Attn: MS(zeros)

[typeB-md]

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First off, I'd like to thank you for answering so many questions in such a candid manner.

That said, I can't help but take issue with your answer to this question (and no, it's not because I'm gay). Why does everyone view males as primarily sex-driven. If there was a hot girl or guy on my rotation I would not give 2 $hits! It's all about your career, not about who you ogle or sleep with! Don't any other men think that way?

it was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. grow a pair and suck it up, soldier!

 

[typeB-md]

Damn it, even when the guys tries to help you guys have to b1tch. Can't you guys let some things go so it doesn't become some obvious flame war and take away from what was a useful thread.

My question,
Are the pre-meds as insufferable as they were in college? Do they raise their hands and ask every question under the sun?

Even when it's nearing finals week and they ask something because it's cool?

And what I hate most is, are they still wound up so freaking tight that they make you nervous?

agreed.

to answer you questions:
pre-meds will always be *****ic. in med school, you != pre-med anymore, however. most medical students control their aggressiveness and are usually willing to at least ostensibly promote good fellowship.

i do net get nervous when other people spaz out. let them type-A themselves to a premature death. work hard but also play hard.

 

[typeB-md]

If it's anything like law school, the more vocal classmates tend to go mute after the first set of grades come out and they realize they are no longer above the mean. (I'm not sure if this works in P/F schools, though -- maybe it's a good argument for grades.)

many times, these students actually do perform well on exams. but unlike undergrad, med students see each other everyday. so in order to save themselves from getting mocked the rest of their med-school career, they supress their urges to blurt out every answer and engage in philosophical debates during class.

 

[typeB-md]

What do you need to do to get into the most competitive residencies? Is it all about your performance on Step 1? What else do residency directors look for?

1/2 grades (both clinical and basic science), 1/2 step, 1/2 letters, 4/2 luck.

seriously, it's a roll of the dice. you gotta do the best you can and worry only about that.

there is no formula as to what works. people with jr. aoa, 260 step, and 4.0 might not get into derm while someone else with less impressive scores but great connections does.

some programs really only care about your rotation in their field, others want it all.

remember that averages are averages... there are other factors that you can't always know.

 

[typeB-md]

I can answer this question. Step I is extremely important for residency placement in the "competitive" specialties. HOWEVER, it is not the most important part of the application. When you're at the stage of applying to programs (like I am), you'll find that Step I is very important but so are M-3 grades, AOA status, good LORs, preclinical grades, class rank, interviewing skills ("the likeability factor"), etc.

It's difficult to say what is the MOST important aspect of the application, but doing very well on Step I will set you up for future successes throughout the M-3 year. BOL to you!

i'd also like to add that frank scored a 267 (if i remember correctly)... 😉

 

[deuist]

also remember that if it didn't require any effort, they'd call it a PhD.

I'm guessing that you never went to graduate school. While I appreciate your thread, this comment has no basis in reality. I'll concede that graduate courses are easier than medical classes; but the lab work is ridiculously hard. Instead, a more realistic comment would be, "If they required any original effort, they'd call it a Ph.D."

 

[idq1i]

they supress their urges to blurt out every answer and engage in philosophical debates during class.

Wow, some of my classmates must not have received this memo

 

[almostdoc1]

This is an interesting thread. TypeB, out of curiosity, what school do you attend? I don't ask because I care about the institution, but because you have a unique sense of fun. I hope that the school I am attending will have students with half the sense of humor you have. 👍 I do have one question, and I don't mean to sound obnoxious to anyone else when I ask it. I am not worried at all about starting my first year. And with so many people posting so many questions, I was beginning to think that was a problem.

Oh and note to all the single bar hoppers: the i am going to medical school next year is a great conversation starter. Relax and try it out. 😉

 

[erock]

I'm guessing that you never went to graduate school. While I appreciate your thread, this comment has no basis in reality. I'll concede that graduate courses are easier than medical classes; but the lab work is ridiculously hard. Instead, a more realistic comment would be, "If they required any original effort, they'd call it a Ph.D."

