How does the textbook bit work?

[daria]

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Temple med school starts in the beginning of Sept., and it appears that we find out what books we "need" in orientation the week immediately before. If, as I'm told, you really have to dive right in with reading and what-not, how does this work? I've heard that some recommended books are crap. Should one evaluate on a class-by-class basis whether the recommended books are useful? If so, how does one get one's books in time without becoming frantic (especially if one is REALLY cheap like me and plans to borrow them or buy them used, if possible)? I've got time during the end of the summer, I'd just as soon avoid running around like a madwoman looking for books the 1st week of school. Would also like to avoid paying for expensive text books that are only marginally helpful. Current med students, what do YOU do?

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

I bought the ones I needed immediately at the bookstore, such as the anatomy books. The rest I held off on and realized that older students started sending out emails to sell their books or that I had time to find used ones online. And once you get into things, you learn which books are going to be helpful and which ones aren't. This is where older students become VERY helpful. Even if you are shy, you need to make a handful of friends that are a year ahead of you. They can tell you everything you need to know.

 

[ussdfiant]

First semester you will need very few books and will be relying primarily on notes that you will receive during orientation. This is what I bought:

Gross: Netters and the "Schneck survival guide" (you'll find out about the guide during orientation). These and the Schneck notes that you are provided are all you will need.

Histo: Junquiera is the text and I bought it. I bought an atlas on CD-ROM which was somewhat helpful, but the department will provide a CD-ROM as well with images you will use in lab.

Embryo: Dr. Marino has excellent online resourses as well as printed material. I did buy the Netter embryo atlas though

Behavioral: Kaplan and Sadock is the only required text and I will be using it again this year, so you might want to invest in it.

I bought BRS for Histo and Behavioral. They were somewhat helpful, but the class notes and lectures are key.

All in all, just buy a Netters now, because you can't study Gross without one. I know plenty of people that didn't buy any text books and relied on the notes. Wait until the first week, see if the notes are doing it for you and then decide. Trust me, I think that there will be plenty of time to buy books if you need them. Also, running around like a madperson is part of the med school experience and it doesn't stop after the first year. I am anticipating a similar rush (and am having the same textbook questions as you) for the second year! Good luck!

 

[Jaded Soul]

It's pretty safe to hold off on getting any books right now. You're not going to be as busy as you think in the first week. You won't have that much class at first either and you'll survive if you don't have books right away. Plus, your bookstore will have everything you need, so it's not like you're going to have to drive all over town looking for them. I don't know how it is at Temple, but I'd bet they don't start gross until a couple of weeks into the semester, so you won't even need Netter right away. Plus, in the past AMSA (American Medical Student Association) has given a copy of Netter with membership, so you might be able to wait.

 

[DD214_DOC]

What was this business about Temple's accredidation being reviewed? I was going to apply there in '04, but I'm not so sure now.

 

[kcrd]

There should be a re-review in November, so the situation will be more definite before you need to make any decisions. The accreditation issue cited temple's large class size, facilities and debt, and the administration has done a lot to work on those issues over the last year. There was never an issue about the education that temple provides, and in fact, the board was complimentary on that point.

 

[labangel]

I agree with what other people have said--make sure you talk to 2nd years. The only books I ended up using all year were Netter and Rohen for anatomy, an embryology text (which I probably only needed because I never took it before), Lehninger for biochem, and a neuro atlas. That's it. I bought a couple others that I never opened...you just don't have time to actually read the recommended pages. But, my school provided pretty good notes, so that's also why no one really reads any of the texts.

 

[8744]

Just some advice which may or may not apply at your medical school but probably does:

1) "Assigned Readings" in textbooks are usually just wishful thinking on the part of the professor. Your real "meat and potatoes" will be either the course syllabus, on-line lecture notes, or notes from your note-taking service. I'd bet that these will be sufficient to answer 99.9% of all test questions. As to the other 0.1%, you have to ask yourself, "is it worth it." I bet you will barely have time to keep up with all the notes let alone the assigned reading.

2) Avoid like the plague buying a Neuroscience textbook, a full-size Biochemistry Textbook, or a full size Cell-biology textbook. Neuro is so complex that the BRS book or a "High Yield" book will present you with everything you really need and want to know. Likewise, get the cheaper, paper-back Lippincot for Biochemistry because a big book like Leninger is 99% useless trivia.

3) The only text-book you absolutely need for first year is a good anatomical atlas. I have Netters and a Rohan color atlas which has beautiful color photographs of impossibly precise dissections which almost (but not quite) makes going to anatomy lab superfluous.

4) For second year, a good physiology textbook like Guyton would not be too much of an extravegance. I used mine a lot to clarify fine points of physiology. But it is not essential. The "Grid Books" in almost every subject provide more then enough detail to both learn the subject and study for Step 1. I would buy these as required. They are generally a third of the cost of a text book, are lighter, and eliminate the stuff that is only of academic interest.

