MS4 just waiting to graduate and feeling nostalgic....AMA

[Virtuoso87]

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Hi everybody,

Since I'm hitting the end of medical school I decided to take a look back at SDN, particularly pre-allo, because I was feeling nostalgic. Med School flew by and it feels like just yesterday I was checking these boards trying to figure out how I'd even get in. Flash forward 4 years and I'm all matched and counting down the days until I trade in the short white coat for the longer version (and apparently more responsibilities or something). I figured I'd do an AMA for fun so if anyone has any questions let me know!

 

[Frogger27]

What did you match into and where on your rank list was it??

 

[deleted838145]

hello. I'm about to enter college (I know, hsdn, but it's far more interesting here) and despite taking a handful of APs I'm pretty worried about the transition of high school to college. How was your own experience (if you can recall 8 years ago aha)?

 

[Virtuoso87]

What did you match into and where on your rank list was it??

Dermatology, #1 on my rank list. I'm not a superstar or anything, it was just a good fit.

 

[Virtuoso87]

hello. I'm about to enter college (I know, hsdn, but it's far more interesting here) and despite taking a handful of APs I'm pretty worried about the transition of high school to college. How was your own experience (if you can recall 8 years ago aha)?

I definitely remember my first semester of college, I think it's one of the most memorable times in someone's life. College can be hectic at first because it will be more work than you're used to but you'll figure out how to study and hit a groove. Have fun, try new things, don't forget that you're there for school but also don't turn into one of those people who spends all day studying and ignoring the experience that is college. You'll never have anything like that again. Don't worry too much about the transition, everyone has to make it. As long as you have some self control you'll be fine.

 

[berenstein]

What advice would you give your younger MS1 self if you could go back in time?

 

[Mh0311]

Im sure you did well on your usmle to match into derm so when and how did you study for step 1 and is there anything you would've changed?

 

[IMakedThese]

What should a student do if they're trying to match into Derm? (Did you do research, away rotations, etc..?)
How did you study/material used that worked during your first two years? What didn't work?
Anything you wish you did differently?

 

[Virtuoso87]

What advice would you give your younger MS1 self if you could go back in time?

That imposter syndrome is real, especially at the beginning of MS1. A LOT of people experience it, but no one wants to admit it right off the bat because everyone wants to look smart and impressive to their new med student peers. You'll eventually find out that many of your friends feel/felt the same way, which in turn helps you feel better.

Other things: You'll be much happier if you don't talk about grades with your friends (or anyone else in your class really). It's fine to say things like "oh yeah, I did fine on that test" or "I didn't do that great on the phys exam" but once you start naming actual numbers bad things happen. It can be tempting to punt really learning hard concepts in the basic science years if you know you can get away with learning the minimum for the exam. Don't do that. Everything builds and you'll be really thankful come step 1 time if you put in the time before.

 

[Virtuoso87]

Im sure you did well on your usmle to match into derm so when and how did you study for step 1 and is there anything you would've changed?

I didn't start studying until my dedicated step 1 studying period after second year was over. Instead of starting early like some people I know I just studied really hard each block/unit/period of school to learn THAT material. I wanted to maximize the stuff that I was only "reviewing" come step 1 time and minimize the stuff I had to actually learn. Learning stuff takes way longer than reviewing.

I took about 5 weeks to study. I used the "UFAP" method of UWorld, First Aid and Pathoma. I supplemented those main resources with "Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple" for Microbio and Kaplan Pharmacology (Lionel is a hero). I used cram fighters to help me make a schedule. I'd generally wake up around 9am, eat breakfast and start reading/watching pathoma videos. Then around 1pm or so I would start UWorld blocks and pump those out for the rest of the day until around 11pm. I did untimed tutor mode because I wasn't really simulating a test, I was using it to learn/review. I took a couple notes for each question. I would also do one system or subject at a time instead of random. I wanted to take advantage of repetition to help drill things into my skull.

The only thing I would probably change is that I wish I took better care of myself during that time period. I stopped exercising and just ate whatever was quick and convenient. I felt guilty doing anything but studying. My mood got pretty low and looking back that was definitely a mistake. I could have taken some time daily for cardio and honestly that probably would have helped me focus better.

 

[NotASerialKiller]

Dermatology, #1 on my rank list. I'm not a superstar or anything, it was just a good fit.

What about derm appeals to you?

My M-1 taste has been memorizing some facts about a slew of conditions that look similar and have almost the same treatment. It's been the only topic so far that I haven't found interesting in any way, so I'd like to hear someone talk it up.

 

[Virtuoso87]

What should a student do if they're trying to match into Derm? (Did you do research, away rotations, etc..?)
How did you study/material used that worked during your first two years? What didn't work?
Anything you wish you did differently?

The best way to go about it is to try and go through medical school keeping every door open you can. You obviously know you have to study hard for your classes and step 1. You also want to make sure you're still pretty well rounded and not a study machine. In my experience through aways and the interview trail everyone in derm was smart, but also really fun and laid back. So make sure you get involved in things, service opportunities, clubs, and maintain/develop your hobbies. Although it was always on my radar, I didn't decide on dermatology until the end of MS3. That means I didn't have any previous research and had to get some pubs while on away rotations, which I did 3 of to help make up for that.