Great response ... very diplomatic. There are common misconceptions among medical students about graduate school. Much of the information taught in med schools was discovered, worked-out, refined, and verified by PhD's spending years of their life in both physical and mental labor. The bulk of medicine's current credibility as a profession comes from PhD's (along with some, albeit fewer, research-oriented MDs and MD-PhDs) and their research. Snake oil and bloodletting simply didn't get the job done.

 

[thehomez66]

I have some more questions if you guys don't mind answering them:

1. Where can I get more general information about the boards?

2. I know that study habits for everyone are different but in general is it recommended that you take a prep course for the boards? And if so which one, Princeton Review or Kaplan or some other?

Thanks

 

[makesomerheum]

Great stuff Type-b.

To answer a previous poster, do NOT triage. I have found that those who hate classes come into it with a preconceived disinterest and finish the class unfulfilled and pessimistic. Enjoy learning or at least fake yourself out to endure the endless memorization or else you will be miserable.
The triage notion also hurts you cause you do not know what information you will need in the future for your "chosen" specialty. For example, if you have decided to be an ophthalmologist and you tune out ID, you might miss the parasites like Onchocerciasis that cause blindness, Loa Loa that can migrate and become visible on fundoscopic examination, or Toxoplasmosis that causes chorioretinitis. This is just an example. I do not mean to say that first year is the only time you get this info, but you understand what I mean.
Finally, your specialty changes every day, month, year, etc. cause you don't know all the options, likes and dislikes, until you experience it in 3rd year.

 

[typeB-md]

This is an interesting thread. TypeB, out of curiosity, what school do you attend? I don't ask because I care about the institution, but because you have a unique sense of fun. I hope that the school I am attending will have students with half the sense of humor you have. 👍 I do have one question, and I don't mean to sound obnoxious to anyone else when I ask it. I am not worried at all about starting my first year. And with so many people posting so many questions, I was beginning to think that was a problem.

Oh and note to all the single bar hoppers: the i am going to medical school next year is a great conversation starter. Relax and try it out. 😉

I would very much like to answer your question, but i have said some quite controversial things on this forum. Because most people who preach tolerance do so ostenstibly, it is a better decision to remain anonymous. It is a very reputable school, and i would bet that some students in my class visit this site. I'm sorry that i cannot help you out more with this question.

and to address your second question, you should not in fact be worried about first year. it is fun, interesting, and most importantly not that much more difficult than high school. you are in class more frequently and the material is more difficult but if you aren't a dope, if you put in a few hours each day, you'll make A's/high pass. the problem is that many medical students are type-Anal... let them get their ulcers and take their anxiolytics while you actually enjoy school and end up doing just as well or better.

and as for your usage of medical school to start conversation, the formal terms is "dropping the M-bomb." Use it wisely.

 

[typeB-md]

I have some more questions if you guys don't mind answering them:

1. Where can I get more general information about the boards?

2. I know that study habits for everyone are different but in general is it recommended that you take a prep course for the boards? And if so which one, Princeton Review or Kaplan or some other?

Thanks

you have not even matriculated yet. focus on doing the best that you can in medical school right now. your school will no doubt provide sufficient board information when the proper time comes.

but in case you are bored, here is the organization that runs the usmle.
http://www.nbme.org/

 

[thackl]

if you put in a few hours each day, you'll make A's/high pass. the problem is that many medical students are type-Anal... let them get their ulcers and take their anxiolytics while you actually enjoy school and end up doing just as well or better.

Funny....... because it's true!

