advice for an incoming ms1

[adenine]

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I've been recently accepted into med school, yay! Are there any purchases, investments or resources that might be helpful in ms1 or 2 or for studying for tests and boards?

Any other general advice also appreciated!

Thank you in advance! 🙂

 

[CuttingCorneas]

No. Enjoy your freedom while you still can.

 

[LizzyM]

I've been recently accepted into med school, yay! Are there any purchases, investments or resources that might be helpful in ms1 or 2 or for studying for tests and boards?

Any other general advice also appreciated!

Thank you in advance! 🙂

Equipment necessary for the home preparation of your caffeine delivery system of choice.

 

[sector9]

1. Don't buy anything at all until
a. You are 100% sure about which school you are attending
b. Your school gives you a list of stuff they think you need
b. You've talked to a couple of current students to find out what you really need (in all likelihood, you'll find that you don't need most of the stuff your school tells you to get)

2. Don't start studying until after the first day of class. Until then, enjoy your life.

Congrats on your acceptance(s)!!

 

[Ismet]

Enjoy your freedom. Don't buy things yet. Yep that's it. Congrats!

Equipment necessary for the home preparation of your caffeine delivery system of choice.

+1. Starbucks adds up, yo.

 

[Trinityaas12]

2. Don't start studying until after the first day of class. Until then, enjoy your life.

I just opened my Anatomy Atlas to read from today. I'm doing a gap year and it just felt weird not studying something. I guess I should find a real book to read.

 

[Ismet]

I just opened my Anatomy Atlas to read from today.

no.

 

[CuttingCorneas]

I just opened my Anatomy Atlas to read from today. I'm doing a gap year and it just felt weird not studying something.

 

[235009]

Equipment necessary for the home preparation of your caffeine delivery system of choice.

yes! this is my winning combo:

http://www.officemax.com/office-sup...room Supplies&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=23160847

and

http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/ref=pd_sbs_k_1

and

http://www.amazon.com/Contigo-AUTOS...r=1-1-catcorr&keywords=vacuum+seal+coffee+mug

 

[Cinclus]

Just make sure you have Microsoft OneNote, a good desk, and a comfy chair. Then enjoy being free. 🙂

 

[Trinityaas12]

yeah.....I know smh.

 

[deleted127837]

Just make sure you have Microsoft OneNote, a good desk, and a comfy chair. Then enjoy being free. 🙂

Is OneNote used by schools, or do you just like using it as a notekeeper?

 

[Cinclus]

Is OneNote used by schools, or do you just like using it as a notekeeper?

I like using it, as well as many (possibly even the majority) of my classmates. It's really nice for organizing everything and for when you will inevitably want to look something up, but you can't remember for the life of you what lecture it was in. That's when "search all notebooks" saves the day.

 

[CuttingCorneas]

Is OneNote used by schools, or do you just like using it as a notekeeper?

It's a good notekeeper, but not essential. Its greatest benefit is letting you group PDFs together for storage/greater Ctrl+F convenience.

 

[adenine]

OK thanks everyone! Caffeine delivery systems will be next on my list. 🙂
Until school starts, guess I'm on 'vacation!'

 

[darkjedi]

Travel, just do it, you won't have time to travel for leisure for likely another decade. This is about the last time you can explore the world.

 

[typicalindian]

yes! this is my winning combo:

http://www.officemax.com/office-sup...room Supplies&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=23160847

Is that coffemaker worth the price? It looks so fancy 😱

 

[NickNaylor]

Is that coffemaker worth the price? It looks so fancy 😱

It brews single cups of coffee in like... 1 minute. It's pretty cool. But I personally prefer the basic 'ol 12 cup pot since I'll drink a whole one over the course of a morning. The price of the little coffee ground cups is also more expensive than ground/whole bean coffee. Even if you use the do-it-yourself cup makers, that's still an additional price on top of the plain coffee.

 

[darkjedi]

But I personally prefer the basic 'ol 12 cup pot since I'll drink a whole one over the course of a morning.

Holy moly

 

[NickNaylor]

Holy moly

My caffeine tolerance is pretty extreme at this point. I literally drink coffee/tea throughout the day just to have the staying power necessary to pay attention. I told myself I wouldn't let this happen...

...and then it did.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

My caffeine tolerance is pretty extreme at this point. I literally drink coffee/tea throughout the day just to have the staying power necessary to pay attention. I told myself I wouldn't let this happen...

...and then it did.

Haha yea, I basically need caffeine to function these days. I don't know how some of my classmates do it without any caffeine at all! My dentist is probably not going to be happy...

Going along with everyone else, DO NOT waste your time pre-studying! You're really not giving yourself any meaningful advantage. Not only are the benefits of pre-studying going to be marginal at best, you increase your risk of burning out when school does start. Burning out is a real and serious problem and you really don't want to go through that! I really cannot emphasize that enough. Enjoy the time before med school -- hang out with friends, travel, brew some beer, whatever. Do the things you've always wanted to do because you have less time for that once school starts.

Also, even if your school gives you a book/equipment list, don't waste any money buying what they recommend. You probably won't use a lot of that material. Wait till school starts and get recommendations from upperclassmen. They'll know what you need to do to be successful in each class. Plus, most schools seem to have used book sales where you can get stuff for pretty cheap!

