HELP--AZCOM students

[liux0040]

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I was accepted to 2012 DO program.

I was very curious about the attrition rate, as I heard it is relatively high. It freaks me out a bit. Any current AZCOM students can comment on that?

Also, if I want to prepare for MS1 now, which subject shall I touch first? Anatomy, histo or biochem? And what are the textbooks MS1 students use in AZCOM for those courses?

I know a lot of guys will advise me to relax and enjoy my last free time before school starts, but I had a glimpse on anatomy and totally shocked. It's like learning a new language for me. Therefore I guess it would be beneficial to read something before school starts. To make it worse, my first language is not English. 🙁

I would appreciate I anyone can help with the above questions. Thank you

 

[ManBroDude]

Has anyone ever told you you worry a lot?

 

[LieutenantDan]

Has anyone ever told you you worry a lot?

I think the OP has the right attitude, my mom is an attending physician and she says her best residents tend to be a little obsessive or worried about the details, and consequently they tend to be the most knowledgeable and competent care providers.

I am an applicant/accepted to AZCOM, I can't speak to the specifics of that school in particular but at another interview my tour guide said that if you haven't had a lot of anatomy now is the time to start. Medicals schools and DO schools especially focus a lot on anatomy. I think that AZCOM has a program where you can take anatomy over the summer before MS1 if you want, and then you can tutor other students if you want after that.

Also if English is your second language then it wouldn't hurt to make sure you are familiar with some medical terminology and anything that might be different in your native language. Judging for your post I would say your English looks pretty strong, and my understanding is that bilingual people tend to pick up new languages faster so you should not have too many problems with anatomy and terminology.

 

[xajtx]

I think the OP has the right attitude, my mom is an attending physician and she says her best residents tend to be a little obsessive or worried about the details, and consequently they tend to be the most knowledgeable and competent care providers.

I am an applicant/accepted to AZCOM, I can't speak to the specifics of that school in particular but at another interview my tour guide said that if you haven't had a lot of anatomy now is the time to start. Medicals schools and DO schools especially focus a lot on anatomy. I think that AZCOM has a program where you can take anatomy over the summer before MS1 if you want, and then you can tutor other students if you want after that.

Also if English is your second language then it wouldn't hurt to make sure you are familiar with some medical terminology and anything that might be different in your native language. Judging for your post I would say your English looks pretty strong, and my understanding is that bilingual people tend to pick up new languages faster so you should not have too many problems with anatomy and terminology.

Are you sure about that summer anatomy program before MS1? I'll be attending there and haven't heard of it. If it does exist I would definitely want to do it! I think you may be thinking of Western COMP...

 

[DrWily]

There isn't a summer program. I asked in the AZCOM thread and current students told me no. Western does have that program ISAC.

 

[xajtx]

There isn't a summer program. I asked in the AZCOM thread and current students told me no. Western does have that program ISAC.

I see; thanks for the clarification!

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I was accepted to 2012 DO program.

I was very curious about the attrition rate, as I heard it is relatively high. It freaks me out a bit. Any current AZCOM students can comment on that?

Also, if I want to prepare for MS1 now, which subject shall I touch first? Anatomy, histo or biochem? And what are the textbooks MS1 students use in AZCOM for those courses?

I know a lot of guys will advise me to relax and enjoy my last free time before school starts, but I had a glimpse on anatomy and totally shocked. It's like learning a new language for me. Therefore I guess it would be beneficial to read something before school starts. To make it worse, my first language is not English. 🙁

I would appreciate I anyone can help with the above questions. Thank you

if you are that worried, just get an anatomy coloring book and play it in awhile. They really are pretty helpful. Maybe download something from iTunesU to learn the basics, but anything more than that is going to be wasted. And with English not being your first language, maybe get a Medical Terminology text book and try to memorize that. Much more is just too anal.

 

[LieutenantDan]

Are you sure about that summer anatomy program before MS1? I'll be attending there and haven't heard of it. If it does exist I would definitely want to do it! I think you may be thinking of Western COMP...

