MDmiracle said:
Are the notes and syllabus that good that you can know where the class is and what you need to be studying without going to class? I know it's kinda a newb question but I have never had a class where the teachers notes and syllabus were that good.
Most of the notes are very good (for 1st year classes). Here's my opinion, which may or may not be shared by my classmates:
Anatomy/Embryo./Histo: Very good notes. So good that you could skip class if you wanted to. On the other hand, just attend class and save half the time learning the material.
Biochem: also very good notes. I never went to this class and did well. There are required workshops, but only for 2 hours a week. But, the workshops do present material that will be on exams, so it's not a total waste.
Physiology: I never went and did well. The notes are good, but sometimes are a little vague depending on the lecturer. It also gets annoying when a certain faculty types a 10 page introduction for 8 pages of notes. But it's not a big deal.
Neuro: Same as anatomy. I quit going the 2nd half of the quarter this class is taught, and did much better when I quit going. It all depends on if the notes click for you.
ICM: A how-to-be-a-doctor kind of class. The notes are horrible, but the class is actually okay sometimes. It's 3 hours on Thursday mornings. I found myself skipping out to play ping-pong as the year went on.
Behavioral Science is a joke. But, if attendance falls off the instructor gets mad.
Immunology: The worst class of the year. Horrible notes, poor instructors, and boring-as-Hades material. Going to class is probably helpful, if it doesn't make you poke a sharp stick in your eye.
All in all, having the notes in your box every week is a huge advantage. No noting-taking services. No taking notes yourself.
