# How to Study for USMLE in Second Year

> Second-year order: Sketchy Micro first, then pathology system-wise with Pathoma and Robbins, then pharmacology — turning dedicated into revision.

URL: https://vault-guides.vercel.app/year-2.html
Canonical: https://vault-guides.vercel.app/year-2.html

## Summary

Sets a fixed second-year order — microbiology, then pathology, then pharmacology — on the grounds that pharmacology makes no sense before pathology. Micro is done with Sketchy at roughly 20 organisms a day, video then PDF, with that day's MCQs the same night. Pathology runs system-wise: Pathoma lectures first (annotating into First Aid), half a day on that system's physiology if it isn't landing, then First Aid with the Guide, then Robbins last so the reading is targeted. Pharmacology starts from the University's how-to video and the free High-Yield Pharmacology PDF, which names the single best resource per drug class, then Sketchy/Osmosis videos watched twice, then First Aid.

## Key facts

- Fixed order: microbiology, then pathology, then pharmacology
- Sketchy Micro at ~20 organisms a day, video then PDF, with that day's MCQs the same night
- Sketchy Micro in 6 Days covers all ~85 bugs in a set order
- Pathology is always done system-wise, never as one subject
- Pathology per-system order: Pathoma → (physiology refresher if lost) → First Aid + Guide → Robbins last
- Pathology takes roughly 3–5 days per system; micro and pathology fit in the first three months of second year
- Pharmacology takes about 5–6 days per system
- Pharmacology videos are watched twice — first pass for recognition, second for recall
- The FWRT method (Pharmacology in 48 Hours) has been replicated by more than 50 students
- One free video covers all of antimicrobials in 90 minutes

## Covers

how to study for USMLE in second year, Sketchy Micro schedule, Pathoma and Robbins order, pharmacology study order USMLE, when to do micro path pharm, second year MBBS Step 1 prep, high yield pharmacology PDF

## Source

USMLE Vault — https://usmlevault.com
Author: Dr. Marish Asudani

Updated: 2026-08-26