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First Aid USMLE Step 1

Searching for information on First Aid USMLE Step 1 or other First Aid for USMLE publications? Then you've found the right website for a quick review of the First Aid USMLE test preparation books that have been used by over a quarter million medical students to review material for their USMLE Step examinations. However, if you have already taken the USMLE but failed to achieve your target score, you may want to reconsider your approach. In fact, think of the confidence you would gain if you had a secret way of knowing how to figure out the best answer to every question.

At PASS Program South, we understand that some students do much better than others in memorizing large volumes of material for the purpose of taking his or her USMLE. Fortunately, for those students who do not possess a bullet-proof memory, there is a better way of preparing for your USMLE or COMLEX exams. Through understanding what information is actually important and what information can be derived, you will have the confidence needed to pass each USMLE step. We never ask you to "Memorize It". Our experienced staff of instructors and tutors will teach you the concepts you need to "Master It".

So, how does the First Aid USMLE Step 1 fit into the overall picture. Well, it can provide valuable information in a quick-access format that you can use during your USMLE step review. But, like the other First Aid USMLE books listed below, there are pros and cons:

  • First Aid USMLE Step 1 - Annual editions of this book have been published for the past twenty years. Medical students typically find the First Aid USMLE books work fine as a basic guide but that the use of other text books is required. In fact, you may need to write your own notes in the margins to supplement the incomplete sections, especially if you purchase an older edition.
  • First Aid USMLE Step 2 - This is second book in the First Aid series published by McGraw Hill. It is considered to be a useful resource for your step 2 USMLE review and clinical rotations. However, students have suggested that some sections are much stronger than others and that many medical advances for new standards of care are missing in older editions.
  • First Aid USMLE Step 2 CK - There are several editions of the First Aid USMLE Step 2 CK so it is important to purchase the most current publication. Students seem to like the easy-to-use layout but have complained that the depth of the material is lacking and must be supplemented with other medical board review books.
  • First Aid USMLE Step 2 CS - Most students reviews of the First Aid USMLE Step 2 CS are very favorable. The book does provide a clear explanation of the USMLE test format for Step 2 and includes useful patient scenarios for USMLE test preparation. In general, it is considered to be a better investment than the comparable Kaplan USMLE Step 2 CS LivePrep.
  • First Aid USMLE Step 3 - The third edition of the First Aid USMLE Step 3 has a release date in October of 2010. In the past, student reviews have been mixed although most really like the 100 case scenarios included in the back of the second edition that was published in 2007.

Two basic resources that most medical students consider to be precious are time and money. So, before you invest either in a stack of USMLE books, it is wise to look at the advantages and disadvantages of this study approach. If you are particularly adept at memorizing volumes of data, the First Aid for the USMLE series is designed from the input of students who have used the book to pass their Boards. In general, USMLE books are filled with diagrams, mnemonics and bulleted data that provide the bare essentials of a topic. At PASS Program South, we believe our students receive more bang for their bucks by learning the concepts that will allow them in clinical situations to apply what they have already learned.

We think the best approach to preparing for the COMLEX or USMLE is to learn one concept that you can use to answer a thousand questions. That way, your investment of time and money is for your future rather than a stack of books for USMLE. Dr. Hans Wolf, founder and director of PASS Program South, will teach you how to think things out for yourself by connecting the pieces that allow you to make an accurate case diagnosis or patient management decision. For additional information about preparing for the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK or USMLE Step 2 CS, USMLE 3 or COMLEX-USA, contact PASS Program South today at (904) 209-3140.