Study materials for first two years:
MS1
Gross anatomy: Netters and netters flashcards but mostly just putting in time in the lab.
Histology: My school resources were actually sufficient for me.
Microbiology: Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple. I can't recommend that book enough. I've also heard great things about Sketchy Micro.
Physiology: Constanzo Physiology, the big book not the BRS one.
Neuro/Neuroanatomy: Mostly school resources and a lot of time in the neuroanatomy lab but I supplemented with Purves' Neuroscience book.
Biochem/genetics: School resources
Immunology: I took a great immunology course in college so I just reviewed my books and stuff from there.

MS2
Pharmacology: Kaplan pharm and school resources. The first and only time I ever used flash cards to study a lot.
Pathology: Pathoma, Robbins (and occasionally Rubins) and their q-books. I got a free copy of Goljians and would use that for rapid review.
Pathophys: School resources. I think if you really understand phys and path well it's not hard to integrate them.
Microbiology 2: See above.
Behavioral Science: Fadem's "Behavioral Science in Medicine" and school resources.
Biostats/epi: I winged it here.

The big thing I wish I did differently: I wish I realized how much better practice questions are for studying than just reading earlier.

 

[Virtuoso87]

What about derm appeals to you?

My M-1 taste has been memorizing some facts about a slew of conditions that look similar and have almost the same treatment. It's been the only topic so far that I haven't found interesting in any way, so I'd like to hear someone talk it up.

The truth is we don't really learn ANY derm in medical school. Even the topics that we do learn about (basal cells, squams, psoriasis etc etc) are only the "derm-lite" versions. When you actually get involved its a lot more interesting and there is way more pathophys going on than you initially realize.

Part of the appeal of derm to me is personal, having dealt with a non-acne derm condition gave me a greater appreciation for it.
Other parts of the appeal: its a great combination of things. Good amount of interesting pathophys to keep the medicine interesting, procedures to mix into the day, you can see pediatric or geriatric patients, it integrates actual pathology/microscope work, and patients are generally really appreciative of the work you do. The other, more obvious, things: good lifestyle (I have hobbies that I'd rather not give up), good compensation (definitely not going in the "con" list), laid back personalities in the field (not many god complexes or hyper aggressive people here).

 

[berenstein]

What emerging technologies do you feel would be derm's "future" ? Regenerative medicine perhaps, or maybe something else? (don't have much experience with derm btw haha)

Only new tech I know of is the SkinGun but wondering if there are others.

 

[Virtuoso87]

What emerging technologies do you feel would be derm's "future" ? Regenerative medicine perhaps, or maybe something else? (don't have much experience with derm btw haha)

Only new tech I know of is the SkinGun but wondering if there are others.

New pharmacologic therapies are emerging/being taken advantage of and that's pretty exciting. People are responding to biologic therapies in ways that they wouldn't have been able before with topical treatments. Jak kinase inhibitors are also emerging as potential therapeutic options, especially considering they can be applied topically.

I've read a little about the skin recognizing computer programs (and even the skin gun ha) but I don't know a whole lot about them. To be completely honest I've been taking it pretty easy since interview season ended and maybe haven't been keep as current as I should.

 

[750335]

"Derm" is literally my bat signal so had to show up

So, was uworld the only qbank you used?

Congrats btw!

 

[Virtuoso87]

"Derm" is literally my bat signal so had to show up

So, was uworld the only qbank you used?

Congrats btw!

Yeah, UWorld was my go to. With the way that I did questions (with taking notes for every one) I didn't really have enough time to do more. I tried Kaplan's q-bank but ended up not liking it. I found it too specific and nitpicking. I couldn't tell if the concepts were really high yield and I needed to know them or if its as just super specific and I shouldn't waste time learning it when there was way more stuff to go over.

 

[750335]

The big thing I wish I did differently: I wish I realized how much better practice questions are for studying than just reading earlier.

Based on this and your response about not liking kaplan... does this mean you should have started Uworld sooner/with class work? Or do you mean questions in books like Robbins, or RR?

 

[Virtuoso87]

Based on this and your response about not liking kaplan... does this mean you should have started Uworld sooner/with class work? Or do you mean questions in books like Robbins, or RR?

Sorry, I may have misunderstood before. I meant that I only used UWorld for Step 1 studying. For the actual year I used things like both the Robbins and Rubin's question books, rapid review, and practice questions provided by my school.

 

[Lifeblood_20]

What did you major in undergrad? Did you have a "Plan B" in case med school didn't work out?

 

[Virtuoso87]

What did you major in undergrad? Did you have a "Plan B" in case med school didn't work out?

I majored in bio in undergrad. I actually didn't decide on medical school until after I was done so no real plan B in that sense. I worked at a hospital for a year to get some clinical experience and decide if I really wanted to do medicine and then applied.

 

[flirtingwithsignificance]

When you applied, what did you use as non-science LoR? I had a non-science class 5 years ago and that's all.

 

[Virtuoso87]

When you applied, what did you use as non-science LoR? I had a non-science class 5 years ago and that's all.

I asked an English professor from a class I took towards the end of college. I wasn't that far out so she remembered me.