MCW Class of 2010, Part 3

[Agent Splat]

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hated qbank. done.

 

[Ashers]

I liked Qbank, but not so much Qreview. Exact questions from Qbank on step 1 -- that helped.

 

[akpete]

I loved USMLE World for Step 1 and have full intentions of using it again for step 2. I thought the questions, though hard, were similar to the real thing. I would use World if I had to take Step 1 over again. And I did use a little of Qbank at first, hated it, and stopped after not too long. It was a waste of money.

I don't think USMLE World was available when the M4s were studying for step 1, so it was kinda unproven last year.

 

[Xandie]

I used QBank for both. It was free. Yay.

 

[45408]

I have no complaints about Qbank except for the price. Other than that, it did me well. I'll be checking out USMLEWorld for Step II, though.

Just so everyone knows, USMLE World's product is also called Qbank, the same as Kaplan's. I take it everyone has been talking about Kaplan though?

 

[Agent Splat]

Just so everyone knows, USMLE World's product is also called Qbank, the same as Kaplan's. I take it everyone has been talking about Kaplan though?

yeah, the sucky one.

 

[45408]

I hate spending an hour on a practice test only to get a schitty score. I thought I was doing well too. those questions were ridiculous.

 

[45408]

and I'm off to Portland, Oregon for several days

 

[indo]

...and that explains why you are up so early. God forbid there be a flight back to oregon that leaves after 7am. yikes.

 

[DoctorFunk]

...and that explains why you are up so early. God forbid there be a flight back to oregon that leaves after 7am. yikes.

You guys had better get used to 4:45 AM SDN posting, because it's going to be your bread and butter if you want to postpad in 3rd year. 😉

 

[samenewme]

Oh where, or where has my little sib gone?

I loaned him my anatomy cards. He was supposed to give them back. I had so much trouble chasing him down to GIVE him things that I didn't bother second semester.

Now I can't remember who he is.

This is probably less important than the studying I should be doing.

 

[Xandie]

Maggie (an M-3/4 friend of mine) has my anatomy cards, along with the psych books I wanted to give Funk... if someone finds her, they can get them from her.

 

[samenewme]

Awesome. I'm just planning to donate mine to the OldPreMeds doorprize raffle, not actually using them.

 

[Xandie]

I just didn't want to move them. The only medical school stuff I kept were my Netter and Rohan, my OB/GYN text, and... that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[akpete]

Maggie (an M-3/4 friend of mine) has my anatomy cards, along with the psych books I wanted to give Funk... if someone finds her, they can get them from her.

Actually, I just saw Maggie on Sunday. Find Mikey and you'll be able to find Maggie. (assuming you're talking about the Maggie I think you're talking about)

 

[Xandie]

We are. Mikey and Greg were at my house before the BBQ moving my stuff into the truck. 🙂

 

[indo]

do maggie and mikey live together with another med student?

 

[Xandie]

Maggie and Mikey do not live together. Mikey lived with two students who got married in the past few months, not sure who he lives with now. Maggie lives on her own, she used to live with me.

 

[indo]

Oh, I guess I don't know them.

 

[45408]

While Portland's idea of free city-wide WiFi Internet is nice in theory, it really sucks when it drops your connection several times while I'm trying to do USMLE World. So I buckled and bought the Marriot's wifi for $10 a day. For the NBME, I'll do anything.


And Portland is awesome, but what's with this steady drizzle? Laaaame.

 

[akpete]

Why are you studying in Portland?

 

[45408]

Why are you studying in Portland?

Had to get away from the distractions of Milwaukee. You learn much better on the west coast, and I spare no expense for my Step 1 studying.


Actually, my brother's getting married on Sunday, and I'm the best man. He and his fiance live in Milwaukee, but she's from out here. My whole family is out here too - my six brothers and sisters, and my wife too.

Which reminds me, I should work on my speech....I've got some ideas so far.

 

[indo]

are you at the marriot on the water?

edit: it was 100 degrees there a couple days ago. weird.

also, there is no city-wide wifi...they just have THAT many coffee shops there.

