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Step1AdviceBookletByKellieSatterfield,Classof2017UCSanDiegoSchoolofMedicine

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SurveyDataCollected:2/2017BookletCreated:3/2017

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TableofContents__________________________________________________________

Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................................................................4

Step1Resources..................................................................................................................................................................................................7

ResourceOpinions............................................................................................................................................................................................10

FirstAidfortheUSMLE...............................................................................................................................................................10

DoctorsinTrainingFullReviewCourse..............................................................................................................................13

DoctorsinTrainingVideosOnly.............................................................................................................................................14

UWORLDQbank.............................................................................................................................................................................15

KaplanQbank..................................................................................................................................................................................19

USMLE-Rx.........................................................................................................................................................................................19

Pathoma.............................................................................................................................................................................................20

SketchyMicro/Medical...............................................................................................................................................................23

Picmonic............................................................................................................................................................................................26

BRS(BoardReviewSeries).......................................................................................................................................................26

GoljanAudioSeries......................................................................................................................................................................27

GoljanRapidReviewofPathology........................................................................................................................................28

AnkiFlashcards.............................................................................................................................................................................28

Firecracker......................................................................................................................................................................................30

Osmosis.............................................................................................................................................................................................31

CramFighter....................................................................................................................................................................................31

LangePharmacologyFlashcards...........................................................................................................................................32

CourseMaterials...........................................................................................................................................................................32

OtherStudyResources/Strategies.....................................................................................................................................33

PracticeExams.................................................................................................................................................................................................35

PrometricCenterPracticeExam...........................................................................................................................................35

NBME................................................................................................................................................................................................37

UWORLD,In-Depth........................................................................................................................................................................................42

SecondYearPlanning....................................................................................................................................................................................56

Vacation,SchedulingStep1,andWhentoStart................................................................................................................................61

StudySchedules,Tips,andtheTestDay...............................................................................................................................................65

MovingYourTestDate.................................................................................................................................................................................84

WellBeingandMentalHealth..................................................................................................................................................................88

MentalBreakdowns...................................................................................................................................................................88

Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................................................................100

Summary.........................................................................................................................................................................................................101

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Introduction__________________________________________________________ThepurposeoftheStep1AdviceSurveywastocollectanonymousinformationfromcurrentUCSDmedicalstudentswhohadcompletedtheUSMLEStep1examination.ThesurveyaimedtoascertainvariousStep1studyhabitsandresultingtrendsforthepurposesofmedicaleducationqualityimprovement.Thegoalwastohelpbetterinformfuturemedicalstudentsonwhatstudytools/habitshavebeenusedinthepastandwhathadworkedforstudents,andtohighlightanydiscoveredcorrelationsorsignificantfindings.Thissurveywillalsohelptoinformtheadministrationonstudentneeds.Theresultsofthissurveyhavebeencompliedintobookletformattobedistributedannuallytosecondyearmedicalstudents.Thiswillhopefullyreducestudentanxiety,improvepreparedness,andincreaseStep1scores.ThissurveydoesnothaveIRBapproval.Itwascollectedforthesolepurposeofqualityimprovement.Noidentifyinginformationwascollected.Toqualifytohavetakenthesurvey,studentsneededtobeacurrentUCSDmedicalstudentandhavealsocompletedtheUSMLEStep1Licensingexamination.OnehundredcurrentUCSDmedicalstudentscompletedthe‘Step1AdviceSurvey’.Ofthose,38werecurrentthirdyearstudentsand62fourthyearstudents.MoststudentsfoundpreparingforStep1tobevery-extremelystressful(Figure1).ItwasfoundthattherewasamoderatelypositivecorrelationbetweenindividualStep1scoregoalsandStep1scores,(R2=.513,Figure2),meaningthatthehigherthestudentsstep1goal,themorelikelytheyweretoachieveahigherscore.Despitethis,31%ofstudentswerenotsatisfiedwiththeirStep1scores(Figure3).TherewasalsoamoderatelypositivecorrelationbetweenMCATscoresandStep1scores;however,thefactorsthatcontributedtothisrelationshipwerenotinvestigated(Figure4).Lastly,therewasamoderatelypositivecorrelationbetweenexamscoresduringfirstandsecondyearofmedicalschoolandStep1scores(R2=.37,Figure5).

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Figure1.

Figure2.

Figure3.

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umberofStudents(n)

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StudentStressRegardingPreparingtoStudyforStep1:

R²=0.51256

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Of@icialStep1Score

Step1ScoreGoal

Of@icialStep1ScoreAgainstStep1Goal:

OfjicialStep1Score

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Satisjied69%

NotSatisjied31%

StudentSatisfactionwithTheirStep1Score:

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Figure4.

Figure5.

R²=0.28092

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Step1Score

MCATScore

Step1ScoreAgainstMCATScore:

Step1Score

Linear(Step1Score)

R²=0.37163

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60-69%70-79%80-89%90-99%MS1andMS2ExamAverage

Step1ScoreAgainstMS1andMS2ExamAverage

Step1Score

Linear(Step1Score)

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Step1Resources__________________________________________________________ManyresourcescanbeusedtoprepareforStep1.Someresourceswerepreferredduringtheyearandothersduringthededicatedstudyperiod.ThemostcommonresourcesusedwereFirstAidFortheUSMLEandUWORLDQbank,bothwithat99%ofstudentssurveyedhavingusedthoseresources(Figure6).ThenextmostcommonresourcesusedwerePathoma(85%),SketchyMedical(76%)andtheNBMEPracticeexams(75%).OthernotableresourcesincludeAnkiflashcards,theGoljanAudioSeries(Podcasts),USMLE-RxQbank,DoctorsinTrainingVideosandcoursematerialsfromthefirsttwoyearsofmedicalschool. Figure6.

0102030405060708090100

%ofStudentsUsed

ResourcesUsed:

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Surveyedstudentsratedeachresource(onlyiftheyusedthatresource)fromnotimportantatall(scoreof1)toextremelyimportant(scoreof5),(Figure7).UWORLDQbankwasfoundtobesignificantlyratedasthesingle-mostimportantresourcewiththenarrowest95%confidenceinterval(Avg4.95,CI4.88-5.01).Otherresourceswithconfidenceintervalsfallingintherated‘veryimportant’to‘extremelyimportant’range,inorderofaverageratedimportance,includeFirstAidefortheUSMLE(Avg4.55),SketchyMedical(Avg4.46),AnkiFlashcards(Avg3.88),Pathoma(Avg4.3),NBMEPracticeExams(Avg3.88),DoctorsinTrainingFullReviewCourse(3.88),andCramFighter(Avg3.67).BRS,Firecracker,andOsmosiswerefoundtobetheleastimportantresources,withaveragesof2.5,2.44,and2.0,respectively.Ratedimportanceisalsodisplayedbypercentage,basedoffthenumberofstudentswhousedtheresource(Figure8).Lastly,thenumberofresourcesuseddidnotseemtopositivelyornegativelyimpactscore(Figure9).Figure7.

0 1 2 3 4 5NotSlightlyModeratelyVeryExtremely

AverageRatedResourceImportance:FirstAidFortheUSMLEDoctorsinTrainingFullReviewCourseDoctorsinTrainingVideosOnlyUWORLDQbankKaplanQbankUSMLE-Rx(FirstAidQbank)NBMEFullPracticeExamsPathomaSketchyMicro/MedicalPicmonicBRSbooks(BoardReviewSeries)GoljanAudioSeries(Podcasts)GoljanRapidReviewofPathologyAnkiFlashcardsFirecrackerOsmosisCramFighterLangePharmacologyFlashcardsCourseMaterials

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Figure8.

Figure9.

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

PercentageofUsers

(%)

RatedImportantofEachResource:

NotatallImportant

SlightlyImportant

ModeratelyImportant

VeryImportant

ExtremelyImportant

R²=0.00301

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ResourceOpinions__________________________________________________________Studentswereaskedtogivefree-formfeedbackoneachstudyresourceused,andthefeedbackwasthenreviewed,spellingwascheckedandgrammarcorrected,andinappropriateor‘n/a’commentswereremoved.Recurrentthemesand/orkeypointstheauthorfoundrelevantorhelpfulwereboldedbelow. _________________________________________________________________________________________________FirstAidefortheUSMLE:Moststudentsfeltthiswasavitalresource,somegotitunbound,manywrotenotesinthebook’smargins.Manyfeltthatthiswasabettertouseasanoutline,forreference,graphs,mnemonics,andquickfacts,ratherthansomethingtostudyfromdirectly;however,othersuseditastheirprimaryguide.Mostfoundthisresourcetobeworththemoney.MusthaveMusthaveReadaportioneachday,annotatedwithotherstudymaterialsReferenceandnotesinthemargins.Worththemoney.Iusedthisasmymainresource,andwouldaddhandwrittennotesformotherresourcesintofirstaid.IwouldreadadesignatedchaptereachmorningforafewhoursandthendoUWORLDquestions.Iprobablyreadtheentirebookatleast3times.Readthroughthewholething.Greatsuccinctresource.Worthit.Onlyusedforlistse.g.CYP450inhibitorsortoxinsandantidotes.Otherwiseitwasdifficulttostudyfrom.Iuseditasareference/togetgoodmnemonics.Ididn'tfinditsuperhelpfulthough.AdjuvanttoUWorld,IuseditasareferencefortopicsIgotwrongonUWorld.Annotated,usingKaplanreviewvideos,definitelyworththemoney.Worththemoney.Tooknotesthroughout2ndyearclassesinthebookandwhilereviewingUWorldquestions.Worththemoney.Useddailyandsequentially.Useditasmy"Bible"forallnotes.IreadthroughFAandhighlightedkeypoints.IalsotooknotesfromotherresourcesintoFAsoIwouldhaveeverythinginoneplace.Ireviewedthehigh-yieldsectionimmediatelybeforetakingStep1.Asa"textbook"toreviewmanybasicconceptsHelpfulforsupplementingUWorldasprovidesfairlycomprehensivereviewMemorizedeverywordofthis--byfarthemostimportantpartofmystudying.Ireaditcovertocover,highlighted,usedflags.FAispassivelearning,soitshouldn'tbeafirst-lineresource.It'sgoodinthatittouchesonallthemajorareastoknow,butbasicallywasjustbulleted

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outlineswithhit-or-missmnemonics.FeltlikeIwastedalotoftimeonFAthatshouldhavebeenspentonUW.Iunboundthisandtookthesmallsectionstostudyduringtherelevantblocksduringtheyear.IalsowrotemyPathomanotesdowninfirstaidesothatIwouldhaveallmynotestogetherIuseditforthepurposeofsynthesizinginformationfromvariousotherresources(e.g.Pathoma,DIT,etc.).Iactuallyreallydidn'tenjoy"studying"fromFA,butitisexcellentfornotetaking.Usedasaguideduringlectures.TriedtoreferencelecturematerialwithFAandreadFAinconjunctionwithlectures.Greatresourceforbullet-pointtypeinfo,butdoesnotreally"teach".Amust-have,annotateasyougoalong.Kindofa"homebase"forstudying.Wentthroughitatotalof3timesandreviewedmissedandchallengingpracticequestionsinfirstaid.Isplitupmy"studydays"bychapterofFirstAid,andwouldtrytospendafewdaysoneachchapterreallylearningthematerial.Goodforreview.Needed.WentthroughthiswiththeDITvideosandannotated.Thenre-readthewholebookandthenotes.Iusedittostudyduringthefirsttwoyears,andIusedduringdevotedstudytime.It'sessential.Excellentresource,Idid2-3passesofthisbookwhileIwasusingotherresourceslikeUWorldandSketchyMicrotocomplementFirstAid'smaterialandannotatedmytextbooksothatthiswasmycentralstudyguide.Usedbyreading,followingalongwithUSMLE-RX,andbyannotatinginthebook.Critical,thiswastheframeworkonwhichIorganizedmaterialinmymind.Read,highlightedandannotatedeverypageofthebook.Thisisthegoldenresourcethathasalmosteverythingyouwilleverneedtoknow.Absolutelyworththemoney.DidasecondandaVERYcursorythirdpassofthebookpriortothetest.Helpfulbutnotenoughdetail/explanationbyitself(formystyle).Goodforreference.Wasn'tabletoread/studyfrom.Readthroughbook2x.100%necessary.Iusedittotakenoteswhileusingotherresources(DIT,UWorld,Pathoma).Theweekbeforetheexam,IsplitupFAinto5sectionsandtriedtoreviewasectionperdaysoIcouldseeeverythingonemoretime.TurnedouttobeoverlystressfulbutIthinkithelpedsomewhat.Ireadthroughthebook.ThenreferredbacktoitasneededwhendoingUWORLD.Reviewedsubjectsaswewentthroughthemduringsecondyear.UsedasreferenceduringUWorldquizzes.Supplementalinformationonspecifictopics,usuallyrelatedtoaUWorldquestion.Greatforstructuringtheoverallstudyperiod.WouldoftencombineaFirstAidchapter(e.g.cardio)withaselectedblockofUWorldquestionsontutormode(e.g.alsocardio).Thiswasdefinitelyworththemoney.However,simplyreadingchapterafterchapter,withoutcombiningitwithnotetakingandQbanks,wouldbeunwise.GeneralOverview.MasterreferenceofallinfoIhadcompiled.Brokeitintoabinderandaddedpagesandwrotealloverit.Primaryresource.ProvidesanoutlineforwhatneedstobecoveredduringyourStep1study.Highlightszebras.Stillneedtodoextensivepracticequestionsinordertobeabletoapplytheknowledge.

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IusedthisasmyprimarystudytooltoorganizemytimeandthematerialIwascovering.IbrokemydaysupintoorgansystemslargelydictatedbyFirstAidandthenwouldusesupplementalmaterialstoreinforcethematerialIwaslearninginthere.Assomeonewhowritesinbooksagreatdeal,Iappreciatedthatthecompanythoughtaboutthequalityofthepagesinthebooksothatitdidn'tbleedthroughtoomuch.Idefinitelythinktheresourcewasworththemoney.Worthit.Greatreviewofalmosteverything,butdoesleavesomegapsthatneedtobefilledwithmoredetail.ShouldbesuretobranchoutifnoticingweaknessesonQbankquestions.IcompiledallmynotesfromUWorld,RapidReview,andPathomaintomyFirstAidbook.MyfirstaidbookheldalltheinformationIneededforStep1.Lovedit.Totallycriticaltostudying.Itwasmybible.IunbounditandIputallnotesandannotationsfromallotherresourcesintoFirstAid.Great,onlyabarebonessetofnotes,needmorethoroughunderstandingforittoclick.Importantbutprettydense.I'dgothroughthistwicebutdothefirstpasswellaheadofyourdedicatedstudytimeandusethesecondpasstofocusonsectionsyouarestrugglingwith.UsednotabilitytoannotateitelectronicallysoIcouldalwayshaveitwithme.IannotatedallotherresourcesintoFirstAidReadtwice,madeflashcardsRead2xpriortodedicatedstudy(lowyield,don’treallyrecommend)andreadattheendofdedicatedwithallmyUWorldannotations(moreuseful).Outline.IreadthroughFirstAidTWICE.VERYIMPORTANTRESOURCE.UsedwithcoursestomakesureIwashittingonhighyieldpointsasIstudiedLovedit,worththemoney.GreatresourcetouseinconjunctionwithPathomaUseditastheskeletonformystudying,justlearningthebasics,forreference.Notmuchtosay,ithasitsreputationforareason.UseditwiththeRxvideosthatwalkedyouthroughthebookwhichIfoundssuperhelpful.IalsoannotatedthebookbasedoffUWorldsoitwasbasicallylikemybibleofeverythingIknew/wasstudying.Workit.TooknotesfromDITvideosinfirstaidandreadthroughit2-3xbeforeexamReadit,concise.Worthitfororganization.RefertoitwhilegoingoverUWorldquestions.Iusedthisasthemainfocusofmystudying.Iwouldcoveronesubjectevery2-3daysandmadeflashcardsbyhandforallthetopics.Forgeneralinformation/organizationandintroductiontoeachsubject,aplacetoannotate,andforrapidreviewattheend.AnnotatedPathomainit.Gothrougheachorgansystem,madesureIunderstoodeverything,triedtomemorizewhatIdidn'tknow.UsedPicmonicforstuffIhadtroublememorizingwithoutit.UsedSketchyMedical/PicmonicforthepharmsectioninFA.SkippedFAmicrochapterandonlydidsketchymicro.IhadanelectroniccopyofFirstAidwhichIusedalongsidemyorgansystemcoursesinMS2tofigureoutwhichpointsthatwewerelearningwereimportanttorememberforstep1,whichpointswewerenotlearningthatwereimportantforstep1(i.e.Ishouldtrytolearntheseonmyownaswe

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go),andwhichpointsImayneedtoknowformyblockexambutcouldforgetafterward(i.e.Iwouldnotputtheminmystep1Ankideck).IalsousedFirstAidthisasareferenceforreviewingmissedQbankquestions.IalsousedthediagramsandfiguresonthebacksofmyAnkicardsasappropriate.IdidNOTevertrytomakeacompletepassthroughfirstaidorreaditlikeatextbook.Infact,mypapercopyofFirstAidgotmoreuseasastepstoolorablocktoelevatemycomputermonitorthanasatextbook.Thesearchablepdfwasusedfarmorefrequently.WrotenotesfromDITvideosinthemarginsandcross-referenced.Iusedthisbecauseitwasthe#1recommendedresource,butIactuallydidn'tlikeitverymuch;itwastoo"barebones"forme,difficulttogetthroughwithoutsomeformofguidance(whichiswhyIusedDITvideos).Readtheentirethingonce,highlightingasIwent,goodforreference.Barelyusedatall,Ihatedtheformat.Notes,review,talkingthroughitwithclassmatesormyself.Referenceduringstudying;notprimarystudytool.Usefulandworththemoney.Notgoodforprimarystudying.Goodasafinalreviewbeforetest.Mainbook/resourceIused.Great.Unbound,annotatedeverypageandinsertedmyownnotes;loveditasastudyguideline,butwasnotasdetailedasnecessary.Somepathologyreview.Goodfortablesandcondensingalltheinformationintooneplace.However,notgoodforlearningmaterial.Icouldn'tmemorizefromthisformat,soitwasusefultouseitasreferenceMostimportantresourcehasalltheinformationbutneedstobesupplementedwithaquestionbank.Greatforcontentreview.Wentthroughittwice,memorizeditcovertocover.Likeditforsomediagramsandquickfactsbutfoundithardtoreadasastandaloneduetohowabbreviatedthetextwas.MadeanoutlinefromthebookthatIreviewed.Definitelyworththe$$$.Mustuse.Definitelybettertotryanduseasneeded,whenyougetsomethingwronginUWorld,etc.andneedaquickreference.Notasgreatifyoujusttrytoreadthroughit.Readitwitheachblock.Readitagainduringdedicatedstudyperiod.Readitagainwith1weektogobeforetest.TookallmyUWorldnotesinit.ReadthroughitwithDITandthenseparately(withnotesfromDIT).Worththemoney.Lovetheillustrations.NothingthatIdon'tlikeaboutit.Excellent.Reference.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________DoctorsinTraining(FullReviewCourse):FewerstudentsusedthefullDITreviewcourse,comparedtojusttheDITvideosalone.Thosethatdid,however,likedthestructureandhowthoroughthecourse

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was.Drawbacksincludecostandlengthoftimeittakestocompletethecourse.FormoreDITinformation,pleaseseeDITvideosonlysummary.Thevideosweresolidandengaging.DefinitelyhelpedmewithstructuringmystudyplanandmakingsureIgotthrough"all"thematerial.Iusedthisresourceprettyheavilyinthe6weeksleadinguptothetest.ItalsoreferencesFAthroughoutthereviewbook/videos,soit'snotanentirely"separateresource"inthatregard.ThedrawbackisthatDITtakesalotoftime.Iwouldspentabout6hoursduringthedaygettingthroughtheDITvideosonaverage,whichleftmewith2-4hoursoftimeforUWorldbeforeIburnedout.IthinkinhindsightIprobablyspenttoomuchtimeonDITandnotenoughtimeonUWorldquestionsandpracticetestsduringthelast4to6weeksofstudytime.Ifyouarethekindofpersonthatneedsstructure,DITmaybeforyou.DITwillalmostcertainlygetyouasolidscore(230stolow240s;IthinktheaverageDITusergetsarounda235),butifyoureallywanttoexcel,youneedmoretimeonpracticequestions.IfyouaregoingtodoDIT,Iwouldrecommendrationingacoupleofextraweekseitherpriortoorduringthe"studyweeks"duringwhichyouuseUWorldheavilyandexclusively.LOVEIT!Thisgotmethroughmystudying.Verytimeconsuming.Itdidn'tfeelworthittome.Veryhelpful,keptmeontrackandreviewedFirstAidinmoredetailed;IpersonallythoughtitwasworththemoneybecauseIlikedhavingthescheduleandtheinteractivestudyoptionsnotjustreadingLearningmaterialinacompactway.Iadviseagainst.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________DoctorsinTraining(VideosOnly):Studentsreallylikedthisresourcebecauseofitsstructureandorganization.Thisresourceseemedbestsuitedtoaudio/visuallearnersaswell.Studentsalsolikedtousetheresourceselectivelytogetabetterunderstandingofacertainsubjectsuchasbiochemormetabolism.Studentsdislikedthisresourceforthelengthoftimeittooktogetthroughthevideosandfortheprice;however,manystudentspiratedthevideossothisresourcewasnotcostprohibitive.Watchedeachday.Ipiratedthem,soitwasnotcostprohibitive.Iusedittolistenwhilerunning/driving/workingoutetc.Ihadpiratedversion,soyesworththemoney.Itwashelpfulatexplainingphysiologicalconcepts,butIwouldnothavepaidfullpriceforit.Iusedthistodostructured"in-depth"reviewpriortotheexamThiswasakeyresourceformebecauseIwouldgettooboardonlyreading.Itdidseemsillyatfirstneedingsomeonetobasicallywalkyouthroughfirstaidbutthiswassuchanicewaytobreakupthedayandstudyinadifferentway.Ialsolovedtheirlittlequizzesatthestartandendofthevideos.Ithoughttheyalsohadsuperhelpfulcharts/graphsandmnemonicsnotofferedinfirstaidthatwereclutchonmytestday-especiallythep450inducersandinhibitorsandbonetumors.HIGHLYRECOMMEND!

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IusedthisresourceprimarilyforstudyingforBiochem(whichisnottaughtatUCSD).Ifoundtherepetitionandquestion/answerformatineachvideoextremelyhelpful.PairedwithBrosencephalonAnkiquestions,Ifeltlikethiswasagoodmethodofquicklylearningthingsasanaudiovisuallearner.IwouldwatchtheseasIwasstudyingachapteroffirstaid,becausetheybasicallyexplainfirstaidtoyou.Notsurehowhelpfulthiswas-itissupertimeconsuming.Prettygood.Notworth$$$.Mostlyhelpfulinpacingyourselfearlyon.Doesn'tcontaintoomuchinformationthatfirst-aiddoesn'tbutithelpsbreakupyourdayfromjustreadingalldaylongtochunksofmoreactivelisteningandtakingnotes.Usedvideostoguidemyfirstpassoffirst-aidtokeepmeontrack.WatcheddownloadedvideosfortopicsIstruggledtograsp.Expensive,butverythoroughandwell-organizedsetofvideos.Iuseditatthestartofstudyinganditgavemeasolidfoundation.Ithinkit'sworthitifyoucansplitthecostamongafewpeople.StudyaidwhenIneededstructure.Expensive,butworththemoney.Farandawaythebestsingleresource.Iwatchallofthevideosandannotatedfirstaid.IwatchedallofthesevideosandannotatedFirstAidthefirsttimethrough.UsedattheendforparticularlytoughsubjectslikeBiochem.IfeltIcountedonthesevideostoteachmewhatIneededtoknowbutitwasmorepassiveratherthanactivelearningandtookalotoftimethatIthinkmayhavebetterspentonotherresources.Overallnotworththemoney.Someusefulmnemonics!Watchedsome,goodteachers.Usedtogoovervideossometimes.Iwatchedlessthan5ofthesevideosonspecificconceptsofmetabolismwhereIfeltlikeIneededarefresher.Theywereok.LotsofgoodmnemonicsandhelpedingettingthroughFirstAid.TheyalsoincludedtopicsthatwerenotcoveredinFA.IfIhadtoredothattorturousperiodofmylife,Idon'tthinkIwouldusetheseagain,orrather,IwouldchoosetousethemforafewtopicsthatIreallystruggledwith(i.e.biochem).Goodforphysiologyreview.Iusedthemforfree,henceworththemoney.IlikedthatitforcedmetogetthroughasectionofFirstAidthoughI'mnotsurehoweffectiveitwasformetoactuallyretainthematerial.ItooknotesfromDITontofirstaid.Ithinkittookalotoftimethatinretrospectwouldhavebetterservedmeona2ndpassthroughUWorld.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________UWorldQbank:StudentsfeelthatUWorldQbankisunanimouslythebestQbankavailableandalsothesinglebestresource.SomestudentswishedtheyhadstarteddoingUWorldquestionsearlierintheyearorjustmoreoverall.Studentswereinagreementthatthisresourceisworththecost.Manystudentsemphasizedthatitisimportanttoreadalloftheanswerexplanations.*PleaseseetheUWorldsectionformoreindepthUWorldinformation.

