Honors in Anatomy!

[DZT]

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Hey everybody. I'm an MS1 and I'm really interested in neurosurgery or ENT. For residencies like these, how necessary is it to get honors in anatomy?

Our first day in anatomy was friday and our professor told us that 4 hours of studying everyday was required just to pass. Is this an exaggeration-in general-and how much extra does one have to put in to go the full nine and get honors.

If anyone out there got honors in anatomy, could they please tell me what books they used, how they studied and they approached it all. I am a surgically oriented guy and anatomy is perhaps the most important subject to me by far. Thanks for the help.

 

[maxheadroom]

You need to get advice from M2/M3s in your school. While we can all tell you about what worked for us, we don't have to take your tests.

Honors in anatomy will probably be nice to have on your transcript, but it won't make or break a Neursurg/ENT application. Good luck.

 

[Starflyr]

Fropm what I know, the grades in preclinical years dont count for much unless you fail something. Yes, honors is nice, but....its not like you're going to make or break you career if you get it or dont. Rotations are what matter.

Star

 

[idq1i]

Originally posted by DZT
Our first day in anatomy was friday and our professor told us that 4 hours of studying everyday was required just to pass. .................

Blah, Blah, blah. They all say that - they just want to whip us 1st years into shape. Ours says 4-6 a day minimum (on top on the 9-5 class schedule)

 

[maxheadroom]

Don't discount the value of preclinical honors . . . they are largely responsible for Jr AOA (along with Step 1). At my school only 2-3 clinical grades would be available for Jr AOA evaluation, but your preclinical grades were obviously established. I don't think anyone at my school makes Jr AOA without at least half possible honors in the first two years.

 

[tahitian3]

What does AOA stand for?

 

[maxheadroom]

Alpha Omega Alpha, the med school honor society. Very prestigeous. A major boon for residency applications, especially in the surgical subspecialties and derm.

 

[ecpiii]

DZT,
I am also hopefully headed toward neursosurg, and got the top anatomy garde in the class, but let me give you this advice- it don't mean ****. If you feel like charging the class, go for it; anatomy knowledge will always pay off. However, don't bang your head against the wall to be the best in it. It won't be the deciding factor for any residency.

If you really want to bang your head, shoot for a superior grasp of neuroanatomy, if your school divides up gross and neuro; not because you need to in order to match, but because it makes life easier. Sincere good luck.

 

[mlh25]

y

 

[rxfudd]

Originally posted by mlh25
As far as I can tell, everyone on this thread is a *****. Anatomy is easy and so is med school. Those who work hard are rewarded. It's as simple as that.

🙄

 

[carrigallen]

at my school anyone in the top 3rd academically is eligible for 3rd or 4th yr aoa, and the clinical grades are double-weighted for each. Then we have a student election, then a faculty election. Your EC's are also evaluated by the deans committee. So, by no means are your preclinical grades especially important even for something as stuffy as aoa. i think it's true though, that failing a course will look bad.

More than anything, I'm just going to learn anatomy well because it is so important, and useful later on. As long as I pass, I will be happy...speaking of which, back to studying.. 😉

 

[missMD]

Don't try to kill yourself over getting honors in Anatomy. Work hard and do the best you can. Even with an A, when it comes to your surgery rotation if you haven't reviewed the stuff you can forget it very easily. What I suggest is trying to become an Anatomy TA during the summer for another course or tutoring students taking anatomy during your 2nd year. This is what I have done. I didn't get the highest grade in my Anatomy course as an MS1 but reviewing and teaching others is the best way to prepare for the surgery rotation (as far as getting pimped on anatomical questions goes). After all, your grade in the surgical rotation will count alot more than your grade in freshman anatomy.