need advice just got in to med school

sherryvec · May 30, 2005

what books would you recommend I read to get a head start?

backrow · May 30, 2005

NONE!!!!
Enjoy the last real break of your life

Happy613 · May 30, 2005

you don't need a head start. You got in b/c, whether you believe it or not (and most don't🙂), you will be able to handle med school. Relax and enjoy the summer. there are other threads on this.... Anything you learn now will be forgotten by august; and you will have plenty of time when school starts to learn everything you need to. There are no head starts in medical school 🙂

So relax!!! Go to the beach, get a tan and drink heavily.

JudoKing01 · May 30, 2005

Yeah I definately bough like a ****load of books to "get a head start" and trust me, it's not worth it. You're going to go over it a zillion times anyway, so just relax.

pillowhead · May 30, 2005

how about a good self-help book on how to relax?

seriously though, I don't want to be mean--just trying to make a point that there is no point (or really a good way) to get a head start. If you must read something medical over summer, check out some good non-fiction medical books like Hot Zone, The Spirit Catches You..., White Coat, The Coming Plague, etc. They will get you excited for medical school and for the journey on which you are about to embark. Buy some textbooks if you'll have fun flipping through them (pretty much everyone buys Netter's anatomy atlas, BRS Physiology, Lippincotts Biochem, etc) and if it will get you excited about the school year, but don't even try to get a head start because you don't even know what your school is going to teach and emphasize yet!

Obedeli · May 30, 2005

I think some people have forgotten how exciting it is to know you are going to medical school.
Here are two books on choosing a medical specialty. Some will say it is too early. I say "You have some nerve!"
Seriously, getting an idea of who you are and how you work can help you at least get an idea of medical specialties.
There are two books
The Ultimate Guide to choosing a medical specialty
and
How to choose a medical specialty

As it turned out. I ended up in one of my original top 3 specialties from the time I read this book as an MS0. Having an idea of what you may go into will give you good vision on looking beyond medical school and realize you are working for a specific purpose. Also, it will answer many questions on pay, residency length, etc.

Whatever you do, do NOT read anything classwise.

_J_ · May 31, 2005

dude... u can't be serious 👎

raidermedic · May 31, 2005

Honestly you're not going to be able to get a head start by just studying in the summer. Theres just so much info that you will not be able to get any kind of meaningful work done unless you put in like 6 hours a day (you don't want to do that).
But I've never liked it when people tried to tell me how to study or what I should be doing as a med student so if you really want to read over the summer.....

The books that Obedeli put down are pretty good reading for the summer. Ireson's (spelling) is another you could look at. Those would all provide you with some good info/advice about med school in general.

If you've never had anatomy you could buy an atlas and get a very basic overview of the bones. I'm talking "Oh so the tibia and fibula are down there."

YouDontKnowJack · May 31, 2005

i'm just gonna chime in with my 100th useless post.

i see this all the time. med students getting all excited about going to med school, and getting into high gear the summer prior to enrollment. they want to study their asses off from day 1. Then they get sorta tired and overwhelmed.

ok anyway. you want a headstart? get some BRS books and start reading. easy basic stuff.

Fenrezz · May 31, 2005

This is one I always recommend for those about the begin med school.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0940208296/qid=1117560976/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-2064234-9276045

It's made all the difference for me surviving medical school. In fact, I can always tell which students have read it, and which haven't. 👍

sweetpeamd09 · May 31, 2005

I am in the same position as the OP. But, I will not be cracking books..only a coloring book. 🙂 I didn't have the opportunity to take Anatomy in school, so I think this may help me have a clue---but keep me distanced enough from the actual book work. I have been working in industry this year, so the thought of cracking a textbook again is a wee bit crazy. So, a coloring book is I think an excellent choice for those of us who have that compulsive impulse to be studying already. Other than that, sit back, relax, and enjoy the last summer of your carefree life. 😉

I will be spending some time by the pool with a fruity cocktail and...

sweetpeamd09 · May 31, 2005

That just isn't necessary. The OP is perhaps a wee bit nervous... don't you remember most of the pre-meds being slightly anal? It's not a exactly a bad thing. :luck:

Blake · May 31, 2005

DrPharaohX · May 31, 2005

Nice.

To the OP: 🙄 enjoy.the.summer

deuist · May 31, 2005

The House of God, Mount Misery, and Tuesdays with Morrie

deuist · May 31, 2005

Did you get to test Viagra on the old guys? 👍

NatrlRx123 · Jun 1, 2005

I will be matriculating at UTMB this fall and I have ordered some medical books/flash cards (Netter's) to flip through to satisfy my desire for information now... but I also think it's a good idea to have fun our last free summer.

I just got done reading and would highly recommend:

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide Douglas Adams

It has all 5 of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Novels in one book, plus one short story. It is freakin' hilarious. If you like Monty Python humor, you will love this book! Plus, the chapters are short which makes it a good book to read before bed bcause there is always a good stopping place. Another plus... it sells at Barne's & Noble for about $15! That's an awesome deal! 😍

samdwi · Jun 1, 2005

The Far Side Gallery 25th Anniversary Edition.

Star Wars Picture-Pop-Out Coffee Table Book.

JudoKing01 · Jun 1, 2005

Get the giant Netters anatomy picture book. That's what one of my MSIV friends recommended to me.

Also, check out Chuck Palahniuk's new book "Haunted." It kicks ass.

Barry Otter · Jun 4, 2005

Medikit · Jun 4, 2005

Hilarious

fotolilith · Jun 30, 2005

I like the last one... Will I See Fido in Heaven?: Scripturally Revealing God's Eternal Plan for His Lesser Creatures ... it's totally focusing my studies. :laugh:

evade · Jun 30, 2005

Oh, man, The House of God! You'll either laugh your ass off or wonder why you ever decided to go into medicine in the first place. Or both. I think I did both. Especially when reading through the Rules. And about disimpacting people.

NURSE HALP!

TazdevilDO · Jun 30, 2005

I just read and fully recommend:
The Intern Blues
A Not Entirely Benign Procedure: 4 years in Medical School
Becoming a Doctor

They are all really inspiring, and really scary at the same time.

oceans412 · Jul 1, 2005

you want a headstart? get some BRS books and start reading. easy basic stuff.[/QUOTE]

OK, I'm so dumb, but what is BRS??

oceans412 · Jul 1, 2005

They are all really inspiring, and really scary at the same time.[/QUOTE]

OK so speaking of being scared about medical school, I am also an incoming MS1 and terrified that I won't be able to keep up. I am a SLOW reader. Any suggestions for things that I could read that might save me a little time in the future?

Also, to the person who suggested the giant Netter's illustrated atlas... which one is that exactly?

deuist · Jul 2, 2005

The rules are so funny, yet so true.

GOMERS never die!

roady · Jul 3, 2005

Just saw someone selling "MS1 Medical School Biochem" or something like that on eBay--it's supposed to be real lecture notes from the 1st class of year one at one of the MD schools in FL.

Do you think it would be good practice to see if you have the "right stuff" for medical school??

need advice just got in to med school

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