3 Things you Wish you Knew Before Starting Med School
Started by barto123
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there are many threads on this already, do a search
thanks, not quite sure exactly what to search though. a link would be helpful.
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da8s0859q
Also interested.
You may need to go to the bottom left of the page and adjust the search parameters to include everything within the past year.
But for me...
1) You don't need to buy the most recent edition of every single textbook they assign to you (frankly, the only really essential textbook I remember using religiously was my anatomy atlas).
2) Get into a solid study routine early.
3) If you're not absolutely sure you're studying efficiently, seek out advice ASAP (either through upperclassmen or professors)... in fact, if anything is bothering you seek help asap.
But for me...
1) You don't need to buy the most recent edition of every single textbook they assign to you (frankly, the only really essential textbook I remember using religiously was my anatomy atlas).
2) Get into a solid study routine early.
3) If you're not absolutely sure you're studying efficiently, seek out advice ASAP (either through upperclassmen or professors)... in fact, if anything is bothering you seek help asap.
My opinion: if your medical school offers them, take one of your first semster classes the summer before Medical school begins (for credit at the medical school only, not to just try and learn the material). I think the first semester is the most awkward in some ways because you have the conflicting goals of meeting everyone in your class and figuring out how to study for Medical school level coursework. Getting one of your classes our of the way in the summer boths gives you a head start on meeting people and gives you more time to socialize during the semester without risking your GPA.
Holy Immaturity!!!
I crack up when lucky teenagers like you think success in med school depends on how well you can suck up to professors and classmates.Knowing everyone/meeting everyone is not part of med school's curriculum...That is not a tenable excuse for your lack of brain cells.
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da8s0859q
Holy overreaction! I don't necessarily agree with the early start idea, but I hardly think s/he's out of line for suggesting that it might be nice to get to know those people you'll be around a good chunk of the next couple years at least. Not that everyone's all buddy-buddy, but... still.
Christ.
1. Mandatory class attendance would absolutely suck, and would be a reason to go elsewhere. Homeschooling rules.
2. Don't buy the required books.
3. Take any MS1/MS2 classes in undergrad. Made the 1st two years alot more tolerable to had at least seen some of the material before in some forum.
2. Don't buy the required books.
3. Take any MS1/MS2 classes in undergrad. Made the 1st two years alot more tolerable to had at least seen some of the material before in some forum.
The enjoyment is always in the challenge. The harder/tougher it is, the sweeter the victory. In the end, it will catch up with them.
Interpersonal relationship do not cure/heal people. Wise people know everything, mischievous people know everyone. If you want to know people, pls cross over to showbiz.In showbiz, you get ahead by knowing people. However, success in medicine depends on staying up late, studying on weekends and making first things first.
Uh, again, I don't think you're getting it. I'm not recommending that people make friends because it will in some way advance their medical careers. Friends, for most people, are an ends, not a means. I'm suggesting that since they probably want friends (you might be an exception), and since making friends is way more time consuming than maintaining friends, they should try to free up their schedules in their first semester so that they can have some sorta social life before falling into the 24/7 study and work routine that will last until their halfway done with Residency.
Medical school is not about who you know, but life is not just about medical school. Ultimately your happieness in life is not going to be determined by your GPA, but by the relationships you have forged with your fellow men (and women).
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da8s0859q
So Perrotfish posts something that's intended one way, you take it in a different way and rail against him, I post to his defense because you're calling him an immature teenager due to a misunderstanding at best and a difference in ideals at worst, and then you point out my lack of a current MD acceptance because I'm a c/o 2013 applicant that hasn't got a problem with pointing out an overreaction in the allo forum.
Righto, that's solid. I guess benefit of the doubt would have me assume that there's not, in fact, a Gibraltar-sized chip on your shoulder or anything of the sort; you guys just don't see eye to eye, which is peachy.
But I'm quite sure it's ridiculous to jump on this poor guy because he doesn't think like you do and puts a bit more of a premium on trying to have several solid friendships with fellow medical students WHILE undoubtedly being a studious little future doctor at the same time.
Medical school is much better than I expected. The people are friendlier, the opportunities are better, and it's pretty interesting overall. It is a lot of work, but I expected that. There is a lot of variability in the experience (some people like biochem and some hate it, for example). If you go looking for problems, you'll find them. Just think about what you would like to do to get the most out of the experience because the time flies by quickly. I can't believe I'm halfway through the first year. You are going to love it. You can get excited now if you want to. In terms of picking schools, consider a school with a good reputation (it doesn't have to be nationally rated), where the students seem happy, and, most of all, where you see yourself fitting in the best. 
