Okay, so I’ve been asked quite a few times about what resources helped me get through medical school so far. After answering this same question over and over again, I finally decided to compile a page of the resources that have literally been my saving grace. Keep in mind that this list is NOT all-inclusive. There are definitely other great resources out there. This is just a compilation of the heavy-duty resources that kept me afloat, along with a few others that I heard great things about from multiple people. Before I get into the resources, I just want to make a few things clear:

• I will be continuously updating this section with new resources as I climb higher in the med school totem pole.

• I’m not much of a textbook guy…so there will be very few textbook recommendations here.
  • I primarily use textbooks as a reference.
  • I also use them for images/charts/diagrams that I can print out and keep with me as paper copies.

• Charts and pictures helped me a TON, especially in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cardiology, Renal, Endocrinology & Reproductive Systems .

• Everyone has their own unique way of learning and synthesizing information.
  • These resources may prove to be very helpful for many of you.
  • On the other hand, they may not be of much use to some of you.
  • If you do choose to use these resources, don’t be afraid to utilize them in your own unique way. Do whatever works for you.

• Items with * are resources that I haven’t used yet but definitely intend to use in the future.

• Items with ** are resources that I either use very little of or don’t plan on using. However, I have heard very good things about them from classmates and friends.
  • It’s worthwhile to check them out and see if they work for you.
  • I personally tried them and they just didn’t work for me.

• Keep in mind that just because I link a blog or a website does NOT mean I 100% endorse EVERYTHING they say. At the end of the day, opinions are opinions. Even I have opinions.
  • My goal isn’t to give you all the answers, because I don’t have them all. I’m still learning as I go along.
    • I just want to provide a multitude of resources that can be found in one place for your convenience.
  • I believe that you can learn many things from something or someone, even if you don’t necessarily agree with everything they say or do.
    • With that said, take what you want from what they say. Use their advice to help you in whatever way you feel is beneficial to you.

Now for the actual resources a.k.a the reason that you clicked on this link in the first place:

• General Resources
• First-Year Resources
• Second-Year Resources
• Third-Year Resources
  • Internal Medicine
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Neurology
  • Surgery
  • Family Medicine
  • Emergency Medicine

---

General Resources:

First Aid

• This comprehensive review book of basic science high-yield facts is a MUST-HAVE for Step 1 prep! I was very fortunate to receive the 2016 edition from my school for free during my first year, so I went ahead and used it alongside my coursework. I used it heavily during my second year and was an absolute necessity while I prepared for my Step 1 Examination! Definitely get your hands on this book sooner rather than later!
• I came across an article regarding some mistakes that students tend to make while using First Aid. Take a look!
  • Three Biggest Mistakes Students Make With First Aid For USMLE Step 1
  • Using First Aid Efficiently For USMLE Step 1

SketchyMedical

• I first heard about how wonderful this resource was halfway through my Anatomy block, well before I had any use for it. After it made my life considerably easier during my Cellular/Subcellular and Neuroscience blocks, I can fully attest that SketchyMedical is a godsend. This program applies visual spatial memory strategies by using unique pictures to help you recall specific information about bacteria, viruses, drugs & their side-effects, etc. It’s SO worth the investment!

Pathoma

• Along with First Aid, I was fortunate enough to be provided with this comprehensive pathology review book by my school. This is another MUST-HAVE for Step 1 preparation. The book (it also comes with corresponding online videos) goes over pretty much all the high-yield pathology you’ll need in order to perform well on the Step 1 exam. I integrated the information from this book into my studies during my first two years of coursework and it was definitely helpful for me. I heavily used this book as well during my Step Study Period and was extremely glad that I did so!

Firecracker

• This popular, personalized flashcard program uses the strategy of spaced repetition to facilitate long-term memory of important concepts. You can also use it to review specific topics via provided study guides and flashcard quizzes. I bought an 18-month subscription during my Cellular/Subcellular block, but I didn’t efficiently use it until I got to Neuroscience. My school also ended up purchasing the program for us and I was able to get a refund for my previous purchase! It was a central part of my studies up until my Step Study Period and although I didn’t personally use it while studying for Step, there are study materials within the program that are specific for Step 1. Keep in mind that this resource isn’t for everyone and that, although helpful, it’s not necessarily considered a “must-have” to succeed. You may not feel that this resource is for you, and that’s okay. However, if you do decide to use Firecracker, I would recommend starting to use it well before your dedicated Step study period due to its long-term approach of test preparation.

