**Temple 2011 Classmates**

[SAFOOT]

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So who are my fellow classmates so far? I'm so excited 😀

I know my good buddy bdaddyjolley is, any others?

 

[thepodpod]

I will be part of your class as well! 😀

 

[bdaddyjolley]

I will be starting at Temple in August too.

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Anybody else planning on attending Temple?

 

[Jeep24]

Ive been accepted at Temple. Still trying to decide between this school and a few others. What made you guys decide on Temple?

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Ive been accepted at Temple. Still trying to decide between this school and a few others. What made you guys decide on Temple?

For me there were a couple of things that helped me choose temple. I was accepted elswhere too. I liked the fact that Temple has such a huge clinic. To me that says there will never be a lack of patients. I like that because the school is in philadelphia, students have the opportunity to see pathology that might not be seen elsewhere.

The class size is only 80 which is bigger than other schools like DMU but smaller than others like Scholl. Temple's curriculim also has a bunch of surgery classes. They seemed more geared towards surgery compared to other schools I visited not to say that other schools don't emphasize surgery. I understand that perhaps the curriculum at other schools could be a little better in others opinions but for me I know I can do well with any school's curriculum. Like everyone says, you can get a great education at any of the schools and it's also what you put into it. I don't really care either if I take classes with DO students because I don't think they are any better or smarter than me and that I need to be with them to excel. As long as the material is presented well I know I can do well. My choice was more focused on where I think I could get the best clinical experience and Temple seemed to be the place for me. It is different for everyone so I hope no one gets mad at my opinion.

It is evident at Temple that the building is older and not as nice to look at compared to other schools like scholl or DMU. However, as long as the technology is is up to date I don't care what the walls or carpet looks like. I like that Temple has an MRI on site for the lower extremity too. Temple also has a laser for dermatologic surgery and have access to an ESWT (shockwave therapy) machine for heel pain in the clinic. There are a lot more resources in the clinic. I also like the resources of the main campus and the diabetes center there along with the sim labs.

I also like that all lectures are recorded and can be downloaded. I don't know if other schools do that but its possible. My friend who is in pod school says thats a great resource because if you need extra time to study for a test you can you lecture time for it and still watch the lecture later and not miss anything. Of coarse the recorded lectures should not be an excuse to miss class because you would rather do something non-productive. All in all, Temple has a lot of resources. I really liked the nice parts of philadelphia also and its closeness to new york and DC.

If you have any other questions, you can send me an email through SDN and I can do my best to answer them. I'm sure I haven't put everything in this post for why I chose Temple. In the end it still was a hard decision but I went with my gut and weighed all the pros and cons of each school against each other. Good luck in choosing!

 

[OSUDDS]

just in response- i know ocpm has the lectures available on mp3

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

just in response- i know ocpm has the lectures available on mp3

I think all pod schools offer this. And I agree w/ bdaddy's friend they can be invaluable.

 

[SAFOOT]

Ive been accepted at Temple. Still trying to decide between this school and a few others. What made you guys decide on Temple?

I pretty much have the same reasons as Bdaddy, I've interviewed at other schools ie. Cali and I was the most impressed with Temple. I feel that it has the best package for me. You should definitely make a list of the pros and cons and have a little bit of gut feeling as well and make your decision. Ultimately your going to be spending the next 4 years at the school so make it one where you feel you will succeed. gluck.

 

[bigdig712]

I'll be going to temple next year. Some reasons why I chose Temple:

1. I grew up near Philadelphia so I have a history with the city. This was actually a pretty big factor since I can be so close to home. Go Eagles! Go cheesesteaks! Go Phils!

2. City school. I know that NY is also in the city but I feel a bit safer in center city Philadelphia. Since it is a city school there is always lots of things to do. Not to mention the eclectic mix of people, diversity, cultures, etc.

3. Great clinic. I feel that you can get the best training through experience rather than books. Im not saying the other schools don't have good clinics but since Temple is in Philadelphia (a hotbed for health care), you will see a wide variety of cases that you may not see in a rural or suburban setting.

4. Affiliated with a big name. Temple University is a well known name throughout the country even if it is just because of their basketball program. This also assures me that TUSPM will never have to worry about financial issues. Also, being part of a big university affords a graduate of a big alumni base. One can also use the top notch facilities at the main campus.

Those are just some reasons I can think of right now.

 

[OSUDDS]

what schools arent in cities? iowa and scholl?

 

[Dizarrell1]

Congrats to all of you that got in... I'm first year at tuspm... so if you have any questions at all just ask.

If you want to see what the class of 2010 looks like heres a link to our facebook group: http://temple.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2208138911

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

what schools arent in cities? iowa and scholl?

DM is in the city. It is not the same size as Philly but it is close to downtown.

 

[bdaddyjolley]

DM is in the city. It is not the same size as Philly but it is close to downtown.

