i sent a few questions i had about M1 year to sammyjay who's an M4 at rush. here are the questions with his responses:
Q: My main question is about small details that you personally observed about classes or study techniques your M1 year.
A: Your first year is very tough, especially the first few weeks where you are trying to get used to a new school, new people, foreign material, the language, along with learning your way around, and how to hangle all the science questions at once.
Q: what are some pointers specific to rush's professors or syllabus for classes like anatomy, histology, physiology, ect. that would help all of us out before starting M1 year (especially for anatomy)?
A: First with Anatomy, anatomy, unless you have had it once before is all about learning the language, like trying to take a map of NYC and memorizing it in a day, it just takes looking at it over and over again...best thing that helped me is using the Grant Dissector during lab, and trying to see the structures, and understand what it does, origin, insertion, and just the big arterial supply. In the student labs center, there are ACKLAND videos, i highly recommend watching those because they outline each body part and show different views of the dissection.
Histology is only one quarter, and unfortunately, it is just annoying to get through...the motto is just know what is in the syllabus, and you will be fine.. i think that is bad advice since it doesnt guide you... Iowa has a very good website, just google Histology..also BRS histology is pretty good, so i would read that along with the notes. Also take the slides and do practice tests with your classmates so you can test each other that way for the practical portion of the test
Physiology has changed, so my advice might be outdated...but for this class try to just get the facts down and understand the machinery, you will gain a better understanding second year during pathophysiology, BRS physiology is a very good book as well
Q: also, do you have any advice, things to watch out for or avoid, areas to focus on, or certain ways of studying that worked out the best for you. for example, are exams soley based on notes in the syllabus packet they give us, or should we do all the readings from the required texts?
A: Exams seem to be heavily based on the notes that they give us...my advice is that if you are good at memorizing, then the notes are the way to go..ive never been good at memorizing, so i tried to use other modules (internet, videos, review books) it didnt get me honors, but i passed just fine and i think i understood the material...and remember, YOU DONT HAVE TO HONOR EVERYTHING YOUR FIRST YEAR.. that is the best advice i can give you, dont try to go for an honor, you will drive yourself crazy...seriously just try doing your best and improving...in the beginning, you will be freaked out by others in your class who will be reading every page of the text, taking notes in 5000 colors, and highlighting their notes, just go at your own pace, it is really tough at first, but just try spending a little time on each subject. but at bare minimum if you have an understanding of the notes, you will be ok
Q: Do the professors write the exams for the classes they teach?
A: Yes they do
Q: if so, how much do the lectures help out for preparing for the exams?
A: That is always the million dollar question. For certain classes (anatomy, immunology, histology) it helps, for biochem and physiology, less so.. if you can use that 1 hour slated for class to review on your own, try to do it...the 9-5 class schedule may feel long, but imbedded in that is anatomy and histology lab.
Q: is there material in lectures and not in the readings that appears on the exams?
A: For certain classes such as Immunology, and smaller classes like behavioral science
Q: If we're interested in a certain field, do you suggest that as M1s, we contact an attending in that field and ask to observe procedures or work they do?
A: If you came to medical school gung-ho on a certain field, it probably would be a bad idea to contact an attending... i know students have done that, especially over breaks, and they found that it is very helpful...best way to do so is that during M1 year you have lectures by doctors, so they are usually welcome to the idea of 1st years shadwoing... or just ask around, depending on what department..when you come to rush, you can get hold of me and i can direct you better depending what doctor you want to shadow
Q: also, how do you go about trying to get involved in research work with attendings. i dont think i'm going to worry about research M1 year, but the
summer afterwards and maybe through M2 year. I also heard about a summer program rush has for research after M1 year where they pay you a stipened. How hard is it to get that research spot?
A: The program is called the deans fellowship and that is probably the best way to get involved in research after m1 year... about 80% of the people who apply get it ( that was for this years M1 class, i htink) my year i think almost everyone got it, so it obviously depends on how your class is.
Q: i personally have an interest in orthopaedic surgery. How should i go about getting myself involved in the department early on?
A: Rush is an amazing ortho department, you have many contacts, the best thing i can do is put you in contact with my M4 friends when you arrive at Rush who are applying for ortho, they can guide you well. It might be early, but something brought you to medical school, so go with it if you want to do it.
, trying to furnish the place and getting settled in (i'm only taking my clothes with me so i have lotsa shopping to do 