 

[almostdoc1]

I would very much like to answer your question, but i have said some quite controversial things on this forum. Because most people who preach tolerance do so ostenstibly, it is a better decision to remain anonymous. It is a very reputable school, and i would bet that some students in my class visit this site. I'm sorry that i cannot help you out more with this question.

and to address your second question, you should not in fact be worried about first year. it is fun, interesting, and most importantly not that much more difficult than high school. you are in class more frequently and the material is more difficult but if you aren't a dope, if you put in a few hours each day, you'll make A's/high pass. the problem is that many medical students are type-Anal... let them get their ulcers and take their anxiolytics while you actually enjoy school and end up doing just as well or better.

and as for your usage of medical school to start conversation, the formal terms is "dropping the M-bomb." Use it wisely.

Well it is fun top drop the M-bomb every now and then. Not too often though. I don't like to have to explain my "motivation" for being a doctor to strangers. I didn't even liek doing it on my PS!!

 

[WakeMeUp]

You're an idiot. I hope anyone who reads your answers checks out your replies to other posts and recognizes you as one

In an effort to salvage broken feelings, i have decided to make myself available as medical school consultant. Please do not hesitate to ask me anything you may have questions about. I will open the thread to any types of questions as long as they are w/in the SDN user's terms. I will give you the real deal answer and none of the fluffy-bunny answers that so many students churn out these days.

Let's keep this one open, please.

 

[_J_]

You're an idiot. I hope anyone who reads your answers checks out your replies to other posts and recognizes you as one

where did that come from 🙄 👎

 

[typeB-md]

You're an idiot. I hope anyone who reads your answers checks out your replies to other posts and recognizes you as one

Judging by fact that this post is your only post and your join date just happens to be in June, i think it's very manly of you to create a separate account to flame me.

enjoy your banning.

 

[fun8stuff]

You're an idiot. I hope anyone who reads your answers checks out your replies to other posts and recognizes you as one

😴

 

[deuist]

You're an idiot.

How so?

 

[Sparky Man]

Great response ... very diplomatic. There are common misconceptions among medical students about graduate school. Much of the information taught in med schools was discovered, worked-out, refined, and verified by PhD's spending years of their life in both physical and mental labor. The bulk of medicine's current credibility as a profession comes from PhD's (along with some, albeit fewer, research-oriented MDs and MD-PhDs) and their research. Snake oil and bloodletting simply didn't get the job done.

Here's a nondipolomatic response.

Maybe typeb is a little insecure when it comes to research.

 

[Nittany Lion]

This is an interesting thread. TypeB, out of curiosity, what school do you attend? I don't ask because I care about the institution, but because you have a unique sense of fun. I hope that the school I am attending will have students with half the sense of humor you have. 👍 I do have one question, and I don't mean to sound obnoxious to anyone else when I ask it. I am not worried at all about starting my first year. And with so many people posting so many questions, I was beginning to think that was a problem.

Oh and note to all the single bar hoppers: the i am going to medical school next year is a great conversation starter. Relax and try it out. 😉

Maybe it's something about the Jefferson kids, who knows 😉 I'll be at Jeff this fall too and I'm not really worried much about the classes/workload either. If anything, I'm a little worried about the logistics of moving to a new city and finding my way around, etc., but that's it. I figure, if the work wasn't doable, then so many people wouldn't do it. I'd rather just get there and figure out myself what kind of routine/behaviors/habits work best for me. Anyone else with me? This is a great thread, though... I'm enjoying reading it and thanks to TypeB for keeping the responses coming.

 

[almostdoc1]

Maybe it's something about the Jefferson kids, who knows 😉 I'll be at Jeff this fall too and I'm not really worried much about the classes/workload either. If anything, I'm a little worried about the logistics of moving to a new city and finding my way around, etc., but that's it. I figure, if the work wasn't doable, then so many people wouldn't do it. I'd rather just get there and figure out myself what kind of routine/behaviors/habits work best for me. Anyone else with me? This is a great thread, though... I'm enjoying reading it and thanks to TypeB for keeping the responses coming.

I am worried about going to a new city too. I am from NJ, so living in Philly will be confusing at first. Are you living on campus?

