Step 1: Bottom line

With this long description and many posts of how I studied for the USMLE Step 1, here's my bottom line advice for students who might have a similar style of studying to my own:

* Use First Aid as an outline for Step 1 studying throughout the first two years, starting as early in the curriculum as makes sense to you.
* Don't rely on First Aid as a stand-alone reference.
* Read as much of Robbins & Cotran's Pathologic Basis of Disease as you can during your course work, then refer back to it frequently to study specific diseases or answer specific questions during the dedicated study period.
* Use BRS Physiology when you start studying organ systems (for the University of Colorado curriculum, at the beginning of CVPR).
* Buy either a USMLE Rx or Kaplan question bank early (for the University of Colorado curriculum, at the beginning of CVPR), and use it to help you study for the current course.
* Also use your USMLE Rx or Kaplan question bank that you bought early to complete 5-10 questions per day. Research those questions that you get wrong, and be sure to read the explanations even for questions that you got right. Try doing these questions timed starting in Year 2 Semester 1 and drawn from all subjects starting in Year 2 Semester 2.
* Use your Summer vacation to review the course material from the previous year, but also be sure to relax and have fun.
* Don't study over Year 1 Winter break.
* Use your Year 2 Winter break to start targeted studying, but also be sure to relax and have some fun.
* For subjects that require rote memorization (Microbiology, Pharmacology), experiment with different ways of learning until you find what's best for you. Try making comprehensive tables or making your own flash cards. When you're in the middle of your dedicated study period, you will be glad for any study tool that you created during the first two years.