FAQs
How do I study for the USMLE?
There really is no one answer to this question. Some students will read and memorize, others will need to write out extensive notes and some will have the weirdest mnemonics and tricks to remember every step of the Krebs Cycle. But the rule is this, if it works for you do it and if it doesn’t work for you, don’t. Its that simple.
When I was studying for my steps, a lot of my classmates were using Anki and swore by Pathoma videos. I remember attempting Anki cards for a week then deleting the app because I saw no progress and it was making me anxious anytime I didn’t keep up with my deck. I watched the first Pathoma video for 30 minutes and then deleted them because I realized this wasn’t suiting me. And you know what happened? I passed and scored well above average without using those resources. Does this mean that they are bad or useless? Absolutely not, they just didn’t benefit me personally, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give them a try.
How many resources do I need to study for the USMLE?
As the saying goes: “Too many chefs spoil the dish”. Too many resources will overwhelm you and you will see little progress.
For Step 1, only you only need 2 resouces. The First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 and Uworld. Uworld does an absolutely amazing job explaining First Aid and filling in the gaps that it has. Almost everything that will be on the exam will come from those 2 resources and I don’t recommend anything else. This doesn’t mean you can’t utilize Anki to help you memorize. If it works for you, then do it.
As for the Step 2CK, Uworld is king. That’s all you really need to do.
Finally, NBMEs as a means to see your progress and a studying resource.