Medschool BOOYAH! Class of 2006 (Official Thread)

[Doctora Foxy]

In my effort to make the journey from pre-allo to allo, I feel a need for relevant threads for us to read and post on.

So, if you are entering med school this Fall, please share with us any concerns, ideas, questions, or anything. And welcome to med school.

If you are currently in med school, please answer any questions and share your wisdom with us.

I'll start off with what are you guys doing to prepare? Studying? Buying stuff? Are you getting a car for med school? How are you finding roomates? How long before med school starts will you move in to your new place?

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[THE instiGATOR]

I have a question! Is there enough Medschool BOOYAH to go around?!?

 

[shorrin]

ok DraF,

do you know of any good self-teaching spanish books? I don't have the bucks to take an official class but I think it's really important to be able to speak to patients yourself.

 

[orthoman5000]

I will be attending the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine beginning in August. I have a friend who will be attending pharmacy school there so we are planning on rooming together.

As far as what I'm doing to prepare:

1. I'm trying to brush up my study skills, since they were pretty non-existent as an undergrad. As you can tell from my handle I want to be an orthopaedic surgeon, hence I need AOA, and that's going to take a little studying. So I've bought a few books on the subject including, "How to Excel in Medical School", "The Medical School Survival Guide, "Study Methods and Test Taking Techniques for Medical Students (Oklahoma Notes)", and "The Princeton Review Medical School Companion".

2. I've also purchased review books for my first year classes. I've purchased "First Aid for the USMLE Step 1", "Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews of Biochemistry", "BRS Gross Anatomy", "BRS Cell Biology and Histology", "BRS Embryology", "BRS Neuroanatomy", "BRS Physiology", and also the High-Yield versions of each of those subjects. I haven't really studied them, just gave them a quick look over.

3. I'm working full time (wasn't in school this year) as a Nurses Aid on the night shift on a medical-surgical floor. This is starting to really stress me out, and I'm looking forward to some more intellectual type stress in the Fall!

4. Finally, I'm going to use up my vacation hours and take some time off this Summer for some road trips and enjoy myself.

I'm interested in seeing what others in the Class of 2006 are doing between now and the start of class.

 

[shorrin]

I'm going to Univ. of Illinois starting mid-August. So far I have only purchased lipp's biochem but I just keep staring at the cover. Thanks for sharing other books that may be useful. A great site for used books is <a href="http://www.half.com." target="_blank">http://www.half.com.</a>

I'll be spending a whole month on the lovely shore of lake michigan along the chigago skyline.

Anyone moving here, I'll be happy to share my insights on the city.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

shorrin,

There are a couple of Medical Spanish books out there, I've seen them at Barnes and Noble but don't remember the names. This are great because they will teach you the common things you will have to know in clinicals.

 

[katiep]

shorrin,

Try Spanish for Healthcare Professionals by William Harvey. Also, this website is alright: <a href="http://www.vtmednet.org/medspanish/" target="_blank">medspanish</a>. In addition, Doctora Foxy's signature sometimes offers medical spanish lessons.

 

[shorrin]

hey, thanks guys!

 

[castaway]

Hello everyone. Congrats to those headed to med school. I'll be attending Texas Tech this fall. I just got my financial aid package, and noticed I was awarded a tiny grant. I was wondering, is there was an average amount of grant money awarded to students? For those of you already in med school: do packages routinely include grant $ or is it more of an exception?
Thanks!!

 

[m2006]

To Shorrin and anyone else who's interested:
I am currently taking a Spanish for Healthcare Providers class at my local adult ed center. We're using An Introduction to Spanish for Health Care Workers by Robert O. Chase and Clarisa B. Medina de Chase. It's pretty good. I also have the Harvey book and like it too, but I have found it to be a better reference while Chase is better for learning (for me).

 

[Doctora Foxy]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by katiep:
•shorrin,

Try Spanish for Healthcare Professionals by William Harvey. Also, this website is alright: <a href="http://www.vtmednet.org/medspanish/" target="_blank">medspanish</a>. In addition, Doctora Foxy's signature sometimes offers medical spanish lessons.•••••Thank you so much for that site! And I have also heard that Spanish for Health Care Professionals is a good book. I was thinking about medical Spainsh tapes to keep me company while driving.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by castaway:
•Hello everyone. Congrats to those headed to med school. I'll be attending Texas Tech this fall. I just got my financial aid package, and noticed I was awarded a tiny grant. I was wondering, is there was an average amount of grant money awarded to students? For those of you already in med school: do packages routinely include grant $ or is it more of an exception?
Thanks!!•••••I think you're lucky, but I'm not sure. Check out the Financial Aid Forum too, since there is a lot of useful info in there.

