[StepTaker]

Recently it has been noticed that more and more students are replacing their First Aid Book with Kaplan MedEssentials. In this thread and poll let's see what do you think about these two great books.

Please do not vote if you haven't read or at least had a look at both of them.

 

[rasheed]

Both are great

I personally think that both of them are great. FA is great in certain areas such as cardiovascular and respiratory while medEssentials is fantastic in areas such as genetics, molecular biology, and physiology.

However, if have to choose one of them (like if no enough time to do both) then probably I'd go with FA.

 

[khanar]

Read Kaplan notes first

It's a great idea to compare medessentials vs first aid by the big important reminder that I want to tell everybody here about is that don't ever read medessentials without ever going through the original Kaplan notes because otherwise you'd not going to understand anything and you won't retain not a single table or graph from it.

 

[heights]

It depends on your study style and your other study material

MedEssentials is way more detailed than FA, and there isn't much room to add in your own notes. I tried using both and stuck with FA because it is very bare bones, i.e. it gives an outline, so I can add in info from the books as I go along. I like writing my own notes because it helps me to remember better. MedEssentials may be good if you're using Kaplan material; possibly just as high yield as FA if you're able to follow the format. However, I think it may be a waste to use both since it would be twice the time just trying to figure out the format. :indifferent:

 

[khanar]

I've been seriously impressed by medEssentials and I think it's much better than FA

 

[INCOGNITO]

medESSENTIALS for step1

hey dudes today @ kaplan accademy we are given medESSENTIALS for step1
i am depressed to see this 550 page book..

DOES ANY ONE KNOWS IS THIS SUBSTITUTE OF F.A ?
i mean definitely we cant do both ..according to ur opnion which one should we read?
1)F.A
2)medESSENTIALS for step1

 

[evavar]

Nothing can replace FA

Med ESsentials is a good book, is basically the same as reading kaplan books, you will see that is basically a review of the graphs, diagrams, and tables that are in kaplan books.
FA in the other hand It Can't be replaced by any book. Is like the bible for step 1.
While doing kaplan, you can answer basically every question if you know the kaplan books.
While doing UW (wich is the most important qbank) you will see that FA will help you alot, FA IS THE BOOK TO GO WITH.

 

[INCOGNITO]

thanks
owing to time pressure i think we should do essentials only things which are not mentioned in kaplan like some graphs and images ct xray etc

BUT F.A is just like u said bible so no way we can leave it unread..

thanks for ur post

 

[earthpole]

if u have to choose go for FA of course

 

[rulz]

FA is way better in some areas, medessential in others, i keep my FA as my top , i use medessential for example to review certain areas like bev science and child development which are way better on med essential, but overall i found it confusing except genetics and behavioral science...

So, i will choose FA... =)

 

[justfree]

Good advice

You´re fine, you still have a lt of time.
Let me give you some advice that I wish someone will have given it to me when I started studying.
Kaplan books are important to understand the material, don´t make the mistake I did memorizing every single book, because guess what????? When you are by the third book of fourth book you will start forgetting the first and second book. BIGGGGGGGG MISTAKE. I tooked me like 6 months trying to learn every detail.
Start with FA as soon as possible. While youré doing kaplan still go through FA along with it.
Once you have read kaplan start doing kaplan qbank as a warm up to go do the real deal wich is UW.
ALWAYS WITH FA.
Once you start doing UW after reading FA and been familiar with it, you will feel confidence reading and answering the questions.
HOPE THIS HELP.

After reading so many posts of other people's experience on this forum, I have decided to do KLN + FA, then Kaplan Qbank and then UW. Your post just confirmed that I have made a right decision. Thank you.

 

[earthpole]

it is a great choice..just know everything in them and i think u will score great

 

[rulz]

Good Desicion, as far as i know that's the best way to go, FA > Qbank Kaplan > Qbank Uworld.... and shooooooooting the stars

 

[GSingh]

medessential vs FA

i felt after just understanding from Kaplan notes and patho from Goljen,immediatly follow FA and Medessential,qbank Kap and uw,otherwise memory washaway and stress starts,finally review from ME and FA!!

 

[GSingh]

hey dudes today @ kaplan accademy we are given medESSENTIALS for step1
i am depressed to see this 550 page book..

DOES ANY ONE KNOWS IS THIS SUBSTITUTE OF F.A ?
i mean definitely we cant do both ..according to ur opnion which one should we read?
1)F.A
2)medESSENTIALS for step1

Hi!!read only 10 page/Day for 55 days.....become almost doctor!!)

 

[jjsanchezramirez]

I'm an IMG and my school gave me a free copy of Med Essentials. I have the test in a year, but I'm still taking classes, at least until Junes next year. I also have an old version of the First Aid.

Should I read both, or just the First Aid? Also, should I read these books while doing the Kaplan books, after, or throughout? Much appreciated.

 

[GSingh]

I'm an IMG and my school gave me a free copy of Med Essentials. I have the test in a year, but I'm still taking classes, at least until Junes next year. I also have an old version of the First Aid.

Should I read both, or just the First Aid? Also, should I read these books while doing the Kaplan books, after, or throughout? Much appreciated.

Kaplan 7 books are for understanding the concepts!!then medessentail ment to rember and do Kaplan Qbank!
after this one has to follow Ist aid almost similar to medessential,then UW qbank,standard prececription which i learned late!!

 

[sukar]

I am doing Kaplan LN along with FA. Should I also do Med essentials?

 

[GSingh]

I am doing Kaplan LN along with FA. Should I also do Med essentials?

Mostly folks avoid med essentials,check with NBME,if ur above+95,then no need.
Best of Luck!!

 

[sukar]

Mostly folks avoid med essentials,check with NBME,if ur above+95,then no need.
Best of Luck!!

Thank YoU!