Save the money and buy good scrubs for yourself when you do hospital rotations (that's if the hospital lets you wear your own scrubs instead of a uniform). You'll also want to use that money inviting residents for breakfast when you rotate (far more useful in the long run instead of buying a skeleton that will only be useful for 1-2 months of one course of your med school education).
I'd rather buy an ophthalmoscope with that cash. Now that's something you'll actually use in the real world.
<sigh> Just so the pre-meds reading this don't do something stupid and rush out and buy scrubs for themselves, or stock up on IHOP gift cards....
- In US hospitals, scrubs are provided to all medical students rotating, either from the hospital laundry or from scrub machines that dispense scrubs. In any case, the chances that you will have to BUY your own scrubs as a med student are really really really low.
- Again, in most US hospitals, residents are provided with meal tickets/cards AND are getting a salary. There is no earthly reason for the med student, who is PAYING to be there, to shell out and buy bagels for everyone.
I mean, if your hobby is baking elaborate danishes on the weekend, then by all means, bring your leftovers in. But don't run out to Dunkin Donuts and pick up a dozen bagels for rounds or something.
- Most people will rarely use an ophthalmoscope. Ophthalmologists almost never use one - I had an optho attending tell me, last week, point blank, that he NEVER uses the direct ophthalmoscope. The main places you need one are in the clinic or in the ER, and both of those places have ophthalmoscopes hanging on the wall.
So, to review:
- Don't buy the skeleton.
- Don't buy scrubs.
- Don't buy your residents breakfast.
- Don't buy an ophthalmoscope.
Save your $200 for something like, say, food, or rent, or even just leave it in the bank and save it for UWorld when you're about to take Step 1. But definitely don't buy the skeleton.