I'm starting M1 in August and I've been out of classes for a year-and-a-half. I was also not a science major, although I did reasonably well in the pre-reqs. My biggest worry is not being able to keep up with my classmates were biochem majors and are fresh out of college. My question is, how big is the gap between students like that and students like me? Did you notice that some of your classmates without as strong a science background had to play big time catchup?
I'm a non-trad and was a non-science major. In biochem, there were times I wish I had been a biochem major. In neuro, ther were times I wish I had been a neuroscience major. Every time we had doctoring and had to interact with the SPs, I was glad I was a theatre major, because I think I was more comfortable with interacting with them than a lot of my classmates, at least at first. I really didn't feel like I was at a great disadvantage at any point over the course of the year.
Do you have any tips for using lecture time effectivly? Any ideas for getting the most out of it? (Please don't say don't go to lecture cause its mandatory at my school)
For me, actually going to lecture and paying attention, going through the powerpoint as the lecturer does and making notes was the most efficient learning time for me. I don't have the willpower to study at home very well. It takes me 2-3 times as long to get through the same material.
What has been your hardest subject/block to date and why?
Well, my worst grade was our first physiology block. It was just too damn big and it was split in half by winter break.
Can you talk about how an M1 class integrates (or doesn't) socially?
Is it one big happy family? Is it cliques? Did you find your one best buddy? Does everyone have their go-to crew?
That sort of thing?
Some of my classmates organized outings especially after tests and finals. I didn't go to them, as I live farther out and my husband and I have two small kids that need to be put to bed when those get-togethers are going on. I would have liked to, though. Maybe I will slip out to some next year after the kids are asleep.
I think most of my class gets along pretty well. Temple claims to want nice students and I think they manage that. There are cliques to be sure, but I think you would be hard-pressed to find a school that didn't have them. I have made several good friends.
As someone with relatively no anatomy experience entering M1 in August, do you think it would be worth it to lightly study some of the material beforehand? I have no major plans for the next month, aside from sitting on the couch (not by choice). Anatomy is the first block at my school, and I'm worried that I will struggle with it.
No, nah, nope, no way, hell no, non, nai and nyet. Don't do it.
Thanks everyone for your responses.
I have one more question. From reading various threads, I get the sense that (at least at some schools) there isn't a lot of guidance on what books to buy. There seems to be a lot of "buy whatever book you want."
Now, I'm a student who learns MOSTLY from the book. Do med school classes, in your experiences, tend to be not faithful to books at all? I would just feel completely lost if I didn't have the structure of a book.
Like Nick, I don't think I've bought one book since anatomy (except for a Pathoma review book). I felt like the lecture slides were enough.
How did you feel when you were cutting the cadaver?
Have you met any patients yet and if you did, what was it like?
Our cadavers were pre-dissected so I think that was a little different, though it's still surreal. I will refer to tiedyedog's very eloquent description.
I've only met one actual patient when I wasn't shadowing. It was early in the year and I remember it being awkward but moving.
-Now that you're done with ms1, how did the actual experience compare to your expectations?
-what are some things you wish people told you before you started ms1?
-what was your favorite thing about ms1?
-least favorite thing?
I honestly think it was less stressful that I thought it was, though there were definitely days/weeks I was freaking out and had a few good cries. I really enjoyed my first year.
The sooner you embrace P=MD, the happier you will be.
Finally feeling really challenged, intellectually, for the first time in a long time. I worked a bunch of clerical hospital jobs in the years between my bachelor's and started MS-1, while I took my pre-reqs, got married, had a kid, etc.
Nothing in particular. Oh wait. On second thought, I'm stealing Nick's answer. "Professors not being clear about what they expect you to know/tests being a complete surprise with respect to what you thought was important."
I'm not entering medical school yet, but I'm still curious... Do most people around you seem like they have a clear idea of their future? I know it changes a lot during clinical rotations, etc., but I feel like I meet way more people who seem to have pinpointed a future field of interest than not. Then those without an idea seem sort of overwhelmed like by not knowing. (This could definitely be medical school dependent.)
Eh. I think plenty of my classmates has at least some idea of what they want to do (or what they definitely don't want to do). I'm one of the ones that's pretty sure they know (I think I will be surprised if I don't decide on OB or peds) but I also know there's a good chance I'll change my mind in third year. There will be ample opportunities to shadow or otherwise research specialties, either through interest groups in the school or on you own time.
