If you could start medical school all over again, what would you do differently?

[matrica]

Mainly this questions for 3rd or 4th year med students, but if you have opinion (everybody can) chip in!

When I was shadowing I met a 3rd year med student from an osteopathic school, and he gave me a very good advice that I will keep, but I was just wondering if you could tell me/advice me more:

What would you do differently if you were start med school again?????
Please list school where you attend(ed).

Really anything, I think it would be helpful for me (I start next year) and all the other students. Thanks.

[Lokhtar]

What was the advice he gave you?

[USArmyDoc]

Originally Posted by matrica

Mainly this questions for 3rd or 4th year med students, but if you have opinion (everybody can) chip in!

When I was shadowing I met a 3rd year med student from an osteopathic school, and he gave me a very good advice that I will keep, but I was just wondering if you could tell me/advice me more:

What would you do differently if you were start med school again?????
Please list school where you attend(ed).

Really anything, I think it would be helpful for me (I start next year) and all the other students. Thanks.

Not go to medical school!!!

Just kidding.....Study hard but don't let it take over your life. I did waayy to much studying. I would venture to say you will actually to better with quality not quantity of studying.

[matrica]

Originally Posted by Lokhtar

What was the advice he gave you?

I knew somebody is going to ask this.

He told me to buy "First Aid" when I start school, and as I learn in school also study "First Aid" with it. He said it is better to study for the boards continuously, rather than start later as he did.

First Aid is for USMLE and COMLEX.

The 2010 edition did not come out yet, so I will buy it in the spring.

It was a useful advice for me since I did not even know what First Aid was before.

[rddoms]

I would have worked a bit harder to find out what study methods worked the best for me. Don't get me wrong, I did well my first year. That being said, I am doing better my second year, and it isn't as much work.

For example, I can't go to class. It is a waste of time for me, because I end up zoning out or playing around on the internet. I've found that if I download the lecture recordings, play them at double speed and follow along with the powerpoints, I have a much better foundation and don't have to study as much for an exam. I also wish that I knew about Audacity, which is a free audio engineering program. I open the lectures up in Audacity, use the noise removal tool, and then use the truncate silence tool. This cuts most 50 minute lectures into 35-40 minutes, which makes it even easier to listen to the lectures.

Definitely take some time to relax each week! If you are all go all the time, you are more likely to get burned out or have a bad attitude (this is what I've seen, although some may agree).

[matrica]

Thanks, keep it going, I know you guys have more opinion.

Also, on the study method.
Do I have to learn a new study method for Medical school?

I was not one of those people who did not have to study in undergrad just go to class to get good grades.
I studied for my grades, so the way I studied might or might not going to work in med school?
Any opinion?

Thanks

[RegularNihilist]

I would have quit, and started with chemistry instead. I hate medicine, and the thought of having to pick a lame office job or a residency in some stupid speciality makes me wanna puke in my mouth and aspirate the vomit so I can get a serious pneumonia and die.

[matrica]

Originally Posted by RegularNihilist

I would have quit, and started with chemistry instead. I hate medicine, and the thought of having to pick a lame office job or a residency in some stupid speciality makes me wanna puke in my mouth and aspirate the vomit so I can get a serious pneumonia and die.

ooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkk, I am not sure about this.......but well try to see what can make you happy at least a little bit, so maybe psychology?




OK, Anybody has good advice on where to buy textbooks from? Good deals?

[Punchap]

Originally Posted by matrica

ooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkk, I am not sure about this.......but well try to see what can make you happy at least a little bit, so maybe psychology?




OK, Anybody has good advice on where to buy textbooks from? Good deals?

I almost always find the best deals on Amazon (I buy used as long as it's cheaper). Also, you may not use all of your required textbooks, so I would check with current students at your school to see which texts you could get away with just reading occasionally in the library, or whatever. I have two textbooks that I haven't even opened as a second year student. Good luck to you!

[rddoms]

I have purchased maybe 1-2 required textbooks, and I never used them. Part of the reason for listing a text as required is for HPSP and other scholarships, which pay for all required texts. You should really check with many current students as to whether or not you should buy textbooks.