 

[Nittany Lion]

I am worried about going to a new city too. I am from NJ, so living in Philly will be confusing at first. Are you living on campus?

I just got the call today... I am in fact going to be living on campus (Barringer). 🙂

Speaking of NJ, I just went to Six Flags 2 weekends ago ... SO much fun!!!

 

[ball372]

... I had many free hours a day (many times as the result of skipping class), but i am also very gifted with a fantastic memory.....QUOTE]



this is to everyone asking this self-pronounced "medical consultant" who is so "gifted" all of their questions - please realize that not everyone is so arrogant in med school, and if they are, they are definately not the ones you would go to for advice.

Good luck to you all.

 

[yellowcat322]

If you attend school that has the P/F system, as opposed to one with grades, does that mean that your other factors, such as board scores, become bigger factors in getting a residency?

 

[Flopotomist]

Hey Type-B, can I crash on your couch? (lol)

 

[nutmegs]

... I had many free hours a day (many times as the result of skipping class), but i am also very gifted with a fantastic memory.....QUOTE]



this is to everyone asking this self-pronounced "medical consultant" who is so "gifted" all of their questions - please realize that not everyone is so arrogant in med school, and if they are, they are definately not the ones you would go to for advice.

Good luck to you all.

funny, this is one of the best threads I've seen on SDN in a while. the little quote you incorrectly cited (while smacking of arrogance) is actually a truer statement than you may realize for about 10% of med students, and to be quite honest there aren't really any better ways of putting that. I have a good memory as well and as a result skipped class and had a lot of free time-reading the notes once was good enough for me.

after 2 years of med school I can say his responses are surprisingly dead-on. sounds like you have some bitterness carrying on from other threads, grow the hell up.

 

[deuist]

If you attend school that has the P/F system, as opposed to one with grades, does that mean that your other factors, such as board scores, become bigger factors in getting a residency?

Your rank in class and membership into AOA are very important.

 

[sleepymed]

hey,

i figured i would put in my 2 cents worth. i just finished my first year of med school, and the experience is painfully fresh in my mind!! so i guess i can probably offer a reasonable view on some of the things...

first off, md proffs are MUCh better than phDs, phds tend to be completely obsessed with their research and they get into the nitpicky stuff that for the life of you, you can't figure out why you're memorizing.

there was one question about physical exams, whether you learn how to do them during the first year?? we actually don't at my school.. we have a course called mps (medicine patient and society) during the first year we learn basic interviewing skills and stuff along those lines, we don't do the physical exams till next year. we do them on both mannequins and sps.

about the competition. at my school we have a pass/fail/honor system. the only people who are actually competitive are the 25% that are fighting for honors, the rest don't care. it's actually sort of a relief to get an 80 on an exam, because you can halfway slack off the rest of the semester and start learning the stuff for yourself and not trying to major in esp. my school also has instituted pbls, the first month of med school everyone was crazily competitive there, but after a while people chilled and realized that you need to work as a team... it sounds really lame i know, but it's kinda what happened.

"and most importantly not that much more difficult than high school. you are in class more frequently and the material is more difficult but if you aren't a dope, if you put in a few hours each day, you'll make A's/high pass."

that was an interesting comment. you think anatomy was not that much more difficult than high school. i did the ib in high school where i took four higher levels instead of three, so i definitly wasn't slacking off during the experience, but would you really say anatomy is not much more difficult than high school?? i did not have to deal with cutting up dead people in high school. we have long working hours at my school, and you spend a lot of time after class just doing the required work (not the studying mind you) finshing off dissections, writing up pbl handouts, writing lab reports... it is fun yes, but it's also a lot of work. and i'm not one of those crazily anal med students who freak out about the tiniest things

so i basically just finished my first year, and i had some major personal issues to deal with, so while i passed everything, i didn't do as well as i would have liked... in the big scheme of things, how important is the first year... im thinking of going into peds, but its still to early to decide 🙂

 