Most of the colleges are in a decent size city. I think the difference between the cities is the distribution of social economically challenged people. The more poverty there is, the more diverse pathology you see because people in poverty tend to only go to the doctor when the case has become really severe. Every city has poverty so I don't doubt that in des moines you'll see some diverse cases but a city like phili has a much larger population all around and so the chances are greater that you'll see more people in these circumstances than in smaller cities. There are probably other factors too but a 3rd or 4th year student could probably give more detail about that.

But like everyone says, you need to go where you feel comfortable too. Some people will feel a lot more comfortable in a smaller city than a bigger one and some people like bigger cities more than smaller ones. Everyone is different. I myself am used to both but I prefer bigger cities.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

Most of the colleges are in a decent size city. I think the difference between the cities is the distribution of social economically challenged people. The more poverty there is, the more diverse pathology you see because people in poverty tend to only go to the doctor when the case has become really severe. Every city has poverty so I don't doubt that in des moines you'll see some diverse cases but a city like phili has a much larger population all around and so the chances are greater that you'll see more people in these circumstances than in smaller cities. There are probably other factors too but a 3rd or 4th year student could probably give more detail about that.

But like everyone says, you need to go where you feel comfortable too. Some people will feel a lot more comfortable in a smaller city than a bigger one and some people like bigger cities more than smaller ones. Everyone is different. I myself am used to both but I prefer bigger cities.

I don't want to bogart this thread so I will only make this last comment. I do agree that the larger the city the more likely it is you will see a zebra disease (something that is very rare like Ebola). But every school will see the majority of these pathologies.

One thing that everyone should remember and concentrate on in school and when you decide on a school is the principle that medical school is were you learn the most basic medical principles. You are not there to learn surgery or how to treat rare conditions like Ewing's sarcoma. Those skills come in residency and that is when you learn how to be a doctor NOT medical school.

Med school is the foundation not the house. Residency is the when you build the house.

 

[bigdig712]

2. City school. I know that NY is also in the city but I feel a bit safer in center city Philadelphia. Since it is a city school there is always lots of things to do. Not to mention the eclectic mix of people, diversity, cultures, etc.

Sorry let me rephrase that a little.

Big City School. The only other city in top ten large cities by population is Chicago. But again, like many of you have stated, it's where you feel comfortable and happy being in. Good luck with your decisions.

 

[Jeep24]

Feelgood has a good point about that. You have to learn to walk before you can run. I know that at Temple you take classes taught by faculty at the Temple Med school. You also do internal med rotations, vascular rotations, and trauma rotations in the Temple Health system with MD students and take the same exams as MD students. This seems very unique. I dont think a lot of the other schools offer this except for DMU which has classes with the DO's.

 

[Dr_Feelgood]

Sorry let me rephrase that a little.

Big City School. The only other city in top ten large cities by population is Chicago. But again, like many of you have stated, it's where you feel comfortable and happy being in. Good luck with your decisions.

Sorry, but I'm butting in again. What about NYC? And SF?

The top 25 metros are

1. NY
2. LA
3. Chicago
4. Philly
5. Dallas
6. Miami

12. SF
14. Phoenix
23. Cleveland

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Feelgood has a good point about that. You have to learn to walk before you can run. I know that at Temple you take classes taught by faculty at the Temple Med school. You also do internal med rotations, vascular rotations, and trauma rotations in the Temple Health system with MD students and take the same exams as MD students. This seems very unique. I dont think a lot of the other schools offer this except for DMU which has classes with the DO's.

That's true. Feelgood's point is very valid. I forgot though about the classes at Temple being taught by the same professors at the allopathic school and having the same exams. That is a great resource. I agree that a good foundation is key and I think Temple offers that like other schools. But for me the clinical opportunities at Temple in third and fourth year were very attractive and from what I've heard from a friend in Pod school, it's clinical where you get to start to apply the knowledge you learned from the first two years. So I think they go hand in hand. My friend said that both are important and neither should not be discounted. But I'm there are many other reasons besides these for why one chooses a particular Pod School. Like I said before, everyone is different and likes different things so in the end it's a personal choice.

 

[bigdig712]

Sorry, but I'm butting in again. What about NYC? And SF?

The top 25 metros are

1. NY
2. LA
3. Chicago
4. Philly
5. Dallas
6. Miami

12. SF
14. Phoenix
23. Cleveland

I totally agree with you about the metro area. I put down by population (although a lot of those cities cheat because they include suburbs and desert areas as part of population). I didn't list NY because I had stated it before and thought it was an obvious choice.

Im not actually sure how close AZPOD is to actual metro Phoenix. I know Ohio is moving to suburbs of Cleveland (40 min away?). Scholl is in suburbs of Chicago (45 miles away). And I think Oakland is across the bridge from SF (still a 20 min drive).