🙂
🙂1.) Medical school is unlike undergrad, you can't do it all by yourself!!
2.) Make sure you schedule some time for yourself to do the things that you enjoy to relieve the stress that is definitely going to come.
3.) DO NOT GET BEHIND!!!!! It is so much material, it is very hard to catch up.
2.) Make sure you schedule some time for yourself to do the things that you enjoy to relieve the stress that is definitely going to come.
3.) DO NOT GET BEHIND!!!!! It is so much material, it is very hard to catch up.
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da8s0859q
pass/fail (and i mean true pass/fail) is amazing.
1) Figure out what study strategies work for you ASAP, and once you do, keep it consistent (this probably means studying almost every day, even for an hour or two).
2) The ones that succeed in medical school are the ones that can do #1 and have good time-management/efficiency skills. You can be a freaken genius but if you can't keep up with the work and if you're not efficient in mastering all the stuff thrown at you, you won't do well. Even Einstein had to learn physics before discovering the theory of relativity. At the same time, you need to do stuff to get your mind of med school. For me, it either involved video games or drinking.
3) Remember, in the end, these two years of medical school will be the least important part of your career in the long-run. You don't have to rape all the tests to rape the step 1, just go with the attitude of proficiency in medical knowledge and things should fall in place.
Oh, and the advice about taking the classes the summer before medical school starts, don't listen to it, it's crap. Since its 1AM I'm briefly gonna list why:
1) Your money is better spent elsewhere, preferably on yourself or your tuition.
2) Taking classes earlier can hurt you in some cases. Part of M1 year is to learn how to master all that info quickly. Having a headstart like this makes it easy at first, but when everything becomes new, you're SOL and panicking while your other classmates are instead more worried about whether to get an Xbox360 or PS3 because it's the same-old situation again.
Anecdotal experience - in anatomy, the kids that took the 6-week accelerated anatomy course over the summer pretended to be the **** during the first block. Once I figured out how to approach the course, my test grade was the same, if not higher, than theirs. For the future tests, my grades only went up, while theirs were constant or stagnated. Gee I wonder who was the winner in that situation.
3) See #3 above.
2) The ones that succeed in medical school are the ones that can do #1 and have good time-management/efficiency skills. You can be a freaken genius but if you can't keep up with the work and if you're not efficient in mastering all the stuff thrown at you, you won't do well. Even Einstein had to learn physics before discovering the theory of relativity. At the same time, you need to do stuff to get your mind of med school. For me, it either involved video games or drinking.
3) Remember, in the end, these two years of medical school will be the least important part of your career in the long-run. You don't have to rape all the tests to rape the step 1, just go with the attitude of proficiency in medical knowledge and things should fall in place.
Oh, and the advice about taking the classes the summer before medical school starts, don't listen to it, it's crap. Since its 1AM I'm briefly gonna list why:
1) Your money is better spent elsewhere, preferably on yourself or your tuition.
2) Taking classes earlier can hurt you in some cases. Part of M1 year is to learn how to master all that info quickly. Having a headstart like this makes it easy at first, but when everything becomes new, you're SOL and panicking while your other classmates are instead more worried about whether to get an Xbox360 or PS3 because it's the same-old situation again.
Anecdotal experience - in anatomy, the kids that took the 6-week accelerated anatomy course over the summer pretended to be the **** during the first block. Once I figured out how to approach the course, my test grade was the same, if not higher, than theirs. For the future tests, my grades only went up, while theirs were constant or stagnated. Gee I wonder who was the winner in that situation.
3) See #3 above.
Absolutely agree. I would add to #2: buy strictly review books. Check SDN for the ones to use.
1) Try to get to know everyone early because groups of friends become well-molded very quickly and after that (for whatever reason) people you don't know are weirded out when you talk to them
2) Decide beforehand what hobbies/extracurricular components of your life are most important and set aside time for those
3) Step 1 is really all that matters in terms of residency applications for the first two years.
2) Decide beforehand what hobbies/extracurricular components of your life are most important and set aside time for those
3) Step 1 is really all that matters in terms of residency applications for the first two years.