 

[45408]

Yeah, I was. Now I'm sitting in PDX using the free wi-fi here. The weather never went over 75 while I was here, but my sister-in-law told us about the hot spell. Lots o' drizzling though...

There actually is city-wide free wi-fi - you have to download something from Microsoft that is a permanent sidebar while you use the free wi-fi - but it really sucks. There are a ton of coffee shops though, no kidding.

 

[45408]

Any upperclassmen have any input on doing inpatient medicine at St. Luke's? and would it be better to do two inpatient medicine months or one ambulatory?

 

[DoctorFunk]

Any upperclassmen have any input on doing inpatient medicine at St. Luke's? and would it be better to do two inpatient medicine months or one ambulatory?

I thought one ambulatory month in 3rd year was nice for the following reasons:

1) You get a ton of time during your ambulatory month to study for the shelf (which is one of the more difficult ones you'll have all year). The folks I know that took two inpatient months were struggling for time/energy to study towards the end.

2) If you take your 2nd inpatient month during 4th year you have more options than just a general medicine month. For example you can do a month of cardiology, intensive care, nephrology, hem/onc, etc. I thought that sounded more interesting than 8 straight weeks of general medicine.

However if you're looking to work even harder 3rd year to ensure that your 4th year is as cushy as possible, two months of inpatient medicine may be your best choice.

 

[Allerian1004]

Have any of you used dentists in the area that are with the schools insurance?

 

[Ashers]

I thought one ambulatory month in 3rd year was nice for the following reasons:

1) You get a ton of time during your ambulatory month to study for the shelf (which is one of the more difficult ones you'll have all year). The folks I know that took two inpatient months were struggling for time/energy to study towards the end.

2) If you take your 2nd inpatient month during 4th year you have more options than just a general medicine month. For example you can do a month of cardiology, intensive care, nephrology, hem/onc, etc. I thought that sounded more interesting than 8 straight weeks of general medicine.

However if you're looking to work even harder 3rd year to ensure that your 4th year is as cushy as possible, two months of inpatient medicine may be your best choice.

I'd rather get the 2 inpatient months out of the way because none of the M4 options sounded good to me, AND I can take 3 days off to interview if necessary during ambulatory (for me it will be necessary since my ambulatory month is in December).

You're also supposed to be treated like a sub-I on the inpatient months as an M4 even though it's not your sub-I.

Have any of you used dentists in the area that are with the schools insurance?

I go to Dr. Toy. The office is good with my schedule.

 

[PreMedMommy]

.

 

[samenewme]

Hey all, I would like to purchase the majority of my textbooks online, but as of right now, I have no clue what all I need. Does anyone know when a booklist of sorts is released? Thanks.

You will not get much of anything until Orientation. You can either e-mail the departments for information or commit to using the library reserve copies until whatever you decide to order comes in. Most of the time you will not have time to read the textbooks enough to justify owning them, so it's wise to wait. Almost everything you could ever want to know will be printed in your notes for most classes.

First semester you have Biochem, Genetics (not book-buying experiences), Anatomy (Moore textbook optional, Netter Atlas of Human Anatomy pretty much a necessity), Devo (textbook optional and only if you love textbooks), and Medical Information Management OR Medical Interviewing (do NOT BUY THE TEXTBOOK).

Unlike undergrad, where you're way behind if you don't buy your textbooks up front, you really can wait for med school and see what you'll need.

 

[akpete]

I thought one ambulatory month in 3rd year was nice for the following reasons:

1) You get a ton of time during your ambulatory month to study for the shelf (which is one of the more difficult ones you'll have all year). The folks I know that took two inpatient months were struggling for time/energy to study towards the end.

2) If you take your 2nd inpatient month during 4th year you have more options than just a general medicine month. For example you can do a month of cardiology, intensive care, nephrology, hem/onc, etc. I thought that sounded more interesting than 8 straight weeks of general medicine.

However if you're looking to work even harder 3rd year to ensure that your 4th year is as cushy as possible, two months of inpatient medicine may be your best choice.

yup. what he said. I liked having ambulatory 3rd year cuz now I have ICU for my inpatient month instead of another month of general wards.

