Official MCW Class of 2009 Thread

[45408]

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You guys already know your neuro grades? I thought that test was this morning...are they doing those online now?

we had one of those "write down all your answers" sheets, and they posted the answer key (just the answer sheet, not the actual exam) on Angel around 1 pm.

 

[donnyfire]

Hey incredibly helpful Xandie and Don - question:

One of the options for medicine is inpatient one month and geriatrics the other. Is the geriatrics outpatient or inpatient?

Thanks!!

Geriatrics is the wild card. It counts for either, which makes your senior year a bit more flexible.
I also hear it's pretty darn easy.

 

[Gimlet]

we had one of those "write down all your answers" sheets, and they posted the answer key (just the answer sheet, not the actual exam) on Angel around 1 pm.

Oh yeah...duh.

 

[Xandie]

It counts for either, but it has no call and no weekends, so almost everyone counts it as inpatient... which is exactly what I'm doing when I take it in October. 🙂

Two days left at Columbia... then VA. 🙁

 

[Gimlet]

Sad to hear about the chair of the Surgery department dying. Xandie or Don, did either of you guys know/meet him?

 

[Xandie]

I saw him yesterday. He also did our professor rounds last week... it was kind of surreal this morning. We found out at about 9ish as news spread through the Surgery department. All the residents went to a meeting to find out what happened, and the upper levels took the afternoon to spend time with each other, including Dr. Adams' daughter, who is a PGY-3.

 

[samenewme]

Sad to hear about the chair of the Surgery department dying. Xandie or Don, did either of you guys know/meet him?

One of my friends is a circulating nurse and has worked with him. She says he was an awesome, awesome man and she's deeply shocked.

 

[donnyfire]

Sad to hear about the chair of the Surgery department dying. Xandie or Don, did either of you guys know/meet him?

I saw him yesterday. He also did our professor rounds last week... it was kind of surreal this morning. We found out at about 9ish as news spread through the Surgery department. All the residents went to a meeting to find out what happened, and the upper levels took the afternoon to spend time with each other, including Dr. Adams' daughter, who is a PGY-3.

It's so sad. He did our professor rounds, too. I didn't have a chance to work with him directly, but everyone I talked to said he was good to work for, and amazing to see in action during transplant surgeries (legend has it that he was the fastest liver transplant surgeon in the US).

I worked with his daughter while I was at Columbia, and she is a great person to work with. She and her family are in my prayers.

 

[Gimlet]

Wow, talk about a "slow-start" morning...I managed to make it through all 5.5 pages of the histology material in FA since 9:15 this morning. Stupid internet, ruining my concentration.

 

[Xandie]

I am only one measly rotation away from fourth year... cardiothoracic surgery, no biggie. 😱

 

[45408]

Good God, four hours straight in an exam? that's just brutal. I'd say our exam was harder than last year's. It was harsh.

 

[indo]

Good God, four hours straight in an exam? that's just brutal. I'd say our exam was harder than last year's. It was harsh.

Sweet mother of pearl!


...got my ass kicked again.


edit again: and yep, last year's exam was a sissy version of our exam.

 

[Xandie]

Oh yeah? Well *I* walked uphill both ways.

The test you can do at home is *always* easier then the one you do in the computer lab... sorry to break it to you, kids.

*end wisdom from old, decrepit Xandie*

 

[45408]

Oh yeah? Well *I* walked uphill both ways.

The test you can do at home is *always* easier then the one you do in the computer lab... sorry to break it to you, kids.

*end wisdom from old, decrepit Xandie*

I often do better on the real deal since I'm much more focused.

 

[samenewme]

Oh yeah? Well *I* walked uphill both ways.

The test you can do at home is *always* easier then the one you do in the computer lab... sorry to break it to you, kids.

*end wisdom from old, decrepit Xandie*

I'm not so sure. There's a difference between the feeling I had on the old exams, which was, "Damn, I knew that two weeks ago. That's the thing where the negative feedback goes, um, I kind of forget," and, "What in the Sam Hill kind of pathway is this? I've never heard of this, and I didn't even know G proteins or nuclear interaction or anything had anything to do with the action of this hormone. What? Doesn't it just, oh, heck."