Doctors In Training

• This resource is known for its highly informative videos that tend to highly correspond with First Aid. These videos also come with worksheets that can be filled out in order to serve as study guides. Doctors In Training, or DIT for short, has been used by many students preparing for all three Step exams as well as students preparing for the COMLEX exams. I’ve had the opportunity to use this program and I must say, they really do a wonderful job describing the material that’s tested on the board exams. This resource is pretty pricey, but the company does work to give various discounts to students looking to use DIT! Always remember, what you put into your studies is directly related to what your end result will be. A great investment in your future is never a waste of money!

Google

• Do NOT underestimate the power of Google. I’ve probably used Google more than any other resource on this list. It’s free, efficient, and all-knowing. So why wouldn’t I use it to its full potential?

Wikipedia

• Just as you shouldn’t underestimate Google’s power, you should not underestimate the usefulness of Wikipedia. Sure, there’s always a chance that someone could edit it to whatever they wanted…but I personally have yet to run into that problem. For the most part, it is a very informative resource and just like Google, it’s free and efficient. However, if it REALLY bothers you that the information you’re reading may not be accurate, there are links on the bottom of most Wikipedia pages that will link you to their source of information. If all else fails, just click on another link in your Google search.

UWorld Step 1 QBank

• This resource is pretty much required for Step 1 preparation. I used this resource intensely during my preparation for Step 1 and it was single-handedly the best thing I could have done to prepare myself for that exam! As a matter of fact, it was the main study tool that I used during my Step Study Period! This extremely popular question bank, which contains almost 2500 questions, not only contains high-yield conceptual questions, but also provides detailed explanations to all the incorrect answers you’ll come across. There are also two simulated exams that you can purchase along with the question bank that I would highly recommend purchasing! Shelling out some loan money for this resource was definitely a very wise investment!
• I did come across some interesting articles regarding UWorld that I wanted to share. Do what you wish with this information, I am merely providing it.
  • Five Biggest Mistakes Students Make With UWorld
  • Five More Mistakes Students Make With UWorld
  • Alternate UWorld Strategy

Kaplan QBank

• This is the question bank that I used alongside my coursework and I was pretty impressed at what it had to offer during the time I utilized it! There are 2000+ practice questions in this bank, and each question has very thorough explanations as to why one answer is right and the others are wrong. In addition, the QBank tracks your progress as you answer each question and analyzes your performance over time, giving it a very personalized feel. You can even simulate full-length practice exams on the interface! I feel like the questions that I completed really challenged my understanding of the relevant material I had been studying. I also was able to snag a huge discount on the QBank thanks to both my AMA membership and my attendance at a lunch talk promoting this product! Last but not least, this QBank was highly recommended by almost all of the 3rd and 4th years that I’ve talked to regarding Step preparation, so there you go!

USMLE Rx QBank**

• So I had initially planned on using this question bank alongside my coursework in my second-year, but I personally decided to go with the Kaplan QBank instead. However, I do have some friends who used this and they definitely love it. I’ve also heard some good things about it from some of my friends in classes above me, but I also have heard from some other upperclassmen that they would have preferred to have prepped with another QBank. You just gotta see what works for you. Like UWorld, it’s a source of high-yield, conceptual questions that you can practice with and learn from. It’s also designed to be in sync with First Aid, which is a big plus!

Anki

• Now, I have a number of classmates that swear by this resource. This flashcard system is designed like Firecracker in that it uses a spaced repetition approach to develop knowledge about a particular subject. Unlike Firecracker however, this platform is free! But with that said, you do have to make to make your own flash cards. So in essence, Anki is literally making your own flashcards on a computer and having the computer shuffle the deck to your benefit. I’ve personally used it here and there, but not at all to the extent that I use most of the resources on this page, much less to the extent that some of my classmates & friends use it. Nonetheless, it’s a fabulous resource to know about! Who knows, this platform may become your very best friend!
• Here’s an article I came across that talks about using Anki in a way that was effective for a student who scored a 270 on his Step 1 exam. Again, do whatever you wish with this information.
  • Effective Anki Card Strategy
• Post-Step Update: I actually (unexpectedly) ended up using Anki during my Step Study Period and primarily utilized the Step 1 Anki deck that the creator of Yousmle.com put together. I found that the deck really helped me not only solidify important concepts relevant to Step, but also really helped me with retention of the knowledge that I was gaining! After that experience during my Step Study Period, I think that I’ll be using Anki more often throughout my clerkship years!