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MusthaveDidblocksofquestionseachday.Probablymymostimportantstudying.Wortheverypenny.Mymainsourceofstudying.IwouldjustsitdownanddoacouplehundredquestionsadayandreviewthingsIwasn'tclearon.Ididallquestions,startingat40adayandthenupto200adaytheweekortwopriortomyexam.Reviewingthequestionsisextremelyimportant,asisrepeatingquestionsyougotwrong.Iwentthroughtheentirequestionbankabout1.5timesBestwayformetolearnbecauseofQ&A.Usedthisasmymainstudysource.Worththemoneyforthewholeyear.IwishIhaddonethiswaymore.Wentthroughsubjectsontimedmodeduringtheblockwewerestudying,andreviewedallincorrectresponsesaswell.ThenresettheQbankandwentthroughthemallrandomlyanddidallincorrectaswell.Sometimesdidsubjectfocusedifstillhavingproblemsinthatarea.UWorldcomprised3/4ofmystudyday.Completelyworthit.Mosthelpfulresource.Anotherwaytolearnconcepts;bestwaytopracticetesttakingBestresource.Highlyrecommend.Didallofitandthenrepeatedincorrect.Critical.Fantasticresource,keepsyouactive,teachesyouwhythingsareandaren'tcorrect.WishIhadallocatedmoretimetousingUWoverotherresources.Thisissoimportant.Buythe6-monthsubscription(sobasicallyaroundtheholidays).Thiswillallowyoutoresetitifyouwant(Ididn'tbutitisnicetoknowyoucan).Startduringtheyearwithafew,andImeanonlyafew,questionsatweekjusttogetfamiliarwithhowthequestionsareaskedandwhatisimportantfortheboardsratherthantheblockexam.Takeonepracticetestaweekortwobeforeyourtestandthentakethesecondonerightbeforeyourtest(2-3daysprior)becausetheUWORLDtendstobemoreaccurate/overestimateyourscoreslightlycomparedtoNBE,frommyunderstanding,andIfeltthatitwasnicetohaveaslightconfidenceboostgoingintotestday.Thiswasthefoundationofmuchofmystudying;sincescreenshotsarenotallowedonUWorld,IwouldliterallydrawoutallthefiguresonPowerPoint,whichservedtwopurposes:1)itforcedmetolookateachfigurecarefully/attentivelyandpayattentiontohoweachpieceofthepuzzlefitsand2)allowedmetostudythefigureswithouthavingtoopenUWorldinmyfreetime.Excellent.Useheavily.IfIcoulddoitover,Iwouldhaveuseditmoreheavilyinthefallandearlywinter.Reviewquestionsthatyougetwrong.Extremelyuseful,well-madequestions.Bestresource.Needed.TooksubjectspecificquestionsattheendofeachdaycorrelatingthesubjectIhadstudiedthatday.OnceImadethefirstpassthroughIswitchedtorandomandansweredallthequestionsagain.IthenrepeatedspecificsubjectsthatIstruggledwith(i.e.Biochem)athirdtime.Excellent.Invaluable.Bestresource,justlikeStep1questions.

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Goldenresource.Readingallanswerchoicesregardlessofgettingthequestionrightorwrongwasveryuseful.Useditasmoreofstudytoolthandiagnostictooluntil1-2weekspriortothetest.Necessary.Verysimilartotheactualtest.Did4,44questiontestseachdayofmy6week-dedicatedstudytime.Iwouldtrytofocusonpickingonethingtolearnfromeveryquestion.EitherwriteitdownormakeanAnkicard,andtrytoreviewthosequickpointsattheendoftheweek.Bestresource.Wentthroughrelevantsubjectquestionsduringrelevantblocksecondyearandrepeatedwithamixofsubjectsattheendoftheyear.Lovedit,wortheverypenny.Thiswasmyprimarystudysource.MainlytestmyselfandthenspotstudyonesIgotwrong.Mostthoroughresourceandfairlyclosetoactualtestquestions.IwouldrecommendgoingthroughmultiplepassesoftheentireQbank,oratleastrepeatingallofthequestionsyougotincorrectthefirsttimearound.Theexplanationsarefantastic,anditisimportanttoreadtheexplanationsforeverysinglequestionchoice-notjustthecorrectone-becauseeachmightaddtounderstandingofatopic.ThisisthemainquestionbankIused,andIdefinitelybelieveitisanecessityforstudyingforStep1.UWORLDwasveryhelpfulinunderstandingthestyleofquestionsIwouldbefacingonStep1,andIappreciatedthatitwasbrokenupintosectionsfororgansystemsorparticulartopics(suchasstatistics,etc.).Ididn'tfindthe"timed-tutor"functionparticularlyhelpful.However,Ididappreciatethatmuchoftheinformationintheexplanationsforthequestionswaspresentedinchartorgraphformatinadditiontoparagraphs.Greatresource.Worthrepeating,butbesurenottogetoverconfidentasyourscoresgouptakingthequestionsforasecondtime.UWORLDQbankgavethemoredetailedversionofalltheinformationwewouldneedforStep1.FirstAidwasmoreofaskeletonandUWORLDfilledinalltheblanks.Absolutelycritical.Worththecost.Iwentthrougheveryquestiontwiceanddidn'tuseanyotherquestionbank.Critical.DidasmanyquestionsasIcouldonthetopicsIhad"completed"/"reviewed"2passespluswronganswersagain.Essential!Gettingthrough100%ofUWwasthemostimportantthingIdidduringthededicatedstudyperiod.WentthroughUWorldoncecompletely,writingdownthingsIdidn'tknow.Thendidabout50%oftheincorrectquestionsagain.Usedwithcourseblocks,bysubjectasstudiedandtotimemyself.Worthit.Mymostusedresourceforstepstudying.Thiswasthecoreofmystudying,madeflashcardsfromtheanswersandexplanationsMy#1resource-moresoasalearningtoolthanfor"testingmyself."Theexplanationsareverythoroughandusuallywellwritten.

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Althoughthequestionsarenotexactlylikethetest,thepatternsandrepetitionaregreatforstudying.IfeltitwasveryhelpfultoreviewALLtheanswersandknowwhythingswereright/wrong.Wellworthit.Amazing!Trytodomorethanonceifpossible.Likerealtest.Usedalot,wortheverypenny.Iwoulddoabout90questions/day.Veryimportant.IwentthroughasmuchaspossiblestartinginJanuarybysubjectandannotatedfirstaid.Beforethededicatedtime,IresetmyQbankandwentthrough80questionsperdayintimedmodewithrandomquestions.Veryimportantresource,IwishIhadtakenmoretimedtestsandusedthe"Notes"feature.NotimportanttodowelloneachUWorldquizyoumakebutrathertolearnfromeachone-markquestionsyouwanttogetrightthesecondtime.Random,untimed,40questionblocksThefoundationofmystudying.Iwouldstartwithquestions,andthenturntothebookstounderstandthequestions.Bestresource.Inretrospect,IwishIhadmadethismymainresource,ratherthanFirstAid.IwouldstartdoingquestionsfromtheverybeginningofsecondyearwhetherornotIhadlearnedabouttheparticulartopicsthetestscoveredandusedtheexplanationstostudy.IwoulduseFAasareference,butIwouldmakeUW80%ofmyfocus.Greatforpracticeandgettingusedtotesttaking.UsedUWORLDextensively.WasmymainresourceforStep1.Bestresourceforsynthesizing/applyinginformationlearnedHighyield.Usedeverysingleday,bestresourcesincemostliketheactualexam.Thebestresource.Questionswereverysimilarinstyleandexplanationswereveryclearlywrittenandremovedalltheunnecessarydetails.Ididnotrealizehowimportantthisresourcewas.IwishIhadincorporateditmoreintomystudyplan.BestQbankoutthere.Itisworthgoingthroughmultipletimesandsavingfortheendofthereview.Wentthroughit1.5times,usedasalearning(notassessment)tool.Excellent.Questionswerechallengingandhardverythoroughexplanations.WroteanswersinseparateworddocumentthatIreviewed.Singlemostvaluableresource.Youmustusethis.Startearly,evenifyou'renotseriouslystartingyourStep1studying.Usewitheachblockduring2ndyear.Didittwiceandallmymissed/markedfromthesecondpass.Wentthroughitonceandthensomeincorrectquestions.Worththemoney.Wouldnotpurchaseitbefore2ndyear,butinsteadatthebeginningof2ndyearforayearlong.Ilikedthatthereareavastvarietyofquestionsandthattheexplanationsaregoodandthorough.Great,howeverIshouldhavestartedusingtheQbankatthestartof2ndyear,asitwasahugetimeinvestment.

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_________________________________________________________________________________________________KaplanQbank:StudentshadmixedopinionsregardingtheKaplanQbank;however,moststudentswereinagreementthatthisQbankisaninferiorresourcecomparedtoUWorld.Studentshadmixedopinionsonweatherthisresourcewasworththecost.KaplanQbankseemstobestbeusedeitherduringsecondyearonlyorasasupplementifwantingaccesstomorequestionsinadditiontoUWORLD.IwentthroughthisQbanktohelpmestudyfor2ndyearblocks.Alongwithvideosworththemoney.Wentthroughsubjectsontimedmodeduringtheblockwewerestudying,andreviewedallincorrectresponsesaswell.ThenresettheQbankandwentthroughthemallrandomlyanddidallincorrectaswell.Sometimesdidsubjectfocusedifstillhavingproblemsinthatarea.Icompleted~95%ofthisquestionbank.Ithoughtitwasreallygoodandagoodpreparationfortheactualtestquestions.PurchasedbutinretrospectitwouldhavebeenbettertofocusonUWorld.Iwouldnotrecommend.Purchasedearlyoninsecondyearbutonlycompleted~20-30%ofquestions.Notreallynecessaryinmyopinion.Triedthisforawhilebutdidnotfindithelpful.UsedittosupplementMS2classes,asmostblocksdidnothaveasufficientnumberofquestionswithwhichtostudy.IngeneralIfoundtheUWORLDquestionstobesuperior.NotasgoodasUWORLD,toomuchextrastuff.Wasteofmoney.Okay,butnotlikerealtest.Igot3monthsofaccesstotheKaplanQbankfromalunchtalk.ThequestionswerehardandIdidshort5-20questionblocksofthemearlyintheyearforsomesupplementallearning.OnceIunderstoodtheconceptsbehindmymissedquestions,ImadeAnkicardstoreinforcethoseconcepts.Helpful._________________________________________________________________________________________________USMLERx(FirstAidQbank):StudentshadoverallpositivereviewsoftheUSMLE-RxQbank;however,studentswereinagreementthatUWorldhasmorecomplex,test-likequestionswithbetterlearning.MoststudentswhousedthisresourcewerelookingtoaccessmorequestionswithoutgoingthroughtheUWorldquestionstoomanytimes(toavoidmemorization).Thisresourceseemsbestutilizedduringsecondyear.IuseditwhenIfeltlikeIwantedtonotputasmucheffortintodoingthequestions.(Skimreadinsteadofthoroughlystudy).IdidthisQbankduringcoursesmy2ndyear.Itwasusefulforthebrutememorizationthatisrequired,butnotasindicativeastherealtestatUWORLD.HavingdonethisQbankbeforeUWORLDwasveryusefulthough.

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UsedasbankformorequestionsifIwantedtorandomlytestmyselfUsedbeforethedesignatedstudyperiod.ThenUWORLDduringthedesignatedstudyperiod.Sourceofadditionalpracticequestions,sincepracticequestionsaremypreferredlearningmethodItendtomemorizequestionsveryeasily,soevenafter1passthroughUWorld,Ifoundmyselfansweringquestionscorrectlysimplyfromrecollectionratherthanunderstanding;toincreasemypoolofquestions,Iinvestedinthisresourceaswell.It'sclearlynotnearlyasgoodasUWorld,butitworksinapinch.EasierquestionsthanUWORLD,butdoeshelpwithmemorizing.GoodfordoingrapidquestionsforsubjectsthatIwasstuckon.IdidthisQbankfirstanditwasagoodoverviewoftheextentoftopicsthatwouldneedtobestudiedforStep1.Thequestion/explanationqualityisnotasgoodasUWorldbutitoffers2000+additionalquestionsandisdefinitelyworththeeffort/cost.Iusedthisasanadditionalquestionbank,andIthoughitwasmoderatelyhelpful.Itisalittleoutdated,andsometheanswerstothequestionsareincorrectinthebackofthebook.Ithoughtitwasusefultogetadifferentsetofquestion,however,andIlikedthatitwasalsobrokenupbyorgansystem.IthinkthatitwasagoodcompromiseforanadditionalquestionbankratherthanpurchasingKaplanQbank,etc.,whichIthink,wouldhavebeentooexpensiveinadditiontoUWORLD.Ithinkitwasworththemoney.Donotuse.JustdomoreUWorld.UseditinthebeginningofsecondyearbeforeUWorldtogetintothehabitofdoingquestionsReallyhelpfulpre-dedicatedtopracticedoingquestionswithoutusingupUWorldonlearninglowhangingfruit.Highlyrecommenddoing1otherQbankinadditiontoUW,notsureifthereisameaningfuldifferencebetweenUSMLE-RXandKaplanQbankoutcomeswise.UsedthisasasupplementtoUWorld.Ilovedthevideosandtheflashcards.Greatforclarifyingandorganizinginformation.Notsureifitwasworthit.PurchasedbeforeUWorld,Usedbyorganchapter.BoughtthisduringdedicatedstudyperiodbecauseIwantedsomeextrarapid-firequestionstoscoopupsomefacts/low-hangingfruit.ThequestionsaremuchsimplerthanUWorldanddon'ttakeaslongtoreview.Youthusdon'tgetasmuchoutofeachonelearning-wise,butyoucanrollthroughabunchevenwhenyourbrainistired.Probablytranslatedintoacoupleextrapointsonmyexam.ReallydisappointingQbank.Helpful.DecentQbankfortestingknowledgeofFirstAidbutnotnearlyasrepresentativeoftherealtestastheUWorldQbank.GoodforlearningFA.NotasgoodasUWorld,butagoodwaytoreviewfirstaidwithoutjustreadingthebook._________________________________________________________________________________________________Pathoma:StudentshadoverallverypositivefeedbackregardingPathoma.Thisresourcewasmainlyusedduringsecondyeartostudyforblockexams,butsomestudentsalso

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useditagainduringthededicatedstudyperiod.Thisresourceisthoughttobeworththecost.CriticalforspacedrepetitionthroughoutMS2.Iusedthisalongsideregularclassstudying.Itwasusefulwhilerunningontreadmill.Extremelyuseful.IstartedusingthisduringHeme/Oncin1styear,andwouldlisten/readeachchapterpriortostartingthatblock.Ithenre-watchedallthevideosinthemonthpriortoUWORLD.IaddedkeynotesfromPathomatoFirstAid.GreatforHeme/Onc.Goodexplanations.IdidthisforeachblockstartingwithHemein1styearthendidn'tgobacktoit.ItwasgreatforbroadstrokesintroductionbutIdon'trecommendusingduringthededicatedstudyperiodunlessyouneedthe15,000feetviewpointofatopicagain.Usedduringcoursesandstudyperiod,conciseandnicewaytositbackand"relax"frombeingactivelyengagedinstudyingwhilestillstudying.Goodforclasses,notsureitwasgreatforStep1studying.Usedduring2ndyear.Veryhelpfulforbreakingdowncomplexideasintobasicconcepts.Veryhelpfulduringtheyeartostudyforblocks.IwouldwatchtheseattheverystartofeachblockandIwrotemyPathomanotesintofirstaidduringtheyeartohaveeverything(akaallkeyinfoandcharts)together.Thiswasnicetobreakupstudytimeduringtheintenseperiodaswell.Anawesomeresourceingeneral,butitisnotentirelycomprehensive(highyieldonly).Dr.Sattardoesanexcellentjobwalkingyouthroughconceptsanddrawingoutideas(whichisawesomeifyou'reanaudiovisuallearner).Didnotusethecompanionbookatall;justwatchedthevideosandactivelyannotatedFA.Meh.Notashotonthisoneasotherfolks.Excellentadjunctto2ndyearcoursework.Thisisamazing!!!Notjustforstepbutalsoforunderstandingpathophysiologyingeneral,Ithinkthisinfowillhelpmeforlife.Didnotwatchthevideos(althoughIwishIdid).ReadthesubjectsandannotatedinFA.Essential.Iusedthisasmyfirststudytoolneartheendofschool/verybeginningofmystudyperiodandannotatedFirstAidwithanyinformationIgainedfromPathomathatwasnotinFirstAid.Thenusedonlyasareferencefordifficultsubjectsthatweren'tquitesticking.BestresourceIusedforstep1prep.Veryimportant,watchedachunkeverydayandwentsubjectbysubject.Clearandsuccinct,righttothepoint.Usedthisduringsecondyearclassesandattheendof1styear.Goodforcertainhigh-yieldtopics(e.g.Renal).Greatresource.Highlyrecommend.Helpfulduringcoursesbutlesshelpfulforstep1studying.Greatresource.ListenedtosectionsofPathomaconcurrentlywiththeblocksandthenre-listenedtoentiretyofbookandvideosduringdedicatedstudyperiod.

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Iwatchedthesethroughouttheyearduringcorrespondingblocks,butthenwatchedthemallagaininthecoupleweeksbeforethetest.Veryuseful,andhasafewspecifichighyieldpointsthatdon'tseemtocomeupinotherresources.ImportantforHeme,oncology,andmechanisms.WentthroughtopicsaswewentthroughthemsecondyearWentthroughthevideosinorderthenwentbacktospecificvideosforreviewasneededbasedonUWorldquestions.Lovedthis"highyield"studyguide.Wouldwatchitoverdinner,onatopiccorrespondingtotheFirstAidChapterIwasalsostudyingduringthatweek.RefreshermaterialUsedduringsecondyearandfoundvideosveryhelpfulforconceptsIalwaysfoundharderThisresourcegoeshand-in-handwithFirstAid.Thevideoswereabsolutelyamazing,andgaveamuchbetterunderstandingofdiseaseprocessesthroughhiscarefulexplanations.Assomeonewhopreferstowritedirectlyinbooks,Ialsoverymuchappreciatedthehighqualityofthepaperinthebook.Iamsomeonewhotakesalotofnotes,soIgenerallylistenedtothevideosat1xspeed,butduringreviewofthevideosIappreciatedhavingtheabilitytoincreasethespeedofnarration.IwentthroughthematerialinPathomaatleast3times,andfoundthatthisresourcecoveredmuchofthematerialonmyStep1examthatwasnotcoveredinFirstAid.Itwasdefinitelyworththemoney.Greatreviewofcommoncatchphrasesformanydiseases.Totallyworthit.Pathomawasagreattooltouseduring2ndyear.IwouldbegineachblockmywatchingthePathomavideosforthatblock.Itgavemeaquickoverviewofwhatwasimportanttopayparticularattentionto.Greatresourcetoreinforce/repeatinformation.Pathomaisgoodforholisticconceptsthatyoustrugglewith.IwouldreturntoPathomaifIwasconsistentlygettingquestionsonaspecifictopicincorrect.Veryhelpful.Usedduringblocksandforparticularconcepts.Watchedonce.Great!WatchedwithcoursesandthenagainduringdedicatedYessssss.WatchedallofPathomatwice.Usedwithblocksandre-watchedbeforestep.Dr.SattarisaGod.Incrediblyhelpfulforpeoplethatcan'tjustlearnfromatextbook-IwishedIhadgonethroughmorepassesofthevideosbeforetheexam.Watchedto"flesh"outthingsIhadlearnedeitherfromFirstAidorUWorld,greatforreinforcingunderstanding.Greatteacher,thiswastheonlyresourceIreallyactivelyusedduringthesecondyearblocksandithelpedalotwiththoseaswellasstep1studying.Woulduseasneededduringthecourse-hadboughtitduringsecondyearwhichwasgreatUsedthroughouttheyearwithsecondyearcourses.Amazing!Worthit.Veryhelpful.IlikeddoingPathomaatthestartofeachsubject(cardio,psychetc.)beforegoingthroughFirstAid.

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AwesomereviewresourceIusedasanoverviewtoannotatenotesintoFirstAidwithasIstartedreviewingeachsubject.Usedduringsecondyear,andthenduringdedicatedatthebeginningofgoingthrougheachorgansystemwithFA.AnnotatedintoFA.IwentthroughPathomaconcurrentlywitheachblockduringMS1andMS2andtookdetailednotesinEvernotethatcombinedPathomawithextrainfofromourcourses.PathomawastheonlyresourcethatIthenrepeatedduringdedicatedstudydays.SinceIdiditsothoroughlythefirsttime,Iwasabletomakemysecondpassat1.7xspeed.AsIcameacrossthingsthatIhadforgotten,IpausedthevideotomakeoneormoreAnkicards.IfIhadthetime,Iwould'vedoneasecondpassonthis.Onlyuseditduringfirstyear,butdidn'thavethetimetore-watchthesepriortoStep1.SupplementtoFirstAid.MorebeneficialforMS2year,okayforstep1.Excellent,worththemoney.Stilluseasaresource.Greatexplanations/reallyenhancesunderstandingofpathophysanddiseaseprocesses.Helpful.Iusedthismoreduringtheblocksduringsecondyear.NotsomuchduringmyStep1studyperiod.Iusedthisasareference.Greatforpathologyreview.Explanationsareexcellent.ListenedtoachapterperdayWatchedvideosandwrotenotes.FeltlikeIwasgainingadeepersenseofunderstandingofthematerial,thoughunsurehowmuchthisactuallyhelpedontheexam.Mustuse.Videosandreadingareperfecttousethroughoutsecondyear.Wentthroughitwithblocks,againduringdedicatedstudytime.Useditthroughout2ndyear.Wentthroughthevideosalongsidebookonceduringthestudyperiod.Worththemoney.Outstandingresourceallmedstudentsshoulduse.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________SketchyMicro/Medical:Theoverwhelmingmajorityofstudentsfeltthisresourcetobeinvaluableforlearningmicrobiology.Studentsalsoremarkedthatgoodretentionofthemicrobiologymaterial,recallingtheinformationduringthethirdandfourthyearsofmedicalschoolaswell.NotmanystudentscommentedonSketchyPharm,butthosethatdid,foundthevideostobelessvaluable,astheyweretoodense.SketchyMicroisthoughttobewellworththecost.TheonlyreasonIgotANYmicroquestionsright.StartsduringmicroblockofMS1andcontinuedtoreviewduringMS2anddedicatedsteptime.Iusedthisalongsideregularclassstudying.Usefuladjuncttostudyingandveryentertaining.

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Ifoundthisthemostusefulformemorizingmicro.Iwatchedthevideosduringfirstyearmicroblockandthenre-watchedthemonthpriortotheexam(atincreasedspeed)andaddednotesfromthevideostoFirstAid.Amazingresource,reallyhelpedmelearnmicro.Absolutelynecessaryformicroduring1styearandwentbacktothisifIneededrefresherduring2ndyear.Rememberitwelltothisday.TheonlywayIrememberedmicrothenandnow.Reallyhelpfulforallthingsmicro.Veryhelpful.ItmadelearningMicromucheasierandinteresting.Fantasticresource.Learnedsomuchaboutbacteriologyinaboutaday,andcallbacktoSketchyMicroonthewardsallthetime.Soimportant!!!!Thiswillmakeyouamicroboss!Useitasmuchasyoucan.Sohelpfulforthewardsaswell.Itreallystickswithyou.Originally,Ihatedthisduringmicrobiology,butcomingbacktoitasasecondyear,thiswasgold.Iwatchedthesevideosalongsideeachblock(e.g.whenIwasinPulmII,Iusedthistoreviewinfectionsthataffectthelungs,orwheninGIII,Iusedittostudythevariousbugsthatcausediarrhea,etc.).Sketchypharmisalsoverygood,butitwasincompletewhenIstudiedforStep1,andtakesalotlongertoabsorb.Greatlastminutereviewbecausemicrobesandantibioticsareimpossibletocommittolong-termmemory.ItriedtopowerthroughalotofthesethisduringthelastweekbeforethetestandIthinkitgotmeanextracouplepointsontheexam.AGREATwaytostudymicro.TheonlymicrobiologyIreallydid.Triedinsecondyear,didnotuseforstep1.Ithoughtitwasaninefficientwayoflearningtheinformation.Excellentandinvaluable.Veryhelpful,thereisnootherwayIwouldbeabletomemorizemicrobiology.But,rememberthatitmustbeusedinadditiontofirstaid,becausethesketchesarenotcomplete.THEBESTWAYTOLEARNMICRO!Istillrememberthepicturesandusethemdailyonthewards.AfterusingthevideosIdidnotneedtoreviewthatsectionoffirstaidatall.Istillremembermicrostuffsolelybecauseofsketchy.Watchedallavailablecartoonsoncethrough;foundthesetobeveryeffective.Greatforthevisuallearner!Nowhasanabundanceoftopics.Essentialformetoremembermicrobiology.WentthroughthevideosinorderthenwentbacktospecificvideosforreviewasneededbasedonUWorldquestions.Lovedit,wortheverypenny.Suchaninnovativewaytolearn,andsomethingthatmadelearningmicrobiologyandantibiotics(somethingthatdoesnotcomenaturallytome)mucheasier.Ifnotforthisresource,Idon'tthinkIwouldhavedonenearlyaswellonStep1.Ialsofindthatreviewingtheinformationlateroninmymedicalschoolcareer,goingbacktothepicturesinmyhead,gotmethroughalotofdifficultpimpingsessionsonMedicine.DEFINITELYworththemoney,andaMUSTstudytool.SketchyMicrosavedmybuttinMicrofirstyear,soIusedmynotesfromfirstyeartoreviewmicroforStep1.

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Nootherwaytodobugsandantibiotics.Incredibleformemorizingmicro.Musthave+pharm.UsedduringMicroblockandasamemorytool(thereismoretoStep1thanwhatisinSketchy!).Watchedoverandoverinevenings.Superuseful-evenfoundsomeofthepharmvideosusefuldespitethembeinglonger/moredense(i.e.antiarrhythmics,heparin,etc.-gold).Yessssss.Reviewedafewperday,reviewedwithblocksasIDcameup.Thoughtitwasdumbatfirstandendedupusingitalot.Highqualityvideos,veryhelpfulforlearningmicrowell.IthinkIwouldhavedonemuchbetteronpharmifsketchypharmwasavailablebeforemyexam.Wassoimportanttomeformicroandpharm!Heavilyreliedonthisforthe"random"stuff.Absolutelymandatory.Idon'tknowhowanyoneremembersanythingmicrorelatedwithoutit.EvennowinthirdyearIonlyknowmicrothingsthatareinsketchy.Lovedit,bestthingformicro(startedusingitbeforestepstudyingforthemicrocourse).Endedupbeingsuperuseful.Ibingedonitduringmydedicatedstudytime.Amazing!Watchedthevideosasmy"breaks"fromstudyingthroughouttheday.Greatwaytomemorize.Worthit.IlikedtouseSketchyattheendofthedaytoreviewmicroandantibiotics.Ididnotusesketchypharm.Awesometooltouseinyourdowntimewhenyouaresickofstudying-watchafewvideoseverynightandyouwon'tforgetmicrostuffontheexam(thiswasmymainformofstudyingformicro).Tookscreenshots,putintoAnki,memorizedthepicturesbytalkingthroughwhatisonthem.Imainlyusedthisformicrobes,notpharmwhichIfoundtobeabitover-inclusive.IdidallofsketchyduringMS1,andthenreviewedthebugsastheycameupinMS2.IdidnottrytomakeanotherpassthroughsketchyatanypointduringdedicatedstudydaysasIfoundmynotes&annotatedscreenshotsofthesketchestobesufficient.IalsoputthesketchesonthebackofmyAnkicardsasappropriate.Watchedtheseat1.5-2xspeedforasecondtime(firsttimebeingduringfirstyear'smicroblock)beforeStep1-veryhelpful,especiallywiththeadditionofviruses,fungi,andparasites.Ididfindthatthemicroontheactualtestwasharderandoftenmentionedmicrobesthatweren'tnecessarilydepictedinSketchy.Greatvalueforbacteriabutithaschangedtoomuchformetorecommendatthispoint.Thiswasmy"funbreak".BeneficialforMS2yearandstep1.Absolutelyfantasticandmyfavoritestudytool.Madeahugedifferenceinmicrocourseandreallyhelpedformemorizingmicrostuff.Also,Ilikemicro....Bettertouseduringtheschoolyear,hardtocramallthevideosattheendwhentryingtomemorizeeverything.Helpful.Usedthisforbacteria/virusreview-Worththemoney.

