Hey guys. I read that Gunner Training is pretty much First Aid in flashcards, and forces you to memorize the information. I'm a very visual learning, and I think that I would be interested in the GT system. Can the same be said with FireCracker? It will help you learn/memorize First aid and it relates will to FA material?
FireCracker IS Gunner Training. It's just a different website. I had my reservations about FC and the switch from GT was frustrating, especially mid MS2. But I am loving FC. Let me put it in perspective:
BRS + Various books ~ 1000 Qs
MS1 + MS2 tests = 300Qs/block * 14 blocks = 4200 Qs
NBME Subject Exams (Anatomy, Cell, Physio, Psych, Neuro, Path, Biochem, Micro...I think that's all) = 200/test * 8 = 1600
2 Q Banks ~ 4000 Qs
Repeating flagged/missed ~ 2500 Qs
Full Lengths, NBMEs, Diagnostic tests ~ 1500
Total = 14,800 Questions (If my math is right)
== FireCracker ==
I started in June after MS1. I started with 100-150 Qs, went up down, missed days, etc. I'm now doing 200-300/day...so this is napkin math. Step 1 is in June.
150 Qs/day * 7 days/week * 52 weeks = 54,600
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I could have missed something in there and be off by orders of magnitudes, but I'm pretty sure that's accurate. Now for some musings.
Learn the stuff from classwork. All review material, FC included, assumes you understand some stuff. Cohesive intellectualization of some of the more difficult concepts needs proper explanation from lectures or primary sources. Once you get the ideas, FC pounds them in. It also pounds in trigger words. It also pounds in things you suck at memorizing because you see the questions every freaking day.
I haven't taken Step 1, so I defer to the veterans, but a few things I've noted. I am doing good in all my classes, but school specific questions tend to focus on topics they stressed, not necessarily stuff stressed by FA, Q banks, or Step 1. Therefore, my grades could be better if I spent less time on FC. That said, I have not done poorly on a test all year. Also, I feel very confident on all subjects while many classmates haven't looked at stuff like blood cell dyscrasia in months. While some classmates may be beating me on lecture tests, I am doing very well on random questions from Q banks. (Averaging mid 70s in Kaplan).
FC lets you know what you're weak at because you see it over and over, Q banks tell you what you're weak at with low scores in certain areas. Those together provide useful feedback and guide dedicated study time so that you aren't "mindlessly" reading FA.
Hope that helps. Thank you FC. I recommend it to all my classmates.