Lange Pharmacology Flashcards

• I was given these flashcards by a friend who was a couple of years ahead of me, and they ended up being pretty useful to me for what they were worth. I used this resource during the last week of my Step 1 Study Block, where they served as a rapid review of must-know Pharmacology details that I wanted to make sure that I didn’t forget on test day. The cards go over a ton of information about various drug classes, such as mechanism of action, clinical uses and side effects, just to name a few. It ended up being a worthwhile resource, for I was able to pull some knowledge from these cards while I was answering pharmacology questions on test day!

Crush Step 1

• This is definitely one resource that I wish I got my hands on earlier. Some people like to call it “First Aid in paragraph-form”. I stumbled upon it during my Dermatology block and it proved to be pretty helpful. Then it literally saved my ass during my Renal block! After witnessing the magic of its capabilities firsthand, I continued to use it heavily during the rest of my second-year courses (Musculoskeletal/Rheumatology & Endocrinology/Reproductive Systems Blocks). It would have been a very-handy resource to have had earlier in medical school, but I’m just glad that I was able to come across it when I did! I then primarily used it as a reference text during my Step Study Period, where it continued to be pretty useful! If I were you, I would give this review book a look sooner rather than later in order to see how well it’ll work for you in the long run!

Lectures/Professors

• At the end of the day, your subject tests are (for the most part) going to be entirely dependent on your professors and the lectures that they make. You definitely should NOT neglect these, especially if your professors are the ones writing the questions to your exams. Also feel free to use your professors as resources if they make themselves available, but be aware that you aren’t the only student trying to compete with his/her attention.

First Year Resources:

(Unless otherwise stated, I typically used the General Resources above for the courses listed below with minimal additional resources. Especially Google. And First Aid, SketchyMedical, Wikipedia, Pathoma & Firecracker. Don’t sleep on Google tho.)

• Anatomy
  • Lippincott’s Illustrated Q&A Review – Anatomy & Embryology
  • BRS Gross Anatomy Review Questions
  • Netter’s Anatomy Flashcards
    • (I got these for free when I bought a 4-year AMA Membership from my school.)
  • BioDigital Human Website
  • InnerBody
  • The Body Online
  • TeachMeAnatomy
  • University of Michigan Medical School Website
  • Embryology/Organogenesis Modules
  • MedBullets**
  • Anatomy Guy
  • Man Anatomy

• Cellular & Subcellular Processes
  • Biochemistry
    • Useful Animations
    • Metabolism Quick Study
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology
• Neuroscience
• Pathology

Second Year Resources:

(Unless otherwise stated, I typically used the General Resources above for the courses listed below with minimal additional resources. Especially Google. And First Aid, SketchyMedical, Wikipedia, Pathoma & Firecracker. Don’t sleep on Google tho.)

• Hematology/Oncology
• Cardiology
• Pulmonology 
  • BRS Physiology (I should have used this in some of my prior courses…)
• Gastroenterology
• Dermatology
• Renal
• Musculoskeletal/Rheumatology
• Endocrinology/Reproduction

Third Year Resources:

