Sort of a mixed one here from Zach. Read it for yourself.
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Brian,
I emailed you back having just failed my first attempt at PANRE by 12 points. I am a 12 year ortho PA and thought I could just get your Final step and pass. Well it didn’t happen. After much distress, I regrouped and decided to purchase the Rutgers program. It turned out to be the best decision. I ended up spending an average of 10 hours/week for 4 months and just took my exam 1 week ago. I received my results today and increased my score by 135 points. Rutgers is no joke. It works. What a huge relief. I guess I’m sending this email as a thank you but also as a suggestion to tell your audience base that just using the Final step will NOT likely get you a passing grade if you are in a sub-specialty. I know you’ve addressed this in a recent email. Your Final Step is a great resource but it is not sufficient on its own. (I’m sure you are aware of this currently but thought I’d throw in my 2 cents). Now on to the next 10 years. I have listened to every one of your podcast and read your book 4 or 5 times. You are doing a great service to the PA profession.
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Zach PA-C
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There are people who use only the podcast and The Final Step and pass the exam. I’ve had a number of people write in and tell me that, but I’m in full agreement with Zach on this one. I don’t recommend that approach. The Final Step is NOT comprehensive, or even close to comprehensive. It’s a quick and dirty review of key terms.
It moves very quick and whittles things down to their most important pieces (which is the topic of an upcoming issue of the PAES newsletter – not March, but maybe April – I can’t remember right now).
No, although it might not stand up on its own, The Final Step is a fantastic supplement to your work.
Brian Wallace
