Computers in med school

[ssquared]

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Hi-

I have a while until I'm going be enter med school (probably fall 2008 if everything goes according to plan 😛 ) but I am going to need a new computer soon and I was wondering how much med students use their computers. Do most people take notes on laptops or in notebooks? Will I look like a total tool if I take my laptop to class? (I feel like I do as an undergrad, but I type way faster than I can write) Or, perhaps more importantly, do professors hate med students who take notes on laptops?

Also, do you have a lot of programs to use for studying, like those CDs that come with the entire brain sectioned and those things? I am trying to figure out how much memory and the like I would need.

Thanks!

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi-

I have a while until I'm going be enter med school (probably fall 2008 if everything goes according to plan 😛 ) but I am going to need a new computer soon and I was wondering how much med students use their computers. Do most people take notes on laptops or in notebooks? Will I look like a total tool if I take my laptop to class? (I feel like I do as an undergrad, but I type way faster than I can write) Or, perhaps more importantly, do professors hate med students who take notes on laptops?

Also, do you have a lot of programs to use for studying, like those CDs that come with the entire brain sectioned and those things? I am trying to figure out how much memory and the like I would need.

Thanks!

Wait. Some schools are going to require you to buy the computer through them with their own software installed. Others have very specific requirements so that you can run with their systems.
As for how much you will use a computer, it depends on how high tech the school is. At some places, most students take notes on the machines, download all the readings/noteset via computer, and even do labs and exams via computer. A laptop, often of a prescribed kind, is going to be essential at such places. Other places, not so much. So wait.

 

[psipsina]

Seriously, my school requires that you buy your laptop from them loaded with a bunch of software (like the program that lets you use your computer as a microscope). We also take our tests on our laptops. Though I woldn't have chosen the laptop the made me buy, at least when it dies because its crappy they will give me a replacement while they fix mine for free. We do everything except the gross lab on the laptop. We take notes on it, view powerpoints for lectures, do our histology and pathology labs on it. Its pretty much with me unless I'm sleeping or showering. I would suggest you wait if at all possible. If not buy somethin cheap to get you by until then. Or something you wont mind having in addition to the one they may force you to buy.

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Seriously, my school requires that you buy your laptop from them loaded with a bunch of software (like the program that lets you use your computer as a microscope). We also take our tests on our laptops. Though I woldn't have chosen the laptop the made me buy, at least when it dies because its crappy they will give me a replacement while they fix mine for free. We do everything except the gross lab on the laptop. We take notes on it, view powerpoints for lectures, do our histology and pathology labs on it. Its pretty much with me unless I'm sleeping or showering. I would suggest you wait if at all possible. If not buy somethin cheap to get you by until then. Or something you wont mind having in addition to the one they may force you to buy.

Wow, I had no idea some schools forced you to buy their computers. I can understand schools giving you computers, but making you buy them? Although I suppose it's not much different if they give it to you; they just make up for it in tuition or student fees. Still, that sucks!

 

[dilated]

I wish I wouldn't have bought a new laptop. My school is wired out the ass with med student study rooms w/ computers, a med student cpu lab, etc. Total waste of money.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Wow, I had no idea some schools forced you to buy their computers. I can understand schools giving you computers, but making you buy them? Although I suppose it's not much different if they give it to you; they just make up for it in tuition or student fees. Still, that sucks!

Kansas is doing it too, and it is a listed charge (tablets nonetheless). It reminds me of those colleges that make you live in their dorms when you are freshmen. Ridiculous.

 

[med_heidelberg]

You dont really need one if your school is well equipped. If you are strapped for cash, then just use the ones at school, its not worth the extra expense. I dont really need my Powerbook but I got it in grad school, and now I dont take advantage of all the cool things it can do at all .. I just use it to surf the internet and write up papers.

 

[Law2Doc]

You dont really need one if your school is well equipped. If you are strapped for cash, then just use the ones at school, its not worth the extra expense. I dont really need my Powerbook but I got it in grad school, and now I dont take advantage of all the cool things it can do at all .. I just use it to surf the internet and write up papers.

This is certainly school specific and untrue at many places. At some schools if you don't have the specified laptop you won't be able to take the exam.

 

[med_heidelberg]

Well then I stand corrected, my post assumes you arent required to buy a certain computer. I personally think that is totally unnecessary. The medical schools might be in a deal with the computer company to hawk their laptops. Plenty of people made it through medical school worldwide and still do without the need of a specific type of computer to take an exam - give me a break.