Suddenly grandfatherly, kind, casual Dr. Raff turned into Dr. Dahms when it was question-writing time. It was a big shock.

 

[indo]

I agree, Dr. Raff jacked up the difficulty. I wonder if they adjust difficulty to compensate for differences in class averages.

 

[45408]

I agree, Dr. Raff jacked up the difficulty. I wonder if they adjust difficulty to compensate for differences in class averages.

Ashers told me that they dropped the threshold last year by, hold on tight here, a half percent.

 

[Gimlet]

Interesting. Raff lobbed us our questions on the Pharm final this year - total gimme's. Hell, they weren't even softballs - they were whiffle balls.

 

[Ashers]

Interesting. Raff lobbed us our questions on the Pharm final this year - total gimme's. Hell, they weren't even softballs - they were whiffle balls.

Raff is great. So is endocrine.

 

[indo]

raff is awesome. I wish he was our full time phys instructor and also the neuro instructor.

What classes do we have next year? Micro and path and then pharm and path?

What books do we need 1st term?

 

[Xandie]

Ashers told me that they dropped the threshold last year by, hold on tight here, a half percent.

The pass range went from 72 to 71.4% my year, if memory serves.

What classes do we have next year? Micro and path and then pharm and path?

What books do we need 1st term?

Yes, that's the right class schedule. You also have the little stuff, psych first semester, sexuality for about the first six weeks of second semester, health policy for the rest of second semester, and ICE/CER the whole year.

Books: (my advice might be skewed, but whatever) Path: Robbins (although I used it as a reference more than a text), BRS. Micro: the immunology text book remains the only textbook I read cover to cover, and nothing else except maybe Micro Made Ridiculously Simple (which I didn't use, but I heard was great). Pharm: no text needed, the notes are great. CER: Bates is a good text to have, for sure. Psych/Sexuality/HP: whole lotta nothing.

As always, feel free to disagree, kids.

 

[indo]

The pass range went from 72 to 71.4% my year, if memory serves.



Yes, that's the right class schedule. You also have the little stuff, psych first semester, sexuality for about the first six weeks of second semester, health policy for the rest of second semester, and ICE/CER the whole year.

Books: (my advice might be skewed, but whatever) Path: Robbins (although I used it as a reference more than a text), BRS. Micro: the immunology text book remains the only textbook I read cover to cover, and nothing else except maybe Micro Made Ridiculously Simple (which I didn't use, but I heard was great). Pharm: no text needed, the notes are great. CER: Bates is a good text to have, for sure. Psych/Sexuality/HP: whole lotta nothing.

As always, feel free to disagree, kids.

Thanks! I hate paying full price so I like to get used copies 'n such whenever I find them for cheap.

 

[Gimlet]

Thanks! I hate paying full price so I like to get used copies 'n such whenever I find them for cheap.

Definitely don't pay full price for a Bates. I think I cracked mine once all year. Hopefully it will come in handy next year if I need if I need to brush up on some techniques.

 

[Gimlet]

Doing well on a block of Qbank makes me feel great. How great, you ask? About this great:

[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y6rE0EakhG8[/YOUTUBE]

Specifically, I like to pump my fist and yell "yeah" numerous times like they do at the end.

Where is Splat, and akpete for that matter? Self-imposed exiles from SDN?

 

[Gimlet]

The conference room I'm studying in reminds me of the way the canvas tents at Boyscout camp would smell on a hot afternoon. That's probably weird, right?

 

[Ashers]

raff is awesome. I wish he was our full time phys instructor and also the neuro instructor.

What classes do we have next year? Micro and path and then pharm and path?

What books do we need 1st term?

I read most of Robbins 2-3 times per block. There were a few blocks or sections I didn't read it. Robbin's Review is good for practice questions. I've never used the baby robbin's I have. BRS Path, and I also got Rapid Review when I lost my BRS for a while -- it's thicker, but it explains the mechanisms behind things.

