Question: Recommended Board Exam Books while in medical school?

I know all our schools are going to have different required and recommended text books for all of our subjects. However, any input on review books for the STEP exams would be greatly appreciated. Also, do you recommend reviewing these board review books while in the didactic portion of medical school? Reason I'm asking is because I'm a M1 and I won't be taking my step for about 22 months from now.

PJ GS

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PJ Checky said the following:

- First and foremost, make sure you prioritize the core notes to your school lectures and all reading assignments assigned by your professors.

- In addition, be sure to prioritize First Aid Step 1 from the first day of school. Continually reference it and compare and contrast what it says with what you are learning in lecture. DO NOT BLOW THIS OFF, if you do you will regret it come time to study for step 1.

- I suggest that you purchase a year subscription to a Q bank such as USMLE World or Kaplan and use it during your second year. Every week you should be doing questions and referencing First Aid to contrast what the Q-bank teaches you with what First Aid says. This will ensure that you will be prepared for the Step 1. Remember that the things you learn in lecture will not always be those things that you need to know for the Step 1. Your performance on class exams is certainly important but don’t forget that the step exams are what separate you from other medical students around the country.

- Almost forgot a must have book, Robins path. Make sure you have this and study it. I highly suggest that you get the review book that goes with it and use it religiously. This will also ensure your success on the step 1.

- Additional books such as BRS, Goljans, Costanza physiology, clinical microbiology, and case files are all good books but make sure you don’t go book crazy. You will have more than enough material to read and buying too many books wont help you. You will just have a pile of books that you never have time to read.

- I suggest that you prioritize those class specific books and the others that I mentioned. If you need additional resources then dig into BRS ect.

PJ Checky

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PJ Golf Sierra said the following:

Do you know if there are major differences between the annual installments of the First Aid Step 1 book? I see 2011 and 2012 versions.

I know there is a BRS for each subject, which ones did you end up using?

Did you find the same organizational methods that worked for you in pre med worked in medical school? I usually kept a binder for each subject and tabbed it out with lecture notes, book notes, problem solving, case studies, lab reports, etc. Your thought?

Which online Q bank did you like the best?

PJ GS

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PJ Checky said the following:

By the time you begin actual "official" step 1 study you will want to get the latest version of first aid. An older version will work fine for your first year though. The problem is that you would have to wait until the January of your second year to get the latest version, so just get what they have and begin now.

It is dependent on the individual as to which BRS you should get. I think I used psych, physio, neuro, and micro, but I only used them as adjuncts. Never had time to actually read through all of them.

Absolutely no way you can use your same study/organizational methods that you used in pre med. There is just too much info to get through and not enough time to do anything else but study. It usually takes 4-5 months of your first year before you can figure out a new study method in med school. You will see what I mean soon. If you spend time tabbing, organizing and reviewing things to the point of mastery you will quickly be way behind the class. You eventually have to get used to the fact that you can never know all that you want to or need to know about a lecture. You basically have to read, learn, study to get the main points and move on to the next lecture and do the same. A lot of info.

PJ Checky