5 Comments

1. Wilson

   

   15 March, 2010, 6:04

   I just got my FA 2010 yesterday. Here are the differences I noticed when compared to the 2008 edition:

   1. A few of the colored pictures are new and they incorporated a lot of gray colored pictures inside the notes. In the evolution of MI, for example, they have real pictures instead of drawn pictures in the 2008 edition.
   
   2. Some of the information are converted to table and graph format, which I liked. And they labeled some of the old charts and graphs for easier understanding.
   
   3. In terms of new information, I think anywhere from 1-5 % are new, depending on section. In the cardio section, for example, half a page of vascular tumors are added.

   Overall I would buy it if I still have more than a few months to study for the exam.
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. L. Chavez

   

   15 March, 2010, 6:22

   First Aid has it all covered. I use USMLE world, and annotate my first aid. Some people sit and read first aid, but it’s not really a book to sit and read, as there is no text, mostly figures, charts and factoids. But it contains most of what you need to know, and there is space to scribble in the things you learn from the Q-bank. This edition is updated, terrific, and spot-on for boards. Included are reviews of other study materials for board exams which I found to be very useful. This book and a Q-bank, I’d stick with World or Kaplan, are all you truly need. I think going through both Q-banks would be more worthwhile than reading more board prep books. Other review books are useful during your coursework though. (I made the mistake of ordering USMLE consult, mostly 1-step as opposed to the 2 or 3 step questions you find on Step 1 and it doesn’t lock you out of other computer programs, so it’s easy to get distracted, and twice it erased my practice tests. Cheap, but not worth it, despite the great names listed as contributors. )
   Rating: 5 / 5
3. Alyson

   

   15 March, 2010, 9:20

   This book is a great book to study from. It’s very concise and easy to follow, with some good hints on how to remember key concepts. I use it as an overview when studying for class to get the big picture on certain topics, and then use my primary notes for a more in-depth look at the material. This book came highly recommended to me, and thus far, it is proving to be quite useful in my studies. I will be using it as my primary resource when I study for the USMLE STEP 1.

   Rating: 5 / 5
4. Amazon Shopper

   

   15 March, 2010, 12:19

   First Aid USMLE is by far the best book you will buy while in medical school. This book takes the MUST KNOW facts from all of the other medical books used while in medical school. No question about it, every 3rd or 4th yr medical student will tell you this is the single best resource period.
   Rating: 5 / 5
5. bahnsenr2

   

   15 March, 2010, 13:51

   There is no substitute for First Aid when studying for Step I. None.

   First Aid provides an essential skeleton to your studying. I do not consider it a complete source (you should also be using Goljan, Costanzo, and other various BRS, HY, and RR books), but I consider it a necessary source.
   Rating: 5 / 5