***this is an update... I highly reccommend for this term you get a question bank or some reliable question source. I will mention some, but you are going to be challenged on exams. Don't get caught off gaurd and do questions while you study each section. Sometimes the kaplan Qbank has special prices, otherwise exammaster is free with SGU, and pretest is also tough, but gets you prepared for hard questions so that when test time comes around, you can handle it. *** okay. that said, read on...
Neuroanatomy:
Follow the note packet, it has everything you want in there. This term had the best note packets so far of any term. All you need is an anatomy atlas and Question books. The Haines Neuroanatomy atlas is where they pull their pictures from and a lot of the Testable info is in this book. You MUST get this atlas. Netter's Anatomy Atlas is also a GREAT alternative resource, that labels things from a different, helpful perspective. Get your hands on one of these too if youd like. As far as questions, Pre-test Neuroscience is perfect for questions, it has a lot of hard ones that are in line with the class with explanations. BRS Neuro is okay as well, but I had better success with PreTest. Of course UWorld and Exam master may have better question sets as well. I also really liked the Neuroscience Road Map Book, although I think you should pick this up only if you want to get more of a USMLE advantage for neuro. This book has Questions + Diagrams and Explanations, as well as lists and was very straight forward and complete.
Read your notepacket and goto class. The notes are perfect. Granted, its a LOT of information, but it's all you need. Nothing extra. Just question books.
Get the Pre-test Physio and BRS Physio Books. These are not only reccomended for this course, but also for the USMLE. BRS is great for the Cardio section for pre-midterm especially. THE GRAPHS. Pay attention to the graphs they use in BRS and PreTest. These are standard graphs used to test physiology. Know these graphs well. In Physio, it is common for them to make up their own graphs for you to interpret, but for the most part, these standard graphs will be commonly tested. At the very least, flip through these two books to see what I'm talking about so you know whats coming. These books, I noticed, in terms of the Cardio Section, as well as GI and Lungs, the questions were very similar to what we experienced on the exam. Pre-test has some harder questions, but DO THEM. Why? The practice questions given to you by the department ARE TOO EASY compared to the exams. HOWEVER, actually, I suggest doing as many T/F and practice questions SUPPLIED BY THE PHYSIO DEPARTMENT ON ANGEL/SAKAI because they give you valuable information that you need for the exam. What I'm telling you is that the school supplied questions are Necessary to get the information you need, but you also want to do Pre-Test to apply those concepts in vignette form. So, do pre-test to apply the information in order to prepare for the exam.
+btw, don't forget you'll need to invest in a PD KIT for Physio lab + also Term 4/5 and beyond. Check this out, you can save a lot of CA$H if you don't buy the school's expensive kit "AMAZON PD KIT"
+btw, don't forget you'll need to invest in a PD KIT for Physio lab + also Term 4/5 and beyond. Check this out, you can save a lot of CA$H if you don't buy the school's expensive kit "AMAZON PD KIT"
Immunology:
This is a hard class. Strategy: DO AS WELL AS POSSIBLE ON THE MIDTERM. The final will be difficult. You may need a supplemental text to learn the material. The kaplan videos do a very good job. For pre-midterm, it is route memorization of the cytokines and their actions. If youd like a text, I would ask around, I dont have the best advice since I didn't look at books. I would guess The course director's Book, or Janeway Immunology, its Referenced several times in lecture for diagrams and movies.
For post-midterm, you need a question book. Absolutely. The questions will not be straight forward. You will see things you did not study. You will read the question thinking you need to make a diagnosis, then they will give you the diagnosis in the question, and ask you one step further. You need to start familiarizing yourself with this type of thinking and how to study for it. That's why you need question books. ("The Purple Book")
This is the question book written by the Course Director! She obviously suggests it, but it actually does help a bit testing your ability to think through the concepts and lots of people, not just I, recommended it. It will not be enough though. I had a hard time finding questions that were not 1st order questions for this class. But this purple book is close, and I would suggest any other questions they supply on Sakai/Angel as must do's. TIP: DON'T NEGLECT THE NOTE UPDATES POSTED ON THE COURSE WEBSITE. There were some updates, like errata posted correcting some things in the notes, and these were ALWAYS on the exam. It will get you 2-3 points being familiar with these corrections.
Genetics:
This is a new addition to the Term 2 Cirriculum. It has also come to my attention that Genetics is becoming more high yield on the Step Exam, and so I wouldn't take this subject lightly. Read the notes and know it well. I don't know what else to tell you. I don't have the best advice in this area since they changed the cirriculum. Maybe find yourself a good review book. BRS is usually a sure shot. Take a look in the bookstore for what is listen in there. Goodluck.
Parasitology:
You need to pay attention to the lists in the 1st and Final Lecture. I would review these two lectures and start taking notes on these lists from day 1 throughout the course, this will help a lot once its time to study for the exam. Flashcards flashcards flashcards. You can do well in this class, its all memorization. BRS by the way usually includes parasit within BRS Microbiology, that's where you'll find it. But, Most of us did well in this course without extra books.
CPM:
No outside material, this is like Medical BioEthics from term 1, except easier. The questions aren't as ambiguous. You can do well, make outlines for each lecture to study the days before the exam and you can get the A. You don't even need to goto class if you can study from notes. Don't miss out if they offer extra points or attendance. There are not many questions on the exam, so any points help you.
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This term is tons of work, the schedule used to be nicer, however, I think now that they've added Genetics, the schedule has become quite convoluted. You need to manage your time and get your priorities straight, this is the plan for Term 4 as well, so learn how you deal with this kind of stuff now. Physiology is 6 credits, neuro is 5. These are your big players. Don't neglect them. Immuno is next, then Genetics, followed by CPM and Parasit. Not only are Neuro and Physio big GPA credits, but they are huge on the Step, as well as Genetics and Immuno, so really maximize your resources. Get them straight, know exactly where to turn for information, and don't waste your time studying passively with the wrong material. Upgrade your study habits. That's the essentials for now. Goodluck yall!
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