• Internal Medicine
  • Step-Up To Medicine– Great, all-emcompassing resource that tackles just about all of the topics that you need to know in this clerkship in a digestable format.
  • Online Med-Ed – The videos on this website are very high-yield and I was able to learn about various topics in a very structured way. The best part about it is that although there is additional content on the site that you can pay for, the videos are free!
  • UWorld Step 2 CK QBank – Just get it. You’ll be glad you did, even if you have to shell out a ton of money on the front end. I didn’t manage to get through all 1000+ of the IM questions, but I did answer a sizeable chunk of them. I was more focused on drilling the 500+ questions in the IM Essentials QBank.
  • IM Essentials– I primarily worked with this QBank during this clerkship and did a second-pass through my incorrect questions. It was a very helpful resource and I learned a ton from it! Both this Qbank and UWorld helped me adequately prepare for my shelf exam, but the exam was still a tough one regardless. With that said, it’s important to understand that simply answering all the questions on both QBanks won’t suddenly make you a master of Internal Medicine, but it will definitely help you reason through questions in a confident manner.
  • Anki– I used the Internal Medicine section of the Step 2 Anki Deck that the creator of Yousmle.com put together. It helped primarily with retention of knowledge of material that I wouldn’t have otherwise remembered.
  • Doctors In Training – I’m currently using the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!
  • SketchyMedical– Mainly used this resource as a reference tool.
  • Firecracker – Other than using it for questions here and there and as a reference tool for information I wanted to know quickly, I didn’t really use this resource much in this clerkship. This may change for future clerkships though!
  • Pocket Medicine – This is a small book full of quick facts that is primarily used as a reference text on the wards. I honestly barely used it to study for the Shelf Exam, but it can be helpful while on the wards!
  • UT Health Science Center Internal Medicine Clerkship Review – This two-hour review lecture, given by Emma Holiday at some point in the past, serves as an all-encompassing summary of the information that you should have learned while on the Internal Medicine rotation. I watched it about a day or so before my exam and I found it pretty helpful in further synthesizing what I had already learned. I also ended up learning a few new things while watching this lecture! Powerpoint to the lecture can be found here!
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • APGO UWise Questions – This question bank, provided by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, was SO clutch during my Ob/Gyn rotation! There are 600+ questions to answer, and studying is made easier by the fact that all the questions are divided into specific topics/objectives. I highly recommend using this resource for your Ob/Gyn rotation!
  • Case Files– I started using this book on this rotation and I fell in love with it! Its case-style format really meshed with my style of studying and it really helped me understand important concepts. I recommend trying it out at least once to see if it works for you!
  • Online Med-Ed – This resource has quickly become a staple in my studies. High-yield videos, efficient presentations, and most important of all, free of cost. What more could you ask for?
  • UWorld Step 2 CK QBank – Like I said before, just get it. You’ll be glad you did, even if you have to shell out a ton of money on the front end. I got through all of the Ob/Gyn questions and it definitely helped me in understanding important topics.
  • Anki – I used the Ob/Gyn section of the Step 2 Anki Deck that the creator of Yousmle.com put together. It helped primarily with retention of knowledge of material that I wouldn’t have otherwise remembered.
  • Doctors In Training – I’m currently using the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!
  • NBME Practice Questions– These practice shelf exams, provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners, helped polish my understanding of all the material I learned during the rotation. I completed all four forms the week of my Shelf exam and I’m absolutely certain that it played a huge role in my performance on test day, especially since it’s in the exact same format that the Shelf exam is in! If you’re able to, I would recommend completing as many of these questions as you can!
• Pediatrics
  • CLIPP Cases – This Computer-assisted Learning In Pediatrics Program (CLIPP) includes 32 interactive patient cases that are designed to serve as a useful learning resource for those who, like me, learn best via case-centered learning. I really liked this resource, but I wasn’t able to complete more than what was required of me (10 cases) because each case was sooo long and comprehensive. If you’re feeling shaky on a certain topic though, I believe that doing a CLIPP case related to that topic will serve you well!
  • Case Files – This resource served me well in Ob/Gyn, so I just used it again for Peds and it was just as useful! If your system ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
  • Online Med-Ed – This resource is now a necessary component of my studies. High-yield videos, efficient presentations, and most important of all, free of cost. What more could you ask for?
  • UWorld Step 2 CK QBank – In case you didn’t catch the hint before, it would be wise for you to go ahead and use this resource. Like I stated previously, I was able to get through all of the Pediatrics questions and it definitely helped me in synthesizing important topics in this field of study.
  • Anki – I used the Ob/Gyn section of the Step 2 Anki Deck that the creator of Yousmle.com put together. It helped primarily with retention of knowledge of material that I wouldn’t have otherwise remembered.
  • Doctors In Training – I’m still using the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!
  • UT Health Science Center Pediatrics Clerkship Review – This two-hour review lecture, given by Emma Holiday at some point in the past, serves as an all-encompassing summary of the information that you should have learned while on the Pediatrics rotation. I watched it about a day or so before my exam and I found it pretty helpful in further synthesizing what I had already learned. I also ended up learning a few new things while watching this lecture! Powerpoint to the lecture can be found here!
