@Medic_To_Doc2018 Just to be clear you're at KCOM and not SOMA right? Can you expand upon SOMA assigning mentors?
As for KCOM, I am looking at the block schedule but am kind of struggling to see myself in a day-to-day schedule. What does a typical day or week look like, say in the second or third block? I want to know what times mandatory classes are, if people skip non mandatory ones, when people work out or study or eat lol, how much time in anatomy lab, etc. Also what percent of their time does an average student spend on campus outside of class (for studying, recreation, etc.)?
Thank you for being here for us!
I attend KCOM. All I know about ATSU-SOMA is that they wear scrubs to school.
ATSU-KCOM's Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) will send an email to the Class of 2024 early in Semester 1 about mentoring. Fill out the Google Doc, and you'll be assigned a second year mentor who is in SOMA. There should be an Ice Cream Social over the lunch hour in which you have the opportunity to meet your mentor, exchange contact info, and talk. Ask any questions you have then, or feel free to reach out to them when you need. We'll be here to help you just like our mentors have helped us.
Second and Third block of Semester 1 are still fairly light. Blocks 1-3 you'll have Anatomy lecture+lab, Histo lecture+lab, and Biochemistry. Complete DOctor (CoDO) and OMM will be during every block but are tested separate from the Block exams. Block 3 is the only block for Immunology your First Year. Ultrasound will be throughout the semester as well, often held during Anatomy split labs.
Block 4-6 is where things start to pick up. You'll have Microbiology and Pharm Block 4-6. Block 4-5 you have Physiology.
Mandatory classes: All Anatomy Labs (27 in semester 1, 12 semester 2), Histo labs, OMM Lab, Ultrasound lab (often split lab with Anatomy), SP's, CoDO labs, Pharm learning exercises (RAT/AE), and Phys workshops. There are some required success forums. OMM is T/Th 8-10 every week. CoDO labs are infrequent but in the afternoon. Anatomy is in the afternoon, generally 1-3 or 4. Depending on how quick you are at dissecting, you can get out early. My anatomy group completes 3 hour labs in about 30 minutes this semester without missing things. Divide and conquer.
Many skip lectures that are not mandatory since they are all recorded. Even the required OMM labs are recorded, so you can run through those before practicals/exams to review (highly recommended). Our class actually had a pretty good turnout first semester for lectures until about Block 5. Then students started listening from home at double speed. Now most of us pick which lectures to attend. I only attend required lectures so I can listen from home. I don't like missing content during first pass, so I pause when something sounds off and rewind until I get it. Also, some lecturers read directly from PowerPoint or test on their iBook's, which you'll figure out as you go.
Second Semester is when you start Systems, so you'll gain Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics and Pathology. Micro becomes Infectious Disease. Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Histology are taught throughout. Some classes are more involved during certain Blocks than others. GI Block has every class. Cardiorenal I was very Physiology heavy. Cardiorenal II will have Physiology as well as Internal Medicine. You will still have US, OMM, and CoDO throughout.
First Semester I went from Anatomy lab to workout before I showered. Then I would eat and start studying. Osteoblasters has morning classes, if you're a morning person. They also have afternoon classes. There are other classes as well, so you can pick which workout style you prefer.
People spend as much or as little extra time on campus as they want. There are many study rooms/cubicles in the library if you are interested in studying around others. You can study in groups. I prefer studying without any distractions, so I find a study room or study from home. Your involvement in campus activities will also determine how much time you spend on campus. Many clubs host lunch lectures or afternoon events. You can attend as many (or as few) as you like.
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