Med School Revealed

The number of hours does not matter as much as the quality. Try to put in the long days (8-10 hours of true study time) but stop when you are mentally done and take breaks. Other than that First Aid with Guillan (tapes, path book, biochem book) as a supplement will allow you to do very well. Too many resources leads to confusion focus on one book that works for you, either first aid or step up probably not both.

TIME
I studied 500hrs, 6.5wks, approx 80hrs per week (just like residency!). Condensed "new materials" in first 4 weeks, then reviewed for rest.

RESOURCES
Used way too many books and resources (including First Aid, Step Up, Goljan tapes, Goljan rapid review path, BRS pharm, BRS physio, BRS embryology, BRS micro and immuno, BRS behavioral science, LWW Biochem, LWW pharm, Lange pharm, micro flashcards, pharm flashcards, pathology cards, anatomy flashcards, micro made simple, Step 1 secrets, Underground Clinical Vignettes x10 books, etc. etc. - I can't remember all the boxes of stuff I piled in my truck for those two months). I regretted buying so many books, it was a waste of money and a waste of energy. Then again, owning these things were more for peace of mind.

Here's the break down if I had to do it again:
**First line:
First Aid (read that thing 5 times),
Goljan audio (start listening in advanced topics),
Goljan rapid review (read along with coursework, but don't need to write much extra notes in there. As long as you understand each bullet),
BRS physiology (same approach as Goljan Rapid review),
World/Kaplan Q bank (either one is fine, Kaplan is more recall and World is more integrative. Both will go above and beyond the subject scope(kaplan more so) and the depth of reasoning(world more so) of the actual test).
**Second line:
LWW Pharm cards (best brand of pharm cards out there. It's overwhelming but all encompassing of what you will see on the test. Our school doesn't each pharm and first aid doesn't explain it so you need another pharm source. these flashcards have all the info you need along with reference basic science/big picture cards and explain relationships and mechanisms better. It's divided into subject blocks that correspond more or less to our blocks, so just go over the corresponding cards with the curriculum)
USMLE Step 1 Secrets (read with curriculum. excellent integrative/ big picture type questions)
Third Line:
UCV (long and inefficient for the tight 6wk schedule, ideal with buddy who's on the same page - but that buddy really only exists in theory).
BRS Behavioral Science (isn't much additive to what First Aid has, may help understanding if BS isn't your thing).
Micro cards or Micro made Simple (great to drill those bugs. start use in I&I otherwise too much for 6wks).

I have heard great reviews for the companion books for First Aid (basic science and organ systems). Seems like those two books have potential to replace all other supplementation other than Q bank and Pharm cards.

In all honestly, the above system is really the gunner track. If you just do everything in the First Line you will do very well already. My biggest mistake was not getting the First line down solid before moving onto the supplementary second line, third line materials and of course (from the list above) much of the useless 4th tier and above. It was inefficient and dazed me too much.

ONLINE QUESTION BANKS
I had World and USMLERx.
World is hardest, most conceptual and really challenges you. It's over the top, so don't try to get every little detail in there, it's plain inefficient. Interface closest to actual test.
Kaplan: did some questions from friend's. Similar to world. When you're doing it and thing a question is testing some unnecessary detail, it's probably is.
USMLERx: the cheapest one out there. software interface poor. questions sufficient in difficulty.
NBME: if you have the time and extra $$$, why not? Rumor has it #3 and #5 are the best. #1 is way too easy.
150 Free off usmle website: I didn't get around to this, but apperantly great predictor of score
Practice test with Joanna and Lacey: if you don't have anything better to do on the weekend or any better way to spend $25, then sure. Good to see the room and just how old the computers are. World's interface was more realistic than the pretend software they had.
**tip: try to do 10-15 questions each night on the topic you studied that day. sounds like a little right now, but if you can keep this exercise up day in and day out for 6 weeks, it will have high high returns

BEING A UA STUDENT:
Our curriculum severely lacks adequate pathology and pharmacology teachings, a problem developed from teaching beginners in bullet point format. We have to take the initiative to understand the pathogenesis, not just the presentation. Boards love the intricacies of cause and effect. For both, first aid lists the critical highlight features of pharm and path. You don't need to know much more than these highlights, but the important thing is not to know WHAT is listed under each drug/disease but WHY each one is listed.

The best thing to do is to study hard for the curriculum. If you are a gunner and aren't afraid to admit it, start using the resources listed above as indicated with the curriculum. First aid isn't a good resource to use until after the block is over because it's too condensed and only lists the WHATS; at the first go around, you ...