 

[Slowpoke]

I think if you are one of those people who will say "I am not going to listen to these guys, I am going to study anyway". I would find a way to start exposing myself to anatomy in a fun and non-stressful manner.

 

[zipnogg]

I just opened my Anatomy Atlas to read from today. I'm doing a gap year and it just felt weird not studying something. I guess I should find a real book to read.

lmfao

 

[CuttingCorneas]

I think if you are one of those people who will say "I am not going to listen to these guys, I am going to study anyway". I would find a way to start exposing myself to anatomy in a fun and non-stressful manner.

Two words: Mardi Gras.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I'm doing research in my off summer!

 

[Slowpoke]

Two words: Mardi Gras.

That's one way to do it.

 

[darkjedi]

I'm doing research in my off summer!

you'll have plenty of time to do research in medical school, unless you're going to publish in the field you're interested in for residency, it's better for your mental health to just take a break!

 

[Doctor Strange]

I think if you are one of those people who will say "I am not going to listen to these guys, I am going to study anyway". I would find a way to start exposing myself to anatomy in a fun and non-stressful manner.

 

[235009]

Is that coffemaker worth the price? It looks so fancy 😱

yes it definitely is. as mentioned above it is quick and convenient. also it's superior to the smaller and cheaper keurig machines which give you only one choice of cup size and take way too much time to brew a cup of coffee and the home versions of the fancier machines which online reviews suggest break down fairly routinely. these office supply stores tend to have frequent sales/coupons so you can probably pick one of these up for closer to $100.

 

[sliceofbread136]

you'll have plenty of time to do research in medical school, unless you're going to publish in the field you're interested in for residency, it's better for your mental health to just take a break!

Well if I dont do anything then I probably have to spend the summer at my parents house. If I do research I can spend my summer in Dallas or the Texas medical center or w/e, which sounds sooooooo much better than staying at home.

 

[Mountaineer12]

+1 for a Misfits meme.

 

[NickNaylor]

I'm doing research in my off summer!

Trollers trunna troll.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Trollers trunna troll.

Im not trolling for once, I actually am going to do research this summer.

If I decide I'm to utsw I'm going to work in the medical physics/engineering department with image guided irradiation therapy. I've already scheduled a tour of the lab.

 

[NickNaylor]

Im not trolling for once, I actually am.

But... why?!?! Chill out that summer, man!

 

[sliceofbread136]

But... why?!?! Chill out that summer, man!

Mainly this:

Well if I dont do anything then I probably have to spend the summer at my parents house. If I do research I can spend my summer in Dallas or the Texas medical center or w/e, which sounds sooooooo much better than staying at home.

Also, I've stopped going to my classes or really doing any work this year (just study night before for tests). I basically have this year off lol.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

My caffeine tolerance is pretty extreme at this point. I literally drink coffee/tea throughout the day just to have the staying power necessary to pay attention. I told myself I wouldn't let this happen...

...and then it did.

Seriously, I just end up falling asleep during the day if I'm not drinking coffee. It's probably because we're not doing anything more exciting than sitting in front of a book most of the time these days...

 

[typicalindian]

yes it definitely is. as mentioned above it is quick and convenient. also it's superior to the smaller and cheaper keurig machines which give you only one choice of cup size and take way too much time to brew a cup of coffee and the home versions of the fancier machines which online reviews suggest break down fairly routinely. these office supply stores tend to have frequent sales/coupons so you can probably pick one of these up for closer to $100.

Perhaps if there is a good sale on one on black Friday I'll look into it.

 

[darkjedi]

Mainly this:



Also, I've stopped going to my classes or really doing any work this year (just study night before for tests). I basically have this year off lol.

save up some money and do some traveling!

you can do some pretty low budget traveling if you put your mind to it. I was able to take a month long bike trip for what would've been the cost of rent/food anyway (minus airfare for me)

 

[sliceofbread136]

save up some money and do some traveling!

you can do some pretty low budget traveling if you put your mind to it. I was able to take a month long bike trip for what would've been the cost of rent/food anyway (minus airfare for me)

I actually am gonna try to TA a transport course in cambridge (I took the course last summer). They pay for my travel and homestay and I get paid 11.25 an hour for my work. I would then travel Europe on the weekends. However this only goes till mid june. I want to do research the rest of the time.

 

[CuttingCorneas]

I actually am gonna try to TA a transport course in cambridge (I took the course last summer). They pay for my travel and homestay and I get paid 11.25 an hour for my work. I would then travel Europe on the weekends. However this only goes till mid june. I want to do research the rest of the time.

For a second I thought you meant Cambridge, Mass

 

[angemon89]

Seriously, I just end up falling asleep during the day if I'm not drinking coffee. It's probably because we're not doing anything more exciting than sitting in front of a book most of the time these days...

I read this and noticed I have 3 different coffee containers on my desk (from today).... and it's a SUNDAY.

 

[sliceofbread136]

For a second I thought you meant Cambridge, Mass

Nah, england. Although I will be going to Cambridge, Mass soon to meet with my sponsors for my senior design project 😎