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Savedmylife.Thebest.Ididn'tbotherusinganyotherresources(notevenFirstAid).Ijustwatchedeachvideoabout2-4timesanditworkedlikeacharm.Icouldn'tafforditatthetime,butitlookslikeitwouldhavebeenhelpful.Greatformicrobiologyifyouareavisuallearner.Did5videoseachmorning,wentthroughit2x.Amazingresource.Istillrememberfactstothisdaysolelyduetothevideos.Ifyouhaven'tusedthisduringIDsecondyear,useitforstep1studying.ItisGOLD!Useditthroughout2ndyear.Wentthroughsomevideosduringstudyperiod.SAVEDmeonmicro.Highlyhighlyrecommend.Microisoutstanding;pharmnotsomuch.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Picmonic:FewerstudentsusedPicmonic,butthosethatdidfounditonlyhelpfulformemorizinginbornerrorsinmetabolism(glycogenandlysosomalstoragedisorders),raregeneticconditions,andbiochemistry.Iusedthistohelpdifferentiatesimilarthings(drugs,diseases,etc.).Usefulforsomeweirddiseasesliketheglycogenstoragedisorders,etc.biochemstuffthatisjustimpossibletorememberotherwise.Onlyusedthisresourceforpharmacologyandtheraregeneticconditions(suchaslysosomalstoragedisordersetc.).UsedoccasionallyfortopicsIhadtroubleremembering.Ididn'tusePicmonicformuchbesideslysosomalstoragedisordersandbiochem,butitwashelpfulforthingsthatrequirerotememorization.Pharmwasuseful,however,picturesareprettyrandom,soonlyuseditselectivelyForthingsthatrequiredlotsofmemorizationandsomemeds.Especiallylysosomalstoragediseases,glycogenstoragediseases,vitamins,andbunchofotherstuff.Notgreat,butcheap.Helpfulfordrugs,althoughtheactualpictureskindofsuckandfalloutofyourhead.Helpfulforbiochem/geneticsTriedtogetthroughit,helpful,buttherewastoomuch.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________BRS(BoardReviewSeries):FewstudentsusedBRStostudyforStep1.Thosethatdiduseditforreferenceonly.Goodtogobacktoifneededin-depthreview.Onlyusedforreferencealthoughrarely.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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GoljanAudioSeries(Podcasts):Manystudentsusedthisaudioseriestosupplementtheirstudyinginmomentsofdowntime,suchaswhiledoinglaundryorworkingout.Somestudentsthoughtthatitofferedadifferentperspectiveonmaterial,whichwasfunnyandrefreshing.Notmanycommentsweremaderegardingthedirectusefulnessoftheresource.Usedthistogorunning/workout.Listenedtothesewhileinthecarorrunning.Extremelyhelpfulforhighyieldtopicsandstep1favoritetopics.Bewareitisoffensive.Listenedthroughthewholeseriesinmycar.Usedtositbackand"relax"frombeingactivelyengagedinstudyingwhilestillstudying,notasniceasPathomabutcoulduseinthecar.Nicetolistentowhileexercisingorwalkingtoclassordoinglaundry.NotavitalresourcebutIwasentertainedandfeltthemtobehelpful-hedoesagreatjobofclearlyoutliningthingsandpointingoutkeydifferencestopayattentiontoonthetests.Goodtolistentowhileworkingout.Listenedtomultipletimesasanotherwaytostudywhilestillperforminglifetaskslikelaundryanddriving.Listenedwhiledoingchoresordriving.Iwouldrecommendsinceit'sfreeandallowsyoutostudyevenwhiledoingotherthings.FuntolistentoonthesideandhelpedreiteratethingsinadifferentwaythanPathoma.Wasgreattolistentothroughouttheday.Listenedtohimonwalkstoschoolandoncarrides.IlistenedtoallofthesewhileIwouldjog.Ithelpedmenotfeelguiltyaboutexercise,andIfeltoverallbetterbydoingthese.OnthetestdayIrememberthinkingIgot3questionsrightbecauseIlistenedtothese.Downtimereview.Thiswasagoodresource-Icametoittoolateanddidn'tgetthrougheverything.Iwouldlistentothepodcastswhileonwalks.Listedtothisduringmybreaksworkingoutorplayingbasketball.Thoughttheseweresuperhelpful.Ijustlistenedtotheminmycar.Kindofworthit.Ioftenlistenedtothesewhiledrivingtothegymorgoingforarun.Inadditiontodoingagoodjobexplainingconcepts,he'sprettyfunnyandthejokeshelpedmetorememberwhathewastalkingabout.ItwasnicetogetanotherangleonsomeoftheconceptswhereIfeltalittleweak.Healsodoesagoodjobofelucidatingwhatisgoingoninsidethequestionwriter'shead.Ithinkitdefinitelybroughtmyscoreupabit.ListenedtotheseasmuchasIcouldwhenIwasdriving.Hisvoicecanbegrating,butIfoundhimhilarious.Andhisexplanationswereclear.Listeninginthecarwhiledrivingtothelibrary.Goodforworkout,afewnicequestions.Justlistenedwhendoingchores/gym.

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Verygoodforlearning.Ididn'tprioritizethis,butitwashelpfultohavewhenI'mgoingonarunordrivingtoschool,etc.Goodreviewofpathconcepts.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________GoljanRapidReviewofPathology:Fewerstudentsusedthisresource.Thosethatdidfoundittobeverydense,butthatitdidprovideagoodreviewofpathologyconceptsiftheywerelookingtoimproveonacertainarea.Anotherstudentsolelyusedtheimagesinthetextforreference,asitisthoughtthatsomeoftheseimageshavebeenonorwillbeontherealStep1exams.UsefulifyouwantmoredetailoncertaintopicsyoufinddifficultorwhereFirstAidislackingexplanation,butabitdense.ExcellenttextbooksourceinoutlineformatthatwasalltheinfoIneededwithUWorld.Don'treadthisbutusethepictures!!!ApparentlysomeareIDENTICALtothoseontherealtest.Ihadthepdfversionandwouldtakescreenshotsofthepath/imagestoputintomyelectronicAnkidecknotes.Wouldreadthenotesinthemarginsandlookatthepicturesonly,otherwisetoodense.Goodreviewforweaksubjectareas.Usedasreferencewhenfirstaiddidnotmakesensetome.Non-essential,maybeIwouldslightlyrecommend.Differentrepresentationofmaterial,IusedittocomplementPathoma.Gotthebookbutdidn'tlikeit.Thebookisamazingwithsmallnotesinthemarginsforhigh-yieldinformationandmoredetailsinthebodyofthebookifyouneededtoreadmore.Morefocusedonpathologywithsomereviewofphysiology.Usedasanoutline,fillingaps.Ifoundthistextwaytoodense,butifIwereshootingfor260-70s,IthinkIwould'veforcedmyselftosufferthroughthis.Goodreviewofpathconcepts.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________AnkiFlashcards/Decks:AnkiFlashcardDeckswereusedbymanystudents.Studentsfoundthemmostusefulformemorizingpharmacology,microbiology,andbiochemistry.ManydownloadedpremadeStep1reviewdecks(oneofwhichisnamed‘brosencephalon’).OthersmadetheirowndecksorusedAnkiasanelectronicnotesystem,housingallthevaluablegraphs,imagesandtablestheywouldcomeacross.Thedownsidetothisresourceisthatwhennearingtheendofthestudyperiod,theshearvolumeofcardstogetthrougheachdaybecomesoverwhelming.

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UsedthroughoutMS1/2.DownloadedpremadeStep1decksthatIusedduringMS2anddedicatedstudy.Usefulformemorizingpharmacology.Absolutelyuseful.UsedthesetotestmyselfonconceptsIgotwrongonUWorldquestions.Usedbrosencephalondeck,availableonline.Usedfordrugsandbugs.Iusedthesethroughoutfirstandsecondyearandsohadgottenintoahabitofusingthem.IfoundthemveryusefulbutI'mnottotallysuretheywereindispensable.Itriedtodothespacedrepetitionthingbutquicklyrealizedthiswasnotrealistic-itwasjustTOOMANYCARDS-tootimeconsuming(ifyou’retobesuccessfulatthis,beselectivewiththecards!)AtfirstIwassadthisstrategyfailedformebutIsoonafterrealizedthatmyworkwasn’tfornothing--becauseIhadspentsomuchtimecreatingtheseamazingcards,Ihadcreatedadeckfullofamazingcomprehensivenotesoneverything.Iwastiredofsiftingthroughmypaperfirstaid,whichwastedsomuchtime,soImadeAnkiintomyelectronicnotesystem.THISWASSOAMAZING!IwasabletosearchthedecktofindtheimagesormnemonicIwastryingtorememberwithinseconds.Iaddedtothisthroughoutstudyingandwouldinputnotesfromdoctorsintrainingvideos,firstaidimages,tablesandkeynotes,andrelevantGoogleimages,PathomaandanatomyandGoljanPathimages,andUWorldpicturesItookonmyphone.Iamaveryaudio/visualpersonandthiswassoclutch.IalsomadesketchymicronotesonAnkicardsandstillusethesetolookupallthedetails,evenonthewards...sogreat!BrosencephalondeckswerearehashofFAforeverytopicEXCEPTpharmacology(whereitwashonestlyoverkill).ThiswasgreatforpeoplewhohatedreadingFA(likeme),andworkedreallywelltokilltimeonthebus/etc.IpaireditwithDIT,sinceDITtendedtocoverFAtopicsinorder,andBrosencephalonisbasicallyaQ&AversionofFA.Usedthebrocephalondeck.Createdcustomdecksfromwithinthattostudy.Mademyown(small)Ankideck.Didnotfindpre-madedecksuseful.FindaFirstAidAnkideckonlineorfromafriend,andstartflippingthroughthisearlyintheyear.It'stheonethingIwishIhadstartedearlier.Usedthisaton.Hadsomepremadeflashcardsandaddedmyown.InretrospectIshouldhavemovedthroughtheseatabetterclipandjustacceptedtheonesIcouldn’tgetrightIloveAnkiflashcards.IlearnthroughrepetitionandthisallowedmetoutilizespacedrepetitionasIsawfit.Ilikedbeingabletodorapid-fireflashcardswhilewaitinginlineorbetweenpatientsatACA.Soimportant.IstartedusingthesealittlelatetooandwishIhadusedthemfromthebeginningofstudying.Usedsporadically,didn'tworkforme.ThiswasusefulformakingflashcardsfromfirstaidinfoAnkiiskey!Thereisjustnowaytoremembersomuchmaterialwithouthavingspacerepetition.IonlyusedAnkitoreviewwronganswersforUWorld.Shareotherpeople'sAnkidecks(likebrosencephalononreddit)soyoudon'thavetospendtoomuchtimemakingflashcardsifyoudon'twantto.Dothemwithaclassmateoncarridesorwhileboredinclass.UsedforblocksinM1,M2andduringdedicatedusedmorefornotetaking.Foundationalforme.ImadeAnkicardsthroughoutMS2tohelpstudyformyblockexamsandIputa"step1"tagontheonesthatIwantedtocontinuerememberevenaftertheblockexam.Aftereach

30

test,Imovedthe"step1"taggedcardstoaseparateUSMLEdeckandIcontinuedtoreviewthatupuntilthetest.Inaddition,anytimesomethingcameup(eveninacasualconversationwithaclassmate)whereIthought"shoot,Iknewthatonce,butIforgot.Ineedtoknowthatforstepthough,"Iwouldlookitup,andthenIwouldmakeitintoanAnkicard.Mygoalwastoonlyhavetore-learnthingsonce.Itwasn'tthathardtostayontopoftheduecardsinmystep1deckduringthefirst3/4ofMS2yearandIfounditanincrediblyhelpfulandefficientwaytolearn.OnceIstarteddoingUWorld,IalsomadeAnkicardsabouttheconceptsthatImissedquestionsabout.Towardstheend,itgotalittlehardertostayontopofmydeckbecauseIwasaddingalotofcardstoiteachday.However,evenwhenIhadtostrayfromthespacedrepetitionscheduleinthelastmonthorsoandjustdocrammodewithmynewcards,mydeckwasstillhugelyhelpfulasasearchablereferenceofkeyconcepts,explainedinmyownwords,withscreen-shottedimagesfromFirstAid,UWorld*,orclassnotes.Overall,AnkiwasHUGEforme.ItreallycutdownontheamountthatIhadtore-learnfromMS2andmademesomuchmoreefficient.*Yes,UWorldwillcloseifyoutrytotakeascreenshotfromyourcomputer.MyworkaroundwastousetheiOSapponmyiPadtoreviewUWorldquestionsandthentosnapapictureoftheirfigureswithmyphone'sEvernoteapp.IfyouhaveEvernotepremium,textwithinpicturesissearchableandyouwillhaveasearchableindexofalltheUWorldfigures.MademyowncardsasIstudied.IusedthistomakesurethatIrememberedtheanswersfromUWorldandforquickrepetitionoffacts.UsedtolearnFAbiochemchapter.Goodforrememberingstraightfacts. ThemostimportantthingIused.Outstandingresourceformemorizingdifficultytorememberfacts/info.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Firecracker:OverallstudentsfeltthatFirecrackerwasnotallthatitwascrackeduptobe.Afewstudentsdidseemtolikethisresource,buttheyuseditreligiouslyandstartedveryearly,eitherinfirstorsecondyear.Studentsalsofeltthatthisresourcetooktoomuchtimeduringthedaytobehelpful,especiallyasStep1grewnearer.Useless!Useditfirstyearandthengaveuponit.Istarteddoingthisduringfirstyearbutfoundittobetootimeconsumingduring2ndyearandnotaseffectiveasadditionaltimespentonfirstaid,Pathoma,andUWorldWasteofmoney,notuserfriendlyandredundantifyouuseAnkiasyourmainmodeofspacedrepetitionsstudying.Usedthroughoutwholeyear(andMS3),reallyhelpful,wishIhadstartedatthebeginningof2ndyear.Alsoreallyhelpedmeduring"pimping"onthewards.Didthefreetrialforashorttime.ToomuchtimeinadditiontootherthingsIdid.Didn'tfindittobeveryuseful.Triedtousethisforpharmreview.Donotrecommendoverall,givenhowgoodtheotherresourceslikeFAandUWorldare.ProbablydidnotimpactmyscoreTriedfirecrackerinsecondyearandwasunimpressed.

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I'veheardthishasgottenmuchbetterUseditreligiously,~200-300questionsadayduringMS2andgavemeahugelegup.Notsureit'sworthitDuringM2,stoppedduringdedicatedcauseittooktoomuchtimeandtestedtoomanyminutedetails.Boughtit,regrettedit,neverendedupusingit.Theformatwasstressfulandoverwhelmingformepersonally.Usedextensivelythroughoutfirstandsecondyear,whichIthinkwasamistake.Theexplanationsarereallyforgettableandthequestionsdon'treallyapproximateboardstylethinkingverywell.Irecommendit.IdidnotuseitsinceIdidn'tknowitexisted,butIthinkitwouldhavehelped.Quiteoverratedinmyopinion.Goodforrepetition,butIfeltthecontentwasextremelydisorganizedandpoorlydisplayed,andoftentimeswentintodetailinwaysthatwerenothelpfulfortheexam.Maybeagoodresourcefor2ndyearstudying,butnotagoodfocusedreviewsourceforStep1,inmyopinion.CouldhavegottenbettersinceIuseditandIknowmanyclassmatessworebyit.Didn'tuseitforStep1,buthonestlywishIdid.Quick,highyield,easilyrepetitivefacts.Notworththemoney.Didn'treallyuseitverymuch....

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Osmosis:Veryfewstudentsusedthisresource,asmanywerenotawareofitsexistence.Notakeyresource,butOsmosismaybehelpfulasamobilephoneQbankforon-the-gostudying.LikeditasasupplementaryQbanktodowhenIhaveaminuteofdowntimewhileoutandabout.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________CramFighter:CramFighterisanonlineschedulegenerator.Studentsfoundthisresourceveryuseful,butnotnecessary,thoughmanyhighlyrecommendedit.Keptmeontrack.Definitelyworththemoneyformydedicatedperiod.LikedtheideaofthisbutIfounditextremelyhardtoactuallysticktothescheduleIcreated.Ifyoudousethis,orevenifyoudon't,schedulein‘catch-up’studydays!Bestchoice,especiallytoscaremeintorealizinghowmuchIhadtodoandhowlittletimetodoit.Greatexamschedulegenerator,wouldrecommend.REALLYhelpfulformetofigureouthowtoscheduleinsomanydifferentresourcesaswellashowtoaccountfordifferingamountsofstudytimedependingonothercommitments(i.e.blockexametc.)HIGHLYRECOMMENDTHIStoanyone,regardlessofstudyhabits.Onlywaytogeteverythingdoneandstayontrack.

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GREATforprocrastinatorslikeme-toldmeexactlywhattodoeveryday.Veryhelpful!Helpsyouseeifyouaretryingtocramintoomanyresources.Iendedupusingthistoscheduleoutmy2ndpassthroughPathomaandthenumberofQbankquestionsIhadleft.Itwasn'tthatcriticalforme,butsavedmealittlebitoftimeandonlycost~$50.Italsofeltgoodtocrossthingsoffintheirsystem.I'dprobablyuseitagain.Useful,butnotnecessary.Helpfulifusingabunchofdifferentresources.Reliedonthisheavilytomakemydailystudytasklist.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________LangePharmacologyFlashCards:Veryfewstudentsusedthesepremadeflashcards.Thosethatdidseemedtolikethem,buttheseflashcardsdonotseemnecessary.Recommendedforstudentswhofeelweakinpharmacology.Usedalittle,notasuperhighyieldresource.Reallylovedthese.Woulddo5-10pernight,andwouldcorrelatewiththematerialIstudiedthatday.Gotthroughthedeckabouttwice.Thiswassuperhelpful.Pharmistoughandnotcoveredwellbyanything(maybethenewsketchypharmisgood?butthiswasn'treleasedyetsothesewereclutch).PurchasedsinceIstrugglewithpharmacologybutonlygottouseneartheendofmystudyperiod.Mighthavebeenhelpfultohaveatthebeginningoftheschoolyeartousemoreconsistentlythroughouttheyearsincedrugnamesarehardtocramatthelastminute.Mademyownflashcardsfromthese

_________________________________________________________________________________________________CourseMaterials:StudentsrarelyusedtheirpriorcoursematerialstostudyforStep1,withtheexceptionoftheMind,BrainandBehaviorcoursebook,whichwasusedmainlyforreferenceandneuroanatomy.UsedasreferenceformoredetailedexplanationsthatFirstAidcouldn'tprovideme.UsedsomeforreferenceMBBdefinitely.Moreusefulthanneurosectionoffirstaid.Greatforcourses,butreallynotthatgoodforstep1.Toomuchfacultyresearch/nontestablecontent.Goodforrealworldpractice,butnotgoodtorelyonforStep1,despitewhatmostofthecoursedirectorswilltellyou.Well,Imean,IusedMBBsyllabusinordertostudyforMBBIandII,andMBBIIisverysimilartostep1,butIdon'tthinkIspecificallyreferredtoMBBsyllabus(oranyothercoursematerial)tostudyforStep1.Honestly,thewaythesebooksarewrittenaregreatforstudyingtopicsingeneral(e.g.inprepfor3rdyear),butit'snotashelpfulforlearninghowtobeattheexam(e.g.wordassociations,etc.).

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I'moldschool,butstillthinkgoingtolectureanddoingwellinclassisthebestprepoverall.Ifyoudon'tlearnthisstuffwellthefirsttimearounditwillbemuchhardertocramintheweeksleadinguptotheexam.Withtheexceptionofafewreviewsheetslikeantibioticsandpharmacologyconsequencesofcertaindrugs,thecoursematerialswerenotformattedforreviewandwerenotefficientstudyaids.MBBbookisgreat.Goodtohavearoundjustincasesomething"stuck"betterfromwhenyousawitintheCardsEKGbookorMBBsyllabusbutnotnecessary.Helpfultoreferbackto.OccasionallyusedMBBbookasareference.Veryrarelyusedthese,andusuallyonlywhenacourseprovidedaparticularlywell-organizedchart,image,orotherspecificreferencematerial.UsedMBBbookawholelot.CertainblockImadereviewsheetswithallpertinentinfoonthem.Usedthose/MBBbookisanawesomeresource.MBBbookwashelpful,othercoursematerialnotsomuch.Usejustforthecourses.Usecoursematerialsifyouwanttojogyourmemoryonhowyoufirstlearnedaparticulartopictoplaceitbackinafamiliarcontext.Rarelyhelpfulforstep.Iuseditasreference.MBBwashelpfulforrememberingsomeneuroanatomyandpathways.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________OtherStudyResources/Strategies:Severalstudentsusedgroupstudysessionsforpeer‘pimping’(questionasking).Afewstudentswroteorkeptnotesbyusingasticky-notematrixonthewall,withcoloredmarkersorpapercoordination.Othersusedawhiteboardorawindowtotakenotes.Thismethodallowedforrapidaccesstopreviouslystudiedorfrequentlyreferencedmaterials.AfewgrouppimpsessionswereafunwaytomeetupwithfriendsandseehowyouweredoingwithyourstudyingcomparedtocolleaguesKaplanCourse.Ithelpstowriteoutyourstudyguidesinsteadoftypingthem.StartPathomaatthebeginningof2ndyear.Seriously.ThisisthesinglebestpieceofadviceIcangivetoanyonestudyingforStep1.Doitasyougothroughyourclassesandeverythingwillmakesensedespitelecturersjammingthrough120slidesin50minutes.Ihaddecidedearlythatduringmystudying,wheneverIdidn'tknowtheanswertosomethingIwouldpausewhatIwasdoingandfindit(ascomparedtosomemomentsduringfirstandsecondyearwhenIwouldtellmyself,'okay...I'lllookthatuplater'.Wellthereisno'later'forstep1studyingsoifIdidn'tknowsomethingIwouldwriteitdownonasticknoteandplaceonmywallatmydesk.

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Thismorphedintoanamazingsubject-basedmatrixwhereatanymoment,ifIneededtoquicklylookupinformationIcouldreferencemy,admittedly,crazywall.ThiswaskeyformeasIrememberthingsmorevisually-Icouldpicturethingsonmywallduringthetestandhelpjogmymemory.IalsoputupquestionstickynotesinmybathroomoncertainthingsthatIwouldmisstimeandtimeagainandwouldonlytakeitdownonceIknewitcold.Ialsohungupanatomypostersandhelpfulchartsorlistsormnemonicsthatyouneedtoknoworarehelpful(suchassidebysidecharacteristicsofCrohnsvs.ulcerativecolitis).Stickynotematrixonthewallforthewin!Ihadaccesstoanenormouswhiteboardandusedthistodrawcharts,tables,etc.tohelpthemstick.Worksgreatforvisuallearners!Googleasneeded.FoundstudyingingroupsforStep1/2tobebothunhelpfulandneedlesslyanxietyproducing.Iplannedoutmyentirestudyperiodwithexactlyhowmanyvideos,questions,andpagesoffirstaidtocoverperday.Havingfriendstostudywithissoimportant!AfriendandItriedtoteacheachotherthingswelearnedfromthedayattheendoftheday.TrytogetastudybuddywhocanatleaststudysilentlywithyouandtrytogetoutofyourapartmentandexploreSDcoffeeshopsasmuchaspossible.Whenyoumightbereviewingyournotesattheendofthestudyday,takesometimetopimpeachotheronimportanttopicsbutdon'tbeconcernediftheyknowanswersthatyoudon'tknowyet!ForStep2,stickynotesonthewallwithcoloredmarkersformaterial.WishIdiditduringStep1.IhadalotofpimpingsessionswithmyroommateduringourStep1studyperiod.Ithoughtitwasagoodstudybreak(eventhoughwewerestillstudying).Usedwindowsinmyhouseaswhiteboardstotakenotes!

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PracticeExams__________________________________________________________Roughlyone-quarterofstudentstookthepracticeStep1examofferedatthePrometrictestingcenter(Figure10).Moststudentstook3practiceexamspriortoStep1(Figure11).Thecampuspracticeexam,UWorldpracticeexam,andtheNBMEexams,andthePrometrictestingcenterexamwereallmoderatelytoveryhelpful(Figure12).Theaveragehelpfulnessrating,inorderoflesshelpfultomorehelpful,was3.12forthePrometricCenterpracticeexam,3.89forthecampuspracticeexam,4.02fortheUWorldpracticeexams,and4.19fortheNBMEmulti-blockpracticeexams(Table1). AwordonthePrometrictestingcenterexam-ThePrometrictestingcenterexamisan examyoucantakeforafeeatthetestingcentertofamiliarizeyourselfwiththetesting processandenvironment.Manystudentsrecommenddoingthispracticetesttofamiliarize themselveswiththetestingcenter(seeTestDayAdviceandTips,pg85).Thisisnotoffered atalltestingcenters,butisofferedatthetestingcenterinSanDiego.Itisimportantto notethatthesame‘free’examplequestionsofferedonlineontheNBMEwebsite (approximately96questions)arethesamequestionsonthepracticetestatthetesting center.Ifyouplantotakethispracticeexamatthetesting center,donottakethesepractice questionspriortodoingsooryouwillbewastingyourprecioustime.Fifty-threestudentsreportedthefinalpracticescoretheyhadreceivedpriortotakingStep1;1answerwaseliminatedasanoutlier.Oftheremaining52students,theUSMLEStep1examscoreaveragewas241.3,whichisjustover3pointshigherthantheaveragepre-testfinalpracticeexamscoreof238.2(Figure13).ManystudentsfeltthattheNBMEfull-lengthpracticetestswereunnecessarilyanxietyprovokingbecausetheyhadscoredmuchlowerontheirNBMEpracticeexamscomparedtotheirfutureStep1score;theNBMEpracticeexamsarethoughttounderestimateStep1scores,(Figure14).ThisincomparisontoUWorldpracticeexams,whicharethoughttobebetterscorepredictors(Figure15).AveragenumberofNBMEpracticeexamspurchasedwas2.83,withmoststudentspurchasing2-3practiceexams(Figure16).StudentsoverallfeltthattakingNBMEpracticeexamswerehelpfultogaugeprogress,butnottostudy.Theylikedthatitmorecloselymimicsrealtestingconditions,becausetheexamsareoldexamquestions.Taking1-3testsseemsusefulforpracticingtiming;yet,sincetherearenoanswersprovided,thustakingadditionaltestsmaybeonlymarginallybeneficial.

