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UFAPUSMLEStep1StudyGuide

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UFAP+
NeelShahApril3,2014USMLE12Comments

UFAP+StudyMethod

SoyouwanttolearnthecovetedUFAPMethodforstudyingforUSMLEStep1?
UFAPismorethanjustahilariousacronym,itstandsforUSMLEWorld,FirstAidandPathoma.Iwouldarguetheimportanceofeachresourceisthe
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ordertheyoccurinwithintheacronym.Evenifyouonlyhave34weekstoprepareforthisexam,youcanincorporateallthreeresourcesintoyourstudy
plan.
AlotofvariationsofUFAPexistincludingUUFAP(UWorld+UsmleRX+FirstAid+Pathoma)aswellasUFAPK(Uworld+FirstAid+Pathoma+
KaplanQbank).IdiscusshowusefultheseresourcesarewithinmyStep1MedicalSchoolResourcePage.InthisarticleIwilldetailtheUFAPmethod,
aswellastouchonafewwaystocustomizeitforyou,IcallittheUFAP+method.

GettingStarted
Beforeyougetgoing,therearethreeactionsteps.
1.Identifyyourweaknesses:Guesswhat?Youaredifferentfromalmosteveryotherstudent.Yourekindergartenteacherwasright!Moreimportantly
thoughyouhavedifferentweaknessesthanotherstudents.ThereisnowayIcanwriteoutastudyplanthatllapplytoa100%ofstudentswithout
knowingmore,andthisisactuallypartlywhyIhavesomuchdisdainforinpersonUSMLEclasses.Thereisnocookiecutereasyapproach,atleastno
onethatwillgetyouthebestscorepossible.
Thereisnocookiecutereasyapproach,atleastnoonethatwillgetyouthebestscorepossible
Howexactlydoyoufindyourweaknesses?Wellthroughoutbasicsciencesmostofyoualreadyhaveaprettygoodideawhatsubjectsyouexcelatand
whichonesyoustrugglewith.Thisisagoodbaselinetofindoutspecificallywhatyoustrugglewith.Thisbriefselfassessmentisnotnormallyenough,
asyoumaythinkyouknowasubjectquitewellonlytorealizeyouhaveforgottenmajorportions.IdsuggesttakingoneoftheNBMEexaminationsora
Uworldassessmenttogetyourtruebearingsregardingyourweaknesses.
Nowyoushouldhaveagoodideaof13subjectsyoustrugglewith,beforeyoupanicandthinkUworldortheNBMEissayingyousuckateverything
pickthe13youstrugglethemostin.Mostpeoplewilldoquitepoorlyontheirfirstassessment.These13subjectsaretheareasthatareripeforthe
mostimprovement.

2.Identifyyourresources:YouveprobablyrealizedyouhaveaplethoraofStep1resourcestopickfrom.Theimportantthing
istopreventanalysisparalysis,makeaninformedchoiceandsticktoit.Dontwaver,doyourresearchnowandrestassuredyouhavemadetheright
choice.DontworryIllbreakdownyourresourcesintomoredetailsoyoucanmakeaninformeddecision.
3.Makeaschedule:Simpleenough,butyouneedtomakearegimenyoucanlivewithmentallyandemotionallyaswellasoneyoucanfunction
optimallyunder.Illshowyouafewverybasicexamplesbelowtohelpyouuseaschedulethatworksbestforyou.

ResourceSelection
Thereisametrictonofresourcesouttheretopickfromforyourstep1studyingneedsandfranklyitcanbeterrifying.Someofthemarefantastic,some
ofthemnotsomuch.Theproblemisyoudonthavetimetodipyourfeetintoallofthemandtestthewaters,thecostofpickingpoorlyhereisquite
severe,asitscrucialtimewasted.Thegoodnewsis1000sofstudentshavecomebeforeyou,andtheyvehelpedsiftthegoldfromthegarbage.
Iwriteaboutalloftheresourcesavailablebrieflyhere.
Mandatory