I apologize, you are correct, at least from what other students were saying. I interviewed at COMP-NW and a few other schools last year that had the MS0 anatomy program, and I misattributed the source. Regardless, studying anatomy early on is a good use of your time as far as I am concerned, unless you have had extensive preparation in your undergrad. I forgot to mention, congrats on the acceptance!

 

[MrBird]

You don't seem like the kind of person who needs to worry about failing out. I would also advise not touching anything until school starts. Trust me. You'll be working just as hard even if you prepared yourself for anatomy.

 

[randomusername]

I don't know of many (or any) people who have dropped out from my class but a handful have decelerated into the 2015 class (and similarly, a handful of 2013s decelerated into mine).

As far as anatomy goes, you'll be surprised at how many of your classmates haven't had anatomy before so you'll be on the same page as many of them. If you're that concerned about it, I'd suggest getting the Netter's flash cards and just learning the names, actions, and general locations of things. I wouldn't bother with the innervations or any origins/insertions at this point because there are too many things the faculty change that aren't on the cards. The coloring book idea is also a decent suggestion as well.

 

[DbDan]

I don't know of many (or any) people who have dropped out from my class but a handful have decelerated into the 2015 class (and similarly, a handful of 2013s decelerated into mine).

As far as anatomy goes, you'll be surprised at how many of your classmates haven't had anatomy before so you'll be on the same page as many of them. If you're that concerned about it, I'd suggest getting the Netter's flash cards and just learning the names, actions, and general locations of things. I wouldn't bother with the innervations or any origins/insertions at this point because there are too many things the faculty change that aren't on the cards. The coloring book idea is also a decent suggestion as well.

This. Although I wouldn't recommend looking at anything beforehand (BTW, Anatomy is just latin names for what things accomplish in alot of cases, it'll make more sense when you understand it).

Also, anatomy is going to be changing drastically from what random and I have gone through for anatomy next year. You will be in the lab dissecting twice per week and you will be doing a lab assignment while the other 2/3 of the class are in lab the other "lab day"

Anatomy was my highest grade last quarter and it was the same for many of my friends. You will get alot of exposure to it and yes, despite the fact that it is all new information for you, you will have the time to study. During first quarter I spent plenty of time playing video games, relaxing, screwing around, going out and still got good grades. This quarter is more hectic but there is still time to do things outside of school while maintaining your grades.

A TON of your classmates will have no experience in most classes, each person will have their major coursework which they are significantly better than you at, my advice, stop comparing yourself to them. I have a friend who literally studies the night before for biochem (he was a biochem major) and gets 97%+ on every test, I have to do a bit more work. Similarly, I barely have to study for phys and I'm doing incredibly well in that class. It all evens out in the end.

I'm applying to be a TA for next year so I may see you in lab come fall.

 

[liux0040]

Thank you.

 

[liux0040]

Thank you all for your valuable input.

I guess I will buy some medical terminology books from amazon to start with,.

Besides, going through netter's flash card is also a good idea.

BTW, can some current advise me what textbooks are used for MS1 anatomy and biochem?

Again, thank you and all the best for you all as well.

Probably I will see some of you this coming fall !!

 

[DbDan]

Thank you all for your valuable input.

I guess I will buy some medical terminology books from amazon to start with,.

Besides, going through netter's flash card is also a good idea.

BTW, can some current advise me what textbooks are used for MS1 anatomy and biochem?

Again, thank you and all the best for you all as well.

Probably I will see some of you this coming fall !!

No need to buy a biochem book. The departments notes are fantastic for the exams and when you stuy for boards you can get a board review book.

For anatomy, you get a free netters atlas when you sign up for SOMA and you get free netters flash cards when you sign up for a 4 year AMA membership on campus. I wouldn't recommend buying any textbook in advance. I honestly use netters, brs physiology and brs psych and that is it.