 

[vyc]

i'm entering med school this fall but don't plan on graduating in 2006. so do i not have a class?
would i become class of 2007?
2006 sounds so much nicer! we like round numbers.

 

[CANES2006]

Foxy, I see that you are beginning to take over this forum too. :wink: I will most likely attend the University of South Florida this fall as a first year medical student (since Miami will probably give me the boot soon). I will travel to Tampa on May 15 to look for an apartment. I will be partaking in a summer pre-matriculation program that strarts on June 10, so "medical school" is practically around the corner for me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
Cane

 

[Doctora Foxy]

shorrin,

I'll most likely be attending Chicago Med in North Chicago. Maybe I'll see you at the lake!

Are any of you non-science majors? I know I shouldn't study over the summer, but I was thinking of buying one science book and reading that to re-familiarize myself. What type of book should I get? Biochem, anatomy, physiology?

And if you are graduating soon, when will you notify schools you are still waiting on of your address change?

 

[Mighty Mac]

My prep for starting medschool in the fall.

1. Going out everynight and cramming in as much fun as possible.
2. Brushing up on my pickup lines as a Dr. (i.e. Hi, I'm a future Dr, thats a thalmascope in my pocket, I'm not just happy to see you. or Hi, I'm a Dr open your mouth and say AHhhhhh)
3. I got a phat ride, so I can hang my stethiscope over the rearview mirror to impress chicks.
4. Am headed next week to Durham, NC to buy a condo to mac out and impress the honies.
5.Surfing the east coast hot spots over the summer to acclimate my west coast chee to the east coast.
6. Avoid at all cost any book, talk or thought about school.

 

[orthoman5000]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Mighty Mac:
•My prep for starting medschool in the fall.

1. Going out everynight and cramming in as much fun as possible.
2. Brushing up on my pickup lines as a Dr. (i.e. Hi, I'm a future Dr, thats a thalmascope in my pocket, I'm not just happy to see you.)
3. I got a phat ride, so I can hang my stethiscope over the rearview mirror to impress chicks.
4. Am headed next week to Durham, NC to buy a condo to mac out and impress the honies.
5.Surfing the east coast hot spots over the summer to acclimate my west coast chee to the east coast.
6. Avoid at all cost any book, talk or thought about school.•••••Now that plan sounds preferable to mine! Now my question is this: Will the smell of formaldehyde offset any advantage I might have with the women because I'm a medical student?

 

[Mighty Mac]

You're thinking all wrong my boy, its not about odor, its about attitude. Besides, the new formaldehyde has a more pleasant, citrus odor, chicks will think you were at the beach wearing sunblock. Walk the walk and talk the talk and the broads won't care what you smell like. <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[shorrin]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Mighty Mac:
•You're thinking all wrong my boy, its not about odor, its about attitude. Besides, the new formaldehyde has a more pleasant, citrus odor, chicks will think you were at the beach wearing sunblock. Walk the walk and talk the talk and the broads won't care what you smell like. <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> •••••From a current broad and a future broad md -- Puhleeze! :wink:

Carmen,
You have a new goal to shoot for! I noticed that kimberley cox has +3000 posts and her title is queen of sdn.

Kimberli Cox
Queen of SDN
Member # 6054 3188posts

go for it :wink:

 

[Assassin]

It's gonna suck being a freshman again...@24!!!

 

[shorrin]

@29

 

[Cambrian]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by vyc:
•i'm entering med school this fall but don't plan on graduating in 2006. so do i not have a class?
would i become class of 2007?
2006 sounds so much nicer! we like round numbers.•••••vyc,

What school are you attending that allows you to graduate in 5 years?