I DESPISE THE IMMUNOLOGY BOOK! Maybe it's just me, but that book was worthless. Half the pictures in lecture are from that book, the other half are from Janeway's Immunobiology -- what I used in college, and what I used for reference -- much more helpful, but also bigger and more expensive (I saved mine from college). I read the Abbas book just out of sheer stubbornness. I also read the immuno section in Lange's Micro and Immuno. I referenced that for the rest of micro -- micro kinda got pushed to the side by path.

Pharm -- Goodman and Gilman. Some of the prof's don't explain the complete mechanisms very well (Bloom), so in block 3 when my dad found out I didn't have Goodman and Gilman, he ordered it for me (it's also free on AccessMedicine -- only online though). I started reading it for all of block 3 and block 4. I liked the outcomes with the blocks I read it.

Definitely don't pay full price for a Bates. I think I cracked mine once all year. Hopefully it will come in handy next year if I need if I need to brush up on some techniques.

I got an old edition of Bates in like October. The only time I used it was for my CER preceptor thing when he told me to read sections before going in for the H&P sessions. I don't think Bates is necessary, and if someone makes you read it, check it out at the library.

Where is Splat, and akpete for that matter? Self-imposed exiles from SDN?

Splat's on vacation with the fiance at Mackinaw (sp?) Island.

The conference room I'm studying in reminds me of the way the canvas tents at Boyscout camp would smell on a hot afternoon. That's probably weird, right?

I've studied in that one a lot. It has a dodgy internet connection.

 

[Gimlet]

I've studied in that one a lot. It has a dodgy internet connection.

It's been showing a "low" signal strength all day, but I haven't had any problems with the speed of my connection. Actually, Qbank has worked better in here than it has for the past week in the library on a "very good" to "excellent" connection.

 

[Xandie]

Weekend off third year = no studying allowed.

I assume the day is approaching for each of you '09ers... best of luck!

 

[indo]

Weekend off third year = no studying allowed.

I assume the day is approaching for each of you '09ers... best of luck!

Oh yeah. When are you all scheduled? You feel ready?

 

[indo]

I read most of Robbins 2-3 times per block. There were a few blocks or sections I didn't read it. Robbin's Review is good for practice questions. I've never used the baby robbin's I have. BRS Path, and I also got Rapid Review when I lost my BRS for a while -- it's thicker, but it explains the mechanisms behind things.

I DESPISE THE IMMUNOLOGY BOOK! Maybe it's just me, but that book was worthless. Half the pictures in lecture are from that book, the other half are from Janeway's Immunobiology -- what I used in college, and what I used for reference -- much more helpful, but also bigger and more expensive (I saved mine from college). I read the Abbas book just out of sheer stubbornness. I also read the immuno section in Lange's Micro and Immuno. I referenced that for the rest of micro -- micro kinda got pushed to the side by path.

Pharm -- Goodman and Gilman. Some of the prof's don't explain the complete mechanisms very well (Bloom), so in block 3 when my dad found out I didn't have Goodman and Gilman, he ordered it for me (it's also free on AccessMedicine -- only online though). I started reading it for all of block 3 and block 4. I liked the outcomes with the blocks I read it.




I got an old edition of Bates in like October. The only time I used it was for my CER preceptor thing when he told me to read sections before going in for the H&P sessions. I don't think Bates is necessary, and if someone makes you read it, check it out at the library.



Splat's on vacation with the fiance at Mackinaw (sp?) Island.



I've studied in that one a lot. It has a dodgy internet connection.

Cool, thanks!

 

[Gimlet]

Oh yeah. When are you all scheduled? You feel ready?

June 9th for me. I think I'll be good to go by then. At least, I'd better be.

 

[indo]

June 9th for me. I think I'll be good to go by then. At least, I'd better be.

How long do you study each day? Hopefully at least 15 hours.

 

[45408]

How long do you study each day? Hopefully at least 15 hours.

I've already started!

 

[indo]

I've already started!

I've just created a new USMLE highlighter kit so that I can study more efficiently.

 

[Ashers]

7 June.

I get to school at 7:30, then study til 5-6, then go home, Qbank questions. Not as much as I anticipated, but the only day I've been behind where I've wanted to be is today. So now I have to study a lot more tonight. Joy.

