Hello,
I was recently accepted to med school and I'll be starting this summer. I was wondering what you'd recommend for reading/studying material before class starts. I know we should worry about living life before we start but I've already traveled around the world twice, and I'm currently living abroad in Istanbul - a very stimulating city with TONS to do.
My problem is that I don't want to get too far away from studying before school starts. So for a few days a week, I want to study. A couple of further details, I've already studied and taught anatomy as a TA, so I won't need to study that. I was leaning towards Biochem or Physiology, but any advice and specifically book names you all could give would be extremely helpful. Thanks!
I'm going to disagree with many of those here who think you should just not do anything medical. Yes, there are arguments and I have heard them, and I listened to them. I wish people had actually provided me the information I requested, so I will do that for you and get flamed when it's over.
Your Anatomy TA experience will pay dividends. Our only perfect scorer in the practical to this point did the same thing. My advice would be to take what you already know and learn more of it in more detail. If you can do the Brachial Plexus in your sleep and know what branches innervate which muscles, you'll be a whole lot more at peace than the rest of your class. The more anatomy knowledge you can get into your brain (conceptually) the more likely you could be to grab a perfect score, or at least pad the crap out of your grade when you get to the allegedly dreadful neuro/neck.
Stay away from physiology...period. Explore biochemistry pathways for conceptual knowledge. I think it'd be helpful to become aware of the various enzymatic abnormalities and clincial correlations for anatomy and biochem only as a means of awareness. Don't bother to try and learn the details, you're going for the "I've heard of that before" moments during lecture.
I was a non-bio non-trad so my knowledge base was lacking compared to my peers. Those with the various science degrees have been very fortunate to be tested on concepts they were already very familiar with.
All of my advice said, don't think you're going to be prepared, no matter how much you study. You won't be able to grasp what it is like until you are actually neck deep in it. So with that, don't bother setting up some silly study schedule or regimented routine, you'll be burned out before you get there. But if you're sitting on the couch watching whatever show you watch, reading material isn't bad.
I think more importantly though, spend a bit of time exploring your brain. Knowing how you learn, models of material presentation and what works for you will be so much more valuable than any preparation you can do. Learn how you learn.
So there is my advice, fished from the trash and recycled for more than what it is probably worth.
And to all those out there who will quote and flame my post, don't bother, I know what he's asking for because i asked the same question and took bad advice. Just ignore my post if you disagree.