  • NBME Practice Questions – These practice shelf exams, provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners, helped polish my understanding of all the material I learned during the rotation. I completed all four forms the week of my Shelf exam and I’m absolutely certain that it played a huge role in my performance on test day, especially since it’s in the exact same format that the Shelf exam is in! If you’re able to, I would recommend completing as many of these questions as you can!
• Psychiatry
  • Case Files – I didn’t use this resource as much as I had in past rotations, but it served as a useful reference point whenever I wanted to learn a bit more about a specific psychiatric condition!
  • Online Med-Ed – This resource is now a necessary component of my studies. High-yield videos, efficient presentations, and most important of all, free of cost. What more could you ask for?
  • UWorld Step 2 CK QBank – In case you didn’t catch the hint before, it would be wise for you to go ahead and use this resource. I was able to get through all of the Psychiatry questions and it definitely helped me in synthesizing important concepts in this field of study.
  • Anki – I used the Psychiatry section of the Step 2 Anki Deck that the creator of Yousmle.com put together. This specific deck was very small and didn’t really help much with Shelf preparation, but I went through them regardless since it has now become a habit to do them.
  • Doctors In Training – I’m still using the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!
  • UT Health Science Center Psychiatry Clerkship Review – This two-hour review lecture, given by Emma Holiday at some point in the past, serves as an all-encompassing summary of the information that you should have learned while on the Psychiatry rotation. I watched it about a day or so before my exam and I found it pretty helpful in further synthesizing what I had already learned. I also ended up learning a few new things while watching this lecture! Powerpoint to the lecture can be found here!
  • NBME Practice Questions – These practice shelf exams, provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners, helped polish my understanding of all the material I learned during the rotation. I completed all three forms the week of my Shelf exam and I’m absolutely certain that it played a huge role in my performance on test day, especially since it’s in the exact same format that the Shelf exam is in! If you’re able to, I would recommend completing as many of these questions as you can!
• Neurology
  • American Academy of Neurology Practice Questions – This question bank was provided to my class by our clerkship director early on into our rotation. Made up of 100 questions, it hit on numerous topics that we had to know for both the wards and the Shelf exam. The explanations were very insightful too, and the information I learned from these questions ended up helping me out quite a bit during the rotation as well as on the Shelf exam! This website also has other educational resources to help medical students study for the Shelf exam that you can access by clicking here!
  • Case Files – I didn’t use this resource as much as I had in past rotations, but it served as a useful reference point whenever I wanted to learn a bit more about a specific neurological condition!
  • Online Med-Ed – This resource is now a necessary component of my studies. High-yield videos, efficient presentations, and most important of all, free of cost. What more could you ask for?
  • Doctors In Training – I’m still using the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!
  • NBME Practice Questions – These practice shelf exams, provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners, helped polish my understanding of all the material I learned during the rotation. I completed all four forms the week of my Shelf exam and I’m absolutely certain that it played a huge role in my performance on test day, especially since it’s in the exact same format that the Shelf exam is in! If you’re able to, I would recommend completing as many of these questions as you can!
• Surgery
  • Pestana’s Surgery Review – This study guide, curated by Dr. Carlos Pestana, succinctly highlights most of the necessary information that you definitely need to know to maximize success on the Shelf exam. Although it’s more of a review guide as opposed to a textbook, I found it very helpful throughout my rotation and as I studied for the Shelf exam!
  • Surgical Recall – This book has a lot of information listed in a flashcard-like fashion. It was mainly created to help students answer questions that are likely to be asked to them in a pimping-like fashion by their supervising residents and/or attendings. I found it helpful to look at when I was either on-the-go or trying to kill time while waiting for the next surgery to begin. And whaddya know, I did get pimped on some questions that I read almost verbatim from this resource! I wish I had been able to read the whole book…but then again, I definitely did not have the time nor patience to read through 800+ pages.
  • UT Health Science Center Surgery Clerkship Review – This two-hour review lecture, given by Emma Holiday at some point in the past, serves as an all-encompassing summary of the information that you should have learned while on the Surgery rotation. I watched it twice before my exam and I found it pretty helpful in further synthesizing what I had already learned. I also ended up learning a few new things while watching this lecture! Powerpoint to the lecture can be found here!
  • Surgery: A Case-Based Clinical Review – I actually intended to use this resource early on in the rotation but with all the other resources I had on hand, I just simply never got around to using it. However, I wanted to include it because I know some people who did use it and said that it was very helpful to them! I’m sure there’s a lot of good information in this book, plus it’s structured in a case format so if you find that this style of learning suits you well, I would recommend at least taking a look at it!
  • Case Files – I tried to read as much as I could in this book for this rotation, but I had to eventually choose and pick certain topics that I needed to do some heavy-duty review on. It ultimately served as a very useful reference point for a variety of conditions pertinent to the field of Surgery!
  • Online Med-Ed – This resource is now a necessary component of my studies. High-yield videos, efficient presentations, and most important of all, free of cost. What more could you ask for?
