Could somebody explain the "don't buy textbooks you'll never use them" thing?

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I've heard that we shouldn't buy the required textbooks (yet) because its highly unlikely that we will use them as a med student. Having been in the habit of buying textbooks for a class my entire life, I was wondering if anyone could explain exactly why we probably won't need textbooks.

Do students rely on the powerpoints, lectures, and study aids (and Internet)? Is that really sufficient? If yes, which study aids are recommended?

(I guess I'm used to college lectures that are 90% verbatim from the textbook, and I've always thought of lectures as pointless.)

 

[TangoDown]

I rarely use the textbook in undergrad. My experience has been that lectures are not verbatim from the textbook, and most material on tests have been from lecture. Of course, I'm only in GEs right now.

From what I've read, many medical students find that they only need to rely on power points, syllabuses, (recorded) lecture, and some outside texts for reference. Most people only utilize a text book when they don't understand a concept and need to solidify it.

There's been recommendations for certain classes on here. A lot of people purchase things like Netters for Anatomy as well as other types of atlases and do it that way - never touching the books that are officially assigned. Reason being is that a lot of the med school text books go into unnecessary depth.

 

[Planes2Doc]

We have class notes. I bought textbooks for my first set of classes, and they have been collecting dust ever since.

 

[gravitywave]

Most med students became med students in part because they were the people who always bought every textbook for every class. Nearly everyone gets out of the habit in the first year. There are class notes, annotated PPTs, review books, Internet, etc, etc. In the rare instance you need a text for reference, the books are always on reserve at the library and usually available online as well.

 

[Irish Football]

When I start med school I will buy textbooks until I see that strategy proven otherwise. I'm sure that if what people say is correct, I will stop buying all my textbooks in med school, but I still won't go in with this attitude already in place, just in case.

 

[NickNaylor]

There are some texts that I think you'll want to have as part of your medical library because they're great reference texts, but for the most part textbooks simply aren't concise enough to learn from in med school. When it takes you several hours simply to read the material - not including class and studying - then you will probably figure another method out simply to "survive."

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717

 

[LizzyM]

Do keep in mind that the medical school library may have electronic editions of text books that you can read online. Many of my students use UpToDate® an electronic resource available through the school's institutional subscription.

The AMSA chapters at some schools run a used book sale at the start of the year and 2nd year students at your school may have good advice about which books are most helpful and which can be easily skipped.

 

[dsoz]

Do keep in mind that the medical school library may have electronic editions of text books that you can read online. Many of my students use UpToDate® an electronic resource available through the school's institutional subscription.

The AMSA chapters at some schools run a used book sale at the start of the year and 2nd year students at your school may have good advice about which books are most helpful and which can be easily skipped.

At OHSU, each class puts together a composition at the end of their first year called "The Sage Book of Advice for First Year Medical Students." It is filled with all sorts of good info. For example, how people prepared for exams in each class, how many people bought (or did not buy) each of the required books, how much each person used each book, etc. there is also housing and transportation advice, and other goodies.

I have been able to find a couple of years worth of these documents on the school website. I can see where it will be a good resource for this next year. It is like having an older sibling that has already been through it telling you all the little secrets of how to survive with intact skin.

I plan on getting two Netters. An older edition to take into lab, and a newer (maybe electronic) edition to study at home. Most of the rest of the books can be studied in the library. There may be some that I will want for home, but not many.

dsoz

 

[Ismet]

DO NOT buy any textbooks before you matriculate. Just don't.

Once you matriculate, talk to upperclassmen (several) and see what they suggest. My school publishes a manual for 1st years with details about each class and if a textbook was used or not. We also have an internal craigslist-type email system where upperclassmen sell their books, usually after Step 1 or Step 2. Wait until matriculating to see if your school offers any of this, and you will save a ton of money. If your school gives out syllabi or class notes, often that's enough for the exam. Again, upperclassmen should help you out with that. Also, the library has most textbooks on reserve. I didn't see the need to purchase Rohen's when I could just use it at the library for a couple hours.

Only books I got this year:
Netter's iPad app (paid $60)
Book for our biostat course for $10 from upperclassman
Abbas Immunology for $5 from upperclassman
Neuro atlas for $10 from upperclassman
Clinical micro made ridic simple for $30
Lippincott microcards for $15 from upperclassman

Total for MS1 books: $130

 

[Ismet]

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I plan on getting two Netters. An older edition to take into lab, and a newer (maybe electronic) edition to study at home. Most of the rest of the books can be studied in the library. There may be some that I will want for home, but not many.

dsoz

Don't buy yet, unless you know what your school supplies. Our lab had nasty copies of Netter's and Grant's to use in the lab so we didn't have to get ours dirty. But if you're looking for an electronic edition and have an iPad, the Netter's iPad app is really nice and I liked it better than the book.

 

[Lady Netter]

It depends on your learning style and what your school offers. Sometimes the teacher just doesn't make sense to me, and I need another reference. Sometimes I feel like I need more detail than required before I understand it. So it just depends. I wouldn't buy anything until you are there and have gotten recommendations from 2nd years. And as others have said, you can find electronic versions of many of them.