 

[KeithKow]

Holy crap...out of all of you only one of you has the right attitude upon going into med school. take it from me as i finish 1st year: DON'T READ A DAMN THING FROM HERE UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS!!! have fun, trust me. studying now isn't going to help AT ALL. and as far as the guy wanting to do orthopedics...AOA?!? dude, don't even think of that at all. first of all, it isn't true that you absolutely need AOA. i know of lots of ortho matches from my school this year who weren't AOA. second of all, you just shouldn't be thinking of these distinctions. think of learning the **** because you need to help somebody someday, not because you want to get a good grade. and lastly, YOUR FIRST TWO YEARS GRADES MATTER LEAST IN GETTING A RESIDENCY!! just kick ass on the boards and in third year. they barely look at your basic science grades. so if you get anything out of this message, just understand that i'm trying to tell you to RELAX. enjoy life, don't get bogged down by it. please! the last thing medicine needs is more gunners.
good luck,
keith

 

[orthoman5000]

KeithKow,

I actually agree with everything you just said. I only mention the AOA thing because I've read it's helpful for an orthopedic match, but as you said not necessarily required. I've purchased the books I did just to space out the costs so I don't have to buy them all at once when I don't have a job and I'm only living on loans. Now I am reading the books on study skills and time management because as an undergraduate I was about the farthest thing removed from a gunner, so I thought it might help to brush up on that area. As far as enjoying life and not worrying about small things (grades included) I can't agree with you more. This last weekend I became an uncle (BTW, my brother the daddy is named Keith) and I also witnessed an 84 year old man die while at work. He was a DNR and he literally took his last breath as I was moving him to a more comfortable position. The combination of these two events got me thinking about whats really important, and I have to agree that grades aren't one of them. You are right, learning the material so we can help someone someday is important though.

 

[Future_Doc]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by orthoman5000:
•I will be attending the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine beginning in August. •••••Hey ortho! I will be starting at UAMS this fall also. I'm pretty excited. Are you doing the 3-week prematric course? Guess I'll be seing you in August. Hey, don't work so hard studying before we start. I'm sure we will get all we can stand once we start. Good to see fellow UAMS people here on SDN! BTW - enable your Private Message option so I can send you a PM.

 

[orthoman5000]

I enabled the PM thing. Yes it is good to see other future UAMS students on this site. No, I won't be doing the prematriculation class. I guess I'll be seeing you early in August, I guess orientation starts on the 5th.

Paul

 

[darkmatter]

Hmm, any Spanish textbook (e.g. Hablemos Espanol) would do. Nothing beats having a friend who speaks the language, though.

It's been pretty tough living it easy post-acceptance, I'd be thinking most of us would be low-budget due to impending costs and fees. At work, it's tough spending all that hard earned cash for any other than for future medical requirements. Learning simple joys would be most beneficial to those in the same boat... be it volunteering, enjoying a good walk in the park with friends, or hosting barbecue get-togethers in the summer. After all, easy pleasures are most accessible even in the midst of medical school. For any opportunity to enjoy life and prevent medical school myopia, carpe diem! The problem is that some of my friends outside the medical school business think that having fun now is an absolute must, being that there will be no room for the same quality of enjoyment once medical school commences. Will the Patriot's victory be the last Superbowl I'll ever watch with the brods? I hope not.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

For those who bought computers for college and are graduating this month, do you plan on buying new computers for med school? I don't know if my laptop will last another year....

Also, how will you go abuot finding a roomate if you don't know anyone in the area? Will you just pick off the list?

 

[Jessica]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by shorrin:
•ok DraF,

do you know of any good self-teaching spanish books? I don't have the bucks to take an official class but I think it's really important to be able to speak to patients yourself.•••••I like "Que Paso", I bought my copy from the AMSA website for $9.... it does a pretty good job of covering of all of the basics (medical spanish and a little of the basics of a conversation)

 

[moo]

i am bringing my brand new flat-lcd screen, keyboard, printer, and optical mouse, but i am buying a new computer in either milwaukee or chicago, wherever i end up.

 

[Espion]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by castaway:
[QB]Hello everyone. Congrats to those headed to med school. I'll be attending Texas Tech this fall. [QB]••••Guns up, Red Raider. I'll be at Tech as well.

 

[kadini]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•For those who bought computers for college and are graduating this month, do you plan on buying new computers for med school? I don't know if my laptop will last another year....

