Blueprints Computer-based Case Simulation Review: USMLE Step 3

"This book would have been the best resource for the CCS portion of Step 3. It provides a great analysis of how the CCS portion is organized and what the test makers are evaluating. In addition, the strategy provided is the one to know for the CCS. This book is the only one that I've seen that specifically addresses the CCS portion. Other books just have a page or two concerning a portion of the test that is a significant portion of Step 3." - PGY-1, Family Practice Resident "The variety of cases presented is excellent. They represent a sample from each of the major disciplines in medicine that are frequently tested. I think this book has some excellent tips that WILL increase the reader's score by focusing their attention on certain aspect of testing which the reader might have not noticed. The tips alone would be worth the price of purchase. Overall this is a very good book and I would recommend it for its purpose to improve one's score on the computer portion of the Step 3." - International Medical Graduate "This is a very valuable book. Now that I've read parts of it, I feel like others are missing out and I would have missed out as well. I would recommend this to every resident studying for Step 3 as well as every 4th year student that needs to understand how to prepare for Step 3 well in advance. There's nothing like this book in any of the books I've used for studying." - Intern, Transitional Year "I think a guide for this portion of the exam is very useful. In general, I think most students feel it is the "easier" part of the test. But it is not intuitive and there are definitely a few pointers that help in figuring out strategy. Just playing with the case examples does not address some of these lessons that can help a student optimize their score." -Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Dermatology "I think that this book is a wonderful idea! The CCS portion of Step 3 exam is so clunky & clumsy. I never did quite get it, or understand what the heck I was supposed to be doing. While the portion of the exam was fun in theory, there were many problems in learning the "rules" of interface. Also, the relatively few number of cases that were available on the practice CD did not give me enough time to get familiar with the program." - Clinical Fellow, Psychiatry, PGY-IV Chief Resident "This would be a great book for residents to purchase. Not many books provide specific advice for the CCS like this one does. This is must-have. The sample cases are very stereotypical of what to expect on Step 3 - I had some very similar if not the same type of cases. I just finished step 3 today, and I wish I would have had this book to prepared!" - PGY-1, Family Practice Resident "I think the sample cases are great. They are accurate in terms of content and types of scenarios. I appreciated the curves thrown in with the secondary diagnoses and the attention to setting. These are accurate to the exam, and the items that are difficult to pick up on in computer-based simulation vs. reality. - General Surgery Resident "I did not realize the need for help in the case-based portion of Step 3 until I read this. I just figured I'd learn enough during internship to go through it easily, but the hints/tricks are very helpful." - Intern, Transitional Year