Congrats to everyone starting in August . . . I'm graduating in three short weeks and it's been a long strange journey - can't tell you I'd do it all over again if I had to, but I don't regret enough to wish I'd done it different. It makes me smile to see the enthusiasm of everyone showing up - get ready for your life to change!
I'm glad to see there is a first year clearing the air about classes and notes - that's all different from when I started in 2002, but I thought I'd toss in my few cents.
Living: If you're not from California, just expect to pay a lot for rent. Accept it. Move on. Unless you are used to it, do NOT live in San Bernadino, Colton, or Rialto. Stick with Loma Linda, Redlands, and Grand Terrace. (I was kicking it in a huge two bedroom for 425 a month in Lincoln, NE before moving out here and I was more than a bit surprised that my rent had doubled, and that was 5 years ago - good luck)
Optional personality orientation - GO. It is interesting, and you aren't doing anything the day beofre the real orientation except climbing the walls.
Drayson center: You will have lots of time during the first two years to go. After 3 PM that place is ALL social hour and meat/meet market - if you are actually there to workout this will piss you off. Go right after class or if you're skipping class . . . I personally gave up on Drayson during third year and broke down and got a LA fitness membership. They have a lot of cool programs/classes (Karate classes cost money). You can find me in yoga on Wednesday nights.
Couple of med-school realted blogs by two friends of mine who I'm sure won't mind the traffic. Both just finished Sub-I's at the County and have some interesting stories recently:
http://hotchkiss4.blogspot.com/
http://medicallychallenged.blogspot.com/
Taste of the clinical years, if you like.
Anything else you want to ask go for it. My PM is open if you prefer. Good luck guys.