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What to use, what to skip, and how to use it. 16 guides.
By Dr. Marish Asudani · Published · Updated
Which resources do I actually need for USMLE Step 1?
Start with 4 Resources, Not 40 — The Only Step 1 Stack You Need: The 4-resource Step 1 stack (First Aid, UWorld, Sketchy, Mehlman for systems under 65%) run through USMLE Vault. Then Five Resources. Not Forty. and The Resource Stack — Step 1, 2 & 3.
Start here · Resources
4 Resources, Not 40 — The Only Step 1 Stack You Need
The 4-resource Step 1 stack (First Aid, UWorld, Sketchy, Mehlman for systems under 65%) run through USMLE Vault
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Resources
Five Resources. Not Forty.
Step 1 needs 5 resources: USMLE Vault, First Aid, UWorld, NBMEs, Mehlman + Neil Randy, and what each does; drop Kaplan, B&B, Bootcamp
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Resources
The Resource Stack — Step 1, 2 & 3
5 resources per exam for Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3, in order of use, with each resource's rule
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Resources
4 Resources I Would Never Use Again
Why Marish dropped Boards & Beyond, Kaplan, USMLE Rx and Pixorize for Step 1, and what replaces each
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Resources
How to Use Mehlman Medical
How to use Mehlman Medical: videos not PDFs (HY Arrows the exception), full system playlist in ~1 day as a fixed step in every system
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Resources · 2 minutes setup
Turn Mehlman PDFs into a podcast
Turn Mehlman PDFs (HY Arrows, Neuroanatomy, Genetics, Biostats) into a 2-host podcast with Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) Audio Overview; listen first, then run the PDF actively; videos stay first
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Resources
The Seven Sheets
7 free Step 1 sheets/decks (Sketchy, HY Pharm PDF, FA Guide, Neil Randy PDF, Mehlman Arrows, Foundation Anki, NBME Booster) with when each enters prep
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Resources · 4 days
2 PDFs = a 10-Point Jump
Neil Randy PDF and Mehlman HY Arrows: how to run each (sections, 40 arrows/day) and when, before NBME 32/33 or on a plateau, for ~10 points
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Resources
5 Channels = 0 Paid Courses
5 free YouTube channels (Neil Randy, Mehlman, AJmonics, Dr. High Yield, Dirty Medicine): what each is for and which prep phase to use it
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Resources
How to Use YouTube for Step 1
5 free YouTube resources for Step 1 (Mehlman, Neil Randy, Dirty Medicine, antimicrobials video, Vault page-mapped videos) and how to avoid rabbit holes
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Resources
6 Playlists = 6% Growth (Step 1 Edition)
6 free YouTube playlists for Step 1 (Neil Randy psych/biochem, Dirty Medicine ethics, Mehlman heme-onc/immuno/micro-pharm), when to watch each, plus 4 more
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Divine Intervention Podcast: The Episodes Worth Your Time
Which Divine Intervention episodes to use: Step 1 PDF of 127 episodes by system (when UWorld stuck ~60%) and Step 2 CK last-month PDF
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Resources
Boards & Beyond in 2026: The 6 Videos Still Worth It, and What to Do Instead
When Boards & Beyond is still worth it (3rd/final year, neuro, GI), the 6 videos to keep, and the faster per-system alternative for graduates
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Resources
YouTube Instead of Brainrot
Curated free YouTube videos to watch instead of scrolling, in 3 editions: Step 1 prep, first-year (anatomy/physio/biochem), and the week before Step 1
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Resources
Things You Can Study in the Gym (Step 1 and Step 2 CK)
What to study in the gym on your phone: Step 1 and Step 2 CK videos, podcasts and Anki (Mehlman, Divine, Neil Randy, AJmonics)
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Resources
The USMLE Tier Lists
All 6 USMLE tier lists on 1 page: Step 1 resources, YouTube channels, qbanks, micro, Anki decks and pharmacology, with the reason for every placement
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Every guide here runs on one app
First Aid guide, Anki, NBME booster and assessments, in USMLE Vault.
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