 

[Law2Doc]

Plenty of people made it through medical school worldwide and still do without the need of a specific type of computer to take an exam - give me a break.

Technology will always improve and med schools will try to keep pace with what is in vogue. A few years back PDAs were not used either and now at some schools from 3d year on they are a staple. Besides, Step 1 is given on computer (as is the MCAT now), so that is clearly the trend in medical testing -- doesn't hurt to get comfortable with an online format. Just because old school worked doesn't mean it's better.

 

[med_heidelberg]

Technology will always improve and med schools will try to keep pace with what is in vogue. A few years back PDAs were not used either and now at some schools from 3d year on they are a staple. Besides, Step 1 is given on computer (as is the MCAT now), so that is clearly the trend in medical testing -- doesn't hurt to get comfortable with an online format. Just because old school worked doesn't mean it's better.

Im not saying old school is better. Im saying that required a specific brand of computer is over the top. Dont most med students have enough troubles with finances already? The problem could be solved by requiring a software packet for a fraction of the cost and letting people shop for their own computer.

 

[Law2Doc]

Im not saying old school is better. Im saying that required a specific brand of computer is over the top. Dont most med students have enough troubles with finances already? The problem could be solved by requiring a software packet for a fraction of the cost and letting people shop for their own computer.

Usually it's a pretty good price for a laptop as the school is buying them in bulk. And most students use student loan money toward this -- it is part of the cost of med school -- so it doesn't really create current troubles with finances.

 

[psipsina]

Im not saying old school is better. Im saying that required a specific brand of computer is over the top. Dont most med students have enough troubles with finances already? The problem could be solved by requiring a software packet for a fraction of the cost and letting people shop for their own computer.

Yeah at first I thought ours was really outrageously expensive, but with the four year warranty (including accidental) and all the software on it it was really quite reasonable. It came directly out of my loans and was budgeted into the first year books and supplies budget. Actually when we first came to school we didn't have our loans yet because of some Katrina related SNAFUs and they gave us the laptops anyway. Our tests are set up to look as close to the USMLE as possible to get us comfortable with the format over the next two years. I had never taken a computer exam before and was terrified of the first one, so I'm quite happy that my first one wasn't on the USMLE. The reason we all have to have the same computer is for the repair/replacement service. If your computer is unable to work (like on the morning of the exam 😱 ) the computer service people hand you a loaner that you keep until they fix yours or get a new one under the warranty. So you are never without a laptop. Every year they just order a few extra among the 200 and get them really cheap, so they have extras to hand out.

 

[Dr. Josh]

I also plan on attending med school in the fall of 2008 and I desperately need a new computer. Can someone tell me which schools make you buy their computer? Does stony Brook require you to buy their computer? other SUNY med schools?

 

[Wizard of Oz]

I also plan on attending med school in the fall of 2008 and I desperately need a new computer. Can someone tell me which schools make you buy their computer? Does stony Brook require you to buy their computer? other SUNY med schools?

You're jumping the gun. Buy one now, and you'll need another new one two years from now.

 

[Dr. Josh]

You're jumping the gun. Buy one now, and you'll need another new one two years from now.

Actually i'm going to make due with what i have until graduation because my parents are giving me one for graduation in june. So it will only be a year old by the time i hopefully get into med school. It's not like I have a lot of money and I am using the same computer now that I started with in college. i can't afford to keep buying new ones. My parents bought me this one too as a high school graduation gift.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Actually i'm going to make due with what i have until graduation because my parents are giving me one for graduation in june. So it will only be a year old by the time i hopefully get into med school. It's not like I have a lot of money and I am using the same computer now that I started with in college. i can't afford to keep buying new ones. My parents bought me this one too as a high school graduation gift.

Ah, but you can afford to buy a new computer because your school will budget you money in financial aid for a computer if they require that you purchase one. You might have to borrow that money, but it's available. 🙂

The solution to your dilemma seems simple to me -- just ask your parents to hold off in buying you that new computer for one year. Since you're graduating, you shouldn't have any specific need for a new computer until you start school again.

 

[MossPoh]

Wow, I had no idea some schools forced you to buy their computers. I can understand schools giving you computers, but making you buy them? Although I suppose it's not much different if they give it to you; they just make up for it in tuition or student fees. Still, that sucks!