1)Id say "the GREAT passion" for medicine should begin almost as soon as you come out the wound...
2)A strong pathophysiology foundation is a great escape route..
3)I said this numerous times. You DONT go into medicine for money but if you happen to make some along the way it is ok..
bonus: Excellent communication (which is often taken for granted by ) can help one get thru it all..
That is not true.I have gone through first semester without seeking any body's help. Your MD degree is /was designed to be granted to only one person as a result of the person's own labour/hard work. Med school's exams aren't done as a team and outside help of any form is discouraged.Also, the material is not different from what you are used to from undergrad (assuming you did not go to party school ).
I agree with you 95%.
The exception would be anatomy. I really thrived off having others to study with / pimp / be-pimped. It made anatomy fun & easier.
Otherwise, I have basically studied on my own and continue to rock the 4.0 😎
all i can say is thank god i don't go to school with arseneweger! jesus christ!
med school has been a blast and the best part of medical school has been the relationships i have made - with classmates, residents and attendings, etc.
there is some sort of sick idea that in order to do well in med school you need to give up everything else in your life. its simply not true. make time for yourself and the things that are important to you. this is absolutely critical. i've been able to ski 50-60 days a year (yes even 3rd year, 4th year i'm shooting for 100), spend lots of time with friends and family - and i'm still interviewing at the best programs in the country. and i really believe its because i took time for myself during this long process.
and as was said earlier - communication is huge. having good interpersonal and communication skills will make 3rd year much more tolerable. keep an open mind and see what you enjoy/love during third year and then find a mentor asap.
med school has been a blast and the best part of medical school has been the relationships i have made - with classmates, residents and attendings, etc.
there is some sort of sick idea that in order to do well in med school you need to give up everything else in your life. its simply not true. make time for yourself and the things that are important to you. this is absolutely critical. i've been able to ski 50-60 days a year (yes even 3rd year, 4th year i'm shooting for 100), spend lots of time with friends and family - and i'm still interviewing at the best programs in the country. and i really believe its because i took time for myself during this long process.
and as was said earlier - communication is huge. having good interpersonal and communication skills will make 3rd year much more tolerable. keep an open mind and see what you enjoy/love during third year and then find a mentor asap.
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njbmd
What is medical school like-issues are pre-allo issues and thus this thread is moved to pre-allo. Medical students read and respond to threads in pre-allo and may follow and respond to this one if desired.
1. The only way to understand the meanings of the med school marketing tools (PBL, p/f vs. ABC, early clinical exposure) is to actually be a medical student. Of course, by that point, you've already made your decision as to what school to attend.
2. Medical education is standardized across the board, so keep this in mind when writing out those big tuition checks. Everything that you need to do well on step 1 of the USMLE is both taught at all medical schools and available from board review books that you can get from Amazon. It's just up to you to get it from the text into your brain.
3. Your school's ranking has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the education that you will receive, but is instead a measure of the faculty scientists and clinicians whom you will very likely never see. The ranking does factor into matching because a high ranking tends to draw better students, but don't pay extra for a distant fancy school if you want to practice in your region when you're finished.
2. Medical education is standardized across the board, so keep this in mind when writing out those big tuition checks. Everything that you need to do well on step 1 of the USMLE is both taught at all medical schools and available from board review books that you can get from Amazon. It's just up to you to get it from the text into your brain.
3. Your school's ranking has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the education that you will receive, but is instead a measure of the faculty scientists and clinicians whom you will very likely never see. The ranking does factor into matching because a high ranking tends to draw better students, but don't pay extra for a distant fancy school if you want to practice in your region when you're finished.
please tell me which medical school/chiropractor school was dumb enough to accept you. i'm holding on to a few acceptances right now and i will quickly withdraw from the school you are at. then again, i doubt you're at a decent med school so i probably don't have to worry.
The ethics of todays doctors make me sick. Having worked on both sides of the fence its probably the biggest problem I have with medicine. I fear having my principles beat out of me in medical school. I'm just happy to report more students then not stand up for the right things and are not complacent.
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what do you mean? could you give examples?
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45408
Good Lord, man, why are you always so aggressive on SDN?
I was intentionally vague in hopes I would get a med student or two to give their thoughts, I'll provide some if they fail too.
