hey everyone
can i get an honest response from people who have taken step 1?? I am going into MS2 in a few weeks. I didn’t get as much studying done as I had originally planned. How long in advance did you really review material for step 1??
thanks a lot

Anonymous User - 18 July 2008 04:52 PM

hey everyone
can i get an honest response from people who have taken step 1?? I am going into MS2 in a few weeks. I didn’t get as much studying done as I had originally planned. How long in advance did you really review material for step 1??
thanks a lot

The best way to rock the boards is to work hard the first two years.  You’ve already fucked that up, so work extra hard during second year.  And it is NEVER too early to study for Step 1.  Don’t listen to the chodes and dipshits who tell you otherwise; Step 1 covers most everything a just-finished-with-second-year medical student should know. 

Now make it happen, mother fucker!

Anonymous User - 18 July 2008 09:10 PM

Anonymous User - 18 July 2008 04:52 PM

hey everyone
can i get an honest response from people who have taken step 1?? I am going into MS2 in a few weeks. I didn’t get as much studying done as I had originally planned. How long in advance did you really review material for step 1??
thanks a lot

The best way to rock the boards is to work hard the first two years.  You’ve already fucked that up, so work extra hard during second year.  And it is NEVER too early to study for Step 1.  Don’t listen to the chodes and dipshits who tell you otherwise; Step 1 covers most everything a just-finished-with-second-year medical student should know. 

Now make it happen, mother fucker!

hey
thanks a lot for the response. I appreciate it. I didn’t fuck up working hard though (in classes) I honored everything this past year (well above the honor cut off) so I did my work there (of course you can always work harder though, I know that). I just was/am a little pissed at myself because I only casually reviewed a few things this summer (been kind of blah!). I agree with you, and I hate when people bitch at you for wanting to study (meanwhile they are the ones secretly doing it). Hopefully I can do as well 2nd year.
thanks. any more advice send it my way

I think the best thing you can do is work hard this year.  Don’t worry about not studying much this summer, you will forget most of the things that need to be memorized by the end of the year anyway, and you’ll still remember the stuff that you need to understand even without the studying.  Just work your ass off this year and focus on what you’re doing. 

Books:  When you study for the class, also use the the sources you plan on using for step 1.  You can get on the SDN forums and see what books people recommend.  I won’t get into an entire book list, but I strongly recommend using Rapid Review Path (by Goljin), Micro Made Simple, BRS Physiology.  Take notes on interesting things into these sources because your courses will go in more depth than these books offer (but don’t go crazy).  I never found a good source for Pharm and FA does a good job with pharm.  You must know EVERYTHING in First Aid. 

Qbanks: I got both Kaplan Qbank and USMLEworld and liked USMLEworld better (I stopped using Kaplan).  Make sure you get through 1 qbank by the time you take your test, but don’t waste your questions too early in your studying, I wouldn’t start them until you are done with 2nd year (or maybe start them to help you with your last shelf exam).  The NBME practice exams were pretty good at predicting my score and they have some of the same pictures and similar questions that I saw on my Step 1.  They are also a pretty good score predictor too.  Make sure that the last one you take is 3 or 4 days before your step 1 (because you need to have enough time to adjust your studying if you have weaknesses and if you take it the day before and you aren’t happy it will only freak you out).

Sleep:  Study the day before the exam.  Cram things that need to be crammed (The signalling pathways for different hormones, characteristic translocations and oncogenes, enzyme regulators, ect..) DO NOT STAY UP LATE.  So much of the test is endurance, consistancy, and not making stupid mistakes (I made several I am still kicking myself about).  Drink a couple beers if you have to but don’t get drunk. 

This is what I did, and I ended up with a 265 (which is the exact score the 2 NBME’s predicted for me).  I did not study at ALL during my MS1 summer.  I worked hard MS2 and studied for the shelf exams.  Then I worked my ass off for 32 days straight.

I had also planned on studying during ms-1 Summer, but wound up being lazy (I was doing research also), and I am confident that little extra would not have helped at all.  I also planned to study first aid during second year, reviewing past subjects on off weekends (we tested every other week, so we had every other weekend free), and I ended not being able to do that either.  That actually might have been helpful, but I ended up with a 250, so I don’t think I would worry too much.  Don’t overwork yourself during the year or your class grades will suffer and you will be a headcase for 9 months.  My true studying began during Spring break, studying 8 hrs/day for 5 days, then again during May-June for 6 weeks after classes ended.  If you pay attention during class and use the above posters resources, you will do fine.

thanks guys/gals
i appreciate it!

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

Anonymous User - 19 July 2008 10:29 PM

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

U mad?

Anonymous User - 20 July 2008 09:28 PM

Anonymous User - 19 July 2008 10:29 PM

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

U mad?

What?

Anonymous User - 19 July 2008 10:29 PM

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

It is a smiley not a roll eyes! and I am a she not a he.

Anonymous User - 21 July 2008 04:45 AM

Anonymous User - 19 July 2008 10:29 PM

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

It is a smiley not a roll eyes! and I am a she not a he.

I do beg pardon.

Anonymous User - 21 July 2008 04:45 AM

Anonymous User - 19 July 2008 10:29 PM

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

It is a smiley not a roll eyes! and I am a she not a he.

op, will you marry me?

Anonymous User - 21 July 2008 07:25 AM

Anonymous User - 21 July 2008 04:45 AM

Anonymous User - 19 July 2008 10:29 PM

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

It is a smiley not a roll eyes! and I am a she not a he.

op, will you marry me?

why?? you are silly.

Anonymous User - 21 July 2008 03:57 PM

Anonymous User - 21 July 2008 07:25 AM

Anonymous User - 21 July 2008 04:45 AM

Anonymous User - 19 July 2008 10:29 PM

Why does the OP keep rolling his eyes everytime he thanks someone?

It is a smiley not a roll eyes! and I am a she not a he.

op, will you marry me?

why?? you are silly.

because i love you and will have a good life with you and will never cheat on you.
marry me!!!!