This one is for all of you who are taking on the USMLE Step 1 in the near future! For a FULL STEP 1 debrief, keep your eyes out for my blog post coming out in a few days (it is taking me quite some time to compile all of my thoughts for that one, so apologies for the delay). For now, here is a list of the USMLE cult favourite resources (save this post for future reference!):
- First Aid – This book will be your bible. You will likely develop a love hate relationship for it. It is a dense and filled to the brim with facts, delivered in system based chapters. There is also a handy Rapid Review section at the very end with high yield relationships and facts (definitely take a look at this closer to your exam!).
- Pathoma – the author of this resource, Dr. Sattar, does a phenomenal job of describing pathology in a clear and concise manner. A subscription to Pathoma includes the Pathoma textbook and online videos that expand on the content in each chapter. Can’t recommend enough.
- Sketchy Micro and Pharm – I didn’t think I would join the Sketchy universe, but I couldn’t believe how much I was retaining from watching these videos. The Sketchy enterprise has created cartoons video sketches for each micro bug and pharm drug that are necessary knowledge for Step. You might be thinking, how the hell can I remember so many pictures? Flashcards will help you, but you will be surprised how much you retain with these creative sketches, and they end up being fun to watch compared to everything else! Highly recommend.
- Boards & Beyond – Dr. Ryan has created a comprehensive online video library that covers all the must know topics for Step 1, divided by system. It is VERY detailed though, so don’t feel like you need to cover every single video to do well on the exam. I personally am so grateful for this resource. It really helped me lay down a strong foundation, especially in topics that I struggled with (I’m looking at YOU cardiology *shaking fist*).
- Anki Flashcard App – Anki has a cult following. It is a rather old looking app you can download to your MacBook, iPad and mobile phone. There are many pre-made decks that you can download to Anki. For those using Boards & Beyond, the Lightyear Anki deck is great. I also used the Pepper Deck for Sketchy and the Duke Pathology deck for Pathoma. Many people I know used the ZANKI deck which combines all the different subjects (Pathology, Micro, Pharm, etc.) into one massive deck. Which decks you choose to use depend on your preference. I am no Anki whiz by any means, so definitely check out the Reddit Anki thread or ‘AnKing’ on Youtube for tips and advice.
- USMLE Rx – An integrated testing and study tool that is connected to a digital copy of First Aid. It has the entire First Aid resource broken up into sections with associated videos, MCQs and pre-made flashcards. This resource also has a q-bank consisting of 2300 MCQs with thorough explanations for each question. I personally didn’t use this resource for very long as I felt a bit overwhelmed, but worth giving a try. They have a 5-day free trial.
- Dirty Medicine Youtube Channel – I wish I found this channel sooner! It is a fantastic resource with videos that focus on high yield topics and super helpful mnemonics & tips for remembering content on test day. His biochem and genetics videos are rock solid. Really recommend this resource!
- Pixorize – This is essentially the same concept as Sketchy but for Biochem and Immunology. I know many people who absolutely loved this resource. Personally, I was up to my eyeballs in sketches with Sketchy Micro and Pharm so this didn’t work super well for me (I preferred Dirty Medicine channel). But I included it because I know so many people who loved it.
- Goljan Audio Files – you can find this GOLD with a quick google search or collated in a playlist on Spotify called ‘Daddy Goljan Lectures’ (lol). Dr. Goljan is the king of USMLE Board Prep. He is a pathologist who writes many test questions and his audio files are WICKED! There are 15 files, 4 that are more basic concepts (cell injury, fluid dynamics, nutrition, neoplasia) and the remaining are of the various systems (GI, Haematology, Cardio, etc.). Listen to these when you are going for a walk, drive, etc. especially during dedicated. God bless Dr. Goljan.
- UWorld Topic Yield Excel Spreadsheet – My friend found this on Reddit and sent it my way over the summer. Someone created a VERY elaborate spreadsheet of all the Uworld Bank questions organised by yield. Downloading this and setting it up on excel so that it is organise by system and yield was helpful for me. During dedicated, I would skim through a certain topic to make sure I understood the concept. It is also helpful for figuring out what topics are high yield so it can guide your studying. To find it, search ‘UW high yield spreadsheet reddit’ in Google.
- Uworld Question Bank – This will be a super important learning and testing tool during your dedicated study period. There are approximately 3221 questions (last time I checked) to get through before your exam. Definitely recommend doing these in blocks of 40 questions to simulate the exam. Spend your time understanding the explanations and don’t be discouraged if your scores aren’t what you are hoping for – it is a learning tool after all!
- Cram Fighter – this is a scheduling subscription. You can input all of the resources you are using and it will churn out a daily schedule for you. I did use this for a few months but started feeling really overwhelmed when I couldn’t hit my daily goals….I fell off the cram fighter wagon. But if you are someone who is great at sticking to a strict schedule, would recommend.
Hoping this will help clarify what resources to use to prepare for this beast of an exam! As always, feel free to comment below or message me @sincerelymillie with any questions. Stay tuned for my full Step 1 debrief 🙂
SINCERELY MILLIE 