1) DO NOT GET BEHIND!!!! (And it will happen by the end of the 1st week, if you aren't watching out for this from Day 1)
2) Be careful about the advice you take from previous students - for example - the 2nd year students in my school all told me they didn't use a single text book except the anatomy atlas, so I didn't buy any of the books. For me, personally, that was a big mistake. That's just an example of my point, though: you may not use your text books, either. Just take with a grain of salt the advice you get from people ahead of you.
3) Most people find out by the first exam that what got them by (study-wise) in undergrad doesn't work in medical school. Find out what you will need to change and change it, as early as you can.
4) I agree with everything Crixivan posted above. The angst we all felt a year ago deciding on schools was a big waste of energy. Think about it.
2) Be careful about the advice you take from previous students - for example - the 2nd year students in my school all told me they didn't use a single text book except the anatomy atlas, so I didn't buy any of the books. For me, personally, that was a big mistake. That's just an example of my point, though: you may not use your text books, either. Just take with a grain of salt the advice you get from people ahead of you.
3) Most people find out by the first exam that what got them by (study-wise) in undergrad doesn't work in medical school. Find out what you will need to change and change it, as early as you can.
4) I agree with everything Crixivan posted above. The angst we all felt a year ago deciding on schools was a big waste of energy. Think about it.
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45408
Mine, actually, but my school has a reputation for being very friendly and outgoing, other than him.
4
45408
This is good advice. On a similar note, don't worry about how other people study. Period. If what you do is working, don't worry if someone else has five times as many flashcards or read through their textbook three times. Some people have very aggressive study methods that seem kind of intimidating at first, but I realized that even though I'm not filling out hundreds of flashcards or re-writing my notes after every lecture, I know how to learn the material my own way, so it doesn't matter what they're doing.1) DO NOT GET BEHIND!!!! (And it will happen by the end of the 1st week, if you aren't watching out for this from Day 1)
2) Be careful about the advice you take from previous students - for example - the 2nd year students in my school all told me they didn't use a single text book except the anatomy atlas, so I didn't buy any of the books. For me, personally, that was a big mistake. That's just an example of my point, though: you may not use your text books, either. Just take with a grain of salt the advice you get from people ahead of you.
3) Most people find out by the first exam that what got them by (study-wise) in undergrad doesn't work in medical school. Find out what you will need to change and change it, as early as you can.
I'm not sure if I can really stick with 3:
1) Getting advice from doctors and medical students as a pre-med on how to study is pretty useless. What medical students at your school can tell you is what teachers at your specific school stress. There were times when my 2nd year mentor would literally open my lecture notes and tell me exactly what was on their test last year. And 98% of the time, it was on our test. Alot of times you need to know everything anyway, but having a little direction is helpful. Tips on how to study aren't helpful because EVERYONE has their own style.
2) Right before school started my wife and I bought like $700 worth of books on the list they gave us. DO NOT DO THIS. At most schools your lectures notes will provide 95% of the info you need. Just buy the books throughout the school year as you need them.
3) Don't worry about making friends with everyone in your class. Cliques will probably form; just make sure you have your core group that can help you out if you miss a lecture.
4) Don't worry about honoring every class; pass your classes and always keep your mind on Step 1...that is what matters.
5) Besides learning your stuff well in college and graduating, there is nothing you can really do to prepare yourself for medical school coursework...its just more voluminous than anything you've experienced. That being said....DO NOT STUDY OR TAKE ANY MEDICAL SCHOOL CLASSES UNTIL YOU HAVE TO. What they put you through is enough.
6) DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO YOUR CLASSMATES. All because they destroyed that last Biochem, they may not have destroyed the Histo test like you did. Be consistent in everything, and realize that you only need to compete against yourself.
7) If you are anal (like me) and you must buy some books before class starts then I recommond:
a) Physiology by Costanzo (its simply great; you an get the BRS version if you want more of a summary)
b) Netter's Atlas
c) BRS everything
1) Getting advice from doctors and medical students as a pre-med on how to study is pretty useless. What medical students at your school can tell you is what teachers at your specific school stress. There were times when my 2nd year mentor would literally open my lecture notes and tell me exactly what was on their test last year. And 98% of the time, it was on our test. Alot of times you need to know everything anyway, but having a little direction is helpful. Tips on how to study aren't helpful because EVERYONE has their own style.
2) Right before school started my wife and I bought like $700 worth of books on the list they gave us. DO NOT DO THIS. At most schools your lectures notes will provide 95% of the info you need. Just buy the books throughout the school year as you need them.