36

Figure10.

Figure11.

Figure12.

TookPrometricCenterExam24%

DidNot76%

StudentsWhoTookthePrometricPracticeExam:

0510152025

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+

Num

berofStudents(n)

NumberofExams

NumberofTotalPracticeExamsTakenPriortoStep1:

37

Table1.

ExaminationHelpfulness

AverageRatingCampusPracticeExam 3.89PrometricCenterPracticeExam 3.12UWorldPracticeExam 4.02NBMEMulti-BlockPracticeExam 4.19Figure13.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponsesto:NBMEFullPracticeExamsGoodforassessingmyprogress.Iusedittoassessmyprogressweekly.Ididsome"grouptests"withfriendssowecouldtalkeachotherthroughthings.Idid4practiceexams.OnonedayIdid2back-to-backtomimicthelengthoftherealtestday.Mypracticescoreswerewithin5-10pointsofmyactualscore.Greatresourcebecausemimickedrealtestingconditions.Exhaustingthoughsoonlydidittwice.Ibought5ofthemandspreadthemout,onepriortotheschool-providedonethenperiodicallyupuntiloneweekbeforetheexam.IhadsomequestionswordforwordappearonStep1,whichwasnicefortimingandconfidenceboosting.Idon'trecommendtakingthesejustbeforeyourtestbecauseyourbrainneedsrestandyoumightgetpsychedout.Tookacoupleofthesebeforetherealexamtobuildupmytest-takingstamina.

R²=0.62348

170

180

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280

Step1Score

FinalPracticeScore

Step1ScoreAgainstFinalPracticeScore:

OfjicialStep1Score

Linear(OfjicialStep1Score)

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Used1fullpracticeexamtoassessperformance2weeks(Ithink)priortorealexam,underestimatedfinalscoreHelpfulforendurance/practiceoftiming.Notsogreatforreview.Didtwohalf-lengthandonefull-lengthexamsontheSaturdaysleadinguptotheexamatthesametimeIwouldbetakingtheactualexamwithmysamesnacksandfoodI'dhavefortheactualexam.Usedweekly.Awaytosimulatetestdayconditions.Kindofgoodforpracticingthepaceandestimatingwhereyouareifyoutookthetesttoday,butunlessyou'regoingtodelaytestingbecauseofhowyouperformedonthepracticeexam,notworthdoingorspendingmoneyon.Don'tteachyoumuch,moreofabenchmark.Thesearehelpfulbutannoyinginthatyouaren'tgiventheanswers.Paythemoneyandgettheexpandedfeedbacktoatleastknowwhatquestionsyoumissed.MystrategywastoactuallywriteaverybriefnoteoneachquestionsduringthetestandwhatIanswered(whichseemslikeitwould'vetakentoolongbutIhadplentyoftimetocompletetheblocks-Iwrotemax10wordsonsmallline),whichhelpedwiththeexpandedfeedbacktoknowwhichonesIkindofguessedonandwhichIgotcorrect.NBMEtendstounderestimateyourscore!Thesearesuperhard!AlsoIwastedawholedaytryingtosearchtheInternettofigureouttheanswerstomymissedquestions-thismayworkbutultimatelyIregrettedthis.IshouldhavejustmoveddidabriefSDNanswersearch(sidenote--thisisillegaltopostthetestanswers,FYI)andthenjustgiveupontherestasitwasnotanefficientuseofmytimetofindanswerstothesecrazycomplicatedquestions.Itook2tests,1test2.5weeksoutand1test1weekout.Allowafewhoursforreview.Ihatedthesewithburningpassion.Istartedoffscoringrelativelywell,andsawmyscoredropwitheachpracticetest.Worseyet,Icouldn'tusethemtocheckmyanswers/identifymyweaknesses.Eventually,Ijuststoppedusingthem.Goodforgaugingyourprogress,butnotgoodforlearning.Ionlyboughtoneofthese(inadditiontothefreeonthattheschooloffers).Maybewouldhavedonemore,butyougetverylittlefromtheseotherthanpracticewithtimingandanindicatorofwhatyoumayscore.TheNBMEtestthatIdid2weekspriortostep1overestimatedmyrealscoreby4points.Reallygoodforsimulatingtherealtestintermsofthedifficultyofthequestions.Mostlyusefulforformatting.Questionswerenotrepresentativeofactualstepquestionsandlackofreviewmodemadethempracticallyuselessasastudyaid.Idid3oftheseduringthe3-4weekspriortoStep.Myactualstepscorefellwithina10-pointrangeofwhatIgotonthepracticetests,soit'sagoodwaytoestimatewhatscoreyou'llbenear.Besttogaugeyourrealperformance.Iusedthesefortrackingprogress,butnotaverygoodlearningtoolsincethereisnoanswerkeyorexplanation.Iwouldrecommend,butnotessential.Moderatelyhelpfulbutbecausetheexamdoesnotprovideananswerkeyorletyoureviewthequestionsyouwereguessingonbutgotcorrectitislessofapowerfulstudyguide.Iwouldsuggestcollectingwronganswersinaclasswide-Google-doclikeourclassdidinordertocollectthemajorityoftestquestions,eventheonesyougotrightOnlytooktheschooladministeredone,whichsetagoodbaselineforme.Goodwaytoassessyourprogress.Takingmorethan2-3testsbringsyoutoapointofdiminishingreturns,asyouarenotactuallylearninganythingfromthetestsinceitdoesnothaveexplanationsofwronganswerchoices.Veryusefultotakeonatthebeginningforbaseline,oneinthemiddletoassessprogressandthenaweekpriortotestdatetofinddeficiencies.Takingclosertotheexamisjustanxietyprovokinganddoesn'tgiveyouenoughtimetoaddressanyissues.

39

Nothelpful.Goodtogageprogress,butwasteoftimeifyoudotoomanyandnothelpfulforstudyingpurposes...Did2full-lengthpracticeexams.It’stemptingtotaketheNBMEpracticeteststoseehowyou’reprogressingwithyourstudying,butdon’tdoittoofrequently.Itook2–onceabout2monthsbeforethetestandoneabout2-3weeksbefore.Isawpeopletakingthemevery1-2weeksandyounotonlylosealotofstudytimebutitcanalsobedemoralizingifyourscoreisn’tjumpingup(whichitmightnotafteronlyaweekortwo).Usefultoboostconfidenceandhaveexperienceonthedayoftheexam.Importantpartofprep,Stamina,knowingformatetc.IwishIhaddoneonemore(Ididtwoplustheschool's)Testmyreadinessfortheactualexam.Closestquestionstyletotheactualtest.Themorerecentpracticeexamsarethemostaccuratepredictorsoftestperformance.Buytheexpandedfeedbacktoseewhichquestionsyougotwrong.Itook3totaloftheseexams,includingtheonethatwasadministeredoncampusbytheuniversity.IthinkthatitwasagoodideatotakethemsothatIunderstoodhowtotimemyselfforextendingexamtaking,anditgavemeagaugeofhowmyover-allknowledgewascomingtogetherduringthestudyperiod.Ithinkthat,astheyarenot"required"(Isupposenoneoftheseresourcesare,butyoucouldarguethatFirstAid,Pathoma,SketchyMicro,andUWORLDare)theyareworththemoneytothosewhochoosetodothem.Theseexamswereusedtoseewheremyknowledgegapslayandmytest-takingabilitieswere.Iusedthemtoimprovemyapproachtoquestionsandimprovemytest-takingabilities.Verygoodpracticefortherealthing.Ididalloftheonesoffered.Useful,butcanbeemotionallytaxing.Didoneduringthedesignatedstudyperiod.Double-edgedsword-sawalotofpeoplegetreallythrownoff/stressedoutbyNBMEresults.Notagreatlearningtoolbecausenotgreatexplanations,recommendonlytakingthemiftheywouldchangeyourmanagement(i.e.ifyouareconsideringmovinguporbumpingbackyourtestdate!)Assessmentofpreparedness.Took3total-oneatthebeginning,oneinthemiddleofstudyperiod,andoneaweekbeforetheactualexam.Helpfultowardtheendtogetfamiliarwiththeactualexam,butnotalwaysagreatmarkerforactualperformance.Helpedtoscaremestraight,butmypracticescoreswerenearly20pointslowerthanmyactualscore.UseditforgaugingwhereIwasat.Usefuljusttogetasenseoftheformat,supposedlyrepeatquestionssometimesshowupontherealexamsfromtheseexamsbutIdidn'tgetany.Veryexpensive-sortofgavemeasenseofwhereIwasatbutIendedupperformingbetterontherealdeal.Probablyusefulbutneedtohaveasourceforanswersotherwisenotanefficientuseoftime.IputtoomuchweightinthesepracticeexamswhenIdidpoorlyandnotenoughweightwhenIdidwell.Overallnotveryusefulinmyopinion.Notliketherealtest.Worthit.

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Didafewjusttopractice.Ididtwotests(threeifyouincludetheschoolone).Ithinkit'sagoodstrategytoseehowyouareprogressingandtogetcomfortablewithhowthequestionsareasked,astheyaredifferentfromUWorld.Did2ofthese-firstonewasveryrough,secondoneIgotthehangofit.Agoodexerciseintimingandsomewhathelpfultopredictscoreonexambutdon'treadtoomuchintoitifyougetabadscore.AlsotheformatoftherealexamlooksmuchmorelikeUWorldthanitlookslikethesepracticeexams.Did2interspersedindedicatedstudytime.Reallydentedmyconfidenceunnecessarily.IwasneverabletoreachmygoalscoreonNBMEpracticeexamsdespitedoingwellonUWORLDselfassessments.IspentalotoftimestressingoverNBMEpracticeexamscores,changingmystudystrategiesafterward,etc.Ultimatelymystep1scoreendedupbeingwayhigherthanithadeverbeenonanNBMEpracticeexam-doNOTgivethoseteststoomuchweight!Importantformytesttakingskills/buildingstamina,andassessingyourprogress/modifyingmystudyscheduleasappropriate.IdidNOTfindthemefficientaslearningtoolsbecauseyouhavetotrollthroughtheInternettofindexplanationsforeachquestion.IthinkItookabout1perweek.Ifoundtheseusefultotakethroughoutthestudyperiodtogaugewheremyknowledgewas.Goodtogaugewhereyou’reat.Helpfulinthe3monthsbeforetesttogaugestudyefficiency.GoodforassessingimprovementoverthestudyperiodVeryuseful,took4-5ofthemaspracticeexamsandwrotedownwhatIputforanswersandwhichonesIgotwrongsothatIknewwhatalltheanswerswere.Usedtoassessmyprogress.Thoughtthiswasthebestrepresentationofmyactualscore.Itookoneeveryweektotrackmyprogress.Itwasveryaccurateinmyopinion.However,wouldn'tuseitasalearningtoolbecausetheydon'tgiveyouananswerkeyoreventellyouwhattherightansweristoquestionsyougotwrong.Ihatethattheychargemoneyforthese(andchargeextrafortheanswers),butthere'sreallynochoicebuttopurchasethem.Purchasedandcompleted3tests(didnottaketheoneofferedbytheschool).Usedasanassessmenttoolprimarily.TooknotesonnewtopicsandlookedthemupafterthetestGoodforgettingasenseofwhereIwasatinmystudying.Didn'tlikethatIcouldn'tseetheanswers.Didabout3exams,goodforfiguringoutdeficitsinknowledge.Did1totrackprogress.Greatpracticefortiming;probablyonlydotheseduringthededicatedstudytimeandclosertoyourtestdate.Tookseveral.TheyweregreatpracticefortheenduranceneededduringtheexamandamentalpreparationforhowwellIwilldoontheexam(myactualscorewas~10pointshigherthanmylastNBMEwhichItook1weekpriortoexam).Ididnotlikethattheycausedanxietyandstressinsomeofmyclassmates(whentheydidn'tgetthescoretheyanticipated).Excellentpracticeinquestionformat,difficultyandtiming.Usedforself-assessment.

41

Figure14.

Figure15.

Figure16.

Underestimated39%

RoughlyEstimated54%

Overestimated7%

StudentImpressiononHowAccuretelytheNBMEExamsPredictedTheirScore:

Underestimated20%

RoughlyEstimated58%

Overestimated22%

StudentImpressiononHowAccuratelytheUWORLDPracticeExamsPredictedTheirScore:

0510152025303540

0 1 2 3 4 5+

Num

erofstudents(n)

NumberofExams(n)

NumberofNBMEPracticeExamsPurchased:

42

UWORLD,In-Depth__________________________________________________________Aremarkable99%ofthestudentssurveyedusedUWorldQbanktoprepareforStep1.MoststudentspurchasedUWorldeitherduringsecondyear(55%)oratthestartofsecondyear(33%),(Figure17).Only3outof100studentspurchasedUWorldatthestartofthedesignatedstudyperiod(Figure17).Ofthestudentssurveyed,47%and48%ofstudentspurchasedthe6and12-monthQbanksubscriptions,respectively(Figure18).UWorldself-assessmentexams(4-blockpracticeexams)wereonlypurchasedby69%ofstudents(Figure19).StudentsfeltthattheUWorldPracticeexamswereagoodestimateoftheirrealStep1scores,(Figure15,pg42),especiallyincomparisontoNBMEpracticeexams,whichappearedtounderestimatescores(Figure14,pg41).ThemajorityofstudentswereabletofullycompletetheUWorldQbankpriortotakingStep1(Figure20).Notably,16%ofstudentsonlycompletedabout75%ofthequestions(Figure20).TherewasaweaklypositivecorrelationbetweenthepercentageofUWorldQbankquestionscompletedandahigherStep1score(R2=0.084,Figure21).Theamountof‘incorrect’Qbankquestionscompletedwasvariable(Figure22),butthesameweaklypositivecorrelationwithahigherStep1scorewasseen(R2=0.084,Figure23).Moststudentswereabletocomplete1passthroughUWorld(44%)andmanyevencompleted2passes(37%),(Figure24).Itwasrareforastudenttocomplete3passes(1%),(Figure24).Therewasaweaklypositivecorrelationwiththenumberofpassesandstep1score(R2=0.064,Figure25).Roughly50%ofstudentsresettheirQbankand50%didnot.Moststudentswereaveraging70-89%onUWorldquestionsjustpriortotakingStep1(Figure26).TherewasamoderatelypositivecorrelationwithUWorldQbankpre-testaveragescoresandStep1scores(R2=0.27,Figure27).Studentshadmanyopinionsregardingtestmodestrategy.Severalstudentsexpressedthatthebestinitialstrategyistousesubject-based,timed-tutormodeandthenlaterduringthestudyperiodtostartdoingtimed,randommode.Subject-basedtimed-tutorisbestsuitedforlearning,whiletimed,randomblocksarebestforgaugingprogress,practicingpacing,andforrevisitingsubjects.StudentswereinagreementthatthemostimportantpartofgoingoverUWorldquestionsisreadingeachexplanationforeveryanswer,nomatterifitisthecorrectorincorrectanswer.Thisiswherethekeylearningwouldgoonformanystudents.Somestudentstookasmanyas4hourstoreview1fullUWorldblockofquestions,whileotherstookaslittleas40minutes.Thetimeforreviewtypicallyhalvesasthestudyperiodprogresses.

43

Figure17.

Figure18.

Figure19.

Atthestartofthedesignatedstudy

period3%

During2ndyear55%

Atthestartof2ndyear33%

Priortostarting2ndyear9%

WhenUWorldQbankWasPurchased:

360days48%

180days47%

90days3%

60days1% 30days

1%

UWorldSubscriptionLengthPurchased:

Purchased69%

Didnotpurchase31%

UWorldSelf-AssessmentTestsPurchased:

44

Figure20:

Figure21.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Lessthan50Percent

About50percent

About75percent

100percent

Students(n)

PercentageCom

pletion

TotalUWorldQbankCompletion:

R²=0.08436

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

Step1Score

<50%~50%~75%100%

UWorldQbankPercentageCompletion

Step1ScoreClusteredbyTotalUWorldQbankCompletion:

Step1ScoreLinear(Step1

45

Figure22.

Figure23.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Lessthan50Percent

About50percent

About75percent

100percent

Students(n)

AmountCom

pleted

TotalUWorldQbank'Incorrects'Completion:

R²=0.08349

190

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220

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240

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Step1Score

<50%~50%~75%100%

UWorldQbankPercentageCompletion

Step1ScoreClusteredbyUWorldQbank'Incorrects'Completion:

Step1ScoreLinear(Step

46

Figure24.

Figure25.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

<1pass

1pass

2passes

3passes

Students(n)

Num

berofPasses

NumberofPassesThroughUworld:

R²=0.06353

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

Step1Score

<1pass1pass2passes3passes

UWorldQbankPre-TestAverageScore

Of@icialStep1ScoreClusteredbyNumberofPassesThroughUWorld:

OfjicialStep1Score

Linear(OfjicialStep1Score)

47

Figure26.

Figure27.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

Students(n)

Average%onQbankSets

UWorldQbankPre-TestAverageJustPriortoTakingStep1:

R²=0.27037

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

Step1Score

50-59%60-69%70-79%80-89%90-99%

UWorldQbankPre-TestAverageScore

Step1ScoreClusteredbyUWorldQbankPre-TestExamAverage:

OfjicialStep1Score

Linear(OfjicialStep1Score)

48

_________________________________________________________________________________________________StudentoppinionsregardingdifferentstudymodesonUWorld(timed-tutor,tutor,oruntimedmode;Randomvs.subject-based):Iuseuntimedtutoralmostexclusively.Ididvirtuallyallregularquestionsinuntimedtutormodewithrandomsubjectsbecausethat’showitworkedbestforme.TowardstheendofstudyingI’ddocertainsubjectstoreinforcethoseweakareas.Randomismuchmorerepresentativeoftherealexamandforcesyoutojumpfromsubjecttosubjectwhichpreparesyoubetter.Itriedtodomostsectionstimed,especiallyclosertothetestdate.Ialwaysusedtutormode.Tutormodefromstartonrandomwasgreatforgoingatmyownpacebutgettingusedtohowtherealtestrandomlyjumpsbetweentopics.OccasionallyIdidtimednon-tutorrandomtosimulate.IneverdidsubjectbasebecauseIcouldautomaticallyeliminateanswerchoicesthatdidn’tfitthesubject(e.g.pickCHFforaGIsubject).Iwouldstronglyadviseagainsttimedtutorbecausetheanswerpopsupautomaticallyandgetsdistracting.Imostlyusedrandomquestionsontutormode.Tutoredandsubject-basedmodulesforlearningthematerial,timedandrandommodulesforsimulation.Ididmainlytimedtests.Subject-based,untimedtolearn,thenrandomuntimed/timedtostudy.Timedisbest.Needtoknowhowlongyouhavetorespondandhowtodirectyourattention.Iwentthroughallinitiallybysubjecttofindshortcomingsandthenassecondtimerandomlyforrealexperience.Alltimedandrandom!IpreferredusingtimedtutorsoIcouldreadeachexplanationimmediatelyafterIanswered,butwasstillkepttoatimelimitsoIcouldpracticehowtomanagemytimewiselyTimedbestforpracticingtesttaking;tutorwaswhatIusedtolearnmaterialTimedtutorisespeciallyhelpful.Sometimeshelpstodotimedteststoevaluatepacing.Absolutelyalwaysusetimedmode,anddotheminmaximum-sizedblocks.Bettertodototallyrandom,butsubject-basedisOKtoo.Greatforlearning,especiallysubjectbased,randomtimedwasgreatforlearningtherightpace.Ipreferredtimed-tutormodebysubject.Ipreferredthisbecauseaftertryingtimedmode,Iwasfrustratedwiththetimethatwaswastedrereadingandtryingtounderstandeachquestioninsteadofhavingitfreshinmymind.ItwasvitalformetogetinstantfeedbackonsomethingifitwasrightorwrongorelseIwouldn’tgetthatreassuranceandsolidifymyknowledge.IthinkitisimportanttostillhaveittimedbutIthinkthetutormodeiskey.Iusedthisupuntilmytest.Ifeltitveryimportanttogobysubjectbecauseyoucouldstarttobuildthefullpictureofthatorgan/subject,maximizingUWorldasalearningtool,allowingforyoutocomparediseasestohighlightkeytest-differences.WhenfirststartingUWorld,Iusedsubjectbased,untimedtutormodes.Astheexamapproached,Iswitchedtorandom,untimed,tutormode.Inthelastcoupleofweeksleadingup,Iswitchedtorandomtimednon-tutormodeanddid7blocksof44questionsatatimetosimulateexams.Usedmostlytutormode.

49

Timed,random-basedquestionblocksarethebesttoprepareforthe“realconditions”onthetest.ButwhenIwasstartingout,Ifocusedondoingtimed,subject-basedquestionblockstoboostmyconfidence.Tutorisanicewaytostart,butdefinitelystarttimingyourselfduringdesignatedstudyperiodbecauseitmakesthingsalotharder!Tutorandsubject-basedaregoodforwhenlearning.Timedandrandombetterwhenclosertotestdate.Timed-tutorwasmosthelpful,b/citforcedmetoanswerquestionsfasterandthenIcouldusemytimetoreviewanswersasneeded.Timedmodewasbestforgettingthroughlargequantitiesofquestionsandbuildingendurance.Tutor-onlymodewastestimeunlessyou’restudyingsomewherewithfrequentinterruptionsandyoudon’twanttokeeppausingyourtest.Iusedallofthematvarioustimes.Tutorandsubjectbasedtobeginandthentime-tutorortimedandrandomonthesecondpass.Duringyear2Iusedsubjectbaseduntimedtutor.DuringdevotedstudytimeIusedrandomuntimedtutorandrandomtimednon-tutor.Iwouldstartwithuntimedmodulesbuttoreallyprepareyourselfforthepaceoftheexam,trytimedexams(Iprefertimedandthenreviewafterwards)asearlyasyoufeelcomfortable.Thepaceisthemostimportantthingtogetusedtoasthiscanmakeorbreakyourexamperformanceonexamday.Iwouldalsorecommendrandomquestionmixesunlessyouareparticularlypoorinacertainsubjectmaterial.Ididtwosetsaday.ThefirstsetwouldbetutorortimedbasedonthesubjectIstudiedthatdayandthesecondsetwouldbeamixedsetofallthesubjectsIcoveredsofar.ThisworkedthebestformebecauseitallowedmetofocusandlearnwellthesubjectthatIworkingonthatdayandthenensureIwasn’tforgettingstuffthatIhadalreadywentover.Randomuntimedwasgoodforgoingthroughquestions,butclosertothetesttimedtutorwasbest.Onlyusedtutor-mode.UWorldquestionstakelongerthantypicalStepquestions.Alwayshavetouserandominsteadofsubjectbasedforbestprepasknowingthesubjectofaquestiongivesanunfairadvantageonknowingthetypeofanswerthatiscorrect.Simulatingtherealtestisthemostimportant.Tutormodeisveryusefulinlearningonthespotandnotforgettingquestionstemsbythetimeanswerscomeup.However,itisbestsuitedforearlystagesofstudyingwhenthereisabiggerknowledgedeficit.Laterontimedmodeisnecessarytolearntoreadandanswerquicklygiventimeconstraintsofthetest.Untimedtutormode,subjectbasedwasagoodwaytostudy/focusatthebeginning.Timed,random-basedwasbetterasstep1dategotcloser.Iutilizedtherandom,timedmodethenIwouldreviewallincorrectanswersattheendofthe40-questionset.Itypicallydidatimedblockandthenreviewedthequestionsafter,tohelplearntopacemyself.Randomalsohelps,becauseitisdifficulttogettoquestionsasecondtime-sayyoustartedwithGIquestionsatthestartofstudying,nowyoumaynotseeGIforseveralweekstomonthsbeforetheexam.Timedtestsof46questionsatatimeweremyfavoritewayofstudying.AtfirstIdiduntimedtutoronsystemspecificsubjects-justusedthequestionstolearn.Thenclosertothetestdidtimeblockswithrandomsubjects.IusedavarietyofthesemodesbasedonhowIwantedtostudy.

50

Eachareusefulintheirownright.Smallersets(~10questions)ofsubject-basedtutormodewasgreatfortargetedstudyingofweaknesses;fullsets(46questions)ofrandomquestionswasusefulforexampreparation.Timed-tutor.Usefulindifferentways.Usedtutortolearnmaterialatmypaceandtimedtotestmyprogress.IalwaysdidquestionsonRandomratherthansubject-based.Ipreferredthismethodofstudy,asitishowitappearsontheactualtest.Youmustbeabletofrequentlyswitchbetweentopicsthroughoutaquestionset.TutormodewasmosthelpfulbecauseIcouldreviewmyanswersandexplanationsrightaway.Ithinkthattime-tutorisauselesssettingbecausethepointofitbeingtimedistogothroughthequestionsinatest-likeenvironment.Gettingimmediateresultsandthenexplanationsfortheanswersdoesnotallowforatest-simulatedexperience.IgenerallyuseduntimedmodessothatIwouldn’tthinkabouttheanswersIhadpreviouslygottenwrongwhileIwasworkingonthenextquestions,andthenusedthereviewfunctionattheendtogothroughallofthequestionstogether.IusedtutorwhenIwastryingtosimulateatestenvironment,butuseditmuchmorerarely.Iappreciatedhavingthesubject-basedabilities,andIcouldseehowitwouldbeparticularlyusefulwhenstillinclassandstudyingforUCSDexams.Igenerallydidsubject-basedquestionsonadailybasisasIwasgoingthroughFirstAidandPathoma,whicharebrokenupintoorgan-systemsubjectsaswell.ThatwayIwasusingallthestudymodalitiesforaparticularorganonagivenday.Ibeganusingrandomduringthelast2weeksofstudyingasareviewofeverything.Ilikedsubjectbased,realistictestingcircumstances.Non-tutor.ThenIwouldslowlyincludemoreandmoretopicspertestastimewenton.Ionlyusedtime-tutorandtimedmodes.Timedtutorwasgoodwhenyouweretryingtolearninformation,butideallytimedshouldbeusedifyougenerallystrugglewithtimemanagement.IwoulddoquestionsonsubjectsthatIhadstudiedatthatpoint,soitendedupbeingrandomasIaddedonmoresubjects.Igothroughquestionsprettyquickly,soIdidtimedoruntimedanditdidn’tmakeabigdifference.Ilikedtodonon-tutor,soitfeltlikearealquestionblock.Tutor!!Ididnotknowaboutthismodeuntilstep2andwishIhad.Randomandalwaysdidthetestsimulationmode-muchbetterpredictororexamday.Tutorisniceforwhenyou’refirststartingbutyoureallyneedtodothetimedmode(nottimed-tutor)modetogetafeelforthespeedatwhichyoushouldbeansweringquestions.Doingquestionsjustonthebus/walkingontutormode.Andtryingtodofulllengthtime-tutorwhenyouhavedesignatedtimetositdownandstudy.Tutorbest.Random,timed.Tutor!!Ionlydidrandomquestions,asIstartedusingUWorldaftermymedschoolcourseswereover.Ithinktheuntimedmodeisuseless.Istartedoffusingthetutormode,andthenasIfeltmoreconfidentIchangedtotime-tutor,andthentimed.Itfeltlikeanaturalprogression.Timingyourselfisveryimportant.Subjectbasedgreatforreviewingasyouread.Tutormodeisgreat.Ididtime-tutor,subject-basedquestionsthatcorrespondedtothesubjectIwasstudyingatthetime.Timedmode,random!Tutormode,usuallysubjectbased.