 

[indo]

7 June.

I get to school at 7:30, then study til 5-6, then go home, Qbank questions. Not as much as I anticipated, but the only day I've been behind where I've wanted to be is today. So now I have to study a lot more tonight. Joy.

you love it.

 

[Xandie]

I'm bored and it's great.

 

[Ashers]

you love it.

Actually, the weekend of finals, I had one of my friends be like "You weren't supposed to study" when I said I got bored and did Kaplan questions. It was only because he hadn't given me PDA games at that point.

I do love the fact that I just took a Qbank test and I did well on it. I must've learned something in the past few weeks -- that and I'm a good guesser apparently for drugs they didn't teach us in pharm. Of course, that doesn't include biostats.

Xandie, I don't know what to do with myself when I'm bored. It's really sad.

 

[45408]

I'm bored and it's great.

I'm completely letting my house get messy, because my wife is gone, and I have no responsibilities whatsoever at this point in time. Gave my liver a real run for its money last night, and now I'm headed out again with some friends. Maybe I'll give my brother a call....

 

[pratik7]

How long do you study each day? Hopefully at least 15 hours.

I have been trying to study 9am to 9pm..sometimes more and sometimes less. But i am taking this entire longggggg weekend off cause my brain still hurts.

Learning things well the first time woulda really helped

 

[Ashers]

Learning things well the first time woulda really helped

Sometimes learning things at all would've helped (eg. psych, MIM, neuro, biochem, devo). 😉

Off to bed! Have to get up bright and early to study! woot.

 

[indo]

Actually, the weekend of finals, I had one of my friends be like "You weren't supposed to study" when I said I got bored and did Kaplan questions. It was only because he hadn't given me PDA games at that point.

I do love the fact that I just took a Qbank test and I did well on it. I must've learned something in the past few weeks -- that and I'm a good guesser apparently for drugs they didn't teach us in pharm. Of course, that doesn't include biostats.

Xandie, I don't know what to do with myself when I'm bored. It's really sad.

Do you get the post-final withdrawal that makes you feel like you have to study something? I have nothing to do so I watched all of this season's "The Shield" on streaming TV and looked up Glock guns and boxing, and read research about the effects of melatonin on memory.

 

[45408]

I have been trying to study 9am to 9pm..sometimes more and sometimes less. But i am taking this entire longggggg weekend off cause my brain still hurts.

Learning things well the first time woulda really helped

that's one of the reasons why I'm trying to do as best as I can now, even if these grades aren't that important

 

[45408]

outstanding

 

[Ashers]

I think I had a Qbank question that had an answer choice involving the Henmon-Nelson IQ test. WHY do we need to know what IQ test does what? Or different tests by name? I can see knowing if a test will find faults with visual-spatial stuff, but seriously, do I have to know what the thing is called? It's like the questions I get with 5 eponym diseases, and I've heard of 2, and the description doesn't sound like either of which I've heard.

 

[45408]

I think I had a Qbank question that had an answer choice involving the Henmon-Nelson IQ test. WHY do we need to know what IQ test does what? Or different tests by name? I can see knowing if a test will find faults with visual-spatial stuff, but seriously, do I have to know what the thing is called? It's like the questions I get with 5 eponym diseases, and I've heard of 2, and the description doesn't sound like either of which I've heard.

that sucks. did they talk about IQ tests at all in your M2 psych class?

 

[Gimlet]

that sucks. did they talk about IQ tests at all in your M2 psych class?

Not at all. I had that question on Qbank, too. If I recall correctly, they kind of gave away what the exam was testing so you didn't just need to have the name memorized to tell what type of intelligence it was measuring. I still got the question wrong, of course.

 

[indo]

what does lorazepam do?

 

[Gimlet]

what does lorazepam do?

All sorts of stuff. Chills you out, mostly. Did you want a specific mechanism or indication, or were you just quizzing us?

 

[indo]

I've got some for sleeping and I just wondered what I was getting myself into. I could've googled it but I figured I'd just ask because a) I'm bored and b) you all have just finished a massive pharm course.

thanks!