3) Don't worry about making friends with everyone in your class. Cliques will probably form; just make sure you have your core group that can help you out if you miss a lecture.
4) Don't worry about honoring every class; pass your classes and always keep your mind on Step 1...that is what matters.
5) Besides learning your stuff well in college and graduating, there is nothing you can really do to prepare yourself for medical school coursework...its just more voluminous than anything you've experienced. That being said....DO NOT STUDY OR TAKE ANY MEDICAL SCHOOL CLASSES UNTIL YOU HAVE TO. What they put you through is enough.
6) DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO YOUR CLASSMATES. All because they destroyed that last Biochem, they may not have destroyed the Histo test like you did. Be consistent in everything, and realize that you only need to compete against yourself.
7) If you are anal (like me) and you must buy some books before class starts then I recommond:
a) Physiology by Costanzo (its simply great; you an get the BRS version if you want more of a summary)
b) Netter's Atlas
c) BRS everything
Excellent. Don't let other people's study habits influence you. I've never filled out a flashcard in my life and I don't take notes, I just read the book and do the exercises. Do what you feel is best.
...if you're not a people person, don't go into medicine...maybe do a md phd? or just get a phd? That way you won't have to make friends to do your job.
because pre-meds are anal and can't get a joke...
what's BRS everything? lol...
what's BRS everything? lol...
BRS Physio
BRS Pathology
BRS Gross Anatomy
BRS Neuroanatomy
BRS Cell Biology and Histology
BRS Embryology
BRS Behavioral Sciences
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21t%2B9wn1K8L.jpg
BRS Microbiology and Immunology
BRS=Board Review Series. I love them alot more than High Yield.
I'm not a "people person" but I'm doing just fine on the wards, and my favorite rotation so far has been psych, which involves the most patient interaction of pretty much all the specialties. Just because I don't feel the need to make friends with lots of strangers does not render me unable to do my job. There are other people in my class who are much more "friendly" than I am who are a lot less competent than I am when it comes to seeing patients, not because they can't interact with them properly, but because they are so extroverted and unable to handle silence that they just ask random questions as they pop into their heads and don't give the patients, or themselves, time to think. And I have not had a single patient complain that they felt I was unempathetic, distant or inaccessible, including our standardized patients, who give us feedback regularly.
BRS stands for Board Review Series which is a set of books designed to help the medical student prepare for Step 1 USMLE.
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Everyone has their favorite BRS books (so you'll get varying responses); I usually stick with Physio, Anatomy, and Embryo, but I have them all.
It is better to understand the concept first, by reading from textbooks, before embarking on BRS galore!!!
If you are going to have them for the first two years of med school, I'd recommend buying them used from upperclassmen. If you buy them new (they're like $30ish each) you'll spend a lot and then they'll come out with new editions before you take the boards and you'll want the newer ones. I'd also recommend buying one at the beginning and seeing if you like the style before buying others. I don't like books that are in outline format because they are generally more difficult for me to read (they just can't keep my attention), so try to figure out what works for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by arsenewenger
Holy Immaturity!!!
I crack up when lucky teenagers like you think success in med school depends on how well you can suck up to professors and classmates.Knowing everyone/meeting everyone is not part of med school's curriculum...That is not a tenable excuse for your lack of brain cells.
Quote:
Originally Posted by arsenewenger
You might want to get yourself a medical school seat first before posting in the Allopathic section on SDN.
Quote:
Originally Posted by arsenewenger
That is not true.I have gone through first semester without seeking any body's help. Your MD degree is /was designed to be granted to only one person as a result of the person's own labour/hard work. Med school's exams aren't done as a team and outside help of any form is discouraged.Also, the material is not different from what you are used to from undergrad (assuming you did not go to party school ).
Good Lord, man, why are you always so aggressive on SDN?
Arsenewegner: are you f*cking kidding me?? Kill yourself!!
Seriously, you should consider suicide. ... ... That, or go work in a lab somewhere far, far away from patients... Or any other human beings for that matter. Probably away from animals too. ... Hell, just stay away from living things in general.
FYI for the rest of the folks on here: I would never talk like that to a patient. This guy is just way over the top and should honestly never be around other people. Holy Lord.
Seriously. Unbelievable. How on God's Green Earth did a person like that EVER get past the interview process? You may as well let Jeffrey Dahmer into med school!!
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