That being said, you can find books for next to nothing on half.com.

[Pet of the Week]

I'd have chosen a school based on location/climate rather than reputation/renown.

I would also try to get to know my classmates better.

I wouldn't change my study habits much other than organizing my time a little better.

[Pet of the Week]

Originally Posted by matrica

ooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkk, I am not sure about this.......but well try to see what can make you happy at least a little bit, so maybe psychology?




OK, Anybody has good advice on where to buy textbooks from? Good deals?

I didn't know about this for med school books so I'm not sure they have them, but I've gotten some of my books for my current degree program from coursesmart.com. They are e-books, either downloadable or readable online. Books are usually half the regular price.

I liked having a lot of books for my med school classes, but I didn't really use them to study. I liked having them as a reference when I was curious about something or to further clarify something a professor said. You can really get by without them in most cases if you need to save the money.

[MexicanDr]

Originally Posted by matrica

He told me to buy "First Aid" when I start school, and as I learn in school also study "First Aid" with it. He said it is better to study for the boards continuously, rather than start later as he did.

OP, sorry for hijacking your thread for a bit, but I have heard the same advice for people who are barely getting ready to take their pre-reqs for med school. Buy an MCAT Study Guide (Kaplan, TPR TBR) and study it, do the passages as you are learning the material, this will make it easier to review when getting ready to take the MCAT and make it easier to learn the class material [Summary of a chem concept in the kaplan study guide vs a lot of info really not needed in the actual txtbook]

What do you guys think?

[docmd2010]

take the USMLE. people will tell u not to take it since comlex is enough. it will leave u a lot of options. again, take the USMLE. and do very well on it.

[Slevin]

Originally Posted by docmd2010

take the USMLE. people will tell u not to take it since comlex is enough. it will leave u a lot of options. again, take the USMLE. and do very well on it.

I would have broken up with my GF during my first semester and not try to force it to work

[PunkmedGirl]

Originally Posted by Slevin

I would have broken up with my GF during my first semester and not try to force it to work

Are you broken up now?

[Slevin]

Originally Posted by PunkmedGirl

Are you broken up now?

That is affirmative

[PunkmedGirl]

Originally Posted by Slevin

That is affirmative

OK.. I was thinking ouch if you were still together .

[matrica]

Originally Posted by MexicanDr

OP, sorry for hijacking your thread for a bit, but I have heard the same advice for people who are barely getting ready to take their pre-reqs for med school. Buy an MCAT Study Guide (Kaplan, TPR TBR) and study it, do the passages as you are learning the material, this will make it easier to review when getting ready to take the MCAT and make it easier to learn the class material [Summary of a chem concept in the kaplan study guide vs a lot of info really not needed in the actual txtbook]

What do you guys think?

well, you might be right about that. I had my MCAT books when I was taking the prerequisites and I did not have time to open them. But, I worked full time next to full time school, so I am not sure if I would not open First AID in med-school since I am not going to work.

Other question, so how much time you really have to study for USMLE and COMLEX? You have a week off or something. Sorry, maybe it is a stupid question, but i really do not know. with MCAT you really have a flexibility when to take it, so you can spare a couple of months to prepare for that. I am not sure this is the case with the COMLEX and USMLE?

Also, I heard students say they prepare for the COMLEX by studying for USMLE then they just use their OMM notes. Then they just take COMLEX and USMLE on the same week.

Thank you for all the advice, it is very useful for me and I guess for other first year students also.

[Pet of the Week]

/';
\

Originally Posted by matrica

well, you might be right about that. I had my MCAT books when I was taking the prerequisites and I did not have time to open them. But, I worked full time next to full time school, so I am not sure if I would not open First AID in med-school since I am not going to work.

Other question, so how much time you really have to study for USMLE and COMLEX? You have a week off or something. Sorry, maybe it is a stupid question, but i really do not know. with MCAT you really have a flexibility when to take it, so you can spare a couple of months to prepare for that. I am not sure this is the case with the COMLEX and USMLE?