51

IstartedwithsubjectbasedbutfeltlikeIgotgoodquicklyatthingsbutwasn’tretainingitwellsoswitchedtorandomwhichIfeltlikebuiltmyknowledgebetterandmoresustainablyoverthestudyperiod.Ieitherwoulddotimedoruntimedandthenlookthroughtheanswers.Ithinkitwasimportanttodoquestionsontutorbysubjectfirstbecauseitgivesyouachancetobegintoseepatternsandgetconceptsreinforced.Timetutorismostuseful!Untimedtutor.Time-tutorismorerealistic.Subject-basedwithtutormodefirst,andthentimedwithrandomforthesecondtime.Ifinished60%andresetmyQbank.Iusedthetutormodemostoftenbuttriedtotakesometimedtestsastheexamgotclosertogetmoreusedtothetiming.Ididacombinationofsubjecttestsandrandom.Didrandomtimed,thoughtitwasgood.Ipreferredtodoalmostexclusivelytimedquestions(notutor),evenifitmeantIwasonlydoinga5questionblockduringabreakbetweenclassesearlyintheyear.MypracticetestsforStep1wereprimarilydoneintutormodewithrandomquestions;tutormodecutdownmyquestionreviewtimebyalot,soIcouldgetthroughmanymorequestionsinadaythanIotherwisewould’vebeenableto.However,afterhavingstudiedforStep2,Ifeelthatthetimedmodeismorebeneficialbecauseithelpsyoupracticepacingyourselffortherealthing.Tutor,subject>random.Usedallmodesatdifferenttimes.Tutorsubject-basedbesttobeginwith,thenrandomtimedclosertotestdayRandomandtimetutorwerebyfarthemosthelpful.Untimedandtutorwereusefulatfirstbutgavefalsesenseofsecurity.Ilikedtousetutorforpractice/immediatefeedbackafterdoingthequestions.Istartedwithsubject-basedandthentransitionedtorandom,asitgotclosertotheexam.TutorMode.Timed-besttoreplicatetherealexam.Untimedwhenstudyingbysubject,timedandrandomwhendoingtestprep.Ididtimed-tutororjusttimedmodewithrandomquestionsforeachsetof40questions.However,Ithinkthatallthemodesareveryhelpfulindifferentways,justdependsonwhatyourgoalisforthatsession.Forinstance,ifI’monthegoandwanttosqueezeinafewquestionshereandthere,thentimedtutorisawesome.IfIwastolearntopacemyself,thenIusedtimedmodeandthenreviewallthequestionswhenI’mdone.Tutorwasthemosthelpful.Onlyusedthetimedmodes,whichwereveryhelpful.Tutormodeprovidesthemostlearning,onlyusedtutormode.Startedwithuntimedtutormodeandsubjects,switchedtountimedrandomlateron.Preferredsubject-basedtutormodeatthetime,thoughinretrospectwishthatIhadgonewithrandomuntimed(wouldlikelyhavesimulatedthetrueexamenvironmentbetter,thoughnotwiththefulltimecrunchpressureyet).Tutorandtimedweregreatwhenyouwerejustlearningandinseriousstudmode,respectively.Ididtimedblocksof40untilIknewthattimingwouldn’tbeanissue,thenIdidtutormodeandkeptmyselftodoingeachquestionin1minuteorless.

52

IwouldbasicallyneverdotutororuntimedbecauseIthinktheenduranceoftheexamisalearnedskill.HenceIwouldalwaysdotheexameithertimedortime-tutor.IdidrandomforthemajorityofthetimebutIdon’tknowifthatwasagoodideaornot.Tutortolearn,alwaysuntimed.Subjectbasedearly,randomastestdateapproaches. _________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:HowdidyoureviewtheUWorldanswerexplanations/answerstostudy:Imadesuretounderstandwhyeachresponsewascorrectorincorrect.Itwasmymainsourceofstudying.Thesearekeytosuccess.Iwouldspendmoretimereviewingquestionsthantakingthem.TheexplanationsareextremelyhighyieldIreadthrougheachexplanation/answerthoroughlyandtooknotesonsubjectmaterialIneededtoworkonFirstreadthroughtheentireexplanation,thenmadeflashcardsbasedonthecontent.Iwouldreadtheexplanationsoneveryquestion.Heavily,>90%.Iusedthemtostudyforthedifferentblocksandforthetest.Readthroughthem.Tooknotesfromtheseexplanationsinmyfirstaidbook.Theywereextremelyimportant.TooknotesfromUWorldexplanationsintomyFirstAidbook.Veryheavilyasaprimarysourceofknowledge.Theexplanationsaresooooimportant,oftenmoreimportantthantheactualquestions.AddanyinformationthatwasunfamiliarandseemedimportanttomyAnkideckandreviewtheflashcardsdaily.Keptalistofthingstoreadmoreaboutlater.AtfirstIwouldreadthrougheveryeverything-allanswers!Thisiswherethemostlearninghappenedforme.ThentowardstheveryendofmyperiodwhenIwasdoingincorrectsImainlywouldreadthesentencesummaryonly.ImadePowerPointfiguresforliterallyeachconceptIdidn'thavememorized.Readthem,wrotedownsomekeypointsinnotebook.IftherewasaquestionthatIwasextremelyconfidentthatIknewtheanswerto,Iwouldjustskimovertheirreasoning.ButifIgotthequestionwrongoraccidentallyguessedright,thenIwouldreadtheanswerstoALLofthechoices.Veryuseful!Ireadallofthem(ittakesalongtimebutUWORLDhasreallygoodexplanations)TriedtogothroughthoroughlythenstartedglossingovercausetootimeconsumingReadindetail,lookedupstuffIdidn'tknowReadthemindepth.Triedtomakenotesfromthem,butdidn'thaveenoughtime.Givenmoretime,Iwouldhavedonethisandcorrelatedwithmyotherstudymaterials.Ialmostalwaysreadthem.IftheexplanationwasespeciallygoodIflaggeditandrevieweditlateragain.

53

ReadthemcarefullyandusethemasanimportantstudytoolItookbriefnotesaboutanswerexplanationsIwasnotclearon.(Brief1-2sentencebulletpoints)UsedthemtofigureoutwhatIwasdoingwrongandthenmakingflashcardsbasedonthis.ReviewedallanswersafterfinishingablockIwouldoftenannotateusefulquestionexplanationsintomyFirstAidReadtherightandwronganswerchoicesevenifyougotthequestionright.MostofthelearningfromUWorldcomesfromthoroughlyreadingtheanswerchoices.Attimeswouldannotatefirst-aidwithextrainfofromUWorldIwrotedownthehighyieldquestionsthatImissedsothatIcouldreviewthemlaterReadincorrectanswerexplanationsandtooknotesinFirstAidIwouldmakeflashcardsandgobackinfirstaidtothepageonthesubjectImissed.Ireadeveryword.EvenifitwasthesecondtimeImissedthequestion.Tooknotesin/onfirstaidtopicbasedonexplanationsinUWorld.Ireadthroughallanswers/explanationsandlookedupadditionalinformationasneeded.IfananswerwasparticularlyusefulIwouldflagthequestiontocomebacktoagainlater.Carefulreadingofeachanswerchoice(notjustthecorrectchoice),thennotetakingwhenaparticularlyhelpfulchart/diagram/picturewaspresentedintheexplanation.TooknotesintoNoteShelfHeavilyUWorldexplanations+FirstAidweremyprimarystudytools.ImadesurethatIknewwhyeachanswerwascorrectandImadesuretoreadeachofthewrongexplanationstounderstandwhyitwaswrong.ThenIwouldgothroughandannotatemyFirstAidbook.IwouldgothroughtheexplanationsandwritedownthingsIwantedtorememberonsheetsofpaperdesignatedforeachorgansystemorsubjectmatter(suchasepidemiology,statistics,orbiochemistry).ThatwayIhadcompiledthe"don'tforget"stufftoreviewattheendofthestudyperiodpriortotheexam.ReadandtooknotesItookmeticulousnotesontheexplanationswhetherIgotitwriteorwrong.IcopiedimportantchartsontoscrapsofpaperandputthemuponmywallsothatIcouldlookatthemoften.Theexplanationsweregolden.IannotatedFirstAidwithanythingthatfeltneworthatIwashavingtroublelearning.ThoroughlyReviewedafter40questionblocksandannotatedFAwiththingsImissed.Didnotspendmorethan40minutesper40-questionblockforreview.Iendedupspendingalotoftimereadingthroughtheanswers,whichinhindsightwasn'tprobablythemostproductiveuseofmytime.ReadthroughalloftheanswersandannotatedfirstaidJustreadingthemAnnotatedintoFirstAidTolearnnotquizReadexplanationsandannotatedinfirstaid

54

IreadthroughalloftheanswersregardlessofwhetherIgotthequestionright.IkeptonenotebooktowritedownfactsintheanswerchoicesforthequestionsIgotright,andanothernotebooktowritedownfactsfromtheonesIgotwrong.IspentmoretimegoingoverthefactsfromthequestionsIgotwrongsinceIfiguredthoseweremyweakersubjects.Tooknotesandmadeflashcards.MadeflashcardswiththatinformationwithAnkiIusedtheUWorldexplanationstoannotatemyexistingnotesoneachtopicMadeflashcardsonalltheanswerchoices.UWorldisthemostcomprehensivestep1resourceavailable(evenmorethanfirstaid).Ithinkmanypeoplemakethemistakeoflookingatitasatestingtool-Iwouldlookatisacomprehensivestudyguidethathappenstobeinquestionandanswerformat.Woulddothetests(usually20-40questionspersession)andthenwouldsitandreviewtheanswersandmakeflashcards/drawing/diagramsforwhatIdidn'tknowIreadthemall,madenotes/flashcardsfromthemExplanationsareveryimportant!!!TakenotesontheexplanationsinyourownwordsandreviewthemReadthemandlookedthingsupIwentthrougheveryoneaftereachtestAnnotatedFirstAidwithmyfirstround(finished60%subjectbased)andthenImadeAnkicardsformywronganswerswhenIredidmyQbankduringthededicatedtime.ItriedtoreadmostexplanationsoftherightanswerandthenwouldreadmaybethetopwronganswerchoiceexplanationthatIwasalsoconsidering.IwouldtakenotesintomyFirstAidbook.Ididnotknowatthetimebutthe"Notes"featureofUWorldissuperhelpfulfortakingbriefnotesoneachquestionthatyoucancollateandprintoutlaterasastudyguide,organizedbysubject.Makesureyouunderstandrightanswersandwhywrongonesarewrong.MadeAnkinotesonstuffIdidn'tknow,alsomarkedthemsoIcoulddothemlater,butdidn'tgettoactuallygoovermostofthis.ReadthroughthemverycarefullyandmadeAnkicardswithimportantinfolearnedIspentaverylongtimereviewingmymissedUWorldquestions(sometimes4hourstoreviewa40questionblock)andusingfirstaid/theinternet/notesfrompreviouscoursestomakesureIfullyunderstoodthekeypointsofthequestionandwhytheincorrectanswerchoiceswerewrong.IthenmadeoneormoreAnkicardstoreinforcethosepointsthatIhadnotunderstoodpriortodoingthequestionsandItriedtokeepontopofmyAnkicardsonthespacedrepetitionschedule.IdidnotrepeatmissedUWorldquestionsbecauseIthinkitisbettertomemorizethelearningpointsofthequestion(whichwillsurelycomeupagaininotherquestions)thantobeabletocorrectlyanswertheexactsamequestion(whichisunlikelytocomeupagain).IfoundAnkitobethemostefficientwaytoreviewmissedconcepts.ForStep1,Ifocusedonthekeypointsandskippedoveralotoftheexplanations.IfIcouldgoback,IwouldhaveusedtheUWexplanationsasasignificantstudyresource,asIdidthatforStep2anddidremarkablybetter.IjustreadthemonceMadesureIunderstoodallthecontent.MadeflashcardsfromtheotherstuffTooknotesinthebeginning,madesomeflashcards,thenjustreadReadeverythingwhenugetwrongorguessed,brieflyskimwhengetrightWentoverthemextremelycarefully,tooknotesandthenstudiedthosenotesaswell.

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Readtheexplanationsandtooknotes.ReadtheonelinerTook20questionquizzeseverymorningandreadthroughanswers,madeAnkiflashcardsbasedonanswersItooknotesandonmaterialandnotedpatternsinquestiontypesandanswers.Ifirststartedmakingflashcardsfromkeypointsintheiranswerexplanation,butthenthatgottootedioussoIjustkeptdoingquestionsandtryingmybesttoretaininfoafterreadingitthroughonetime.IjustreadthroughthemExcellent!Oneofthebestexplanationsoutthere,andhelpedwithtest-takingskillsaswell.Readthroughanswers,tooknotesifneededbutdidnotannotateallofFirstAidwithUWorldanswersTooknotesduringtutormodeWrotedownanswersinaseparateworddocumentthatIreviewedReadoverexplanationsTypednotesfromeachquestionIdidn'tunderstandorgotwrong,andcompiledthosenotesReadeachonethoroughlyatleasttwiceIjustreadthroughthem,andsometimeswentbacktothepageinFirstAidthatexplainedthatconceptifIfeltveryveryshakyaboutit.Regularlyreadthroughexplanationstolearn/understandmaterial.MadeflashcardsonQuizletofalltheanswerchoicesandimportantconcepts.

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SecondYearPlanning__________________________________________________________

ThemajorityofstudentspurchasedFirstAidfortheUSMLEStep1atthebeginningofthesecondyearofmedicalschool(Figure28).MostoftheremainingstudentshadpurchasedFirstAidpriortothattimeeitherneartheendoffirstyearorduringsummerbetweenfirstandsecondyears(Figure28).Studentsdidavarietyofthingsduringtheholidaybreak(Figure29).Twenty-twopercentstartedstudying,41%startedplanningaroughstudyschedule,43%usedthetimeasvacation,34%startedgettingtheirresourcestogether,and26%startedtalkingtopeopleonhowtostudy(Figure30).Duringspringterm,only56%ofstudentseither‘sometimes’or‘did’attendthemulti-organssystemsblock(Figure31).Ofthestudentswhodidattendthemulti-organsystemsblock,only10%foundthecoursetobeworthwhile,aswhere47%didnot;47%wereunsure(Figure32).Figure28.

Figure29.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

During1styearAttheendof1styear

DuringSummerbetween1stand2ndyearAtthebeginningof2ndyear

During2ndyearAtthebeginningofthedesignatedstudyperiod

Didnotpurchase

Students(n)

PurchasedFirstAidfortheUSMLE:

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Startedtalkingtopeopleonhowtostudy

Startedplanningaroughstudyschedule

Startedgettingtogethermyresources

StartedStudying

Iusedmyvacationastruevacation

Students(n)

WhatWasDoneOverWinterBreak:

57

Figure30.WhatStudentsDidOverWinterBreak:

StartedStudying22%

RemainingStudents78%

StudentsWhoStartedStudying:

Startedplanningaroughstudyschedule41%

RemainingStudents59%

StudentsWhoStartedPlanningaRoughStudySchedule:

Iusedmyvacationastruevacation

43%RemainingStudents57%

StudentsWhoUsedVacationasTrueVacation:

Startedgettingtogethermyresources34%

RemainingStudents66%

StudentsWhoStartedGettingTogetherStudyResources:

Startedtalkingtopeopleonhowto

study26%Remaining

Students74%

StudentsWhoStartedTalkingtoPeopleonHowtoStudy:

58

Figure31.

Figure32.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Howdidyoustudyforsecondyearexams?StudyingforMS2consistedofreadingFAandPathomafortheblack,reviewingsketchymicro,doingAnki,andthendoinguworldpracticequestionstowardtheendoftheblockIwouldlistento/readPathomaatthebeginningofeachblock,thenreadthefirstaidchapter,andstartonQbankquestionsforthatsection.Classmaterialsareusefulaswell,butiftherewasawhole1hrlectureonatopicthatwasn’tinFAatallthenIwouldnotspendmuchtimeonit.IusedFAtohelpmedeterminewhatwasimportanttoknowforStep.IdidunbindFAandgotitholepunchedwithdividersbetweeneachsection,whichIliked.IwishIhadtakennotesinFirstAidattheverybeginningof2ndyearinsteadofpartwaythroughPathomaatthebeginning,flashcardsbasedonlectureslides,andsketchyasneeded.Coursematerials>Anki>UWorldquestions>FA(holepunched)>Tooknotesinfirstaidandonslides.UsedUWorldquestionstostudyforblockexams.

Yes31%

No44%

Sometimes25%

Multi-organSystemBlockandReviewWeekAttendance:

Yes10%

No47%

Unsure43%

Didyou@indtheMulti-organsystemblockand/ortheReviewWeektobeworthwhile?

59

USMLE-RXonlyIreviewedthecorrespondingPathomachapterbeforeeachMS2blockbeganandtooknotesfromclassintoFA.IdidnotuseQbankuntilafterMS2ended.IkeptFAintact.UsedQbankquestionsLecturenotesjustlikefirstyearAnkicardsfromlecturesandcrammingmemorizationfromthelecturesinthelastfewdays.NoQbankquestionsforsecondyearexamstudying.Cramming"books"(e.g.MBBsyllabus,Lilly'sCardiology,Schmitz'sRenal,etc.)UsedPathomaandtooknotesinFirstAidReadslides,tookafewnotesinFAOnlystudiedcoursematerialforexamsuntilpulmandrenalwhichIonlyusedFA.SometimesusedFirstAidbutstudytechniquesweremostlythesameastheywereforfirstyear.Studiedforsecondyearexamswithclassmaterials,butwouldalsotrytodocorrespondingPathoma/FirstAidchaptersduringblockwithblockspecificQuestionsfromtheKaplanQbank.Studiedforexamsseparatelyfromstep1,thoughItriedtoreviewthecorrespondingsectioninfirstaidIwenttoclasseveryday,tooknotesinclass,didthenecessary"homework"andreviewedmynotesasnecessary,sometimesdidUWorldorlookedatFirstAid.ThenontheweekendsIwouldreviewallmynotesDidn’tchangehowIstudiedforsecondyearexamsDefinitelyusedPathomaandfirstaidtostudyforblockexams.Biggestpieceofadvice-don'ttakelecturenotesinfirstaid!Itwillbecomeclutteredwithmostlyuselessinformationbythetimeyougettotheactualstepexam.IdidafewhoursofUWORLDtheweekortwobeforeeachshelf.Iwenttoclass.Ididn'tusefirstaidasmuch-Itwasnotashelpfulforstep2asstep1.IamverygladIwaiteduntilJanuary1sttostartstudyingforstep1.Makingastrictstudyschedulewaskeytoavoidanxietybeforethetest.StudiedwithcorrespondingchaptersinFirstAid,usedtheKaplanQbankduringblocks(soasnottouseupthebetterUWORLDQbanktooearly),andwatchedcorrespondingPathomavideosduringdinner.IdidnotuseQbankenough.Pathomausedalot.UnboundFAandaddedpagesinbetweenThiswasverycoursedependent.FormostrotationsItooknotesand/orstudiedthematerialfromlectures.OccasionallyaddednotesfromcertainsubjectsintothemarginsofmyFirstAidtextbook.Step1materialisnotnecessarilythesameasthattestedonsecondyearexamsandsousingonlyStep1Qbankstostudyisprobablynotenough.Iusedfirstaidformostofmytestsinsecondyear.ImadesuretolookoverthelecturesoncebutIusedfirstaidalmostexclusivethereafter.IusedUSMLERxandUWorldduringsecondyear.IalsousedPathomathroughouttheyear.IhadmyFAspeciallyboundatKinkos.IndividualreviewbooksforeachrotationinadditiontoUWORLDquestions.IusedQbank,FirstAid,andlecturestostudyforblockexams.IunboundFA,readthechapterbeforeablockexam,anddidsomeoftheUWorldquestionsbutnotallofthem.DidallcorrespondingquestionsinUWorldweachsubjectAttendedlecture,didfirecracker/Pathoma/usmlerx/FAforcorrespondingblock.Focusedonstep1materialswithAnkidecksofclassmaterialstosupplement.

60

SketchywasclutchSameasfirstyearIstudiedlikeIdidfirstyear.StudiedthecoursepdfsofthelecturesandwenttolecturesandstudiedalongwithFAfromtimetotimeIstudiedforstepmaterialwithPathoma,firstaid,andsketchywhenapplicableforeachblockfirstandthencrammedfortheblockexamstowardtheendofeachblock,whichIdon'trecommend.However,Itookhandwrittennotesthatpulledtogethercoursematerialandfirstaid/Pathomaduringeachblockthatwashelpfulforstudyingattheend.TooknotesonfirstaidAnkidecksImade,sameasfirstyearMostlyclassnotes+PathomasketchyformicroIdidunbindFAandgetitwholepunchedforstepstudying-Iaddedinseveralpagesofdiagrams/notesbasedoffUWorldandotherthingsIfoundhelpfulItriedtowatchthecorrespondingPathomavideosforeachblocktoatleastgetfamiliarwiththem,withtheintenttoreviewthemagainlater.IdidnotstartusingUWorldorfirstaidmuchbeforeFeb/March.ItookPathomanotesinfirstaidthesecondtimeIwatchedthem-ItriedtostayawayfromclutteringfirstaidwithclassnotesthatmayormaynotberelevanttoStep1.Pleaseseemyresponsesundereachstudyresource,particularlyAnkiandPathoma.UsedthecoursematerialandsometimesreferredtoFA.DidnotuseQbankquestions.JustreadlecturesUsedcourseinfoandPathoma,neverfirstaidFocusedheavilyonboardsduringsecondyearandtriedtoignorethesecondyearexamsasmuchaspossible.CardiologyandMBBinparticularwereveryhelpfulforboards,butotherwise,focusedonstep.Mainlyused2ndyearcoursematerial.IdidsomeQbankquestionsduringtheschoolyear,butsavedmostforthededicatedstudyperiod.IdidunbindFAandgetitholepunched.IdidUWorldquestionsthatwererelatedtothecourseweweretakingalongwithPathoma.ButImostlystudiedfortheclassitselfanddidn'tfocustoomuchonStep1untilhalfwaythroughfirstyear.Iupdatedanotherstudent’sclassnotesinlectureandcrammedthenightbefore.(Ithinktheywere"Helenchang's"orsomething.SomeoldISPprojectorsomething)Didn'tchangefromfirstyear-Iusedthelecturenotesandlearningobjectives.DidnotunbindFA,butIwrotealotofnotesinitthroughoutsecondyear.Usedcoursematerials,listenedtoPathomaMostlystudiedcoursematerialFA,Rx,lecturepowerpoints.Don'tgotolectureIusedsketchymicro,Pathoma,andsometimesfirstaidtostudyforsecondyearexams.AswellasUWorld.DidnottakeclassnotesinFA.DidnottakenotesinFAfromPathomaorsketchy.DidtakenotesinFAfromDIT.

61

Vacation,SchedulingStep1,andWhentoStart__________________________________________________________Moststudentsallowedroughly1-2weeksforvacationtime,withafewstudentseitherhavingmorethan4weeksofvacationornovacationatall(Figure33).Thelargemajorityofstudentswerehappywiththeamountoftimetheyhadoff(77%,Figure34).MoststudentsstartedlightstudyforStep1duringearlywinterterm(Jan-Feb),butmanystartedbeforethistime(Figure35).Therewasamoderatelypositivecorrelationthattheearlierastudentstartedlightlystudying,thebettertheStep1scorewouldbe(R2=0.11,Figure36).Moststudentsstartedintensivestudyeitherearlywinterterm,latewintertermoratthestartofspringterm(Figure37).TherewasonlyaveryweakpositivecorrelationbetweenwhenintensivestudywasstartedwithStep1scores(R2=0.056,Figure38).Moststudentsstudiedintensivelyfor6weeks,butthemajorityofstudentsstudiedfrom5-8weeks(Figure39).TherewasonlyaveryweakpositivecorrelationwiththenumberofweeksofintensivestudytohigherStep1scores(R2=.006,Figure40).Figure33.

Figure34.

0

10

20

30

40

50

>4weeks ~4weeks ~3weeks ~2weeks ~1week Afewdays Novacation

Num

berofStudent(n) AmountofAllottedVacationTime:

Morevacationtime8%Morestudytime

15%Neither-Iwassatisjiedwithmystudy/vacation

time77%

StudentsWishedTheyHadPlannedFor:

62

Figure35.

Figure36.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Duringsummerbreak(Jun-Aug)

Duringearlyfallterm(Sept-Oct)

Duringlatefallterm(Nov-Dec)

Duringwinterbreak(LateDec)

Duringearlywinterterm(Jan-Feb)

Duringlatewinterterm(EarlyMarch)

Atthestartofspringterm(MidMarch)

Atthestartofthereviewweek(Mid-lateMarch)

Atthestartoftheofjicialstudyperiod(LateMarch)

Student(n)

WhenStartedLightStudy:

R²=0.11018

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

Step1Score

SummerBreak

(Jun-Aug)

EarlyFallTerm

(Sept-Oct)

LateFallTerm

(Nov-Dec)

WinterBreak

(lateDec)

EarlyWinter

Term

(Jan-Feb)

LateWwinter

Term(EarlyMar)

Step1ScoreClusteredbyWhenStartedLightlyStudying:

Step1Score

Linear(Step1Score)

63

Figure37.

Figure38.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Duringsummerbreak(Jun-Aug)

Duringearlyfallterm(Sept-Oct)

Duringlatefallterm(Nov-Dec)

Duringwinterbreak(LateDec)

Duringearlywinterterm(Jan-Feb)

Duringlatewinterterm(EarlyMarch)

Atthestartofspringterm(MidMarch)

Atthestartofthereviewweek(Mid-lateMarch)

Atthestartoftheofjicialstudyperiod(LateMarch)

Duringthestudyperiod(April-May)

Students(n)

WhenStartedIntensiveStudy:

R²=0.05653

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

Step1Score

WinterBreak(late

Dec)

EarlyWinterTerm

(Jan-Feb)

LateWwinterTerm

(EarlyMar)

SpringTerm

(MidMar)

ReviewWeek

(Mid-LateMar)

OfjicialStudy

Period(LateMar)

Duringthestudy

period

(Apr-May)

Step1ScoreClusteredbyWhenStartedIntenselyStudying:

Step1Score

Linear(Step1Score)

64

Figure39.

