school supplies - what to buy pre-orientation?

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olemissbabydoc

olemissbabydoc

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Okay, I love school supplies. My favorite summer day as a kid was making a trip to target & office depot for the following year's supplies.

Book-wise I am waiting until after school starts because my M2 buddy has been kind enough to turn over all her stuff to me.

But what are the best ideas for supplies that I should start stocking up on? What works best - notebooks, binders, highlighters, favorite pens... hit me with your favorite products!
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Highlighters - I liked to use orange for terms, then yellow for the details of that term

Notebooks- Big ones. I used 1-2 notebooks per block and divided each subject using dividers. That way you only really carry 1-2 notebooks instead of one for each subject.

That is about it.
 
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olemissbabydoc said:
Okay, I love school supplies. My favorite summer day as a kid was making a trip to target & office depot for the following year's supplies.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you had a childhood?
 
The post-it sticky tabs to mark pages -they're sort of plastic, reusable.
 
olemissbabydoc said:
Okay, I love school supplies. My favorite summer day as a kid was making a trip to target & office depot for the following year's supplies.

Book-wise I am waiting until after school starts because my M2 buddy has been kind enough to turn over all her stuff to me.

But what are the best ideas for supplies that I should start stocking up on? What works best - notebooks, binders, highlighters, favorite pens... hit me with your favorite products!
Click to expand...

Colored pencils, glue sticks, a pencil sharpener, a pair of plastic safety-scissors, and a rad trapper keeper!
 
Climberak said:
Are you sure you had a childhood?
Click to expand...

Not that it was the most exciting but I did enjoy looking for the coolest/newest/best pen/pencil out. Those Zebra pencils were always a big deal as a 4th grader lol.
 
Hello from a fellow office supply addict!!!
I agree that the Post-it sticky tabs are great- I use them to mark the chapter I'm studying so I can flip to it quickly. I use tiny regular yellow post-its to mark pages I have questions on and as reminders to do random crap.
A good planner (or computer calendar) is a must. No kidding, I just got an email letting us know about a date in 2011.
Also, a few good non-smudgy pens, probably in a few different colors. I liked index cards for some classes, so lots of those if that's your style.

I used a 2" binder for each 4 week exam block, with colorful dividers for each subject. It was big enough to hold a lot of stuff but small enough to keep me from being a note-pack-rat. I also used small binder clips to carry around little packets of notes with me. The less you carry from home to school, the better. Oh- and a good backpack.

Also, seems weird, but the girl in my class that kept nail clippers in her locker was a hero to many on days we saw standardized patients. Might not be a bad idea.
 
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The people in my class whom I envy most use a tablet pc for everything. It seems so easy and simple. Personally I require a pen and paper to learn anything, but those things seem cool as hell.
 
karmega5 said:
Hello from a fellow office supply addict!!!
I agree that the Post-it sticky tabs are great- I use them to mark the chapter I'm studying so I can flip to it quickly. I use tiny regular yellow post-its to mark pages I have questions on and as reminders to do random crap.
A good planner (or computer calendar) is a must. No kidding, I just got an email letting us know about a date in 2011.
Also, a few good non-smudgy pens, probably in a few different colors. I liked index cards for some classes, so lots of those if that's your style.

I used a 2" binder for each 4 week exam block, with colorful dividers for each subject. It was big enough to hold a lot of stuff but small enough to keep me from being a note-pack-rat. I also used small binder clips to carry around little packets of notes with me. The less you carry from home to school, the better. Oh- and a good backpack.

Also, seems weird, but the girl in my class that kept nail clippers in her locker was a hero to many on days we saw standardized patients. Might not be a bad idea.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the great advice!
 
If you are provided paper copies of all of your notes then a tablet is an unneeded expense. Not to mention that unless the powerpoints are up before lecture it is even more useless.
 
olemissbabydoc said:
Thanks!

OK probably not THE best day of summer, but certainly one of them
Click to expand...

One of the worst days of summer for me, since I knew I was going back to school soon.

Mechanical pencils, lead, erasers, highlighters, sticker flags, and a few spiral bound notebooks.
 