UworldAsidefromthemethodbeingcalledUFAP,youarenotseriousaboutthisexamifyouarenotdoingUworld.Seriously,thereisnothingIcan
recommendmorethanUworld,itistheexam,anditllbeyourbestfriendforStep1.Dothequestionsinamethodthatsuitsyou,somesuggestonly
everdotimedquestion,somesuggestdoingtutorandthenreadingtheanswersimmediatelysoyoucancorrectyourthoughtprocess.Thereisnocorrect
methodandnoincorrectmethod,personalizeittoyou!Doyoustrugglewithtimeonquestions,thandoingtimedisanobrainer.Moststudentsdobest
doingamixofseveralmethods.READtheWRONGanswersaswell,andunderstandwhytheyarewrong.Oftentheycontainasmuchifnotmore
informationthanthecorrectanswer.
FirstAidThegotoresourcebookforStep1.Youwillneedtogetthroughitmultipletimestodoaswellaspossible.MostofStep1information
iswithinthisreviewbook.Itllcoverallthefundamentalsandrefreshallthetopicsyoulearnedoverbasicsciences.Ialsorecommendheadingtoyour
localKinkos/Staplesetc.andgettingyourbookboundandputintoabinder.Thisletsyouaddpagesasyouneed,andchangetheorderofthingsasyou
seefit.Itllalsoallowyoutoeasilyaddnotesfromothersources.Remembertochecktheerratabeforeyoubeginstudying!Noworsefeelingthan
memorizingafactincorrectly.
ConsiderannotatingUworldintoFirstAid.Writingmakesapassiveprocessactive,andaddingnoteseitherontheirownorintoFirstAid
willhelpyouconsolidatefacts.AlsomarkquestionswhichareHighYieldaswellasonesyougotincorrect.Itllmakeiteasiertogoback
andredojustthosequestionsifyoudonthaveenoughtimetogobackandredoallofUworld.
Optional:ConsiderannotatingUworldintoFirstAid.Writingmakesapassiveprocessactive,andaddingnoteseitherontheirownorintoFirstAidwill
helpyouconsolidatefacts.AlsomarkquestionswhichareHighYieldaswellasonesyougotincorrect.Itllmakeiteasiertogobackandredojust
thosequestionsifyoudonthaveenoughtimetogobackandredoallofUworld.IfyoudochosetoannotateUworldandhaveseparatedFirstAidintoa
binder,youcanputrelevantquestionsonsomelinedpaperbehindeachrelevantsection.Ialsoannotatedsomeoftherelevantsectionsofafewofthe
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HighYieldreviewbookslistedbelow.Whilenotstrictlynecessary,itallowsyoutoconsolidateyourresourcesandputallyourinformationinone
source.
PathomaThePofUFAP,maybepeopleattributetherecentriseinStep1ccorestoPathoma.Thatmeanspeoplegiveitquitesomecredit.Pathoma
solidifiespathologyandpathophysiologyconcepts,whichmakesupthebulkoftheexamination.AsolidfoundationinPathologyandcompletingas
manyquestionaspossibleshouldallowyoutoscoreextremelycompetitively.
HighYieldResources

Theseareresourcestosupplementthemandatoryresourcesaboveandaddressanyspecificweaknessesyoumayhave.Illlistthemroughlyinorderof
usefulness.
AnotherQbankKaplanorUSMLERxarethemostpopularbehindUworld.Botharecomprehensivequestionbanks,howeverKaplanisoften
accusedofbeingfartoodetailedandpedantic.Thesecrettoscoringwellonanystandardizedexamisquestions,andifyouhaveenoughtimetodomore
thanUworld,Idrecommendlookingintooneofthethesebanks.IdontbelieveitsnecessaryforeveryoneasUworldprovidesawealthofinformation
ineveryquestion,butiftimepermitsthemorequestionsyoudothebetter.
MicrobiologyMadeRidiculouslySimpleThisisspecificallyifyoustruggleatMicrobiology,ifsoitsafantasticresource.Iforgotalargepartofthe
MicrobioIlearnedduringbasicsciences,andknowmanystudentshavethesameproblem.Microbiologyisatopicthatismostlymemorizationonthe
realexam,andknowingtheansweroutrightallowsyoutospendmoretimeonmorechallengingquestions.Farfrommandatory,itsstillagreatresource
forthosewhoneedanextraboostinthesubject.
FirecrackerFlashCardSystemImahugefanofthespacedmemorizationsystem.Nothingcomescloseintermsatimprovinglongtermmemory.
Firecrackerallowsyoutomastertopicsindividuallyanddorelevantflashcards,days,weeksandmonthslater.Theproblemisunlessyouhaveseveral
monthstospacethemoutoveritsoverwhelming.Idstronglyrecommendusingthembeforeyoustartyourdedicatedstudying,ideallysometimein2nd
yearofbasicsciences.
MemorangThenewkidontheblock,Memorangcosts~$30andisaflashcardsystembasedoffallthehighyieldfactsinFA.Keepaneyeonitgoing
forwardasitsstillinbetabutimprovingquickly.
BRSPhysiologyAgreatquickreviewforsomeofthemoredifficultconceptsinPhysiology.Againifyoustrugglewithkidney,cardiacofpulmonary
physiologythisprovidesagreatquickreview.Itsnotdenseenoughthatitsdraining,anditsconciseenoughtoreinforceanyweaknessesyoumay
haveinaparticulararea.
DoctorsinTrainingCourseWhileIvementionedImnotafanofonlineclasses,DIToffersonlinevideoswiththeirownworkbookaswell.Ifyou
feelyourschoolpreparedyoupoorlyfortheUSMLEduringbasicsciencesorareseveralmonths/yearsremovedfrombasicsciences,thisisafantastic
reviewtool.ItllbasicallyteachyoueverythinginFirstAidagain,anddoitinamoreenjoyableway.Theworkbookanddailyquestionsarealsoagreat
waytokeepyouontask.
PicnomicArelativelynewresource,andanentertainingone.Whileitmaynotsuiteverysinglestudentslearningstyle,ifyouarevisuallearnerwith
apenchantformnemonicsthisisyournirvana.Itsincrediblywellconstructedandanupandcomingfavoriteofmanytesttakers.
Dr.NajeebGreatreviewforanyspecifictopicsyoueitherdontcompletelyunderstandorneedarefresherin.Imnotafanofjustwatchingvideos,
butifyouhaveidentifiedspecificareasyoucanusehelpwith,Dr.Najeebisagreateducator.
GoljanRapidReviewPathologyBeforePathomathiswasagotonotebookforstudyingPathology.Whilenolongeraspopularorprominent,itis
stillafantasticsupplementarybook.Makesuretochecktheerrataaswellbeforeyoubeginstudying.RapidReviewshinesinpointingoutafewfacts
FirstAidmayhavemissed.
HYNeuroanatomyAnothercommonweaknessofmedicalstudentsisNeuroanatomy.IdrecommendquicklygoingthroughHYNeuroanatomyif
youstrugglewithNeuroanatomyandcrammingwhatyoucan.
KaplanvideosIncrediblythroughanddetailed,butalsooftenincrediblydull.TheyaresodetailedIdarguetheyessentiallyreteacheverythingyou
learnedover2yearsofbasicsciences.MuchlikeDITifyoufeelyouarenotwellpreparedafterbasicsciencesorareyearsawayfromwhenyoudid
basicsciences,Kaplanisanexcellentresource.
USMLESecretsEssentiallyacrambookfullofhighyieldfacts.Greattoreviewinthelastfewdays/weeksbeforetheexamwithoutbeingtoo
draining.

