Customer Reviews

USMLE Step 2 Secrets, 2e

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Several interns had recommended this book to me to prep for Step 2. I used Step 2 Secrets almost exclusively with Kaplan Q Bank and USMLEworld (another online question bank). Step 2 Secrets seems to deal with the bread-and-butter of the medical field, which is an essential foundation for the real test. While doing USMLEworld, however, I tended to miss quite a few questions that Step 2 Secrets did not seem to cover. Unfortunately, the real Step 2 tends to mimic USMLEworld closely in terms of format, difficulty, and overall vagueness. Just prior to test time, I browsed through First Aid Step 2 CK and it seemed to cover some of the holes in my knowledge. I did not feel very confident taking the test. Nonetheless, I managed a 260+ on the real thing, which I don't think reflected my true lack of knowledge. While Step 2 Secrets (as a previous reviewer mentioned), does do a good job covering the basics, it lacks the inside edge USMLEworld and the newest First Aid (only slightly better) possess. In the end, you probably only want to buy either Step 2 Secrets or First Aid. They're quite similar, so your decision should be based on the format. If you like Q&A, go for Secrets. If you like outlines and text, First Aid (Crush Step 2 is basically an outline version of Secrets). Make sure, however, to do USMLEworld. It's frustrating and nit picky, like the real thing. Step 2 is more instinctual in nature than Step 1, so it's more about realizing general concepts of treatments and workups. Practice questions and scenarios are key here. Prior clinical experience and doing well on rotations (learning, not scutting) are important as well. Good luck and I hope you have good results.

As many of the reviewers have already mentioned, this book (as all Brochert books) are basically the same material in different formats. That is a fact, as opposed to a criticism. If you understand this you will simply save yourself some money by not buying all his books. You decide which format you prefer(Q&A vs prose) and stick to it.
Now as to the content of the book, obviously the popularity of this series is not just hype. As Brochert says in the preface, he wrote this book because he felt there were no review books for Step 2 quite as good as those available for step 1. On the whole I'd agree with him that this is STILL the case. This is not an empty criticism from some distraught overworked brain studying for a board exam but a simple aknowledgment that Step 2(an Step3) cover such a broad ground that to draw a simple map for it (in the quaint manner of Step 1's 7 disciplines) is not all that easy. Besides the core curriculum the exam likes to branch out to many specialties and review clinically relevant sciences from step 1 (particularly pharmacology). In appreciation of this challenge you should realise that if you plan to really ace step 2 you will have to study consistently through year 3 and develop a good fund of knowledge. No review book can possibly cover everything but this book alerts you to the most tested subjects(which should at the least act as a topic list for whitling down the rather broad field of what is "clinically relevant"). Some reviewers seem very disconcerted that all the material is "things you've heard before." Well, hopefully that's true. The goal of a good review book is 1)to pare down the amount of material to manageable levels and 2) to give it to you in a format which is memorable or "mentally sticky." On the second point I think this book is possibly better than Crush (but that is just me maybe). This book covers most of the "hot button" or "red flag" topics you should know and if you're very ambitious and want to go above and beyond then at the very least it's a good starting point. So in short: 1)concise, high yield review 2) DON'T buy all the Brochert books (sorry Adam I know you'll be pissed) 3)probably not a total waste of money

I found Step 2 secrets to be a much higher yield resource for Step 2 CK than First Aid. First Aid contains too much detailed basic science review for my liking. Step 2 secrets is predominantly clinical and full of pearls that came up on CK for me. Especially helpful were the emergency medicine, cardiology and rheumatology sections. The question/answer format is very handy. I covered answers and discussed the question in my mind, in essence self-pimping throughout the book. It's a great book to use for group study or study with a partner as well. I went through secrets before tackling Qbank questions and found it to be very helpful. When I sat for CK, I was amazed by how many questions (50+) that I was able to answer immediately based on recalling the content in secrets. Secrets is short and easily digestible. Although I consider USMLE World and Kaplan Qbank to be the top study aids for the exam, I believe that step 2 secrets is a very good supplemental text for preparation. I regret having purchased and read First Aid (see my review of First Aid for CK). In general the first aid series are very good as we all know; however, step 2 secrets is superior to first aid for CK in my opinion.

I liked this book because at the end of the night you can pick it up and read a page or two and gain some high yield info. Sometimes at the end of the day you are just too tired to go out and read some chapter out of a review book, but with this book I feel like I am at least getting some high yield info that will hopefully help me when I am ready to start studying for boards.

This book is the equivalent of what First Aid was for Step 1. I just took Step 2 and this is the book to have. I just wish I had read it more than once! When combined with a question resource, like NMS, you have the perfect study material. (The NMS questions were a little bit more picky than the actual test by the way, but excellent in scope.)
Secrets is concise and tells you what you need to know for the Boards, giving common clinical scenarios, etc. I highly recommend it!

I tried them all: First Aid Step 2 CK, Boards & Wards, Kaplan. This little book gives you everything you need for the actual exam. Note that it's the same material as the other Brochert books (Crush & Mock Exam). Couple this book with a question bank like USMLE World, you can't go wrong. You COULD spend more time reading the other, more comprehensive books like First Aid or Boards & Wards, but the yield will be low. Better to focus on the fundamentals because if you know those well they will be real giveaways on the exam. The rest is luck and test taking strategy, which you can't prepare for at this stage in the game.

Step 2 Secrets contains the same information that is in Crush Step 2, but in question and answer format. Personally, I can't stand the standard review books with bulleted lists that you can passively read through. Step 2 Secrets forces you to be more involved, because it presents pretty direct questions that you can try to answer before reading the explanations. Although the book is not comprehensive, it provides a ton of facts that you should have memorized for step 2CK. When I studied for step 2, I only used this book and USMLEWorld questions (which I also highly recommend).

i very highly recommend this book! has the right emphasis, and there were LOADS of questions from within these pages on my step 2 exam. Not only does it give you high yeild stuff, but it gives you alot of confidence. I found it more enjoyable than its counterpart - crush the boards, which has, basically the same material, in a different format. The question-answer style is brilliant! there are a couple of mistakes in it (eg-CSF pressure is written in mm Hg instead of mm of H2O...stuff like that) but you can totally forgive him, cos he's helpin you so so much!!
Its a great investment. Much much better than first aid for step2
Buy it!!

an excellent book, I recommend this book to any body who wants to take USMLE STEP 2. it reviews almost every high yeild points needed for this exam. I read other books (first aid step 2, ALS step 2, crush step2 and ....) but this one was the best. if you need only one perfect book go on for this without second thought. good luck.

This book is basically Crush the Boards, Step 2 written in paragraph form!!! I think its a travesty that Brochert markets Step 2 secrets as a different book. That being said, I highly recommend one or the other. But not both.