STUDYSMART

PreparingforStep1startsyourfirstyearofmedicalschool.Makeyourstudying effectivebyapplyingwellestablishedprincipalsoflearning. Learningovertime,withmultipleexposuresismosteffective.Reading,re reading,andcrammingarenot.Itisnotsurprising,therefore,thatthenumberofweeksof studyisabetterpredictorofsuccessonStepIthanhoursspentperday. Takeapracticetest,suchasCBSE,andusetheresultstodirectyourreview plan.ThistestwillbeofferedinDecember.Practicetestscanalsoberegisteredfor throughPrometricTestCenter:www.prometric.com Developaplanandsticktoit.Thinkofyourpreparationasanathletewouldin trainingforamarathon.Yourplanshouldincludenutrition,exercise,andsleepforpeak performance.Takechargeofyourstudyprocess,includingstrategiesfordailytime conservation. Turnyourstudyingintoanactiveprocess,notmerelyreviewingnotes,texts, andexamprepmaterials. Writepossibleexamquestionsasyoureviewthematerial. Usegraphs,charts,anddiagramstoabstractimportantfactsanddeepen youunderstanding.Focusonvisualelementstoreinforcelearning. Useconceptmappingtointegratematerialandidentifylinksbetween subjects. Usepracticeexamsoverandover.Adheretotimelimitsandtesting conditions.Takeonly45to50secondstoanswereachquestion.Useincorrectanswers asdiagnosticguidesofareasneedingfurtherwork. Studyingroupsof35.Teachingasubjectreinforceslearning.Study groupsmustbestructuredandorganizedinordertobeeffective.

CommercialReviewCourses??
Thesecoursesarenotforeveryoneknowthyself.IfyouconsideryourselfatriskforStepI, thenyoumaywanttoconsidertheinvestment.Outcomestudiesdonotindicatehigherpassrates forstudentswhotakereviewcoursesbutthesefindingscanbemisleading.Somecoursesare designedasgeneralreviewforfirsttimetakers.Othersaretailoredforstudentswhohavefailed Step1atleastonce.Veryfewofthecoursesofferoutcomeresults,noneguarantees,andonly oneIcouldfindofferedrefunds.Thatsaid,commercialpreparationcoursesareparticularly usefulfortwogroupsofstudentsthosewhofeeltheirknowledgefoundationfromthefirstyear isnotsolidifiedandthosewhoknowtheyneedthestructureandsupportinordertoaccomplish thoroughpreparation. KaplanTestingCenters:www.kaptest.com PrincetonReview:www.princetonreview.com NorthwesternLearningCenter MarshallUniversityJoanEdwardsSchoolofMedicine:http://musom.marshall.edu/usmle/board review. FalconPhysicianReviews:www.falconreviews.com WYNTKUSMLEStep1Review:www.wyntk.netbasedinTexas.Theyhaveaninteresting refundpolicy. YouelsPrep,Inc. UMKCUniversityofMissouri

PassProgramwww.passprog.micronpcweb.comHeldinIllinois.SeveralC.U.studentshave attendedandhavehadgenerallypositiveexperiences. CommentsIfoundrecentlyonusmle.net(discussionforums)aboutcourses: Q:hasanyoneheardofthisreviewcourse? Reply:Youelisterriblegetsomethingbetterorullregretit. Reply:Yes,Ithinkyoucanfindbetterorganized,higheryieldUSMLEprepprogram.Honestly! Q:Iamsignedupforthepassprogramandwanttoknowifanyoneelseistakingitthis Septembersothatwecanmeetupandgetorientedearlier.IguesswhatIamsayingisIwantto meetsomeonethatislikemindedinstudyhabitsandroutinesandwanttomakearrangements beforehand. Reply:IhopeyouknowthatDr.Francishardlyteachesthereanymore.Theyhavenewpeople teachingnowdays.IwouldsuggestthatyoulookintoNorthwesternRevieworKaplanlive lecture.Otherwise,goodluckwithPASS. Reply:Ipassedaftergoingthere,withthestudyenvironmentaroundandnothingelsetodo,take thecourseandknockitout!Justmy2cents. OtherUSMLEStep1ResourcesandOnlineReviewSites: NBMEtutorialwww.nbme.org NBMESelfAssessmentwww.nbme.org MedicalStudentResourceGuide USMLEBoardReadinessLinks:AmostcomprehensivelistingofUSMLErelatedwebsites. MedSchool.Com:GotoStudentCommunity.Registrationisrequiredbutisfree.GotoUSMLE Step1Reviewlink.Checkoutthelecturesonbasicsciencecoursesandgeneralmemory techniquesandstudyskills. MedicalStudent.com:Adigitallibraryofinformationformedicalstudents.Includesjournals, texts,searchengines,etc. IntegratedBasicSciencesCurriculum:Integratedreviewquestions Usmle.net:Discussionforumsagoodplacetoseekadviceorpostquestionsaboutother studentsexperienceswithreviewcoursesandmaterials.Goljanaudioisfrequentlyrecommended asamust. FirstAideveryoneagreesisamust.Reviewatleast3times.RapidReviewinbackknow thoroughly. KaplanQBank:amust USMLERx:somestudentsreportedaseffectiveasKaplanQbankandmuchlessexpensive. BRSregardedhighlybymany: BRSPathologySchneider,LippincottWilliams&Wilkins BRSPhysiology