Preparing for the dreaded

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Preparing for the dreaded
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First and Foremost RELAX! You have been
studying for this test for the past two years!
It's time to shine.
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• It's just another hurdle to becoming a doctor

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Overview

• Resources
• Study Schedule
• Sanity

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Resources
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Comprehensive

• First Aid for Step I
• This book is absolutely a necessity
• Some prefer to have it unbound and put into a
  three ring binder for more note taking space
• Excellent for review and focusing on core topics
• Errors and corrections in 2012 edition can be
  found at
• http//firstaidteam.com/wp-content/uploads/FA-Step
  -1-2012-errata-120222.pdf

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Subjects

• Anatomy High Yield Anatomy, Roadmaps
• Embryo High Yield Embryo with First Aid
• Histology High Yield Histology if you must
• Neuroscience High Yield Neuroscience, Atlas of
  the Human Brain and Spinal Cord (James D. Fix)
• Physiology BRS Physiology
• Biochemistry First Aid is enough, High Yield
  Biochem
• Human Behavior High Yield Human Behavior
• Pathology Goljan Rapid Review w/ audio, BRS Path
• Micro First Aid, Micro Made Simple, MicroCards
• Immuno First Aid more than enough, Lange text
• Pharm First Aid is excellent, Kaplan Pharm Cards

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Question Banks

• USMLE World
• If you buy only one, BUY THIS ONE
• Nearly perfect simulation of the real thing
• Difficult questions, but VERY good teaching
  points. (READ the explanations!!!)
• Kaplan Q-Bank
• Also a great question source
• General opinion more low-yield questions
• Again, READ the explanations

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Review Courses To take or not to take

• Doctors in Training- very well laid out with
  great review sessions good for those that
  otherwise will not make a schedule and stick to
  it/those that like to be taught
• Cram Fighter- 10 app. that allows you to plug in
  everything you need to make a very good study
  schedule for those that like to make their own
  schedule and know they will stick to it

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Question Sources - Other

• BRS Phys/Path questions and Comp Review
• Goljan Path Comprehensive Review
• Robbins Review Path Questions
• Utah WebPath Questions (good for anatomy)

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Practice Exams

• NBME Practice Exams
• 150 questions (3 sections)
• Give best predictive score most similar
  questions
• Expensive
• Cannot review
• USMLE World Kaplan Practice Exams
• 150 questions
• Give score (which is widely believed to be
  elevated)
• Can be purchased with your World subscription
• Allow review of all questions with explanation

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For the Minimalist

• First Aid for Step I
• USMLE World Question Bank
• (Again, READ the explanations)
• Goljan Path Review with audio

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Most Important Thing Possible

• Practice Questions
• PRACTICE QUESTIONS
• PRACTICE QUESTIONS
• PRACTICE QUESTIONS!!!

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Schedules
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Study Schedules

• Start doing Qbank questions now
• You have just over a month to study for the exam
  (not including studying for mini-boards)
• Make a schedule and stick to it!
• But don't beat yourself up over if you mess up a
  bit
• The average time to study is 28 days....which is
  perfect for many people

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Important Dates

• Last day of school April 19, 2013
• Mini-boards OSCEs April 25 May 10
• Step 1 Sit-by Date June 15, 2013

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Different Study Schedules

• Develop your own study schedule
• Some people study based on systems, some study
  based on courses, some both, and some neither.
• Schedule catch up days and extra time at the
  end to review material
• Don't be afraid to adapt your schedule, but stick
  to the plan!

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Daily Schedule- SAMPLE

• 8AM-9AM- Breakfast
• 9AM-1PM- Read
• 1PM-130- Lunch
• 130-600- Read some more
• 6-7 Dinner
• 7-8 Personal Time
• 8-12 Questions and review
• 12-8AM- Sleep

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Staying Sane
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Where to Study

• Some study at their apartment
• Some study at their parents' house
• Some at the library
• Point is...you've figured out what works for you,
  do it!

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Balance

• You need to relax
• Take personal time every day
• Work out
• Catch up with friends
• Socialize
• Go to dinner
• Vent

• Start a blog
• Yoga/ meditation
• Don't make any drastic life changes
• Don't move
• Relax
• This was the best part of 2nd year

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Words of Wisdom

• EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT and to stick to what style
  has worked for you the past two years (ie-
  learning from questions, etc).
• 28 days is enough time to crush it. I didnt
  think it would be enough but was sick of studying
  by the last week
• Leave days for review the final week before your
  test. Review your WEAK subjects, dont try to
  re-read all of First Aid again
• Do NOT push back your date unless a catastrophe
  occurs
• Watch a movie, hang out, have a beer, but DO NOT
  study the day before your test

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Don't worry. You will do great and it will all be
over before you know it. Then it's time for
VACATION!!!!!!
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• Special thanks to MUSOM faculty and staff and Tim
  Nywening, Katherine Schnell, and Parin Chheda
  from the University of Florida