Current med students, what are some must-have items for med school?

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Ahhh as an alternative voice to some of the suggestions above (albeit I totally agree with a sense of humor being needed!), I would disagree about potentially buying: a whiteboard/markers and computer/tablet with touchscreen capabilities just yet. I did buy these before medical school; turned out I didn't really need nor use any of them. In terms of the whiteboard, I think it just depends on your learning style if you'd use it; a lot of people do, but I'm sure a lot of people just have them laying around in their homes and don't touch them. In terms of the computer/tablet with touchscreen capabilities, I think it depends on what your preferences for learning are. I think the current "writing" tablets are too expensive, not potentially worth it, or too difficult to use. A good number of my classmates do own those writing tablets and love them, but I know a number of my classmates have also disgarded those same writing tablets and opted for their macbooks instead throughout the pre-clerkships.
Good luck!
 
Lube, because at some point, maybe when you least expect it, med school can sodomize you. When it happens, don't get too butt-hurt and move on to the next thing as best you can and you'll be fine.

Kidding, sort-of...
 
academically

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non-academically

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Yeah they are given free coffee every Monday at Dunkin', I usually do a run by to get it. However, I like the Chick-fil-A coffee the best.

Never thought about Chik fil a coffee. Thanks for the recommendation. Ill check it out
 
Learn how to make a decent up of coffee in your own home. Borrowing $2 a day (or more) for coffee is just nuts. I like Bustelo coffee, an electric kettle and a Melitta cone for pour-over. It is as convenient as instant but better tasting and less expensive than the K-cup and produces far less waste.
 
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The coffee discussion ITT is disturbing.

Get a chemex or an aeropress and brew your own, grind the beans fresh.

I got one of these bad boys before M3 because it has a timer so I could roll out of bed at 4AM for surgery and have fresh coffee waiting. Totally worth it (and yes a colossal waste of money).
 
If youre seriously saying dunkin is better than starbucks..theres something wrong. Starbucks is much richer, and has a much more complex flavor. Their dark roast is pretty much how i like it. DD sucks. Id pick mcdonalds over dd just because theyre of similar quality (****ty) and mcdonalds is 1 dollar for a large

LizzyM drinks instant bustelo? This should be bannable 🤣
 
Learn how to make a decent up of coffee in your own home. Borrowing $2 a day (or more) for coffee is just nuts. I like Bustelo coffee, an electric kettle and a Melitta cone for pour-over. It is as convenient as instant but better tasting and less expensive than the K-cup and produces far less waste.

Bustelo is the best.... put a bunch of sugar and you have a cuban coffee, you'll never drink normal coffee again
 
If youre seriously saying dunkin is better than starbucks..theres something wrong. Starbucks is much richer, and has a much more complex flavor. Their dark roast is pretty much how i like it. DD sucks. Id pick mcdonalds over dd just because theyre of similar quality (****ty) and mcdonalds is 1 dollar for a large

LizzyM drinks instant bustelo? This should be bannable 🤣
Why are you the way that you are?
 
I know you're joking, but some will buy them. Isnt it best to not go purchasing fancy electronic stethoscopes and other medical devices before school starts? From what i've heard, some schools mandate that you learn with the stuff they give you.
 
If youre seriously saying dunkin is better than starbucks..theres something wrong. Starbucks is much richer, and has a much more complex flavor. Their dark roast is pretty much how i like it. DD sucks. Id pick mcdonalds over dd just because theyre of similar quality (****ty) and mcdonalds is 1 dollar for a large

LizzyM drinks instant bustelo? This should be bannable 🤣

I'm surprised you were accepted with your reading comprehension what it is. "It is as easy as instant" does NOT mean I drink instant coffee. :uhno:
 
I know you're joking, but some will buy them. Isnt it best to not go purchasing fancy electronic stethoscopes and other medical devices before school starts? From what i've heard, some schools mandate that you learn with the stuff they give you.
Definitely do not buy an electronic stethoscope unless you want to spend all of your clinical rotations getting laughed at.
 
Yeah because missing a few words by speed reading your internet forum comment means i shouldnt get into medical school

apparently even the great hero LizzyM is susceptible to the "im surprised you were accepted with ___" nonsense that is everyone's favorite putdown around here.

When i think bustelo i think instant. Saw the word bustelo, didnt read your post. My b. I'll go call the admissions office!
 
I'm surprised you were accepted with your reading comprehension what it is. "It is as easy as instant" does NOT mean I drink instant coffee. :uhno:

☐ Not rekt
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It's always weird.
The orthopod I shadowed does not agree. He wears nothing but cowboy boots in the OR. Says they're more comfortable than any tennis shoes.

This is in Texas, though...


As for the coffee thing, why not just buy caffeine pills? I love a fresh cup of hazelnut coffee just as much as the next guy, but I would imagine that caffeine pills are much more conducive to the busy life of a medical student.
 
I think @IslandStyle808 and @coldcase331 have things pretty well covered.

Coffee: it's gotta be fresh ground beans and melitta.

Although I respect LizzyM and her opinion on almost everything, I think Bustelo tastes like a campfire. Dean's Beans or bust.




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The orthopod I shadowed does not agree. He wears nothing but cowboy boots in the OR. Says they're more comfortable than any tennis shoes.

This is in Texas, though...


As for the coffee thing, why not just buy caffeine pills? I love a fresh cup of hazelnut coffee just as much as the next guy, but I would imagine that caffeine pills are much more conducive to the busy life of a medical student.
Boots and scrubs pants must be a sight. Different strokes for different folks I guess. And Texas is kind of a place all it's own.
 
Sorry I'm new to this whole thing, but accepted students buy/bring their own stethoscopes beforehand? It's not something we can order from the school when we get there?

I don't drink coffee so I'm gonna say a water boiling contraption and lots of tea bags.
Uses of crock pot?
 
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