Heh. I'm in an information technology project management course and we talked about how those programs are notoriously complete failures. Schools just never actually ask the students and then they are stranded with something they don't want, usually lower quality....and unless it is 500+ computers there is no real discount offered. I'm yet to understand why places do that...they could just as easily put out the basic requirements and require you to buy a software package. At least then you get what you want. Unfortuently I am in a weird point where I will have to buy a new computer since this one is really crapping out but I would have it two years or so and possibly go to a medschool that requires me to buy a new one.....oh well. Medschools obviously don't do project management plans, and whatnot.😛

 

[psipsina]

Ah, but you can afford to buy a new computer because your school will budget you money in financial aid for a computer if they require that you purchase one. You might have to borrow that money, but it's available. 🙂

The solution to your dilemma seems simple to me -- just ask your parents to hold off in buying you that new computer for one year. Since you're graduating, you shouldn't have any specific need for a new computer until you start school again.

Seriously. Y'all premeds need to realize that the money issue changes entirely in medschool. Your living expenses, books (which you don't really need to buy all of, so thats more living expenses), computer, PDA, fees, health insurance and tuition are all in a budget that determines how much money you can borrow. Sure borrowing sux, but unless you are from a wealthy family who wants to foot the bill (in which case you probably wouldn't be worried about buying another laptop) you are going to borrow ALOT of money. I'm at a state school with a scholarship and will still end up owing tha man 140k when I'm done. When you're looking at numbers like that, an extra 2k for a laptop your school demands is really nothing to fret about.

 

[psipsina]

Heh. I'm in an information technology project management course and we talked about how those programs are notoriously complete failures. Schools just never actually ask the students and then they are stranded with something they don't want, usually lower quality....and unless it is 500+ computers there is no real discount offered. I'm yet to understand why places do that...they could just as easily put out the basic requirements and require you to buy a software package. At least then you get what you want. Unfortuently I am in a weird point where I will have to buy a new computer since this one is really crapping out but I would have it two years or so and possibly go to a medschool that requires me to buy a new one.....oh well. Medschools obviously don't do project management plans, and whatnot.😛

Yah, I was sooo pissed when I realized I was not only going to be forced to use a PC for the next four years, I was going to be forced to use a GATEWAY ! This was the only negative about the school I chose tho, so I accepted my doom. At least they give me a loaner and fix it whenever it dies so I'm not stuck trying to personally deal with Gateway's customer service which is atrocious. I spoke with them about it during orientation, and asked why they wouldn't get us the new macs which run any pc software, since they are such a more stable system, and they admitted they just didn't know anything about macs, lol. Way to ignore an entire half of the computer industry as a possible choice. I don't think they saved much money buying our laptops, but their main concern seems to be having the loaners for us and having the tech guys only having to be knowledgeable about a single system, since we take all our exams on these babies its quite important that we can always access a functioning computer at any time.

 

[ssquared]

Thanks for the responses! I'll just wait it out until I figure out where I'm going. My laptop works well now, but it will need to be replaced by fall 2008, so I'll end up buying something new regardless.

See, this is the kind of info med schools need to tell you when you're an undergrad...I feel like I'm trying pretty hard to figure stuff out about medical school, but so many details are just lost in the shuffle.

 

[MossPoh]

Yah, I was sooo pissed when I realized I was not only going to be forced to use a PC for the next four years, I was going to be forced to use a GATEWAY ! This was the only negative about the school I chose tho, so I accepted my doom. At least they give me a loaner and fix it whenever it dies so I'm not stuck trying to personally deal with Gateway's customer service which is atrocious. I spoke with them about it during orientation, and asked why they wouldn't get us the new macs which run any pc software, since they are such a more stable system, and they admitted they just didn't know anything about macs, lol. Way to ignore an entire half of the computer industry as a possible choice. I don't think they saved much money buying our laptops, but their main concern seems to be having the loaners for us and having the tech guys only having to be knowledgeable about a single system, since we take all our exams on these babies its quite important that we can always access a functioning computer at any time.

Yea that is the same thing IBM tried to pitch with their thinkpad university a few years ago. Only thing is that with a nice warranty you can get stuff pretty fast either way...My laptop went down and I had it fixed within 2 days I think....SO they could easily just have a few computers in reserve if a catastrophe happens...a couple crappy little 4 or 500 dollar laptops...but naw...they want to make you pay. 😉