[typeB-md]

funny, this is one of the best threads I've seen on SDN in a while. the little quote you incorrectly cited (while smacking of arrogance) is actually a truer statement than you may realize for about 10% of med students, and to be quite honest there aren't really any better ways of putting that. I have a good memory as well and as a result skipped class and had a lot of free time-reading the notes once was good enough for me.

after 2 years of med school I can say his responses are surprisingly dead-on. sounds like you have some bitterness carrying on from other threads, grow the hell up.

i agree.

i'm sorry people are offended by truths, but i'm really not one to beat around the bush. if you don't like what i say, disregard it. i'm not gonna be your mother, though, and tell you what you want to hear so that i'm not hurting your feelings. in the end, honesty will make you better... not watered-down half-truths. not everyone is equally smart. not everyone is equally pretty. etc.

is it fair that i can do better than most of my class with significantly less time put in? probably not. but don't go whining about it. many people don't have a lot of free time. so instead of making blanket statements, i qualified my actions so that others would have a better reference-frame.

but as the post above points out, i'm just trying to tell the truth since not many people have a spine anymore.

 

[typeB-md]

"and most importantly not that much more difficult than high school. you are in class more frequently and the material is more difficult but if you aren't a dope, if you put in a few hours each day, you'll make A's/high pass."

that was an interesting comment. you think anatomy was not that much more difficult than high school. i did the ib in high school where i took four higher levels instead of three, so i definitly wasn't slacking off during the experience, but would you really say anatomy is not much more difficult than high school?? i did not have to deal with cutting up dead people in high school. we have long working hours at my school, and you spend a lot of time after class just doing the required work (not the studying mind you) finshing off dissections, writing up pbl handouts, writing lab reports... it is fun yes, but it's also a lot of work. and i'm not one of those crazily anal med students who freak out about the tiniest things

so i basically just finished my first year, and i had some major personal issues to deal with, so while i passed everything, i didn't do as well as i would have liked... in the big scheme of things, how important is the first year... im thinking of going into peds, but its still to early to decide 🙂

i would like to point out that medical schools are very different. i have never done any type of written report like you mentioned. several tests and that was it. i cannot imagine what the purpose, or even what the subject matter would be, of a written lab report in medical school.

but i still hold strong on my belief that it is not much harder than high school. at least in high school i was able to use integrative thought. maybe the calculus, physics, government, english classes i took were more difficult than the average. but maybe that explains our class averages of ~ 4.5 on the AP exams. each person holds his/her own opinion. in my eyes, medical school represents a challenge not disproportionately greater than my high school.

 

[sleepymed]

you never had to write up lab reports for microbiology labs?? they're easy, take about an hour of just brute work, but they're time taken away from studying...

you're right about med schools being different though, it explains a lot... our "tests" or quizes as they like to euphimistically call them here were only worth 35%... the rest of the grade came from stuff that required participation... we have journal club where you have to read articles and discuss them.. a huge chunk of the grade comes from pbls... we had a disease presentation (a research paper with a presentation)... we have small group conferences which consist of problems that we're required to answer and discuss as a group... etc... i'm sure i've already bored you with the details...

while you can get away with just studying for exams at some schools you really can't at mine. the curriculum and approach to the teaching is different i guess.. and while i think that med school is more work than high school, i will concede that it is much less stressful than both high school and pre-med... the stress of "am i going to get in, what's going to happen with the rest of my life" is gone...

what year are you in type b?

 

[nutmegs]

we never had to write a single thing other than H&Ps :thup:

 

[sleepymed]

🙁 and here i thought everyone's program was as tedious...

how often did you have exams and quizes... we had at least one a week...

 

[nutmegs]

first year we had 3 sets of exams/semester, this year just midterms and finals (and shelf exams both years). only some classes had quizzes, I think embryo had 5 or 6 total, histo had a 5 question quiz in each lab, same w/neuro, and pharm had 8 or 10 quizzes all year.