Figure40.

051015202530354045

>12weeks

12weeks

11weeks

10weeks

9weeks

8weeks

7weeks

6weeks

5weeks

4weeks

<4weeks

Num

berofStudents(n)

WeeksofIntensiveStudy:

R²=0.00549

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

Step1Score

<4456789101112>12

WeeksofIntensiveStudying

Step1ScoreClusteredbyWeeksofIntensiveStudy:

Step1Score

Linear(Step1Score)

65

StudyStrategies,Tips,andtheTestDay__________________________________________________________

Thirty-fourpercentofstudentschangedtheirstudyhabitsandgoalsbasedontheiranticipatedfuturefield(competitivefieldvsnot),while50%ofstudentsdidnot(Figure41).Themostcommonstudylocationwashomeoratcoffeeshops(Figure41).OthernotablestudylocationsincludedtheBiomedicalSciencesLibrarytheMedicalEducationandtheTelemedicinebuilding(Figure35).Studyingalonewhatthepreferredstudysituation,(Figure43),thoughafairnumberofstudentsdidstudyinaloneaswellasingroups.Moststudentsspent10-11hoursstudyingperday(Figure44).TheredidnotappeartobeanysubstantialbenefittostudyingmorehoursperdaywhenStep1scoreswereplottedagainsthoursofstudy(R2=.012,Figure45).ThemajorityofstudentschosetheorderoftopicstheystudiedbytheorderinFirstAid,DoctorsinTraining,orbyproficiencyinanarea(i.e.weakestsubjectsfirst,strongersubjectslater,thenagainrevisitingweakersubjects).ThemostcommonlystudiedsubjectsstudiedpriortotakingStep1weremicrobiology,biochemistyandpharmacology.Othernotablesubjectsincludestatistics,metabolicdiseases,andhematology/oncology.Manystudentsprovidedexamplesoftheirdailystudyschedules.Subjectively,theredidnotappeartobeatrendbetweendailyscheduleandStep1score.Thedaybeforetheirexam,themajorityofstudentstookthefulldayofftorelaxandrecharge;however,somestudentsdiddolightstudyforafewhours.Asmallgroupofstudents‘triedtostudyeverything’,orcrammedtheentireday,andthosethatdidthiscommentedthatthey‘stronglyrecommendagainst’thatapproach.Testdaytipsincludescoutingoutthelocationpriortotestday,takingthepracticeexam(Prometricpracticeexam),bringingalotofsnacks,wearinglayers,bringingearplugs,andusingallofyourbreaktime.Manystudentsalsostressedhavingaregularroutineinthemorningandalsoduringthetest,suchasagroundingactivitydonedopriortostartingaquestionbank.

66

Figure41.

Figure42.

Figure43.

Yes34%

No50%

Unsure16%

ChangeinStudyHabitsBasedonAnticipatedFutureField:

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

METBMLHome

FriendsParentsHouseCoffeeShop

Other

NumberofStudents(n)

StudyLocation

StudyLocationsUsed:

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Alone

Groups

Bothaloneandingroups

Other

NumberofStudents(n)

StudySituation

PreferedStudySituation:

67

Figure44.

Figure45.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

5hrsorless 6-7hrs 8-9hrs 10-11hrs 12-13hrs 14ormore

Num

berofStudents(n)

HoursSpentPerDayDuringIntensiveStudying:

R²=0.01204

180

190

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

270

280

Step1Score

≤56-78-910-1112-13≥14

HoursofStudyPerDay

Step1ScoreClusteredbyHoursofStudyPerDay:

Step1Score

Linear(Step1Score)

68

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Howdidyoudecidetheorderoftopicstostudyduringyourstudyperiod? BasedonDITvideos.IstudiedrandomlybasedoffwhatareasIfeltIwasweakon(basedonquestionbank%correct).Wentthroughbiochemfirst,thenarandomorderafter.Medicinefirst.IfoundweakareasbasedonhowIwasdoingonUWorldandfocusedonthoseperiodically.Biochemwasamust.Ididn'thaveanystudyplan.IjustdidasmanyrandompracticequestionsasIcouldwhenevertimeallowed.OrderinFirstAid.IthinkIwentinorderoffirstaidbutIcan'trememberOrdertheywereinfirstaidStartedwithlesssureareas.FAsequentiallyIstudiedtheFAchaptersinorder,thenfocusedonmyweakerareasaftermyfirstpassTalkingwithclassmatesWentinorderpresentedinFirstaidStartedwithonesthatweretoughestformePrettymuchrandomly.HowtheywerepresentedinFA&PathomaBasedonprioradviceandcommonsense...dothehard,purememorizationstufflastRandomly.Therewassomelogictothemadness,butitwasrelativelyhaphazard.UsedDITstudyplanIhonestlycan'trememberanymore,butIthinkIjustmarchedchapterbychapterthroughFirstAid.Weakesttostrongest.Kindofrandomly,justbyorgansystemDon'trememberFAorderMixedthingsIlikedwiththingsthatIdidn'tlikeinordertonotgetbored.Iwentinorderoffirstaid,thenIre-workedpartswhereIwasweak.Basedonmypersonalproficiencyineachsubject(hardestearlier,easiestlater,re-reviewedhardestneartheend)BlocksandthenprioritizedtopicsthatIwasweakeronfirst.Basedontheorderofsubjectswewerebeingtaughtduringtheschoolyear.IstartedoffwithtopicsthatIhadn'tseenforawhileandendedwithmorerecentsubjects.BasedonDITIfollowedDITWeakestsubjectsfirstByorderofblocks

69

BasedonthesectionsIwasdoingpoorlyoninUWORLDIstartedwithsubjectsthatIfeltweakeron.1)Perceivedweaknessesand2)FirstAidorganizationNotwell.JuststudiedthethingsIgotwrongandwentfromthere.Letscallitorganic(reallyitwasnotveryorganizedwaytostudy)BasedonsecondyearscheduleIusedthelengthofthechaptersforeachindividualorgansysteminFirstAidtostructuremyprimarystudying,andthenusedadditionalresourcescoveringsimilartopicsfortheday.TheorderwaslooselybasedontheorderoftheorgansystemsinPathoma/FirstAid.Ibrokeeachbookresourceupbypagesandtriedtocoverthesamenumberofpageseachday,andalsowoulddoacertainnumberofUWORLDquestionsplusSketchyMicrovideoseachday.DifficultonesfirstIwentalongwiththeblockscheduleofsecondyear.Duringwinterbreak,Istartedstudyingsubjectsthatwouldn'tbecoveredduringsecondyear.CramfightersetsitupforyouUsedtheschedulefromDoctorsinTrainingIusedtheDoctorsinTrainingcalendar,whichtellsyoutheorder.Ifinishedthisabout1weekbeforeStep1anddedicatedthelastweektotopicsIwasweakin.OrderinfirstaidOrderofstudymaterials,didn’tmixitupFriendsStartedwithmyweakestsubjectssoIcoulddothemtwice.FromwhatIfeltleastcomfortablewithtomostcomfortableStuffIwaslastcomfortablewithtowardstheend(the"crammingstyle")ItriedtostudysubjectsIwasconfidentinfirstbecauseIthoughttheywouldgomorequickly.Notsureifthisservedmewell,becausetherewasalwaysmoretolearnandImight'vebeenbetteroffgettingatleastacursoryunderstandingofallthesubjectsfirstIstartedwithtopicsIstruggledwithfirstIdon'trememberreally,IthinkitwasprettyrandomStudiedwhatIfeltlikeIneededtoworkonbasedonintermittentdiagnostictestsDoamixofalltopicsintheAMandthenspendtheeveningsfocusingonareasofweakness/moreorganspecificThingsIknewworstWeakestsubjectsfirstImadeacalendarandblockedouttimeforeachsubjectbasedontheirlengthinFirstAid.IhighlyrecommendgoingthroughthepathologyandpharmacologysectionsofFirstAidattheverybeginning.Iwentovermyweakestsubjectsfirst.TriedtofrontloadsomeofthelengthiersectionsofFirstAid,butprettyrandom.FAchaptersN/A.Mystudyingwasnotsubjectbasedduringdedicatedstudydays.Istartedwithquestionsandreviewedtopicsbasedonmyanswersofquestions.FollowedthechronologyofDITvideos.Random

70

RandomlybasedonhowIwasfeelingthatdayDidmultiplepasses,sokindofjustmadealistandcheckedthetopicsoffLookedatUWorldandNBMEdiagnosticsBasedonresourcesIhadavailableforstudying.StartedwithmicrobecauseIlikedSketchy,anditwasalargeportionofthetest.AfterwardsPathoma,thenotherorganblocks.WeakesttostrongestsubjectsFirstAidWentalongwithfirstaidandDITstudyplanBylengthofmaterialinFirstAidItwasonawhim.IhadunboundmyFirstAidandPathomabooksandthenputeachorgansysteminit'sownbinder.AndIjustpulledonesystemtoreviewatatimewithoutmuchthoughtintoit.Ifollowedthedoctorsintrainingmodules.Studiedcoretopicsfirst(biochemistry,pharmacology,etc.),thenorgansystems.UsedorderofFirstAidDidmyweakestsubjectsfirstFirstAidorderFirstAidorderofsubjectsLookedupwhichsystemsweremoreprevalentonthetest,andallottedmytimeaccordingly.BasedonmyweaknessesaftertakingaUWorldself-assessmentatthebeginningofmydedicatedstudyperiod.Weakestareasfirst.WentbyDIT'sorderIwentthroughthemintheorderweweregoingthroughtheminclass._________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Whatsubjectsdidyoustudyclosesttoyourtestdate?BiochemBiochemBiochemBiochemMicro,pharmacologyMicro,pharmacologyBiochemBiochemPharmacologyPharmacologyMicro,Ithink.Crammablesectionslikepharm,biochemIre-reviewedbiochem,micro,thingslikestoragediseases,andflashcardsforpharmacologythefewdays/weekbeforeReviewedmedicinelast

71

Random.MetabolicdiseasesCardiology,ImmunoMulti-system,ethicalstuff.CardioandGIPharmacology,biochemistrybiochem,microJustlotsofpracticequestionsandlookingupwrong-answertopicsReviewedhighyieldfactsMicrobiologyandhematology,myweakest.All(mixedreview)Micro,statistics,andbiochemistryMixoftopicsI"studied"forduringthequartersleadinguptothededicated(e.g.Renal/Pulm)Micro,PharmEndocrine,Micro,HemeLast4daysreadentiretyoffirstaidonelasttime.Biochem,MicrobioMicrobiology,pharmacology...thingsthatweremorerotememorizationIcan'tremember.Biochemistry,pharmacologyMicro,pharm,geneticdisorders(subjectswithlotofspecificdetails)Pulmonary,Biostats.BiochemistryandmicrobiologyBiochemThosethatIhadthemosttroublewith(Ikeptalist)WeaksubjectsMostdifficulttopicsformeandthoseIwantedtoreviewclosertotestdateTheonesIdidn'tknowaswell,andwhateversubjectIhadn'tcoveredinUWORLDyet.Biochemistry,microbiologyFlaggedquestionsonUWorldMicrobiology,MSK/Anatomy,Pharmacology,andMissedUWORLDquestionsIdon’tremember.MayberenalandmicroRepeatedmyweakestsubjectsasdeterminedbyUWorldsubjectscores.WeakestsubjectsBiochemistryandMicrobiologyReviewofdifficultonesTheonesIdidworstoninUWorldEthics/probability/etc.(becauseIforgetitquick)andmicrobiologyHardestonesSpotstudiedtopicsIwasbadatMyweakestsubjectsthesecondtimethrough.

72

Ireviewedmetabolismrightbefore(butthiswasasecondpass)ERMstuff,MicroandPharmClosesttothetestdate,Istudiedtopicsthatwouldrequiremorerotememorization,likepharmandbiochem.NeuroBiochem!ThingsthatrequiredmostmemorizationlikebiochemandmicroTheonesIwasweakestonThingsIknewworstMicro/PharmBiochemreviewandbiostats.Ididbiochem,microandpharmthroughout.RenalandPulmasIfeltIneededtheleasttimewiththesebecausetheywerethelastcoupleblocksof2ndyear.RapidReviewN/A.Mystudyingwasnotsubjectbasedduringdedicatedstudydays.Biostats,biochem.RandomObandpedsEasilymemorizablethings(mnemonics,biochem,etc.)HigheryieldtopicsAllCardio,GI-bigsectionsthatwerehighyieldMicroMicrobioOrgansystemsOnesthatwereverystraightmemorizationheavyWeakestsubjects:biochem/geneticsID,cardio,GI,renalImmunology,biochem,pharm,Heme/OncAllthesubjects _________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Ifpossible,pleaseprovideanexamplescheduleofyourstudyday?(OrganizedbyStep1score,whichisprovided)Step1Score Exampleschedulesofstudydays:

270

5amWakeup5:30-7:00Gym7:00-8:00breakfastanddrivetocampus8:00-11:00Readingforspecificorgansystem(FA,Pathoma,Goljan,sketchy)11:00-12:00Eithermorereadingorstartquestions12:00-12:45Lunch

73

12:45-5:00UWORLDquestionbank

269

Duringdedicated:Wakeuparound7,atcoffeeshopby745orso,lunchbreakatnoonwithmyboyfriend,homeat530orso.Dinnerwiththebf(nostudymaterialsatthetable!),afterdinnerlieoncouchanddofirecrackerflashcardsorwhatever.Mostof

265

UsuallyaUWorldquestionbankfirstthinginthemorning,thenreadingfirstaidand/orPathomaintheafternoon,thenanotherUWorldquestionbankbeforebed.Obviouslytherewasalotofvariationdependingonthesubjectbutthatwasthegeneraloutline

265

Wakeup,workout,reviewQuizletflashcardsfrompreviousday,take2newblocksofUWorldquestions,breakforlunch,reviewbothblocksofUWquestionsandmakeQuizletflashcards,reviewquestionsIgotwrongorwasunsureofinFirstAid,breakfordinner

263

7-8:Flashcardsandbiochem8-10:40UWorldquestionswithexplanations10-3:Firstaidforasubject,Pathomaifit'sthefirstday3-5:40UWorldquestions5-6:break6-8:Sketchymicro,pharm

258

WentforrunandlistenedtoGoljan,thenstudied9to12,lunch/break,1-5studied,break/dinner,7-10studied.StudyingduringthededicatedperiodwasallUWorld,occasionallydoingtopicbasedstudyingwithsketchy,Goljanrapidreviewetc.

258 8-6pmstraightthroughwith2-3random30mbreaks.

258

7:30-8:00Wakeup,eatBreakfast8:00-8:30Non-random10-15tutorquestionsonsubjectoftheday(e.g.cardio,pulm,etc.)9:00-11:00Random46blockquestionsx211:00-11:45LunchNoon-13:00Rideexercisebike,beginreviewingmorningRandom

257gotolibraryaround9-9.30am,2blocksofUWorld,quicklunch,Pathoma/FA/Picmonic/Sketchy,homearound11-12pm

255

Wakeupat7am,dosomeyogaorguidedmeditation,do2-3questionblocksandreviewanswersuntilnoon,eatlunchfor30minutes,reviewFAorSketchyorPathoma,exerciseat2or3,dosomemorequestions,dinnerat7or8,restandsleep.

254

8Wakeup8:30-11:30UWorldqbank&reviewanswers11:30-1Run/Lunch/Shower1:30-5CombinationofreadingFirstAidandannotatingintoitwithPathoma5-6:30Dinner6:30-9:30MoreUWorldorfinishupanymiscellaneousstudying9:30-10WatchSketchyvide

254

6:30wakeup(sometimesIwokeupat5:00togoswimatthegym)8:30-12:00random40-80questionblockofquestionsIalternateddaysofsingleblockvs.doubleblock)andstarttoreviewanswers(ifasingleblockday,Iusuallyhadquestionsstilltor

253

8am-10am2blocksofrandomquestionstimed,backtoback10-12Reviewanswerstoblock112-1lunch1-3Reviewanswerstoblock23:30-6DITwithfirstaid6-7Dinner7-10DIT/firstaid

252

6:30amwakeup7:00-10:00Ankibiochemcards(50),Ankipharmcards(10),5Sketchyvideos11:00-12:00Pathoma12:00-1:00Lunch1:00-3:00FinishPathomasection3:00-6:0040questionblockUWorld6:00-8:00Exercise,dinner8:00-9:00FinishUWorld

74

252

7amwakeup,breakfast,shower,scripturestudy8am-12pmstartstudying--UWorldin10-questionblockstaking~30minutesforeachblock12-1pmlunch1-5pmfinishUWorldquestionsifIdidn'tfinishthembeforelunch(Ididover100perday),doreadings

251

8:00-10:00am2blocksofquestions10am-noonreview1stblock12:00-1:00lunch1pm-3pmreview2ndblock3:30-6pmDITorPathoma6-7:30pmgymanddinner7:30-10:30pmsketchyandAnki

251Wakeup,gotocoffeeshop,studyforafewhours,gotothegymandstudythereforafewhours,workoutintermittently.Iusuallystudied~8-9hours/dayorso

250

Noon:wakeup1-5PM:1-2random46blockquestionsandreviewanswers6PM-7PM:walk/exercise,listentoGoljanduringexercise7PM-midnight:goofoff,watchNetflix,etc.

250Breakfast,246questionUWorld,lunch,exercise,reviewUWorld+Otherresources,Dinner,Flashcards

250 Variedquiteabitdaytoday

248

07:30-12:30UWorldblock,timed-tutor,bysubject-->2UWorldblockslater12:30-1:00makelunch,maybetakesmall5minutewalk1:00-4:30-DoctorsintrainingvideosonsamesubjectorPathoma4:30-Workout,maybelistentoGoljanAudioduring,callfamilyduringworkout5:15-Shower,dinner6:30-9:30/10:00DITvideosonsamesubject10-1030Getreadyforbed,10:30-10:4510pharmflashcards11:00bedInSum:4hoursUWorld,8hoursDIT,other.

248 Wakeup,Uworld#1,review,lunch,UWorld#2,review,dinner,bed

248 7am->6pmstudywithbrakesforfoodinbetween.Exercisebreaks(1hr)3x/week.

247

7:wakeup8-12:random44blockquestionsandreviewanswers12-1:lunchbreak1:gotolibrary/coffeeshop1:30-6:studyfirstaid/PathomaforwhateverorgansystemIwascurrentlyon6-8:dinnerbreak8-10/11:dideitherUWORLDorstudiedmorefirst

247

Schedulechangedthroughthestudyperiod.Thiswasmyscheduleforthelast2wks.8wakeup820random40questionuntimedtutor.Reviewedfirstaidasneeded.10Pathoma11random20questionuntimedtutor1230break1random40questionuntimedt

246

6:30wakeup7-1120UWorldquestions11-2Lunch/run12-5:30DITwithfirstaid5:30-6:30break/run/dinner

75

6:30-10UWorldquestionsrelatedtotheday'stopics

245

Onehouroftimedquestions.2hoursofquestionreview.1-2hourssurfingandlunch.1hourtimedquestions.2hoursquestionreview.2hoursreading.1hourdinnerwithwife.1hourtimedquestionswith2hourquestionreviewor3hoursreading.

245

7AM-wakeup,8AM-reviewstudymaterial(FirstAidorPathomaorSketchydependingonday),11AM-UWorldquestions,1PM-lunchbreak,2PM-UWorldquestions(wouldcalculatetargetednumberofquestionswithCramFighter),3:30PM-break/exercise

244 QbankalldayintutormodewithreferringtoFirstAid

244 Studyalldaydude,Ihadpoorlifebalance.

243

7am-wakeup,eatbreakfast,watchsomesportscenterornews8am-startDITvideoswithFA12pm-lunch1pm-resumeDITvideoswithFA3-4pm-finishDITvideosandFA5-7pm-workout,dinner7-10pm-UWorldquestionsontutormode(goalwas~50pernight)

243

8am-10:00am46questionsinUWORLD,10-10:15amtakeawalk,10:15-12:15gooveranswersfromthattestandlookupinFirstAidifyoudon'tunderstand.12:15-1:15lunch,1:15-3:1546questionsinUWORLD,3:15-3:30callafriend,3:30-5:30gooveranswers

243

8-12firstaid,246questionblocksandreview1-5similar8-10pmreview/catchup

242 Tonofquestionsalldayeveryday

242

8-9UWorldTest,packlunch/drivetopubliclibrary,10-12:30reviewUWorldtest,12:30-1:00lunch,1-5DITvideos,5-7:GYManddinner,7-10finishDIT/reviewifneeded.Itookonedayoffperweek

241

8-12readfirstaid,12-5do46blockquestionsandreviewanswersformysecondpassofUWorld,Idid2blocksofquestionsadayandspentabout2hourseachonthem

240Ihadnorealschedule.Iwouldwakeup,sleep,andeatatrandomtimes.Mygoal,however,wastocompleteatleast3fullblocksofUWorldeachdaythentakenotesintoFA.

240Wakeup,USMLEQbankinthemorning,reviewtopicsintheafternoon,anothersetofquestionsatnight

239ItriedtotreatthislikeajobsoIwouldsetgoalsforthedayandbesuretotaketimetoexerciseandnottostudylateintothenight.

238

(Lastcoupleweeksofstudying)7:30A:Wakeup,8:00A:4blocksofrandomquestions.12P:Lunchwithmymomandspendhalfanhourinthebackyard.1P:4blocksofrandomquestions.5P-7PM:Goforarun,shower,eatdinnerwithmymom,watchTV.7-9P:Rev

238During2ndyear,wenttoclass,didQbankduringdaughtersnapandaftershewenttobed.Duringintensivestudy,8-12Qbank,30minbreak,12:30-4Qbank.

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236

6:30AMWakeup,breakfast,exercise8-11AM246blockquestions+review11AM-12PMLunch12-4PM246blockquestions+review4-6PMFlashcards6-7PMDinner7-10PMRandomtopicsthatIwasstrugglingwith

235

7awakeup730-830qblock9-12studyatopic12-2lunch+exercise230-430reviewblock5-7dinner+break730-930studyatopic

235 StudiedwhenIcouldandtookabreakwhenIhadto

233

630-7meditation7-8amyoga8-9breakfast9-12UWorld44questions+reviewanswers12-1lunch1-430targetedcontentreview,Rxvideos+firstaid+Pathoma430-5meditation5-6dinner6-10UWorld44questions+reviewanswers

232 Changedtoomuchdaytoday

231Wakeup.meditate.nospecificorderorplanbutdidquestionblocks,reviewedFA,exercised,jumpedintheocean,studiedwithfriends.

231

7am--wakeup/breakfast,8am-11am--three1hr.sessionsdedicatedtoonesystem,11-12pm--lunch,12-2--100questions,2-3pm--exercise,3-6--reviewthequestionsquickly,6-8--familytime/dinner,8-11pm--flashcards

229Idon'tremember...IknowItookabreakinthemiddletoworkout.Itooksnackandlunchbreaksaswell

229 DITvideos+FAinthemorning,Qbankquestionsets+reviewfortherestoftheday

228

Mmm,mydaysvaried...ButItriedtodoatleast2setsof46questionswithreview.AndthenI'deitherdoSketchy,Pathoma,orFAdependingonareasofweaknessfrommyUWorldperformance.

228

8AMwakeup,8-12PMFirstAid,1-5PMPathoma,6-11PMUWorld

226

7wakeup,730-930246blockquestions,930-1130review,1130-1230lunch,1230-5DIT,5-646blockquestion,6-7review,7-9dinnerandexercise,9-10review

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224Wakeup,studywithseveralbreaksthroughoutthedayPRN.IreallyjuststudiedalldayanddidwhateverIwantedwheneverIfeltlikeIneededabreak.

219

8amarriveatGeisel8-11amRandom46blockquestionsandreviewanswers11-noonReadFirstAid12-1lunch1-4DITw/FAvs.Pathomavs.Sketchy4-7Another46blockquestionsandreviewanswers7-9Exerciseanddinner9-11Pathomavs.DITw/FA

213

Atcoffeeshopby7.Startwith20questions.ThenDITandFAforseveralhours.Finishwith3or4blocksof20questionsrelevanttotheday'smaterial.Gohomearound7thenre-readovernotesfromthedayuntilabout11.

209Minewassimple.Wakeuplateandstartstudyingbeforelunchandkeepgoinguntilafterdinnertime.

202Juststudiedallday.Unfortunately,didnothaveasgoodofastructureformystudyscheduletoprovideanythinguseful

198

8-1246blockandreview12-1break.1-5DIT+questions5-6:30Dinner/Run7-10blockandreview

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Whatdidyoudothedaybeforeyourtest? NothingNothingNothingStudyStudyRelaxedIwatchedalotofYouTubevideosondiseasestohelpmeputafacetosomethings(likegenetic/metabolicdiseases)Nothing.JustrelaxRelaxedWenttothetestingsitetocheckitoutthenran20mileslisteningtoGoljanandateahugeburritoanddrankabeer.Sleptin,workedoutLightlystudieduntilnoon,andthenrelaxed.Lightstudying,gotsomeactivity,atewell,andwenttobedearlyWatchedTVReviewedsometopicsIfeltwerebread/butterhighyieldandpathognomonicstuffforacouplehours.Butmostlydidn'tstudymuch.RelaxandmassageStudiedFAhighyield,freakedout.

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Friendsaskedmerapid-firefactsonpharm/biochemPracticequestions,thensitaroundathomeandchillRelaxNothing.RestedRegrettablytriedtocramafewmorethingsandstoppedstudyingat6pm.watchedamoviewithparentsandpreppedfornextdayRapidfireUWorld(did8blocksof44questions).Neuroticallyreviewedsomestuffinfirstaid---IDONOTRECOMMENDTHIS---ISLEPTPOORLYReadadocumentonlineof"highyield"Step1tipsFinishedreviewingfirstaidandantibiotics.Wentsurfingandhadabeer.Triedtorevieweverything,like30minutesperorgansystem.ThiswastotallyuselessandstressfulRelaxStudy,meetupwithnon-schoolfriendsStudiedallday.LotsofquestionsthatIhadpreviouslymissed.ReviewedReviewsomehandwrittennotes,visitedtestingcentertomakesureIknewwhereitwas,wheretopark,etc.wentgroceryshopping,mademylunchandsnacksforthenextday,wenttobedearlyWentrunningonsunsetcliffs,wenttomyfavoriterestaurant,watchedamovieIhadreallybeenwantingtosee.Nothing,watchedTV.NothingWentonalongjogReviewedtherapid-firefactsattheendoffistaidtillnoon.TooktheafternoonoffandgotamassageExercisedandreviewedverylastminutethingstomemorizeItriedtorelax.Spokeonthephonewithfriendsformotivationandconfidenceboosting.Lightstudyinguntilaboutnoon,thenwenttoexercise,gotagooddinnerandwatchedamovieNOSTUDYING.Iwentona6-milejoganddida1-hourweightliftinggymclass.Ididhouseholdchoresandcooked.Studiedequationsandbiochem.Workedout,tried(andfailed)torelax,did2blocksofquestionsinthemorningandnothingintheafternoon,andplannedspecificsofthetestdaylikepackingsnacks,etc.Lightstudying(RandomBlockof46questions),thentooktherestofthedayoff.Exercise.Reviewbigpicturenotes.Studied.Hadsomenewsfromthedoctorthatdistractedmeabitbutstudiednonetheless.Relaxed,playedFrisbeegolf.Ithinkit'sreallyimportanttotaketimeoff.Rested.IreviewedsomeofthestudysheetsIhaswritten,andgenerallytriedtotakeiteasy.Timewithfamily,hike,exerciseIdidmyresidualflashcardsinthemorningandthenspentthedayexercising,relaxing,andjustbeingoutside.