SampleSchedules
QuickHit46WeekstoStudyTheoriginalUFAP

USMLEWorldCompleteentirebank,andtrytorepeatanyflaggedorincorrectquestions
FirstAidGetthroughFirstAidatleastonce,andrepeatsectionsasnecessary
PathomaCompletePathomaatleastonce
12NBMEexaminations
IftimepermitsconsiderdoinganadditionalQuestionBank
Moderate610WeekstoStudy

USMLEWorldCompletetheentirebankatleastonce,andcompleteanyflaggedorincorrectquestions.Iftimepermitsdoentiresectionsofthe
bankagain
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FirstAidAnnotateFirstAidandattempttogetthroughFirstAid23times
Pathoma
12NBMEExaminations
Ifyouwishconsiderdoinganadditionalquestionbank
ConsiderincorporatingaHighYieldResourcesuchasPicnomic,DIT,BRSPhysioorMicrobiologyMRS.
LongHauler10weeks+

USMLEWorldCompletetheentirebankatleastonce,andcompleteanyflaggedorincorrectquestions.Iftimepermitsdoentiresectionsofthe
bankagain
FirstAidAnnotateFirstAidandattempttogetthroughFirstAid3times
Pathoma
12NBMEExaminations
Doasecondquestionbank,considerdoingitfirstbeforeUworldbutensureyouhaveenoughtimetocompleteUworld.
ConsiderFirecracker,Picnomic,DITand/orBRSPhysioorMicrobiologyMRS.Youhaveenoughtimetoexcel,ensureyoudontburnout.

Balance
Makesureyoutakecareofyourselfphysically,ormentallyyouwillseetheeffects.Ensureyouexerciseifthatsrunning,weightliftingoreventhose
quick7minuteexercisesaday,dowhateverittakestogetsomeexercisedaily.Findagreatstudyspot.Takeafewpracticetestasclosetoatestlike
environment,andbuildupthatendurance.ThisexaminationlikeallStepsisamarathonnotasprint,andmostoftenscoressufferinthelatterblocksdue
tomentalfatigue.Ensureyousleepenough,andareonaregularsleepingscheduletogiveyourselfthebestopportunitytocombineallthesefacts.
Includedowntime,Irecommendtakingatleast1fulldayoffforevery68studydaystosupportsomelevelofsanity.
Takesometimetomakeyourschedule,andlearnhowtosticktoit.Irecommendchromenanny(chrome),leechblock(firefox)andrescuetimeasgreat
addonstolimitdistractions.Alsolearnhowtobecomeabetterstudentandtesttaker.Irecommendcheckingoutspreederandreadline(currentlymy
favoriteextension)toboostyourreadingcomprehensionandspeed.Iveseenstudentsgoup100200wpminjustafewweeks.Italkmoreonthesetips
onanotherarticlehere.
Goodluck,andgetreadytodestroytheUSMLEStep1!
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Comments2

1.
Lind
July2,2014at8:50pm
Thisisit

2.
Lahore
November7,2014at3:47am
Writingassignmentservicesareavailableindiversefieldswhichincludescience,arts,management,tourism,socialsciencesandmanyothers.It
makesthewriterquiteknowledgeableadeptandskilledinvariousfields.reallyprofessionalessayservicecanhelpustogetontimeandquality
writingservices.
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