Usmle Step 1

Your background knowledge plays the main role in the studying for USMLE. It determines the time, the books and the “stress” level..:) Many US med students don't use all books i am going to talk about, they read First Aid, prepare for 5 weeks and pass USMLE with 230+ score. In contrast, students from foreign countries ( like me ) can not do this, because we have :

1. language problem.

2. our background knowledge usually is not enough. 

Personally, I wasn't the greatest student even in my country. Everything was very different, and i was a different person with different dreams and desires. Here in US, i realized that medicine is my passion and i want to become a doctor no matter what; so, i have to study 3 times harder, than any other med student. But the good thing is, i do not have tight time frame, as american students have. Clearly, It doesn't mean that I do not have it at all.

There are many source of material for USMLE step 1 exam, and first of all you need to find which one is right for you. This choice you need to do in each category:

1. Books

2. Lectures

3. Question Bank.

Lets start from the books. Generally, students divided into two groups:

1. Users of book series (like Kaplan lecture notes) 

2. People who find the best book in each category and use it. (like Goljan in  Pathology ) 

I am something in between :) My selection of books:

First Aid

Kaplan Lecture Notes

Pathology by Goljan

Behavioral Science by High Yield

Microbiology and Immunology by Deja Review

Lectures you can find online or attend Kaplan preparation course, then you will have access to all their lectures + you will get their Lecture Notes. Some lecture fragments you can find on youtube.

Question bank is the most important source. It improves you testing skills, makes you familiar with the “screen and format” you will have on the actual exam, shows your weak and strength sides, and the most important: helps you to apply knowledge on the clinical vignette. 

There are two popular Q Banks: Kaplan and Usmle World.

Many students write in their reviews that UWorld Q-bank’s questions are almost the same they saw on their exam day, that is why i keep it at last. Now, Im using Kaplan’s Qbank, which i purchased for 299$ for 12 months and I'm very satisfied with it. 

I am preparing for Usmle Step 1 almost for 5 months and i want to share with you some of my mistakes, I hope my experience will help you.

Before start preparing to usmle, i researched a lot (of course) and everyone said that the plan is essential, it is very important to spend few days or even weeks to review all books, program and to make a detailed schedule.

I decided not to waste my time on this, clock is ticking you know.. So, I decided to start from the books, and read them one by one. This was my first mistake.

You have to have a plan and you have to stick to the plan, if you don't want to struggle in the middle of nowhere after a while. And you will, trust me. I am going to create one for me and i will share it here, you can use this plan as a sample, or a horrible warning  :)) 

My second mistake was a late purchase of Question Bank. You better buy it from the beginning; at first, you will not use it very often, but daily . And the most important thing, you will see, what particular they want you to know. Now, i have to go back and review same topics again.

The information about books I use and the Q-bank i am going to write in the next post.