Also, I heard students say they prepare for the COMLEX by studying for USMLE then they just use their OMM notes. Then they just take COMLEX and USMLE on the same week.

Thank you for all the advice, it is very useful for me and I guess for other first year students also.

My school gave out our review books 5-6 months before we would take the test, and they gave us about a month off that summer. You need to know a lot of stuff for the comlex/usmle. You can do okay on the mcat without a huge amount of knowledge, but this isn't the case for boards. Of course, I didn't take them. So I'm sure someone who has can give you more specific insight. And yes, there is flexibility in when you can take it, just not quite as much as the mcat.

[ncguy2005]

Originally Posted by MexicanDr

OP, sorry for hijacking your thread for a bit, but...

hahaha... sorry that just made me think of that...

[matrica]

Originally Posted by ncguy2005

hahaha... sorry that just made me think of that...

[Kramerica]

Originally Posted by ncguy2005

hahaha... sorry that just made me think of that...

Made me think of these:





www.Immaletyoufinish.com

[bryce]

Originally Posted by Kramerica

Made me think of these:





www.Immaletyoufinish.com

Certainly just brightened up my day

[tuffguy13]

Originally Posted by rddoms

For example, I can't go to class. It is a waste of time for me, because I end up zoning out or playing around on the internet. I've found that if I download the lecture recordings, play them at double speed and follow along with the powerpoints, I have a much better foundation and don't have to study as much for an exam. I also wish that I knew about Audacity, which is a free audio engineering program. I open the lectures up in Audacity, use the noise removal tool, and then use the truncate silence tool. This cuts most 50 minute lectures into 35-40 minutes, which makes it even easier to listen to the lectures.

Good call. I'm an undergrad but I actually do this for my science classes - having a recording of the lecture is probably the best study aid you can get, especially if you tend to zone out in class. I do ridiculously good in the classes that I do have recordings of. I use adobe audition for speeding it up though, same thing.

[matrica]

Thanks for input.

I heard there is a software or something, where you can record the audio (lectures), downloaded to your computer and it can type it down for you, so you can simply print out the lectures in a written form, so pretty much you don't have to listen and type/write the lectures down fro the audio.

Anybody has that? Can you let me know the brand or where to get it. Thx

[mabish71DO]

I would have never gone to a DO school. I would have applied to my state school until I got in...even if it took 4 or five times and 3 more MCAT retakes. I hate OMM with a passion. It makes me ill and it is sooo stupid.

[beeFs]

Originally Posted by mabish71DO

I would have never gone to a DO school. I would have applied to my state school until I got in...even if it took 4 or five times and 3 more MCAT retakes. I hate OMM with a passion. It makes me ill and it is sooo stupid.

Thanks for the positive input.

[Slevin]

Originally Posted by mabish71DO

I would have never gone to a DO school. I would have applied to my state school until I got in...even if it took 4 or five times and 3 more MCAT retakes. I hate OMM with a passion. It makes me ill and it is sooo stupid.

That's your opinion, But what if you did that and never got in to a school? I don't like OMM but I do it because its part of the school. Am I going to use it when I leave school, probably not but I'd rather be in school and have to take OMM than not be in school still trying to get into a class

[thepoopologist]

Originally Posted by mabish71DO

I would have never gone to a DO school. I would have applied to my state school until I got in...even if it took 4 or five times and 3 more MCAT retakes. I hate OMM with a passion. It makes me ill and it is sooo stupid.

Stupidest statement I have ever read. You would delay your career that long because you hate OMM? Someone is having a bitter moment.

[PunkmedGirl]

Originally Posted by mabish71DO

I would have never gone to a DO school. I would have applied to my state school until I got in...even if it took 4 or five times and 3 more MCAT retakes. I hate OMM with a passion. It makes me ill and it is sooo stupid.

YOu can always quit.

[Slevin]

Originally Posted by PunkmedGirl

YOu can always quit.

mabish71DO quit and keep applying to your state schools cause you can't get in year after year. Ungrateful... Basta4D