I actually have a Tablet, which is awesome. I loved it in anatomy and histo, since you could just mark right on the ppt slides. But when 2nd year came, I reverted to what was most comfortable- paper and pen (printing out notes). Plus, it was nice to be able to study without having to wait 5 minutes to boot up a computer or find a power outlet, or to carry the darn thing around and worry about rain, leaving it in my car, etc.
 
Is there a lot of coloring diagrams in medical school? Should I get some good map colors (flashback to high school biology class).
 
A set of colored pencils (36-pack is best!, crayola ones always feel like they are better than others) - really good for anatomy, either if you are using the coloring book, which is great, or just drawing it out yourself. Then get a pencil sharpener that has a hole for colored pencils, and that collects the shavings so you don't have a mess.

A supply of your favorite fine-tipped pens, in a few colors, if it's not a multi-color set. If your school gives you a syllabus with all the notes in it, you will probably just take notes into it. I thought it was good to have at least 3 bright colors. I recommend either the sarasa gel retractable set, the pilot G2s, or if you really want to go all out and get the best pens ever, the staedtler triplus fineliners.

A couple different color highlighters. a lot of people use the sharpie accent multipacks. they make them in retractable too.
 
I love getting fresh new stuff for school. My favorite thing about school. I actually got a real good deal on lead pencil refills this year, like 12 cents a pack of like 30 leads. Now I just need a few good mechanical pencils.
In undergrad I feel in love with writing tablets. I just love the ease writing with out the bulk of a binder and just flipping the paper. Then when I am done I just hole punch and store what I need . or type up the notes on a laptop when your ready.

Sticky notes are must, as well as highlighters, a jump drive wouldn't hurt either.

It's always nice to get a cool new thing, like a funky pen or a neat set of pencils, cause it'll make you want to use it more. and i.e study more?..maybe not but it's good reasoning to get it.

I like drawing and sketching so I can't wait to get a mechanical sharpener cause I am tired of using the regular handheld ones.

Oh and something to keep everything together, nothing is worst than ruffling through your bag in the middle of class looking for an eraser...
 
Organizational tools are a good way to go. Maybe instead of investing in 3" notebooks, you should just make seperate spaces on your shelf for each subject, then you can carry around what notes you need atm and replace it after you are done. I attempted to use huge notebooks, but I didn't carry them to class, they weren't really big enough (unless you bought one for each exam- $$$), and I ended up really disorganized and I threw out all my notes at the end of the year.
 
karmega5 said:
Hello from a fellow office supply addict!!!
I agree that the Post-it sticky tabs are great- I use them to mark the chapter I'm studying so I can flip to it quickly. I use tiny regular yellow post-its to mark pages I have questions on and as reminders to do random crap.
A good planner (or computer calendar) is a must. No kidding, I just got an email letting us know about a date in 2011.
Also, a few good non-smudgy pens, probably in a few different colors. I liked index cards for some classes, so lots of those if that's your style.

I used a 2" binder for each 4 week exam block, with colorful dividers for each subject. It was big enough to hold a lot of stuff but small enough to keep me from being a note-pack-rat. I also used small binder clips to carry around little packets of notes with me. The less you carry from home to school, the better. Oh- and a good backpack.

Also, seems weird, but the girl in my class that kept nail clippers in her locker was a hero to many on days we saw standardized patients. Might not be a bad idea.
Click to expand...
Was the email titled "2011 graduation date confirmed"? Because I promise you don't need a calendar to remember that.
 
olemissbabydoc said:
...
But what are the best ideas for supplies that I should start stocking up on? ...
Click to expand...

Red bull, no doz, a good coffee mug, poptarts, and antacids. That and a few writing implements should get you through the first year. Some people like 3x5 cards for making flash cards, so those might be worth stocking up too. And a good backpack. And you are set.
 
laptop + bookbag + good liquid ink pen for random writing occasions


Seriously, I never take notes the old fashioned way or write on paper unless I have to turn something in. I even do computerized flashcards. School supplies are totally unnecessary.
 
I have a little notebook that I use more for scrap paper to write things down over and over again that won't stick. Other than that....my favorite pens, some highlighters that I haven't really used, some mechanic pencils for the occasional scantron and my computer....My ipod touch has been a lifesaver too. Especially during orientation.
 
Last edited:
Jolie South said:
laptop + bookbag + good liquid ink pen for random writing occasions


Seriously, I never take notes the old fashioned way or write on paper unless I have to turn something in. I even do computerized flashcards. School supplies are totally unnecessary.
Click to expand...