 

[45408]

yup. what he said. I liked having ambulatory 3rd year cuz now I have ICU for my inpatient month instead of another month of general wards.

Thanks. I do have a choice to do inpatient-ambulatory, right? I just can't select the location, if I understand correctly (I'd go where my wife works if I could). do most people get what they want?

 

[akpete]

Thanks. I do have a choice to do inpatient-ambulatory, right? I just can't select the location, if I understand correctly (I'd go where my wife works if I could). do most people get what they want?

it pretty much depends on the choices everyone else on your track puts down. if everyone wants the same thing, then obviously not everyone will get it.

btw, if you select inpatient/outpatient you will NOT be at st lukes. only about 2 people are at lukes per month and your other month is the va or froedtert.

 

[Xandie]

I remember that most of the people on my track requested in-in, so if you wanted in-out, you definitely got it. I'm not sure how the distribution is earlier in the year though.

As with many things in medical school, there are advantages to both schedules. Ultimately... it doesn't really matter (my recurrent refrain, really). I liked having in-out as a third year, for all the reasons discussed above, and really enjoyed geriatrics as my inpatient fourth year rotation.

I got my final "you're all done" transcript today. Fun times.

 

[45408]

Xandie, when do you start working as a resident?

 

[Xandie]

June 2 is the first day I have to do anything (CPR training), June 11 is my first day of continuous orientation, and June 29 is my first shift, a 24-hour call on Sunday, then I'm on night float for four weeks.

 

[DoctorFunk]

June 2 is the first day I have to do anything (CPR training), June 11 is my first day of continuous orientation, and June 29 is my first shift, a 24-hour call on Sunday, then I'm on night float for four weeks.

Oooh! You got one of the mythical night float programs? You'll have to tell me what you think about the system, as I am intrigued by the concept. 😀

 

[Xandie]

I think that of the 15 interviews I did, only 3 programs didn't have night float... remember, though, that OB is a very different animal (all surgery specialties are) than medicine. In a medical residency, you have months where you don't take call. In OB, you're always in the call pool.

Night float means, for me, that when you're not on it, you can only be on call Friday or Saturday. Sunday is a 24 hour call, followed by 7p-7a on M, T, W, Th nights for float. My weekends off schedule is pretty much identical to what it would be without night float, so that's not really the prime motivator. My preference for night float was that when I'm on the surgical services, I'll never be post call during a case. That makes my learning opportunities better, and I think gives my patients better care.

 

[yeasterbunny]

Any upperclassmen have any input on doing inpatient medicine at St. Luke's? and would it be better to do two inpatient medicine months or one ambulatory?

I heard a rumor that if you want to do your transitional year at St. Luke's (and if you plan on doing a TY, that's one of the nice programs, certainly the better one in Milwaukee) they like students who have rotated there. I don't really remember them letting us give input on where we would go though. Basically you should plan between your 3 inpatient months (including the sub-I) they will put you throught Froedtert, the VA, and either Luke's or Joe's.

Joe's isn't a bad place to do your inpt month either, it's really fairly cush for ward medicine. I went home by 2 most days. For that matter, I escaped ever having to do it at the Dert too because I did the family med sub-I.

And I would recommend doing in-in because if you have to do an extra medicine month as an SMS they will treat you more like a sub-I (i.e. more abuse). And it's nice to have a more cush schedule your 4th year with ambulatory.

 

[Ashers]

I'd rather get the 2 inpatient months out of the way because none of the M4 options sounded good to me...

You're also supposed to be treated like a sub-I on the inpatient months as an M4 even though it's not your sub-I.

And I would recommend doing in-in because if you have to do an extra medicine month as an SMS they will treat you more like a sub-I (i.e. more abuse). And it's nice to have a more cush schedule your 4th year with ambulatory.

Seems like no one listened to me, but your advice was strikingly similar, even though I haven't yet started M4 year.

I'm sure I'll be at the dert for my medicine sub-I... the VA then Joes this year? If the inpatient service had been something interesting, maybe I would've considered it for next year, but none sounded good; they all sounded like lots o scut.