Also, how will you go abuot finding a roomate if you don't know anyone in the area? Will you just pick off the list?•••••Would you recommend having a laptop for medical school? I will take any excuse to buy a laptop, but the lecture halls that I saw did not have ports or anything like that, so I was not sure if it would be something to bring to school with me or not.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

•••quote:••• Would you recommend having a laptop for medical school? I will take any excuse to buy a laptop, but the lecture halls that I saw did not have ports or anything like that, so I was not sure if it would be something to bring to school with me or not. ••••I have heard it is very useful to have one. You will have to view slides from class and possibly anatomy slides, and the portability of a laptop is nice. If you'll have to move around for 3rd and 4th years, it's one less thing to worry about in the move. Today I had to do a presentatin for class and I just stuck my laptop in my purse. So go get one! And when you decide which type to get, please let me know, because I have no idea what to buy! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

[Vin Scully]

I've only seen one school that had ports in the lecture hall, but I've seen a couple more that had them in the library. I think it would definitely be more convenient for you...that should be the only excuse you need.

 

[Espion]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by kadini:
•Would you recommend having a laptop for medical school? I will take any excuse to buy a laptop, but the lecture halls that I saw did not have ports or anything like that, so I was not sure if it would be something to bring to school with me or not.•••••Tech practically requires us to buy laptops. Actually, they say we have the preference, but nearly everyone I talked to appreciated the portability and convenience of a laptop.

Personally, I hate the suckers. The keyboards are too small to type on most of the time and you can't upgrade them. Plus they are usually twice as expensive as the best desktop system.

All said and done though, I still gotta get one. I'm heading for a Dell Inspiron. One of the best out there.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

My prep before entering USUHS this fall:

1. Go on dates with my wife.
2. Continue working 60 hrs a week at my current job.
3. Eat as much as possible to store up fat in preparation for the salary cut.
4. Play my guitar until my fingers hurt.
5. Sell my house.
6. Watch many, many movies.

If I've missed anything that I should really be paying attention to, somebody tell me.

Good Luck this fall!

 

[oldman]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
• •••quote:••• Would you recommend having a laptop for medical school? I will take any excuse to buy a laptop, but the lecture halls that I saw did not have ports or anything like that, so I was not sure if it would be something to bring to school with me or not. ••••I have heard it is very useful to have one. You will have to view slides from class and possibly anatomy slides, and the portability of a laptop is nice. If you'll have to move around for 3rd and 4th years, it's one less thing to worry about in the move. Today I had to do a presentatin for class and I just stuck my laptop in my purse. So go get one! And when you decide which type to get, please let me know, because I have no idea what to buy! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> •••••either that is one small laptop or a big ass purse.

 

[ckent]

For those people looking to buy laptops, wait until you start school before you purchase one. Besides the benefit of knowing whether or not you really need a laptop or not, you will also save money or be able to purchase a much better laptop if you wait because prices for laptops and all computers 1/2 every 6 months or so.

 

[Chnobli]

Hi guys,

Here is how I will "prepare" for medschool:

Month of June: my dad will be visiting us from overseas, so I will be hanging on the beach with him, eating out, riding bikes around ect. Then, I will take him to San Francisco for 2 days.

Then, I will go to Indianapolis for 4 days for the retirement party of my father in law. My last day of work is end of June.

July: I will be visiting Switzerland (I guess it payed out to collect frequent flyer miles while going to the interviews...) where I have family, and South of France, where a friend of mine is renting a house boat for a week. While sipping wine on the boat, I will enjoy the relaxing athmosphere, and eating crusty European bread!

August: My husband and I will be going to Peru for 3 weeks, hiking the Inca trail, and hopefully improving our Spanish skills a bit...

September: Schoooooooolllllll begins!

The only medical related thing that I will do this Summer is buying a handheld Sony Clie, and upload some of the fun medical programs!

I took the advice everyone told me seriously: have fun the Summer before med school!

Hope you all will have fun too!

Chnobli

 

[phllystyl]

Temple actually sent out a letter strongly "recommending" a laptop for histo slides and anatomy diags. Unfortunately I just built a new desktop system for myself for my bday this year. (1.3 ghz athlon tbird, geforce 2 mx400, 400mb RAM, 8x4x24x CDRW from my old machine... etc) Now im stuck with the proposition of buying a laptop for class.

Its a tough call :/