  • UWorld Step 2 CK QBank – In case you didn’t catch the hint before, it would be wise for you to go ahead and use this resource. I was able to get through all of the Surgery questions and it definitely helped me in synthesizing important concepts in this field of study.
  • Doctors In Training – I’m still using the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!
  • Anki – I used the Surgery section of the Step 2 Anki Deck that the creator of Yousmle.com put together. It helped primarily with retention of knowledge of material that I wouldn’t have otherwise remembered.
  • NBME Practice Questions – These practice shelf exams, provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners, helped polish my understanding of all the material I learned during the rotation. I completed all four forms the week of my Shelf exam and I’m absolutely certain that it played a huge role in my performance on test day, especially since it’s in the exact same format that the Shelf exam is in! If you’re able to, I would recommend completing as many of these questions as you can!
• Family Medicine
  • University of Virginia SOM Question Bank – This free question bank from the UVASOM was provided to my class by our clerkship director early on into our rotation. Made up of 125 Shelf-like questions, it helped a lot with studying for the actual Shelf exam. The explanations are very thorough, and the questions are about as challenging as the questions on the Shelf exam were. And best of all, this question bank was free!
  • ROSH Review – I gotta say, this is a pretty awesome learning platform. I first learned about it on this rotation and had heard pretty great things about it from numerous people. After checking out the 20-question free trial, I decided to go ahead and purchase a month-long subscription. I was able to answer 500+ questions and review all the explanations while learning a ton of new concepts in the process. What makes this resource even more convenient is that there’s an app associated with it, so I could review questions on-the-go! Granted, the questions aren’t really Shelf-style, but I learned so much from the explanations that it made the purchase worth it!
  • Case Files – Again, I tried to read as much as I could in this book for this rotation, but I had to eventually choose and pick certain topics that I needed to do some heavy-duty review on. It ultimately served as a very useful reference point for a variety of conditions pertinent to Family Medicine!
  • Doctors In Training – I’m still using the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!
  • NBME Practice Questions – These practice shelf exams, provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners, helped polish my understanding of all the material I learned during the rotation. I completed all four forms the week of my Shelf exam and I’m absolutely certain that it played a huge role in my performance on test day, especially since it’s in the exact same format that the Shelf exam is in! If you’re able to, I would recommend completing as many of these questions as you can!
• Emergency Medicine
  • ROSH Review – After successfully using this learning platform for Family Medicine, I went ahead and bought another month-long subscription for Emergency Medicine. I went through another 500+ questions and reviewed all the explanations to them while learning a ton of new concepts in the process. And again, having the Rosh Review app on my phone was very convenient because I was able to review questions on-the-go! It’s important to note that these questions aren’t really the type of questions that you’ll see on the Shelf exam. However, the amount of information that I was able to take in and synthesize was more than enough to justify the purchase to myself!
  • QuickEM – I didn’t find out about this useful app until about midway through my EM rotation, and I wish that I had been able to have put it to good use from the very beginning of the rotation! QuickEM is a free reference tool that helps you formulate a differential diagnosis based on the specific complaints of a patient. In addition, it has a calculator function that does the work of calculating the scores of various clinical prediction criteria for you, such as the Well’s criteria, Ranson’s criteria, Centor criteria, etc. There’s even a section that provides very helpful tips on performing well on the EM rotation! There are other pretty cool features to this app, but you will need to shell out some cash to access these other features. However, being able to access those features could be very well worth it, especially if you’re considering a career in Emergency Medicine! I can see it being pretty useful for Step 2 Clinical Skills preparation as well!
  • EM Basic –  I found this resource to be extremely useful during my time in this rotation. Created by an EM physician, EM Basic is actually a blog that has a podcast series designed to help medical students and EM interns review the basics of Emergency Medicine. There are almost 40 topics covered in these podcasts that are based on chief complaints commonly encountered in the Emergency Department. In my opinion, the best part of this resource is the fact that the material in the podcasts have been compiled into a PDF document, which makes reviewing all the great material in these podcasts even easier! I highly recommend checking this free resource out!
  • Case Files – I honestly barely even used this book on this rotation because I spent the majority of my time using other very useful and comprehensive resources. That being said, I still flipped through this book around a week or so before my exam to briefly review conditions that I may have missed in my studying. I found that I had already covered most of the material in this book in my other resources, but even with that said, there is very good information found in these pages if you are a die-hard Case Files fan!
  • NBME Practice Questions – The practice shelf exam that I used for this rotation, provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners, helped polish my understanding of the material I learned during the rotation. I completed one form during the week of my Shelf exam and I found that it played a huge role in my performance on test day, especially since it’s in the exact same format that the Shelf exam is in! If you’re able to, I would recommend completing as many of these questions as you can!
  • Doctors In Training – I used the Clerkship Crash Cart series that this resource offers. It further solidified basic information that I needed to know for the shelf exam, and I’ll be using it for my Step 2 prep as well!