Dear Friends:
Some updates!
So, I was put in this SPP (Summer Pre-matriculation Program), which was a condition to keep my seat. I don't know why they put me in the program (it could be that I have been out of of school for five years) and they wanted me to prove myself. I did do the program and it was awesome! You just get exposed to a toned down version of M1 and you have two exams every Monday. It was grueling but I learned a ton and more importantly learned how to discipline myself (i.e. sit for hours in one place and forget about the world!). Have not taken anatomy and biochem and those are my best performances. Anyways, I just wanted to say that you Chicago people are lucky! We had our classes in those shiny buildings and I just loved all the study spaces, the high tech classrooms and everything was seamlessly intertwined. I am Urbana-Rockford track and I hope it is as exciting as Chicago. Chicago is not just about the beautiful campus, it is the ethnic food and other amenities that are so enticing!
Above all, I found UIC at Chicago to be very innovative and the school really is AWESOME! Yes, it is the only MD school that accepted me but in objectivity, everything I saw in Chicago was all I wanted from a med school---cool professors who respond instantly to really engaging student body, I am really impressed by this school. Really smart and diverse student body is what I found unique. Med school is tough not because of the info (the info part is easy) but it is hard because of the volume of info and the limited amount of time. Some compare it to drinking from a fire hose. This analogy is partly true. But if one has good time management and is willing to try new approaches, everything becomes more manageable. And from what I gathered from the M1s that were lurking around, the first semester was really hard---that is where you get the shock and awe if you will. But it gets better even starting second semester!
But as long as you are willing to adjust and adapt, you will learn to love the process. Some classes will make you scream (well if they do not you are not trying hard lol!). Others are so easy, you will fly through. But, don't be afraid to change your style of learning if necessary. I never had to use flashcards in college but it saved me with anatomy! Still trying to figure out Anki but I used old fashioned flashcard and it worked wonders. Just know that what works for biochem might not work for anatomy. For example, I thought I could pass anatomy lab by studying lab notes and going to lab/cadavers only when it is required! What a dumb move! Got spanked. I then decided to camp out and spend more time with cadavers and that helped me ace both the MCQ and lab part of the exam. For anatomy, get to know your cadavers and make them your ultimate friends! They can help you a lot. For other classes, it is a trial and error thing and everyone has different style of learning. Keep your cool and adjust as courses demand. Books like BRS and First Aid will be used by some people even during first year. Just talk to your friends and they can share that info with you too.
One last advice: people will be talking about a concept called "high yield" and get to know what it is. Finally, I learned that the most effective way to learn some of the stuff is to just to go office hour and ask for feedback when getting stuck---something I never did in college but extremely helpful in med school. Also, you will use online blackboard for instruction. Make sure you follow all the postings (especially the ones that come from TAs, it is easy to miss but they contain key information for exams). Finally, enjoy the ride and I wish all of you the best of luck!!!