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Manicure,walk,yummydinner.Study/review~4/5hours,lunch,additional~1-2hourreviewbeforebedChill.OverthestudyperiodIhadbookmarkedpagesthathadalotofgoodinfoandIjustreviewedthosepages(lightly)offirstaid.Study.Surfed,scrubbedintoacasewithmyPI,did100firecrackerflashcards,scopedoutthetestcenterandtheAMdrivetothetestcenterMassageandpedicureReviewfirstaidIstudied,whichisn'twhatalotofpeopleshoulddo.Idecidedtokeepdoingwhatworkedforme,whichwasstudyingthedaybeforeanexam.IstudiedalldayandfoundittobeworthwhileWorkout,nailsdone,Anki.Alittlereviewbutmostlychilled.StudyinthemorninganytopicsIdidn'tfeelcomfortablewith(ImadealistbeforehandofthingsIthoughtwouldbegoodtolookatrightbeforethetest),relaxintheafternoon,talktofriends,readmyBibleandspendtimeprayingandmeditating,packingthingsfortestdayDidflashcardsandwentforarun.Itriedtorelaxbutslepthorriblyanyway.Shopped,slept,relaxed.Wenttothebeach.Halfstudy,halfrelax(gotamassage).Nothing,relaxed.Getsuppliesreadyfortest,dosomerapidreview,lightUWorld,glanceatsomelastminutesectionsofFirstAid.Hungoutwithboyfriend.Wentforarunandgotamassage.Exercise,goodfood,packmylunch,freakoutalittlebit,meditate.Jumpedintheoceannaked.Feltjoy.Meditated.Ateanawesomedinner.Wentover1practiceexamItookthenightbeforeHikeandamovieReviewedhighyieldtopicsinthebackofthebookStudydude!Reviewedforonehourinthemorning,thenrelaxedHalfdayofcardreview,watchedmoviesIwentonalongrun(9miles)andthenfoodcoma'edwithCostcopizzaandakosherhotdog.IdidsomeFAreviewtablestheyhadattheend.Cried:(Verylightreview,tooknaps,watchedamovie.ReviewedtopicsIwasunsureof,didafew20questionUWorldsetsRelaxed

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ReviewedmaterialLightreviewuntilnoon,thenrelax/gymReviewedmedsinthemorning,thenjustrelaxedtherestofthedayChurch,relaxIgotamassage,thentookabubblebathandjustrelaxed!NadaFlashcards_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Testdayadviceortips?XanaxDon'tpanic--yourscorewon'tbethatdifferentfromyourpracticetests.Trytoremaincalm,sticktoyourroutine.Ifyougetthrownoffbyaquestionortwodon'tfret.Whenyoufinishaquestionblockjustforgetaboutitandmoveon,don'tperseverateonpriorquestions.Thistooshallpass.Deepbreaths,andyoucandoit!Dothesameroutineyoudideveryday.Alsodolike5practicequestionsonUWorldjusttowarmup.KeepyourZen.Figureoutawaytonotbepanickedwhenyouarereadingyourfirsttestquestion,it'sasurrealmomentafterstudyingforsolong.Getusedtotheexperiencebeforehandwithfull-lengthpracticetests.Getaroutinesoyouatleastfeelfamiliarwiththeprocessevenifyou'renotfamiliarwithsomematerial.Getusedtowakingupearly,tryyourbesttosleepwellthedaybefore,practicebreathingexercisesforsurgesofanxietyduringtheactualexamIfatallpossibletrytorelax.Otherwisejustdowhatyou'vepreparedsowellfor.Practicemindfulnessandmeditationduringbreaks.Eatwell.Takeyourbreaks!Donotjustpushthroughthetestwithouttakingyourbreaks.Relax,you'repreparedandhavedonethesesortsoftestsbefore.Sleepwell,don'tdrinkcoffeeBeconfident.Thisisbyfarandawaythemostimportantthing.Getyourselfpumpedupandtreatitlikeabattle.Itookbreaksafternearlyeveryblock,whichIlikedtojusttakeadeepbreathandreset(soeachbreakabout5mineach).Ialsowouldeatlittlesnackseachbreakinsteadof1giantmeal.Iwalkedaroundandtriedtogetmybloodflowingtooeachbreak.Majorityofpeople(myselfincluded)feltlikeshitaftereachblock.Wefeltlikeshitaftertheentireexam.Everythingfeltterrible.Butthatdidn'tnecessarilytranslatetoaterriblescore.Don'tlettheexampsychyouout-yes,it'shardtofeellikeyou'redoingokorevenwell,butchancesareyou'renotdoingasbadasyouthink.Relaxdaybeforetest.Watchamovieorsomething.Makeplansthatwilltireyouout...Istudiedandwasstressedandonlysleptabout3hours.Ithinkthislostmeacoupleofpoints.Justtrustyourgutinstinct.Gopeewhenyoucan.Staycalm!!!It'sridiculoushowyourationallyknowthatyoushouldn'tstressbecauseitwon'thelpyouobjectively,butyoustilldoanyway.Talktoyourfamilyontestday,anddoalittlemeditationto

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calmdownandrelaxbeforetheteststarts.Thenjustgoforit,andthedaygoesbyfastandyou'redone!!!!VisittestsiteafewdaysbeforesoyouknowwhereitisandtheparkingsituationbeforetestdayWearsomethingcomfortableIdidapracticetestatthetestcenter,whichIthinkcalmedmynervesintherealtestday.Haveagoodbreakfast,planoutyourbreaktimesinadvance,shorterbreaksearlyonuntillunchtimeandthen10minutebreaksbetweeneverysectionoreveryothersectionneartheend-timingandpacingisextremelyimportant!Don'tgetdiscouragedifonesectionseemstogoworsethantheother,keepyourheadinthegameregardless:)Bringlotsoffoodandhydration.Youcanactuallyleavethetestcenteraftereveryblock.AftereachsectionIwouldtakeashortmentalbreakofafewminutes.AftereverytwosectionsIleftthetestcenterforaquick7-minutejogtorefreshmymind.Ithinkthisgavemeasignificantadvantage.Deepbreath,lotsoffood,knowthatyou'vedoneeverythinginyourpoweranditwillpayoffDressinlayers,packsnacks,anddon’teattoomuchatoncetoavoidthefoodcomaComplimentyourselfandtrytogetalittlepumpedup.Allthehardworkisdone!Rightbeforetheteststarts,closeyoureyesandcenteryourself.Makesureyouknowwhereyouaregoing.Haveyoursnacks/paperwork/etc.packedandreadythenightbefore.Useyourbreaks!Rememberthatifyoufaintfromapanicattack,you'llwakeupwithinaminuteorsoanddofineonthetest.Don'tbeafraidofbeingafraid-tellyourselfyourbodywilldowhatitwilldo,andyouwillstilldogreatonthetest!Iwasawreck,sonotreally.Healthyfood!Wearcomfyclothing,takelotsofdifferentsnacks,andtakeALLofyourbreaktime.Paceyourself.Takeallavailablebreaks(don'tleavethetestwithextrabreaktime).Bringplentyoffood(butonlystuffyounormallyeat).Don'tworryaboutweirdquestions,justassumetheyareexperimentalandwon'tcounttowardyourgrade(whetherthatistrueornot!)Answershortquestionsfirst,marklongerquestionsandreturntothoselater.Coffeewithgoodsnacksfortheday.Hadarestlessnightofsleepthenightbefore.Mustmakethebestofthesituation.There’snotalotoftimeforbreakssomakethemliterallyasfastaspossible.Likegotothebathroom,take30secondstotakesomedeepbreathsandgobackin.Takeaverysmalllunch,eatwhatyoubroughtandgobackin.Iranoutofbreaksintheendandmayhaveeventakenafewminutesoutofmytest.ItiseasytodoespeciallyifyouincludealltheBStogetinandoutoftheroom.Haveaplan(meals,snacks,breaktime)andbepreparedwithalldocumentationforthetestcentertominimizestress.Relax!Youknowwhatyouknowandyouwon'tknowmorebasedonlastsecondcramming.Getagoodnight'ssleepthenightbefore!Don'tpushbackyourdateunlessyouhaveaREALLYgoodreason,suchasafamilydeathorapregnancy,etc.Youaregoingtofeelunpreparedforthetest,thatisthenatureofhowmedicalstudentsare.Youareready.Justtakethetest.Onthedayofthetest,makesureyouhavesnacks.It'samarathon.Idecidedtotakethefirst2blocksback-to-back--weareusedtotaking2hourtestsallthetime,sothatwaseasyforme.AfterthatItookashortbreakbetweeneachblock,eithergoingtotherestroom,gettingsomewater,oreating.Irecommendthissothatyoudon'tgetstircrazy.Mindsetthatyou'vedoneallyoucan,resetmindaftereachsection

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Takeadeepbreath.Ifyou'vegottentotestdaywithoutmovingit,itmeansthatyouhavegivenitallyou'vegotten.Don'tpsychyourselfoutonthetest-youwillbemorepreparedthanyouthinkyouare.Whenyouleave,DONOTlookupanswers.Youwillfeellikeyoubombedthetest(eventhoughyouprobablydidn't);sodon'tmakeyourselffeelworse.Gohomeandcelebrate.You'refinallydonewithStep1.Everythingisaboutleadinguptotheday;IdidalotofguidedvisualizationanddeeprelaxationstuffpriortotakingStep1,whichreallyhelped.Don'tpsychyourselfoutTakefood/drinks.Planoutthebreaks.Itisalongtest;takeafewminutebreakatleastbetweenchunkstonotgetburntout.Youwillgetascrappaperforcalculations.Dothepracticetestatthetestcentertogetafeelforthelocation,lockers,proceduresfortakingabreaksetc.Bringsnacksyoulike,eatlunchoutsideinthesun.Wearcomfyclothes.Iplayed2048onmyphoneinbetweenblockstounwind.Youwillfeellikeyoufailed.Beconfidentinyourpreparation-takeyourbreaks.Relaxasmuchaspossible;don'tlethardquestionsthrowyouoff,planyourbreaksbeforehand(whentogotobathroom,whentoeat)Takethebreakstheygiveyou!Youcanevenbringreviewmaterialswithyouandleavetheminyourlocker(Ithoughtitwasacrimetobringanystudymaterialsevenclosetothetestcenter)Haveeverythingyouneedfortestdaypackedandreadytogothedaybefore,getthereearly,don'tdoanythingradicallydifferentfromwhenyouweretakingpracticetestsBringsnacks!Gooutsideduringyourbreaks.Freshairisrefreshing!Goodsnacks!Bringfood.Gooutsideduringyourbreaksandsitinthesun.Don'tuseyourphone.Takefrequentbreaks.Eatsnacksoneachbreakandgotothebathroomoneachbreak.TrytorelaxYouwillfeellikeyouaredoingterribly,youarenot.Takeadvantageofthebreaktime.Also,makesurethatyoudon'trunoutoftimeonanindividualblockTimingiseverything-marktrickyquestionsandcomebacktothem.Peopledon'ttendtocomeoutofthetestfeelingsuccessful,astherearealwaysoddtopicsthateachparticulartestchoosestoover-emphasizethatyoucan'tpreparefor,butjustrememberthatitisallcurved!Staycool,havefoodanddrinkEatagoodbreakfast,packlightly,andtakedeepbreathsateverybreak!PackplentyofsnacksBringsnacksEatgoodbreakfast.Takelotsofsnacks,planyourbreakschedule,andsleepwelltheprior2nightsBreatheTrytorelaxasmuchaspossible(listeningtomusic,speakingtogoodsourcesofsupport,etc.)BringlotsoffoodGoonarunbefore!

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Thedaybeforeyoushouldtrulyrest.Ididn'tfeelas"loose"asnormalandfeltIcouldhavedonebetter.Dothingsthatboostyourconfidenceandrelax!Youcan'tforgetyou'reamazing.Takeabreakeveryhour.Icalledmyfiancéduringhalfmybreaksforemotionalsupportandencouragement.Alsoagooddistraction-IfeltrefreshedeverytimeIwentbacktomyexam.GetthereearlyBerelaxed,trusttheprocessofstudying.Takelotsofsnacksandfood.Don’tletpreviousblocksnegativelyaffectyourperformanceonlaterblocks.Relax,getthereearly,andbringsnacksRelax!Don'tdrinktoomuchofanythingbecauseofthelimitedbathroombreaksPaceyourself,bringahealthylunch.SimulatetestconditionsaweekbeforeStaycalm!AndpackplentyoffoodandwaterGetupearly,gettocenterearly,dothepaidpracticetestifyoucan.Packlunchnightbefore.Pray/meditate/exercise/dowhateveryoudotogetyourselfcentered.Takeplentyofsnacksandcaffeine.DONOTCHANGEYOURANSWERS!Donotobsessoveranswersbeingrightorwrong.Pretendyou'redoingUWorld.Goseetheplacebefore;"testrun"Takemanysnackswithyou.Ididn'tbringfoodanditwasfine.Candy,chocolate,andwaterareallthatyouneed.Ohandenergydrinks,thosearegreattoo.Takeallyourbreaks.Everyone.Evenifyoudon'tneedtopee,gooutsideandwalkaroundinthesunshine.Keepyourfocusduringthelast2blocks,thosearegoingtobetheworstandyou'llwanttocheckoutandjustselectanything.Don'tdothis.

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MovingYourTestDate__________________________________________________________

NearlyathirdofstudentspushedbacktheirStep1test-dateatsomepointintime(Figure46).Ofthosewhodidmovetheirtestdate,63%didnotregretmovingtheirtestdate,while28%didregrettheirdecision(Figure47).About50%ofstudentswhomovedtheirtestthoughtthattheirscoreorperformancewasimprovedbymovingthetest,while19%thoughtithurttheirperformanceand28%wereunsure(Figure48).TheaverageStep1scoreforstudentswhodidnotmovetheirtestcomparedtothegroupofstudentsthatdidappearedtobedifferentbutthiswasfoundtonotbesignificant.TheaverageStep1scoreforthestudentsthatdidnotmovetheirtestwas241.96(CI245.62-238.29),andforthosethatdidmovetheirtest,theaveragewas233.06(CI238.08-228.05,Figure49).Themainreasonstudentsmovedtheirtestwasthattheydidnotfeelprepared.Severalstudentscommentedthatintheendtheydon’tthinkmovingthetestmadeadifferencescore-wiseforthem,asmoststudentsneverfeelpreparedenoughwhenthetestdaycomes.

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Figure46.

Figure47.

Figure48.

PushedBack32%

DidNotPushBack68%

Studentswho"pushedback"TheirTestDate:

Iregretmovingmytest28%

Idonotregretmovingmytest

63%

Unsure9%

StudentRegretRegardingMovingTheirTestDate:

Improvedmyscore/

performance50%

Hurtmyscore/performance

19%

Didnotaltermyscore/

performance28%

Unsure3%

StudentOppinionRegardingHowMovingtheTestDateAffectedTheirPerformance:

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Figure49.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponsesto:Whatwerethecircumstancesinwhichyoumovedyourtestdate?Mybrother'swifehadababythedayofmytestIgotverysickafewdayspriortomyoriginallyscheduledtestdate.Irescheduleditto1weeklater.Imovedmytest1monthoutfromtheanticipateddatebecauseonceIrealizedhowmuchIcouldaccomplishinanintensestudyday,IfeltthatIneededafewmoredaystocoverallofthetopicscomfortably.Ionlymovedmytest5daysbackbutstillhadabout2weeksofvacationtime(whichwassuperimportant).IdidmovemydatebutultimatelyIdon'tknowifitreallyhelpedatall.Irecommendsettingadateandstickingtoitbecauseyouneverfeelreadytotakethetestandthereisalwayssomethingmoretostudy.Scheduleaflightafteryouscheduleitandsticktoit!Imoveditbackabout5days.Iregretthis.At1weekoutIwasfairlyburnedoutandreadytogetthetestdone.IscoredbetteronmyNBMEpracticeexam2weeksbeforethetestthanontherealthing.Imovedmytestdateby6days,becauseIwasfreakingoutabout2weeksbeforestepanddidnotfeelready.Idon'tthinkonecaneverfeelready,butIjustwouldn'thavebeenabletodoeverythingIwantedtodobeforethetest(revieweachorgansystem,etc.).SoformeI'mgladImovedthetest.I'mnotsureIdidbetterthanIwouldhaveifIdidn'tmovemytest,butIgottoatleaststudyeachorgansystem.Inretrospect,IwishIjuststartedstudyingintenselyearliersoIdidn'thavetodothat!Imoveditabout2monthsbeforeWasnotprepared,oneweek.

225

230

235

240

245

250

Step1Score

No,DidNotMoveYes,Moved

Step1ScoreforStudentsWhoPushedBackTheirTestDatevsNot:

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Iwasn'tscoringashighasIwantedtoonpracticetests.Imoveditmaybe2weeksbeforeoriginaldate.Movedintothe3rdyearblock.IwasnotscoringashighasIneededtobescoringandhadpersonalcircumstancesmakingstudyingetc.hardertodo.Didn'tthinkIwaspreparedWassick,1week.Moveditaweek.Iinitiallyscheduledmytestfor3weeksintothestudyperiod,but2weeksin,Ididnotfeelready,soImoveditbackanotherweek,whichIdonotregret.Atthetime,IstillhadagoodamountofresourcesthatIhadnotfullygonethrough,includingUWorldandNBMEpracticeexams.IalsowantedtogobackandreviewthematerialthatIhadstudiedearlierinthemonthorsoleadinguptotheexam.Pushingthetestback,IneveractuallyfinishedeverythingIwantedtodo,butIfeltmuchmorereadyforthetestandIstillhadplentyofvacationtimeafterward.FellbehindonmystudyscheduleOneweekbeforeoriginalscheduledtestdate.Movedbecausescorewasgoingdownonpracticeexams.Gotsick,soImoveditbackMovedmytestdayout1weekbecauseIgotabadNBMEpracticeexamscoretheweekbeforemyexamandfeltIneededmoretime.Cancelledpartofmyvacationtodothis-inretrospectIshouldhavejusttakenthetestandgoneonvacation!ImoveditaboutaweekbecauseIwantedtoreviewmorematerial.Moveditearlyon,6weeksout,mademoresenseformyscheduleandfeltsaferNervousthatIwouldbeunpreparedMovedittwoweeksbecauseIwasn'tplanningonvacationingafterStep1,andappreciatedsomeextratime.Moveddateby1week.Didn'tfeelpreparedenough.Ipushedmyexamback1week.Inhindsight,IthinkIjustneedafewmoredaystomentallypreparemyself.AfullweekwastoolongandIjustwantedtogetitoverwith.Imovedit1.5weeks.Ididn'trealizewhatanenormoustakeStepstudyingwasuntilitwastoolate.Pusheditoutanextraweek,didnotfeelfullyprepared.Feltunprepared,movedit1.5weeksbackMoved1-2weeks.Pushedit4/5daystoensuregettingthroughUWorldtwiceImovedmytestdayby5days.Iwasbehindmystudyschedule.Inretrospect,Ishouldnothavemovedmydate,asitgenerallydoesn'tmakeadifference.

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WellBeingandMentalHealth__________________________________________________________

Ofthe96studentswhoresponded,approximately30%ofstudentshadamentalbreakdownatsomepointwhilestudyingforStep1(Figure50).Studentsusedmanymethodstocopewiththeirmentalbreakdownandrecover.Manystrategiesinvolvedspeakingtomentors,spendingtimewithfamilyorfriends,goingtotherapy,takingtimeofffromstudying,usingmoreprayerormeditation,andexercisingmore.Studentadviceinregardstostaying‘sane’duringthestudyincludedmanyofthesamestrategiesmentionedforrecoveringfromamentalbreakdown;however,therewasgreateremphasisonexercisingregularlyandschedulingbreaksandthingstolookforwardtoduringtheweek.Studentstendedtobefrustratedwiththeirclassmateswhenindividualswouldsharetheirstudyschedules,giveunsolicitedadvice,orcommentsabouthowmanyUWorldquestionstheyweredoingperdayorwhattheirmostrecentpracticescoreswere.Studentsappreciatedwhentheirpeershadsupportivecomments,sharedstudytipsorresourceswhenprompted,sharedtheirinsecurities,orcommiseratedabout‘howfarbehind’instudyingtheywere.Ahighlightofafewothertipsandadvicementionedbystudentsinclude:pickingafewresourcesandstickingtothem,makingadetailedstudyschedule,exercisingdaily,andschedulingatestdateandstickingtoit.Manystudentscommentedonthefactthat‘nooneeverfeelspreparedcometestday’;donotbeshakenbythisfeelingandmoveyourtest,asthisfeelingwillalwaysbethereinsomecapacity.Figure50.

Yes,Ihadamentalbreakdown

30%

No,Ididnothaveamentalbreakdown

70%

StudentResponsetoifTheyHadaMentalBreakdown:

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_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Howdidyourecoverfromyourmentalbreakdown?TherapyJusthadtimeallowmetorecoverTalkingwithmymom,boyfriend,andprayer/church.N/a,butIdidhavemomentsofstresssurges.Imeditatedandsoughtoutsocialsupport.Myadvicewouldmetorealizeyou'reonlyhumanandnobodyisperfect.Don'tcompareyourselftoyourclassmates.Mentalhealthprovidervisits,self-care,prayerTalkedtoanupperclassmanthathadbeenactingasamentorformethroughoutthestudyprocess.Hewasreallyreassuring.Ialsotook2fulldaysoff...reallybecauseIhadnochoiceandcouldn'tstudyanylonger-Ihadamentalblock-butafterthatIfeltmuchbetterandwasreadytostartagain.MyparentsnoticedIwasinabadstatefromourphoneconversations;IknownoteveryoneisasluckyasIamtohavesupportiveparents,butmineliterallyflewacrossthecountryandstayedwithmeforacoupleofdaystodistractandsupportme.Itseemsweirdtothinkthatbeingdistractedfromstudyingwouldbenefitme,butthebreakfromthetorturewasexactlywhatIneeded.Italkedtofamilyandclosefriendswhoweren'tinmedschool.Ithelpedalot!PrayerIdidn'tsleepatallthenightbeforetheexam.MyheartwasracingandthelongerIliedinbed,themoreanxiousIgot,soIjustneverfellasleep.Itwasterrible.CAPS,spoketomedicalstudentsfromclassesaboveme,friends,psychmedsMeditationforquickrelief,readblogs/articlesonlinebypeoplewhosufferthesameproblemanditreassuresyouyou'renormal.Planforabreakdown.Havemethodstogetbackintostudymode.Orplanearlytoavoidabreakdownfromhappening?NotsureifthisispossibleAcceptanceofwhereIwasatandthattherewasnothingIcoulddotochangetheoutcome.Itturnedoutok.Ihadsupportfrommysignificantother,whomademegetoutofthehouseandawayfromstudying.Iamsomeonewhodoesn'trequirealotofbreaksfromstudying,whichisbothgoodandbad.WhenIstartedtogetparticularlyfrustratedorfeelingbogged-downbytheprocess,hewastheonetosuggestIgetawayforjust10minutes,beoutside,andgetsomefreshair.Havingpeopleinyourcornerduringthistimeperiodisimportant-whetheritisyourfellowclassmates,family,significantother,friendsoutsideofmedicalschool,etc.Don'tunderestimatethevalueofthesepeople.Italkedtomyparents,myfriends,andjusttookabreakforanevening.Itwon'tkillyoutohaveaneveningoff.Itreallyhelps.Avoidinganythingtodowithmedschoolwasreallyhelpful.YogaCalledparents,talkedtofriends,tookastudybreak,exercisedTakeabreakfromstudying,likeanENTIREdayIspenttimeprayingandtriedtorecognizethatitwasn'tawasteoftimetorelaxandrecoverfrommyanxietyifitwaskeepingmefromproductivestudyinganyway.Itriedtospeakkindlytomyselfandtalkedtofriendswhowouldencourageme,andaskedthemtoprayforme.