5) Get out of your head the notion that you have to learn everything. You will drive yourself crazy. Relax. If you learn enough to comfortably pass the test and understand the big concepts you will do all right.

6) Avoid buying a "Textbook of Medicine" like Cecils or Harrisons, even if they say you need it. I paid $140 for mine and have never used it. First of all, they have numerous copies in your library. Second, you can probably get it online at your school's library. Third, you can get it for your PDA for half that price. And fourth, it is just too ****ing dense. Just jam-packed with information when all you really want is what's in "Five Minute Clinical Consult."

Do I sound cynical? I am. Nobody told me these things, or I didn't believe them and so I have about 90 pounds and $1300 worth of books that I never use.

Save your money

 

[daria]

Thanks so much all for the input, especially ussdfiant, Panda Bear, & labangel for the class/text-specific info. It all seems less daunting now, and encouragingly possible to avoid spending $1000s on unneeded textbooks. ussdfiant, I guess you are one of those MS2s to whom I'll be cozying up come Sept! 😉

 

[Med4ever]

I agree that textbooks on a pda are superior in almost everyway. Could u tell me where is a good place to buy these?

Anyone know to what extent textbooks are published for pocket pcs. Any help would be great.
Thanks

 

[ussdfiant]

Originally posted by daria
ussdfiant, I guess you are one of those MS2s to whom I'll be cozying up come Sept! 😉

Niiiiiiiiiiiice! Are you cute?😉 Oh wait, I'm married! Glad to be of service regarding the books. When do you guys start?

 

[kaos]

I'm just ordering mine from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Expensive, but oh well, I think I'll be keeping them for a while. 🙁

 

[daria]

Originally posted by ussdfiant
Niiiiiiiiiiiice! Are you cute?😉 Oh wait, I'm married! Glad to be of service regarding the books. When do you guys start?

ussdfiant,
Cozying up to in a figurative sense, that was! In fact we're both married, and both (after looking at your college grad date) "older students" (28 here). Temple orientation is Aug. 27-29, classes start Sept. 1 for us. More than a month away, and it can STAY that way for awhile... I'm enjoying my last summer of relative freedom before diving into the swirling vortex of medical education. PM me if you want to swap "how I got into medicine after having a life" stories.

 

[firebreather3]

I have to somewhat disagree with the textbook issue. I've always valued the textbook foremost and used the syllabus sparingly. Granted I haven't exactly 'aced' the courses since that requires complete memorization of the syllabus, nevertheless I feel more prepared and confident for standardized exams. IMHO there is too much reliance on Syllabus material; you basically trust the School to teach you what is necessary for the Boards and beyond when you choose to study the Syllabus exclusively.

For Physiology, I don't know which Syllabus could possibly emulate the clarity of Guyton or provide the concise review that is Ganong. Textbooks provide depth of coverage and a consistency in presentation and linear thought that is frequently missing from the photocopied powerpoint presentations that pass for 'Syllabus Material' at my school.

This is no doubt a very unpopular position (I get flak for it from my buddies all the time) but one you might want to consider since you are just starting out.

I'd also suggest going with your intuition when it comes to reading material prior to a course. It was my first inclination to peruse Netter and the dissector in the weeks prior to my anatomy course. Many friends told me not to though. Lo and behold when the anatomy course started there was neither the time nor the motivation to thoroughly go through both. Just beware that the courses are basically cram jobs, there is inadequate time to digest let alone appreciate any of the material. You need not feel pressured now but if you genuinely feel interested in anatomy or biochem I would encourage you to go through the material in a relaxed fashion for understanding and enjoyment. Such moments of enthusiasm are rare and short lived so take advantage of them while they last. Plus it never hurts to be slightly ahead and the repetition will only consolidate the new information.

 

[8744]

Let me respectfully disagree with Firebreather3 on only one point. The school will most likely include everything you need to know for Step 1 in the sylabi of various courses. You can trust them for that.

In fact, many of the courses seem to follow the same outline as the BRS "Grid Books" which is why these books are so usefull as both primary textbooks and as Step 1 review. If your school is all PBL then you have my condolences and please disregard any of my advice because I don't know how your courses are structured.

I respect anyone who wants to master any branch of knowledge. However, the closer I got to Step 1 the more important passing it with a good grade became and the less important became knowledge for it's own sake.

It's inevitable. The faculty gets all sanctimonious about not cramming for the boards but really learning the material. Since Step1 is a huge and terrifying obstacle which we must overcome to continue our careers in medicine, we tend to concentrate our limited resources on this immediate threat rather then a distant ideal.

I just started my Surgery rotation and in the syllabus the faculty enjoins us not to use review books because these will only help us pass the exams. Hey, that sounds good to me.

I did fairly well on Step 1, by the way.

Guyton or similar is worth the money, as is Robbins (pathology). I'm just advising the new students to avoid rushing out and buying every book on the required list because I think even Firebreather3 will admit that some of them are not worth the money.