USMLE Step 2 CK Preparation August 11, 2008

I decided the best way to start troubleshooting how I should study would be to take a look at the practice NBME and see my weak and strong areas.  The scoring was based in three categories: Physician Tasks, Normal Conditions and Diseases, and Disciplines.  The breakdown definitely showed that I’d was on the had Medicine/Psych/Neuro half, and that Peds/OB.GYN were the first rotations of the year! Here was my breakdown from best to worst in each category:

Physician Tasks

Diagnosis

Understanding Mechanisms of Diease

Principles of Management

Preventive Medicine & Health Maintenance

 

Normal Conditions and Diseases

Normal Growth & Development: Principles of Care

Diseases of the Respiratory System

Cardiovascular Disorders = Diseases of the Nervous System & Special Senses

Mental Disorders

Gynecologic Disorders

Immunologic and Blood Disorders

Disorders of Pregnancy, Childbirth & Puerperium

Nutritional & Digestive Disorders

Renal, Urinary & Male Reproductive Systmems

Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders

Musculoskeletal, Skin & Connective Tissue (I guess it’s good I’m not doing Ortho…)

 

Disciplines

Psychiatry

Medicine

Surgery

Pediatrics

Obstetrics & Gynecology (I’m gonna blame it on the fact that this was only my 2nd rotation of the year, I still think I’ll make an excellent OB/GYN)

 

So pretty much I’m going to study in reverse order with my weakest areas first, using First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge as my primary resource for content and Kaplan Q Bank as my primary resource for questions.  I also have review books from each of my rotations and Crush Step 2 as additional content resources and then USMLE Step 2 Secrets and Deja Review USMLE Step 2 as additional question resources.  I’m gonna chip away at it one day at a time, hopefully at least 8-10 hours a day.  In the next 2 weeks I’ll throw in the practice Kaplan test and the practice NBME to make sure that my scores are improving.  Wish me luck!