 

[45408]

I heard a rumor that if you want to do your transitional year at St. Luke's (and if you plan on doing a TY, that's one of the nice programs, certainly the better one in Milwaukee) they like students who have rotated there. I don't really remember them letting us give input on where we would go though. Basically you should plan between your 3 inpatient months (including the sub-I) they will put you throught Froedtert, the VA, and either Luke's or Joe's.

Joe's isn't a bad place to do your inpt month either, it's really fairly cush for ward medicine. I went home by 2 most days. For that matter, I escaped ever having to do it at the Dert too because I did the family med sub-I.

And I would recommend doing in-in because if you have to do an extra medicine month as an SMS they will treat you more like a sub-I (i.e. more abuse). And it's nice to have a more cush schedule your 4th year with ambulatory.

you didn't think it was hard to find time to study for your medicine shelf?

 

[akpete]

you didn't think it was hard to find time to study for your medicine shelf?

Honestly, if you have outpatient, if you're like most people, you'll just waste more time and spend the same amount studying as the inpatient people.


I've heard the getting treating like a sub-I thing, but I'd rather do the ICU month or get treated like a sub-I on nephrology than another month of general wards.

If you're not at Froedtert 3rd year, you'll likely have your sub-I there. I actually like Froedtert and got the St Marys family med sub-I to avoid the VA general medicine wards.

 

[akpete]

June 2 is the first day I have to do anything (CPR training), June 11 is my first day of continuous orientation, and June 29 is my first shift, a 24-hour call on Sunday, then I'm on night float for four weeks.

Ah man. I thought I'd have more of June to moving and to have some fun. There's never enough fun.

 

[DoctorFunk]

Honestly, if you have outpatient, if you're like most people, you'll just waste more time and spend the same amount studying as the inpatient people.

I thought that my studying during the outpatient month (which for me was the 2nd month, luckily) put me at a distinct advantage over the folks that were in-in. Especially in the medicine clerkship where everyone gets fairly similar clinical grades, the shelf exam is really the difference-maker in that razor thin line between honors and HP.

I also thought that an ICU month during 4th year would be useful. Most residencies will involve time in the ICU, so getting your feet wet for a month will be helpful (at least for learning something about vent settings) and I doubt that they'll be able to ride me as hard there as a 4th year as they would on a general medicine team.

 

[Agent Splat]

I've had EM doctors recommend an ICU month in 4th year if you want to go into EM. What an awesome way to start my 4th year....MICU.

 

[yeasterbunny]

you didn't think it was hard to find time to study for your medicine shelf?

No. But I didn't study that much for it. I think they go pretty easy when it comes to dealing out the honors on that rotation. Is the shelf really worth all that much? The medicine shelf was a lot easier to study for than the peds one though.

 

[DoctorFunk]

No. But I didn't study that much for it. I think they go pretty easy when it comes to dealing out the honors on that rotation. Is the shelf really worth all that much? The medicine shelf was a lot easier to study for than the peds one though.

They got really stingy this year with honors. Torre told us it was a mandate from on high to comply with only a certain percentage of honors in each rotation.

 

[Ashers]

They got really stingy this year with honors. Torre told us it was a mandate from on high to comply with only a certain percentage of honors in each rotation.

He told us that too.

Torre's funny; he's my attending now. I think we're having a team dinner tomorrow. The really cool thing is he always asks how to improve the course, then he asks what we think of the curriculum in general (M1-M4), the scheduling process, etc. He was appalled by what the other student and I were telling him about the medicine sub-I stuff; he had some good ideas.

 

[Agent Splat]

He told us that too.

Torre's funny; he's my attending now. I think we're having a team dinner tomorrow. The really cool thing is he always asks how to improve the course, then he asks what we think of the curriculum in general (M1-M4), the scheduling process, etc. He was appalled by what the other student and I were telling him about the medicine sub-I stuff; he had some good ideas.

tell him only 2 weeks of neuro compared with 4 weeks of psych is both idiotic and ridiculous.

 

[akpete]

The cap for honors on medicine is 40%. I guess I didn't think of that as stingy, but maybe it is...i dunno.

Team dinners - that was an excellent part of medicine. Both my attendings hosted a team dinner. And since they were both Indian, we got yummy Indian food both times.