I'm getting more and more like this. OP, I'm with you on the Office Depot thing. Love that place!
 
computer with internet access, your damn books, and a comfy bed. maybe empty binders for holding your syllabi
no pens
no paper
no stickies
no flashcards
no highlighters
no medical equipment yet
only bother with class for socializing unless you're a rare person (5% of the population) who actually learns effectively from lecture
 
Depends on your curriculum and school. My school gave us the full syllabus on paper for each block, didn't posts .pdfs of lectures online until after they had been given, and didn't have audio/visual online. As a result, maybe 5% of my class used laptops in lecture, most of us scribbled on paper. I visited my college roommate who was at another medical school, and maybe 90% of the class was on their laptop for lecture.

Personally my absolute necessities were:
-Highlighters (multiple colors, large stash)
-2" binder for the full paper syllabus
-White out pen (the tape style, the liquid is too messy)
-Uni-Ball Vision Elite in black, red, and blue.
 
ZagDoc said:
Depends on your curriculum and school. My school gave us the full syllabus on paper for each block, didn't posts .pdfs of lectures online until after they had been given, and didn't have audio/visual online. As a result, maybe 5% of my class used laptops in lecture, most of us scribbled on paper. I visited my college roommate who was at another medical school, and maybe 90% of the class was on their laptop for lecture.

Personally my absolute necessities were:
-Highlighters (multiple colors, large stash)
-2" binder for the full paper syllabus
-White out pen (the tape style, the liquid is too messy)
-Uni-Ball Vision Elite in black, red, and blue.
Click to expand...

ahh, yea. We have electronic everything. Syllabus documents and powerpoints are supposed to be up before the lecture starts. Streaming video is available later thes ame day in case you missed something. I'd say 90% of our class uses laptops exclusively.
 
supplies? i bought some pencils i guess -- although i can't be totally sure i didn't actually just steal them from other people instead
 
engineeredout said:
Best highlighters ever.

Not the retractable ones though, these:

http://www.staples.com/office/suppl...d-5-Pack_17531_Business_Supplies_10051_SEARCH
Click to expand...

Sharpie's color is great, and they have little clips on the tops so you can clip them, but they don't last as long as the bulk cheap fat highlighters.

I used an old anatomy atlas, ripped out key illustrations, and stuck them in page protectors to use in lab.

I didn't color diagrams, but some of my classmates did. At the end of the year I started doing my outlines in multiple colors just to make it more likely I'd read it a second time -that sort of worked.

I might add, go to costco or sam's and buy yourself a bunch of your favorite snacks and beverages, and stock up on toiletries and the like. The more you have things set up, the more you can use your free time for fun stuff instead of errands.
 
Jolie South said:
ahh, yea. We have electronic everything. Syllabus documents and powerpoints are supposed to be up before the lecture starts. Streaming video is available later thes ame day in case you missed something. I'd say 90% of our class uses laptops exclusively.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty old school... even though we're all electronic, I'm willing to bet i'll be printing those PPTs out. At least for a while.
 
- Enormous three ring binder for syllabi/slides to annotate

- Steam-powered hole puncher
 
That is a very risky sleep position. I envision lots of drool.
 
tdittyx2x3 said:
That is a very risky sleep position. I envision lots of drool.
Click to expand...

There should definitely be a channel made in those things for the drool to go down. Perhaps into a bag of some sort.

That guy in the picture is just waiting for someone with masking tape to permanently attach him to that thing.
 
Law2Doc said:
They should funnel it back up through the nose so it's a never ending waterfall.
Click to expand...

hahahahahah now that is something that would sell in Skymall!
 
A good calendar/organizer is key. It's easy to forget non-academic commitments when classes start to get going.
 
olemissbabydoc said:
Okay, I love school supplies. My favorite summer day as a kid was making a trip to target & office depot for the following year's supplies.

Book-wise I am waiting until after school starts because my M2 buddy has been kind enough to turn over all her stuff to me.

But what are the best ideas for supplies that I should start stocking up on? What works best - notebooks, binders, highlighters, favorite pens... hit me with your favorite products!
Click to expand...

An enormous box of highlighters

An enormous case of beer for orientation week

A condom (just in case you get lucky).
 
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