- High Yield
Behaviour Science -- High Yield Brain and Behaviour
Rest from Kapan Medessentials
wish me best of luck
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| Royaldoc99
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 135
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was BRS enough for Pathology zizo?
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| zizo_mb
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 42
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Well, It is more than enough, actually you wont believe me if I told you that the First Aid is enough
Even goljan tapes I heard didn't benefit me alot. It did benefit me but not that much.
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| doctor123
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@Royaldoc99
BRS is enough as i have seen others scoring well after studying BRS Pathology but i started Pathology from Goljan and its a big book and i am already half way through Goljan so no benefit in rereading BRS Path ( shorter source )
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