Review book for entering 1st year

[MissGlassSir]

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I'll be starting school in the fall and seem to have forgotten everything I ever knew about science. I'm sure it'll come back once I start, but just to be on the safe side I'd like to go over some review book or mini-textbook (but not an MCAT book or anything quantitatively-oriented). Anyone know of anything? Like some condensed version of an A&P textbook?

Thanks!

 

[jm192]

The consensus both here and from first years I've spoken with is DON'T review.

They're not going to expect you to come in with a ton of knowlledge. You're going to be taught everything.

Use your time to just relax and enjoy life--spend time with friends, family, and loved ones.

If you were really hell bent on getting a book--I actually think an MCAT book has a lot of great basic biological information. You can buy just the KAPLAN MCAT BIOLOGY review---has all the MCAT BIO info, and alot of questions to really make you think---not much/any math.

 

[drizzt3117]

I think a MCAT book would be utterly worthless.

If you want to review, I'd get useful books that you'd use down the road. Costanzo, FA, or RR Biochem would be my choices for reading material that would have future value. If you want to get visual, get Netter and familiarize yourself with it. Personally I feel like reviewing any of those books and having a true understanding of it would help in first year, it's not like you need to memorize it cover to cover, but go through it, highlight, take notes, and make sure you understand it. I would've felt much better about biochem if Id've done that. At most schools, what they test in biochem in school is vastly different than what's actually on step.

 

[fahimaz7]

You can't review for medical school. The only exception might be biochemistry, if you have a really good background (BRS or High Yield Biochem).

I had a MS in Cell and Molecular Biology, and I didn't feel "prepared" enough to even touch that book before classes started.

Med school spoon feeds you the information that is important (at least for their exams), so deal with it when you get started.

 

[fahimaz7]

If you were really hell bent on getting a book--I actually think an MCAT book has a lot of great basic biological information. You can buy just the KAPLAN MCAT BIOLOGY review---has all the MCAT BIO info, and alot of questions to really make you think---not much/any math.

Lol.. Pre-med suggesting the Kaplan MCAT book for medical school prep. Classic.

 

[TexasPhysician]

You would be better off ramming your head into walls repeatedly than prepping for MSI.

 

[BeastfromthEast]

lol i was under the impression that this person was about to enter college, not med school.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I think a MCAT book would be utterly worthless.

If you want to review, I'd get useful books that you'd use down the road. Costanzo, FA, or RR Biochem would be my choices for reading material that would have future value. If you want to get visual, get Netter and familiarize yourself with it. Personally I feel like reviewing any of those books and having a true understanding of it would help in first year, it's not like you need to memorize it cover to cover, but go through it, highlight, take notes, and make sure you understand it. I would've felt much better about biochem if Id've done that. At most schools, what they test in biochem in school is vastly different than what's actually on step.

This is probably the best legitimate answer, but at the other resident alluded to, enjoy your potentially last summer off and hit the ground running when med school starts.

Do not, I repeat, do not use the MCAT prep books. No usefulness whatsoever, except for MCAT preparation.

 

[TheRadiologist]

Do not study over the summer. It will not help you much, if at all. Just do the things you enjoy over the summer,and be ready to work hard when school starts. If you have had the prerequisite subjects, the stuff you forgot will come back to you when it is reviewed in later classes. If you need to review, it is much better to review as needed rather than do some comprehensive review over the summer.

 

[foofish]

I'll be starting school in the fall and seem to have forgotten everything I ever knew about science. I'm sure it'll come back once I start, but just to be on the safe side I'd like to go over some review book or mini-textbook (but not an MCAT book or anything quantitatively-oriented). Anyone know of anything? Like some condensed version of an A&P textbook?

Thanks!

Don't review. Why? Realistically, the bulk of the premed science will 1. be repeated and 2. consists of essentially the first week of medical school, if that. After that point, most material will be new and so reviewing will do nothing to help anyway.

You have a long 7+ years ahead of you....fun and incredible, but long. Take advantage of your last summer completely free of obligations and relax....avoiding burnout will help you out *much* more than would reviewing intro biology.

 

[Schemp]

Okay, putting aside everyone's suggestion that the OP not use his summer studying, what about someone who has a full year off? Any suggestions for books I could look over during that time, just to keep things fresh and potentially prepare a bit? And better yet, books that are likely to be needed in medical school anyway?

 

[fahimaz7]

Okay, putting aside everyone's suggestion that the OP not use his summer studying, what about someone who has a full year off? Any suggestions for books I could look over during that time, just to keep things fresh and potentially prepare a bit? And better yet, books that are likely to be needed in medical school anyway?

I took 5 years off between my BS and starting medical school. Again, there is no reason to "review" for medical school.

Also, if your school is anything like most of ours... There's no real "books" that are needed. The only books that we read are BRS/High Yield/Rapid Review books, and they won't be worth a damn to anyone that hasn't already seen the material in medical school.

 

[drizzt3117]

I took 5 years off between my BS and starting medical school. Again, there is no reason to "review" for medical school.

Also, if your school is anything like most of ours... There's no real "books" that are needed. The only books that we read are BRS/High Yield/Rapid Review books, and they won't be worth a damn to anyone that hasn't already seen the material in medical school.

I think reviewing phys/biochem from rapid review or costanzo is fine. That stuff is just building on what you should have learned in ug phys/a&p courses. Reading systems stuff is just a waste of time, though.

 

[aggie08]

Just don't. The answer is still no. Someone should sticky this to the pre-med page, it gets asked all the time. NO NO NO NO NO. Don't study before you start. No. You will have wasted your time.

 

[radiodoc99]

If you have time get a textbook in a subject you like for more detail. Like Costanzo physiology or Clinically oriented anatomy by moore and dalley.

 

[drizzt3117]

If you have time get a textbook in a subject you like for more detail. Like Costanzo physiology or Clinically oriented anatomy by moore and dalley.

I feel like Moore is a great book but it will take forever to read it. I didn't use it for anatomy for that reason. FA and Costanzo would be a good pair of books to look at.

 

[fahimaz7]

If you have time get a textbook in a subject you like for more detail. Like Costanzo physiology or Clinically oriented anatomy by moore and dalley.

It takes 30 minutes to read the blue boxes and prepare for an anatomy exam. Reading that ahead of time is a huge waste of effort and time.

 

[riceman04]

I'll be starting school in the fall and seem to have forgotten everything I ever knew about science. I'm sure it'll come back once I start, but just to be on the safe side I'd like to go over some review book or mini-textbook (but not an MCAT book or anything quantitatively-oriented). Anyone know of anything? Like some condensed version of an A&P textbook?

Thanks!

Best review book you ask?

So there is this book called: "How to Get a Great Tan on the Beach or by the Pool Before 1st year of Medical School"

You should check it out!

 

[Law2Doc]

I'll be starting school in the fall and seem to have forgotten everything I ever knew about science. I'm sure it'll come back once I start, but just to be on the safe side I'd like to go over some review book or mini-textbook (but not an MCAT book or anything quantitatively-oriented). Anyone know of anything? Like some condensed version of an A&P textbook?

Thanks!

Do not waste your time. Repeat do not waste your time. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself for med school is to rest up and be ready to hit the ground running once it starts. Spend your time off seeing movies, spending time with friends, etc -- all the things you won't have enough time for once school starts. Trying to study on your own is extraordinarily low yield and your time could be more usefully spent doing almost anything else.