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Igotmarried4daysaftertakingStep.Advicetofuturestudents:donotgetmarried4daysaftertakingStep.Honeymoonwasawesomethough!Startedtakingabeta-blockerfortestanxiety-SOhelpful!!TriedtochangemymentalityaboutthesignificanceofthetestTalkedwithfamilyandfriends,tookonefulldayofffromstudying,andlookedatthebigpictureforamoment.Goonarun:)Ireachedouttofriendsandgotoutofthehouse.It'sokaytobreakscheduleifyoudon'tfeelwell.IwenthomeforoneweekendinthemiddleofmydesignatedstudyperiodandIfeltsomuchbetter.Ihadfamilyaround.Ieventuallycamebacktogetherwithtime.Ireallyprioritizedseeingmytherapist,andIspokewithpartner,andfriendswhohelpedmerealizedmygoalsandhowmyprojectedscorewillstillallowmetoachievemygoals._________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Whathelpedkeepyousaneduringthestudyperiod? ExerciseExerciseEtOHLivingwithfriendsTakingmosteveningsofftojustrelaxforanhourortwobeforebed.Havingdesignateddaysoff(aboutonceaweek)wherethereisNOstudyingdoneDoingnon-medicinethingsRoommates,running,boyfriendQualitytimewithmymom,boyfriend,andprayerStayingactive,spendingtimewithbothclassmatesandpeopleoutsideofmedicineDogsSpendingtimewithfamily.WifeFriends,petsExercise,meditation,healthyeating,breaksHavingcontrolovermyownscheduleFriendsandfamilyExercise.ButIlikestudying.VentingExercisingeverydayCallinghome;beingwithothers.Exercise,datenights,goodmealsExercisingandwatchingNetflix.Surfingmostdays.Structuredstudyschedule.Beingaroundfamily

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MyroommatesGodCoffeeExercise,timewithfriendsSeeingmyboyfriend,talkingtofriends,cookingorgoingouttoeat,beingoutsideduringbreaks,exercisingKeepingascheduleandstickingtodaysoffWatchingTV,beingwithmyfamily,talkingtomyclassmatesExercise,hangingoutwithfriendsIwentonjogseveryeveningduringsunset.Studyinginthevicinityoffriends,takingbreakstoeatanddosomethingeverydayIwenthomeExercise,familyFamilyandfriendsStudyingwithaclosefriend,someonewhohelpsde-stressyouiskey.Unfortunatelyit'salltooeasytostartstudyingwithsomeoneandthenrealizethattheyactuallystressyououtaton.Exercisingmostdays,takingabreakevery2-3hours,studyingatcafeswithafriend,spendingtimeeverydaywithspouse,sleepingatleast7hourseverysinglenight,doingonehobbythatmakesmefeelalivebutputasideotherhobbiestomaketimetostudyExerciseExercise,makingaspecificplanforstudying(thereisalwaysmoretodososettinglimitsisimportant),seeingfriendsandfamilyoutsideofmedicine.Significantother,treatingstudyinglikeajob,exercisingatleastonceaday.BreakingattheendofthedayanddecompressingwithdowntimelikeTVorInternetHavingatleast1dayoffperweekandbreaktimeeachday.FriendsIwaswithmyboyfriend,sowewouldcookdinnertogetheratnightandusuallywatchalittleTV.Whenthingsgotreallystressfulforme,Iwouldtakeawalk.Family,exerciseMyparents,exercise,andtalkingwithfriendsonthephone.Deeprelaxation,regularlygettingoutdoors,eatingwell,sleepingregularlyNotsure,stillfeellikeImymentalstatehasn'tfullyrecovered.Takingbreakstoplaybasketball,playvideogames;talkwithsignificantotherandfriendsSurfing,hangingoutwithmysignificantother,eatingfoodIlikedExercise,talkingtomyfamilyHavingfriendstostudywith,exercising,andeatingrightExercisePrayer,talkingtofriends,havingatleast1dayaweektodosocial,funthingsandtrynottothinkaboutstudying.ExerciseandchangingstudylocationsExercise,friendsandalcoholYoga

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Don'tstudytoomuch.Dootherthings.StudyingatthegymwasreallyhelpfulbecauseIcouldstudyforanhour,thendosomethingactive,thenstudyagain,thendosomethingactive.Ineverstudiedintheevenings.Iwouldstopstudyingby6pmatthelatestandhaveanormaleveninglikearealadulthuman.Friends,exerciseDoingactivethingsWorkingoutSpendingtimewithfriendsRunning,gettingsomesun,havingastudypartner,takingfrequentbreaks,goinghomeforaweek.Notsure,mycoolbraincanworkitRunning,wineExercise.Family.Startingtodatemynow-boyfriend.MymomandeatingFriendtimeIdidn'tstaysaneMeditation,friends,exercise,nutritiousfood,massagesFamily,friends,andexerciseFriends,dog,exercise,coffee.HangingoutwithfamilyandfriendsBeingawayfrommostclassmatesRunningeverydayExerciseandgoingoutwithfriends.LivingwithclassmatesFamilysupportMusicTalkingtofriendsTakinglotsofbreaks8hrsofsleepanight,1.5hoursgymeveryday(primarilyweightlifting),walkingonthebeach,beingathomewithfamily,Listeningtomusic,hangingoutwithparentsGoingtoPhiladelphiawithfamily,spendingtimewithwife,kids,otherfamily;leavingSDandgettingchangeofscenery(wewenttoeastcoastfor5weeks);exercisedaily.Texting/callingacoupleclassmatesoccasionallytocheckinandsharesuccessesandchallenges.Exercisingregularly,limitingmyexposuretofriendswhodidnotstressmeout!Seeingmytherapist.Eatingandsleepingwell/enough.Wife/childExerciseandfriendsIdidn'tattendanyofthegroupsessionswithChristinaLambert,butsawheracoupletimesforindividualcounselingduringthestep1period,whichwasveryhelpful.Shehelpedmeidentifyweakpointsinplanning/scheduling,helpedmemakeaschedule,andwasanimportantspaceforhonestconversation.

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_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Whatbothered/annoyed/frustratedyouaboutwhatyourclassmatesdid/saidduringsecondyearmovingclosertothestudyperiod? Ikneweveryonewassmarterthanme,andhearingaboutthemstudyingforstepstressedbeoutbecauseIwasjusttryingtopasstheblockNothingreally--Ijusthatedhowpeopledidn'ttalkaboutthingsorwouldbeuncomfortableaboutitEveryonestudiesdifferentlysoprefernotcomparingmethodsNothing.Ijustfocusedonmyself.IknowIwasbothered,butcan'trememberaspecificreason.NothingEveryonewasveryanxious/stressedstartingaroundDecemberandIjustdidn'twanttobearoundthem.Iparticularlydidn'tlikeclassmatescomparinghowmuchstudyingtheyhadalreadydone.PeoplewerestudyingforStep1sincethesummeroffirstyearand/orwellbeforethestudyperiodbutfewadmittedit.HowhightheirpracticetestscoreswereHowsomepeoplewereentirelyfocusedon"highyield"learningpointsduring2ndyearPBL,insteadoflearningthematerialasitwaspresentedinclass.Thattheywereblowingoffclasstostudyforstep1Peopletalking/braggingabouthowmuchtheygotdonethatday/week.Myclassmatesdidn'tannoyme.Toomanyopinions,toomanyresourcestoworryaboutNothing.Complained,evenwhentheywerescoringmuchhigherthanme.Braggedabouttherestudyhabitsbutdidn'ttrytohelpothers.Peopletalkingabouthowgoodtheirscoreswere.Comparison.ItbotheredmewhenpeoplealwaystriedtoforcetheiradviceonyouaboutwhattheyweredoingtostudyEveryonetalkingaboutstudystrategiesPeoplealwaysoverestimatehowlongtheystudyeffectively.Talkingabouthowmuchtheywouldstudyorgivingexactscoresonpracticetests.That'sboundtomakeotherpeoplefeelterrible.Neversharescoresunnecessarily!!Everyonewassostressedandanxiousandalltheycouldtalkaboutwasstep1.Theystoppedgoingtoclassandobsessedoverthetest.SoIspentmostofmystudytimeathomeinSanDiegoandthenhomeatmyparent’shouse.WhenclassmateswouldgettogetherandsharehowmanyextraresourcestheywereusingandthusinvokedstressamongotherfriendsTherewillbepeoplewhofeelcompelledtotellyoutheirlatestpracticeexamscore,orhowmanyquestionstheydoaday.Don'tlisten,don'tcompare.ItbotheredmthattheywouldprocrastinateuntilMarchorAprilandfreakoutinsteadofstartinginJanuarywithintensestudying

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Broughtstudymaterialstoclassandonlystudiedduringlecture,paidnoattentiontoindividualgivinglecture.Skippedtheentiremultiorgansystemblock.Carriedaroundfirstaidduringfirstyear.Ankiflashcardsnon-stopduringlecture/POMBeingaroundalotofotherscaredandstressedoutpeoplecanbehardformesoItriednottospendtoomuchtimeoncampus.It'seasytocompareyourselfnegativelytoeveryoneelseduringatimeofstress,whichisnotalwayshealthy,Igenerallyavoideddiscussingthiswithclassmates,inordertoavoidpotentialnegativeemotions.FirecrackerduringlectureIthoughtitwasalotharderthaneveryonepredicted.Iamnotthebeststudentbutevensowhenpeoplesayitwillbeallrighttheydonotknowthat.ReallythoughIhadtothinkaboutthat.Didn'tbothermethatmuch.Ithinkeveryonetendstobeonedgeduringthisperiodsoevenslightmentionsofstudyingwouldbecomeslightlyirritating.Nothinginparticular,itisjustthegeneralstressaroundtheexam.PeoplehadalreadystudiedforStep1whenIarrivedtostartmyMS2year,andIwasverymuchtakenaback.ToonegativeaboutlifeduringstudyingAlleveryonetalkedaboutwasStep1.Peoplestarttogiveeachotherunsolicitedadviceandwillsharetheirstudyscheduleswhetheryouwantthemtoornot.Everyone'sstressedandthat'sreasonable,buttrytostepawayfromclassmatesifthey'restressingyououtoroverwhelmingyou.It'sokayanddoesn'tmakeyouabadperson.Don'tletthewayothersstudypsychyouout.Nothing,IkepttomyselfthoughNearlyeverythingtheydid.Itgetsreallydifficulttoseepeoplemovingintodedicatedandifyoudon’thaveasupportsystemoutsideofyourmedschoolfriendsitcangetverylonelyWheretheyareintheirstudyplanPeoplestartedtoobsessoverStep,soIremovedmyselfandjustfocusedonmyselfandwhatIneededtodotosucceed.Peopleweredisrespectfulduringlecturesandsmallgroups(doinguworldduringclassetc.).Don’tknow,triedtostayawayfromsocialmediaandpeoplethatstressedmeout1stand2ndyearHearingpeopletalkabouthowbehindinstudyingtheywerebutfindingouttheywerewayaheadofme.Howmuchpeoplehadalreadystudied,orjudgingothersfornotusingthesameresourcesIt'sveryeasytocompareyourselftootherpeople...Idon'tthinkit’sabadideatogohomeorsomewherewheretherearenoothermedstudentssoyoucanjustfocusonyourself.Orifthereareafewclassmatesyoureallygetalongwithandworkwellyoucanstudywiththem.EverythingIdidnottalktothemTheirstudyhabitsEveryonewascomparingtheirprogressandwhatresourcestheyhadalreadyused,whichstressedeveryoneoutwhohadn'tgottenthatfarorwasusingdifferentresources.NotatallTheirpresenceHearingwhattheirstrategywasAnxietyproducingstatements,ego,fear-producingcomments,comparison

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Comparingstudyschedules,etc.Therearetoomanyresourcesingeneral,sothebattleofwhichtouseandwhywasalwaysstressful.Peopletryingtogaugehowmuchstudyingyouweredoing/haddonePeoplegotcrazy;someofmyclosefriendsreallybecomemeanandcompetitiveTalkingaboutscoresHearingabouttheirUWorldprogress,howfarthey'dgotten,whattheirpercentswereEveryoneseemedtobeenjoyingthesufferingtogether,anditmademefeelaloneDon’tworryaboutalltheresourcesotherpeopleusedfortheexam-trustwhatworksforyouandsticktoit.Notmuch,didn'treallytalktotoomanyNotmuch.Ididmybestto"runmyownmarathon"likeDeanMandelsuggested.Classmateswhowereclearlymorepreparedandrelaxedtalkingabouthowitwillallbeokay(unfortunatelythatadviceisn'tvalidforeveryone).ClassmatesaskingaboutwhatI'ddonewasannoying.Classmatestellingmewhatthey'redoingwasannoying(unfortunatelythatjustmademefeelmorestressed).Nothing,myclassmatesweregreat.Youwillbecomemoreirritableastestdateapproachesthough._________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Whatdidyouappreciate/like/enjoyaboutwhatyourclassmatesdid/saidduringsecondyearmovingclosertothestudyperiod? Everyonefeltliketheywereinthesameboat.Idon'tcareifsomeonewasdoingterriblyorreallywelljustaslongaspeoplewereopenaboutit.Nomatterhowgreatsomeonewasdoingit'sstillastressfulexperienceandIwisheveryoneunderstoodthat.AppreciatednottalkingaboutStepstudyingPositivecomments,testingeachotherbutoutrightsayingnottobejudgingifsomeonegetsitwrong.GeneralunderlyingexcitementformovingforwardintothirdyearPositiveencouragementCamaraderieinthatweallagreedourlivessucked.Advice,theirhonestyinhowmuchtheywerepreparingasopposedtonot.SupportivecommentsPeopleaskinghowareyouholdingup.Beinghonestthattheywerehavingahardtimetoo.MyclosestfriendsandImadethispactthatifweallfailedtodowellinStep;we'dagreetoapplyforalow-tierresidencytogether.Ilikeditwhentheygavememyspace.Appreciatedcommiseratingandtalkingabouthowfarbehindinstudyingwewere.InvitationtostudytogetherIreallyenjoyedtalkingtothemaboutthefrustrationsaboutstudyingandhavingthembetheretolistentobeinmisery.Beingsupportive.Givingrealadviceonhowtoimproveonacertainsection.TalkingaboutanythingbutSTEP1studying!Ilikedstudyingwithafewfriendswhowerenotbeingcrazyaboutthewholething

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Expressedtheirinsecuritiesandthestresstheywerealsofacingduringthisstudytime.Iappreciatedbeingapartofacommunitythatwascomfortablebeingvulnerableandopenlysharedfeelings.Ilikedhowtheydidnotcomparethemselvestoeachother.Itwaseveryone'sownjourney.Eventhoughthestresscanbemagnified,it'scomfortingtoseethateveryoneelseisgoingthroughthesamethingandseeingMS3sandMS4swho'vebeenthroughitisalsocomforting.Talkingtoclassmatesaboutstrategiesforstudyingandplansaftercanalsobeveryhelpful.Learningdifferentpotentialstudystrategiespeoplewereexperimentingwith.MentalbreakstogetherSupportwasalwaysniceandUCSDstudentsarethebestatthis.CamaraderieIappreciatedwhenmyclassmatesstartedusingFirstAidandPathomaastheprimaryresourcesfortheirwrite-upsinPBL.Thematerialpresentedinthosestudyresourceswerewhatwewantedtoknowanyways,soitmadePBLmuchmoreofageneralizedlearningexperienceandIfoundIgotmuchmoreoutofthosesessionswhenthistransitionoccurred.Itwasnicetohaveasupportnetworkoffriendstorelaxto,ventto,stressoutto,whounderstoodexactlywhatyouweregoingthrough.Everyonewassupersupportiveandopentosharingresourcesandnotes.Westillsocializedwhichdefinitelykeptmesosane.TakingtimetohangoutandtrulyleavebehindstudyingItwasniceseeingpeopleandjustcatchingupItwillallbeokay.AppreciatedthatafewfriendscametohelpmemoveduringthededicatedstudytimeSayinggeneral,encouragingthingsratherthanspecificsaboutwhatresourcesworkedwellGivinghugs,mutuallycomplainingRoommate/classmategotsillywithmeforgreatbreaksHavingsocialgatheringsandhavingtimetoventwashelpful.VerylittleNottalkingaboutstepSupport,solidarity,encouragementHangingwithouttalkingstepJusttheirpresence!Peoplesharingresources/studytipsAllowingforspaceSpendingtimegoingoutofthehouse,likegettingabeerThatwe'reateamandthattheybelieveI'llrockthetest.TheonlinepostswereanicedistractionWe’reallinittogether!HavingacoupleoffriendsthatIwasinfrequentcontactwithwasnicebecausewecouldofferperspectiveandencouragement.Iappreciatedclassmateswhojustdidnotbringstep1thingsupandinsteadjustencouragedeachothertocontinuetoworkthrougheverything.Iappreciatedwhenclassmatesencouragedeachothertostaywell.ThefactthattheyweresufferingjustasmuchasIwas.

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_________________________________________________________________________________________________Studentresponseto:Anyotherwellbeingwisdom/nuggetsofadvice/tips? Makingaschedulehelpedmeaton.IfIfinishedwhatIhadsetouttodoforthatday(example:readthroughCVsectionofPathomaandFAinthemorningandatotalof80UWORLDquestionswithreview,andsomeANKIcards)anditwas4pmthenIwouldjustcallitadayandgorelaxandknowthatIwasgoingtogetthrougheverythingIwantedtobeforemytestdaywithouthavingtostudyuntil10pmDon'tletsuccessgettoyourheadorfailuregettoyourheart.Youarenotyourscore.NotsomuchadvicebutIwishedIwould'veadoptedastrictscheduleandexerciseddailyIfthereisanyneedforagrievingperiodduringyourstudyingtakeit,visitwithamentalhealthproviderregularly-don'ttrytopower-thru.Self-care(whateverthatmeans,friends,sleep,food,laziness)isESSENTIALtoeffectivestudying.Exercisedaily!Doonesmallfunthingeachday.Talktoyourcoresupportoftenbutputawaydistractionswhileyou'restudyingbecauseyouneedtobuildyourabilitytoconcentrateforlongperiodsoftime.Plansomethingreallyfunafteryourtestandlookforwardtoit!Don'tlosehope.Keepothersaroundyousoyoudon'tdrowninyourownhopelessness.Startearlyandpaceyourself.Donothingthedaybeforethetest.Justdoonethingeverydaythatmakesyoufeelatpeace.Haveyourspousetalktootherspousestonormalizetheirexperiences.Startearly!!IT'ssomuchnicertotakeyourtimestudyingandnotfeelrushedfortime.Sostartamonthearlierthanyouthinkyou'llneed.Ifyouarehavingareallybad,discouragingday-takethedayoffanddosomethingfun.Tryyourbesttobewell-restedandhappytostaymotivated.Active(ratherthanpassive)studyingisimportant.Pickyourresourcesandsticktothem.Aslongasyou'reusingUWorldandfirstaidyouwilldowell.Don'tchangeyourplanandkeepaddingresourcesbasedonwhatotherpeoplearedoingorsaying(exceptforsketchymicro!thatone'samazing).StickwithyourplanandknowthatwhatevermethodhasworkedforyouthusfarinmedschoolwillcontinuetoworkforyouforSTEP1ExerciseandeatwellTakecareofyourself.Thisistheeasiestonetoforget.Especiallyasthetestgetscloser.Dowhatyoucantomakesureyou'reeatinghealthy,gettingagoodamountofsleep,anddoingthingsthatmakeyouhappy.It’seasytosay,butbelievemeitcandefinitelybehardtodoasthestressmounts.Makeyourownplanearly,andsticktoit-don'tcheatyourselfbyprocrastinating.ThisperiodcanbereallyhardonrelationshipsThiswasthemoststressfulpartofmedschoolbutyouwillgetthroughit!Justtrytodosomethingelseforyourselfeveryday,don'tstudy24/7,andeventhoughitgetsverytemptingtopushyourtestdatebackmostpeopleItalkedtoregretteddoingthis.Somepeoplewerehappytheymovedtheirtestdateup.Alsotakeavacationafter!Meditateatleast15minutesaday(Irecommendreading"WakingUp"bySamHarrisoverwinterbreak).Exerciseeveryday.Eatwell.Treatitlikeajob:besureto"clockout"everyday/eveningforatleastafewhoursandrelax.

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Studyharderearlierandassoonasyoucanespeciallyinsecondyearwhenthestudyloadismucheasiertohandle.TaketimetostepoutsideandgetsomefreshairFindwhatkeepsyousane-anddothat.Meditate,relax,andtrytokeepthingsinperspective.Yes,thistestisbigforyourapplication,future,pride,etc.,BUTitisnoteverything.Yourworthismuchmorethanthescoreyougetandyouarenotvalidated/invalidatedbyyourscore.YourscoreDOESNOTdeterminethekindofdoctoryou'llbe,sotrytostaygrounded.Also,thestudyingandthestresswilldefinitelyconsumeyou,sobeawareofyourmind,bekindtoyourself,andtrytomaintainabalancethatwillhelpyoustaygrounded.Idid5wksofthe"dedicated"studytime.ThatlastweekbeforetheexamwasveryhardasIwasgettingburntout.Makesuretohavehobbiesandpeopletofallbackonduringthestudyperiodsothatyouaren'tstudyingforallyourwakinghours.DONOTMOVEYOURTESTBACK.Youwon'tfeelready.Idefinitelydidn’t.Itisimpossibletounderestimatehowquicklyyouforgetthings(andhowmuchyouhavetostudytojuststaywhereyouare)bytheendofdedicated.Asunpreparedasyoumayfeelyouwilllikelynotbemorepreparedinaweek(exception:ifyouhaven’tfinishedUWbeforestep1).Also,IfeltlikeshitafterIwalkedoutofstep1andthoughtIhaddonehorribly.IgrievedanddreamtaboutthequestionsIgotwrong.Iendedupgettingagreatscore.It'sokayiftakingstep1doesn’tbringyouasmuchreliefasyouexpect.Yourgutfeelingaboutyourperformanceisnotalwaysright.DolotsofthingsforyourselfIt'sgoodtobearoundpeoplewholoveyouandcanencourageyouwhenyou'rereallystruggling.Trytokeepthingsinperspective,thisisimportantbutitwillnotbetheendoftheworldifyoudon'tdoamazinglywellorevenifyoudon'tpass.Eathealthy,exercise!Havesomethingyoulookforwardtoeachandeveryday!Studyearly.Ifyouwaituntilthededicatedstudytimeyouwillbeoverwhelmedbyhowmuchyouhavetolearnandwanttodie.Also,don'tover-purchaseresources.Youonlyhavetimeforsomuch.Itendtothinkit'sbettertodoUWorldtwiceandreallyknoweverythinginitthantodoanotherquestionbankandonlyhalfknowboth.Stayactive.GooutsideDon'tletthistestgetthebestofyou!Lookingback,myonlyregretishowmuchtimeIwastedfreakingout,andhowpoorlyItookcareofmyself.SLEEPisaverynecessaryandimportanttoolforqualitystudying-prioritizeitoverallelse!ExerciseeverydayExercise,eatwell,andsleepenoughHavecompassionforyourself,STEPisnottheendallbeallforresidency/lifeFindagoodcafeandstickwithit.Meetthepeoplethatworkthere.Theymaygiveyoufreefood/drink.Trytocontinuetodothingsthatwillhelpyoude-stress/takeyourmindawayfromstudyingeveryday.It'sveryeasytogetcompletelywrappedupinstudyingnon-stop.Tryyourbesttoenjoytheexperience,rememberyourloveformedicineExercise;spendtimewithpeopleyoulove,andMAKEASCHEDULE!Don'tisolateyourselftoomuch!Yesit'simportant,butthetestwon'tdefinewhoyouwillbeonthewards.You'lldofineandyou'llbeadoctor.Exerciseeveryday.Getsunlighteveryday.

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Takebreaksandtakecareofyourself.IoftenfeltlikeIwasgoingcrazyduringthestudyperiodbutit'simportanttorememberthatit'sonlyafewweeksandthatwe'vebeenworkinghardforseveralyears(evengoingbacktobeforemedicalschool!).Takecareofyourselfaboveallelse.Ifyoureallyfeellikeyouarehittingawall,takeahalf-dayoff,ormoreifyouneedit.BettertotakeadaytorecoverthantospendtwodaysgivinghalfeffortstudyingandbeingmiserableaboutitDon'toverdoit,ifyouneedtotakeadayoffBasicstuff.Eatwell,continuetoexercise,becreative!Foreachofthe40questionblocksonthetest,whethertheybepracticetestsortherealthing,breakitdowninto410-questionblocks.Afteryoutake10questions,stop,centeryourself,andforgetaboutthepast10questions(whethertheywereeasyorhard).Thendothenext10questions.Thishelpedmepreventthatfeelingof"ohnothisblockissohardIamfailingthisblockahhh!!!!"Step1studytimeistimetobeselfish.Don'tfeellikeyouhavetohangoutwithpeopleifyoudon'twantto.Feelfreetosayno.Yourstudying,andmentalhealthareoftheutmostimportance.Throughoutitall,rememberthatyoubelong.Youaresmart.Youareprepared/preparing.Youwillbeadoctorwhowillhelppeople.Evenifyoudon'tendupdoingradiology/neurosurgery/ophthalmology/ENT/(insertanothersupercompetitivespecialty),becauseofyourscore,youwillreframeandachieveyourgoalsasanMD!Loveyourself.You'vecomealongway.Don'tadoptanybadhabitsduringthistime(e.g.smokingordrinkingexcessively).Itwillpass,noneedtocauseanylastingharm.

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Summary__________________________________________________________ThereisnoperfectstudyrecipeforStep1;differentlearningstylesrequiredifferentresources.Thatbeingsaid,thisisasummaryofgeneraltrendsandadvicetokeepinmindasyouembarkonthischallengingyetrewardingjourney.NearlyeverystudentusedFirstAidfortheUSMLEandUWorldQbank,withUWorldsignificantlyratedtobethesinglemostimportantresource.Pathoma,SketchyMicro,andNBMEfull-lengthpracticeexamswerealsoheavilyusedbystudents.Useofotherresourcesappearedtobevariable,butmanyfoundAnkiflashcards,DoctorsinTrainingvideos,USMLE-RxQbankandGoljanAudioSeriestobeworthwhile.Tryoutresourcesearlyintheyearandthenpicktheresourcesthatworkbestforyourlearningstyleandsticktothem;don’tbeshakenbywhatotherpeopleareusing.UWorldpracticetestsseemtobeathemostreliableestimateofStep1scores,whileNBMEexamsmorefrequentlyunderestimatedscores;so,ifyourscoreisloweronanNBMEexam,shakeitoff.Alsonotethatmoststudentsscored3pointshigherontherealexamcomparedtotheirfinalpracticetest,sodon’tloseheart.ManyfactorsseemedtopositivelyinfluenceStep1scores,suchashavingahigherStep1scoregoal,higherMS1/MS2examscores,studyinglightlyforStep1earlieronduringsecondyear,havinghigherUWorldQbankscores,andhavingahigherMCATscore.OtherfactorsthatseemedtobeonlyminimallybeneficialincludedcompletingmoreofUWorld(includingtotal,‘incorrects’andnumberofpasses),startingtostudyintensivelyearlierandforagreaternumberofweeks.Therewereafewthingsthatseemedtobeharmfultoscores.Despitemanystudentsfeelingthattheirscoreswerepotentiallyimprovedbymovingtheirtestdate,thestudentsthatmovedtheirtestscoredonaverage9pointslowerthanthestudentswhodidnotmovetheirtest;however,thisdifferencewasnotfoundtobesignificant.Therefore,itislikelybestnottomovetomoveyourtest.Somefactorsappearedtohavenoimpactonscore,suchasstudyingmorehoursduringintensivestudydaysand,subjectively,theagendaofdailystudyschedules.Thenumberofresourcesusedwasalsoanon-factor;usingmoreresourcesisneitherbeneficialnorharmfultoscores.Finaladviceforbeingagoodclassmateduringthisstressfultime:givesupportivecomments,shareinsecurities,orcommiserateabout‘howfarbehind’youarestudying.Avoidgivingunsolicitedadvice,sharinghowmanyUWorldquestionsyoudidthatdayorwhatyourrecentpracticescoreswere.Forpersonalwellbeing:exercisedaily,keepintouchwithlovedones,takebreaksandeatwell;findbalanceandplansomethingtolookforwardto.Keepyourheaddown.Youcandothis.

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Acknowledgements__________________________________________________________ThankyoutoDr.Guluma,whohelpedshapethisprojectandsatasISPchair,andtoDeanMandelandDr.Goldbergforsittingonthemycommittee.AlsoabigthankyoutoallofthestudentswhoparticipatedintheClassof2017and2018.