Question For Current Midwestern CPG Students

[textbook]

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I was just trying to figure out how much books will cost for Fall 2007. Which books do you feel are really needed for Fall quarter of the first year? I have listed the classes below... I've heard that many of the suggested books aren't really necessary?

Human Physiology I
Biochemistry I
Pharmaceutics I
Health Care Systems
Intro to Professional Practice I
Interdisciplinary Health Care

Any info would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂

 

[off2skl]

Overall, the professors have very good notes so the texts are really only to clarify information if you find that you need to.

In my opinion, if you have any Biochemistry or Physiology book from undergrad, that would be helpful if you need to look up information. Or the library keeps a couple copies on hold.

I didn't think the texts were really necessary for pharmaceutics at all.

When I took Intro to Professional Practice there was a book for medical terminology that you needed to buy since you needed the code in the book in order to take the quizzes. Not sure if they are still running the class the same way though.


I don't remember any texts for Health Care Systems and definitely none for Interdisciplinary Health Care.

The most helpful books for me throughout the program were more the reference books, the DI Handbook, the Nonprescription DI to some extent, Katzung, and Dipiro. The NonPrescription DI and Dipiro are kind of pricey and if you live on campus the library would have copies available.

 

[Jeddevil]

They make you think you are going to use them alot, but you don't. They provide lecture notes and that is what you are tested out of.

I graduate in 3 weeks. I bought DiPiro, some huge OTC book, and Katzung's pharmacology book. Wait, I did use the DIH, so you might want to buy that one. I never used the OTC book, even though they made me feel like I would fail without it. Katzung's was used a bit to clarify things, but it is in the library and I believe online under MDconsult or somewhere. DiPiro is nice, but you can buy the "mini' Dipiro Pharmacotherapy Handbook, and it is a lot cheaper, easier to read, and cuts out all the extra crap you don't need.

What I would buy is a nice PDA and get Lexi-comps suite on it for a couple hundred bucks. That provides the DIH, mini Dipiro, and about 15 or so other good references. Then, you might want an actual DIH for all the charts in the back and also the Mini-Dipiro has a lot of charts and graphs that are not on the PDA version.

I will let you in on something. Almost any book you need will be in the library with multiple copies. They will be a year old or so, but not many changes at all. You can check them out for a month at a time, and if nobody requests them, you can keep them out the whole qtr. I know several people who did this and I actually did for the physiology book 2nd qtr.

So if I could do it all over again, I would buy lexi-suite beginning 4th qtr, DIH and the mini-dipiro right off that back, and nothing else. The PDA program is about $250 I believe, and well worth it. The DIH and Mini-dipiro are both about 40-50 bucks. So you should be good spending about $350 for the whole program. Lexi-complete, suite or whatever it is called, is well worth the money, especially for rotations.

Be ready for a lot of busy work. Things have really changed alot since I started three years ago. You are going to absolutely hate Intro to professional practice. When I had it first year, our class consisted of guest lecturers coming to school to tell us about different jobs in pharmacy, a nice 1 credit blow off class. Now it is non-stop busy work that I havn't heard any kind words about. Also, be ready to hear that retail is dead and that if you don't work somewhere in a clinical position, you won't have a job in the future. Just try not to laugh when you hear this. Get through the first year and it is downhill from there. Good luck!

 

[JerryPharmD]

I didn't buy a single book the first two quarters and did just fine...

 

[blueclassring]

i would consider buying a pda around the summer quarter here. you'll need it for the case studies.

 

[textbook]

what programs do we need on the pda?

 

[kkelloww]

No books. Micromedex is free on the PDA while at Midwestern.

 

[Madnezz]

Are all the class notes on the web?
I'm asking because I'm thinking of getting a tablet PC which is pointless unless all the class notes are on the web.

Do many students use laptops for taking notes in class?
I'm asking because I'm wondering if I'll be using mine in class or not. I type much faster than I can write.

How many hours of notetaking in class do you spend each day? like 5-6?
I'm wondering because most laptops, mine included, can only do about 2-3 hours of battery life.

What were the toughest courses for you the first quarter/year? What textbooks should I be reviewing?

On another note: I'll be moving into on-campus housing on August 18. Do you have any tips for moving in and what I'll need that I probably won't remember? This is the first time I'm moving from out-of-state so would like to do everything in one trip if possible.

Thanks in advance for reading.

 

[Jeddevil]

Are all the class notes on the web?
I'm asking because I'm thinking of getting a tablet PC which is pointless unless all the class notes are on the web.

Do many students use laptops for taking notes in class?
I'm asking because I'm wondering if I'll be using mine in class or not. I type much faster than I can write.

How many hours of notetaking in class do you spend each day? like 5-6?
I'm wondering because most laptops, mine included, can only do about 2-3 hours of battery life.

What were the toughest courses for you the first quarter/year? What textbooks should I be reviewing?

On another note: I'll be moving into on-campus housing on August 18. Do you have any tips for moving in and what I'll need that I probably won't remember? This is the first time I'm moving from out-of-state so would like to do everything in one trip if possible.

Thanks in advance for reading.

I don't remember any notes being on the web. They are handed out in the back of class when you walk in. A tablet PC or Laptop would not help you. I don't remember anyone using a laptop in class.

None of the classes are too hard the first year, there are just a lot of them. The hardest thing for me was managing my time. Once tests start (week two usually), you will have test twice a week on top of all the other busy work crap they assign at Midwestern. Manage your time well, and you will do fine.

Don't forget to bring sunscreen.

 

[blueclassring]

if you're striving for As, prepare to work hard. if you want to pass, then cramming the night before the exam will do wonders. a lot of the folks do it here, and seem to love it.

isome people work hard to do well, but i do it more so i won't embarrass myself during rotations.

we just gone done with an integrated test today and we have a final to study for on tuesday.

the material itself isn't hard, but when you have to memorize materials from 9 lectures you'll find yourself in the bind.

fall and winter quarter were a piece of cake compared to this, but on the other hand this material is far more interesting.