Ive lived in the suburbs of Philly (35-45 min drive depending on traffic) all throughout High School and even now when i go home for breaks, and even though it is fairly easy to get to the city, it is still far enough that it gets boring. Thats why I want to live in the actual city of a place that I will attend for the next 4 years of my life. Thats just my opinion and one of the personal reasons why i chose Temple.

 

[Jeep24]

Well after some more thought guys, this seems like a no brainer to me. Although the other schools I have been considering are great, I have to go to Temple, no questions asked:

1. Clinical experience is second to none. 50,000 patients in the clinic. 5 hospitals. Unlimited rotations for trauma, IM, surgery, ortho, primary podiatry, and more. Philly is a "medical mecca". UPENN, Drexel, Thomas Jefferson Univ, PCOM, Hahnemann hospital, there is unlimited medical opportunities at your doorstep.

2. The classes are taught by the allopathic med school faculty, definitely a plus.

3. It appears that a good portion of the curriculum in 2nd and 3rd year is slanted toward teaching you every aspect of surgery you need to know and more. Although residency teaches you all you need to know, why not get a good core background in undergrad?

4. Ambulatory surgical center on campus. David Martin said the dean wants to do 1,000 surgeries there a year starting next year. They also want to start teaching full body physical therapy to all DPM students. When i interviewed there i saw the simulation lab, definitely a plus ( I know DMU has one). The wound clinic is up and coming. David Martin said they are adding on to it as they take over the old Dental school facilities.

5. The cheesesteak. Its my favorite food group.

6. Study break? Center city area, jersey shore nearby, DC, NYC, Sesame place, pocono mountains, Eagles games, Dave and Busters, Liberty Bell. My cousin is a dentist in philly. My uncle works at One Liberty Place. Only 45 minutes by plane and 4 hours by car for me. Every other school is 10 hours or more away.

7. The faculty I met with for my interview talked about the challenge. One doctor told me: "Plan on eating popcorn a few nights a week for dinner. I am going to work you so hard that you wont sleep very much. You also will become the best clinician, and understand medicine just as well, if not better than an MD. If you want to be pushed to another level, come to Temple."

Well there you go. Hit me like a ton of bricks. See you guys at Temple next year!

 

[thepodpod]

Well good to know we have another classmate =). Good decision!

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Happy that you were able to make a decision and welcome! I am excited too about next year and can't wait to start at Temple.

 

[SAFOOT]

Nicee!!! Welcome aboard

 

[Cali111]

Jeep 24, are you David Martin? I interviewed at Temple, and your post here is just about word for word what he told my group. Maybe you were even in my group (if you are not David himself). I hope you have verified what he has said, and not simply allowed yourself to be indoctrinated with his rhetoric with no research of your own. I am not trying to be accusatory, I just am having flashbacks to my interview day with what you have written. Good luck.

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Jeep 24, are you David Martin? I interviewed at Temple, and your post here is just about word for word what he told my group. Maybe you were even in my group (if you are not David himself). I hope you have verified what he has said, and not simply allowed yourself to be indoctrinated with his rhetoric with no research of your own. I am not trying to be accusatory, I just am having flashbacks to my interview day with what you have written. Good luck.

I heard a lot of the same stuff too when I was there in September. It's always going to sound similar because David has his pitch down. A lot was verified by students I talked to. But I don't know how David was with other groups, but with my group he was pretty honest about the downsides there. It seemed he didn't want us to say nobody told us this or that perhaps later in school. But judge for yourself. Although it would be pretty funny if Jeep 24 was David Martin. Talk about a real recruiter. LOL

 

[footdoc1]

Guys!! I have an interview on Dec8.
I am looking forward to attend temple like you guys.
Is there any tips or advices for my interview??

 

[OSUDDS]

dont blow it

 

[bdaddyjolley]

dont blow it

yeah what he said.

 

[bdaddyjolley]

Guys!! I have an interview on Dec8.
I am looking forward to attend temple like you guys.
Is there any tips or advices for my interview??

Just be yourelf, relax and know why you would be a good canidate for TUSPM. The interview I had there was rather enjoyable for me and it didn't seem nerve racking. Oh and take the two nights hotel stay there that they give you and after the interview go see the historical sights and then pick up a cheese steak from Geno's. Take a swim suit because the spa there in the Double tree is relaxing. Have fun!

 

[skatalite]

Anybody else planning on attending Temple?

ive been accepted! yay!

 

[bdaddyjolley]

ive been accepted! yay!

Congratulations! What do you think of Temple from your interview?

 

[dsad]

So far I've had 4 other interviews and Temple is my first choice. Last interview I accepted is in 3 days at DMU so I'll let you know soon.

 

[sunglasses]

I was just wondering if anybody knows when is the earliest time one will know whether they are accepted into temple. As well, when is the most realistic time one may find out if they are accepted. Does that also include advanced standing status? Thanks

 

[bdaddyjolley]

I was just wondering if anybody knows when is the earliest time one will know whether they are accepted into temple. As well, when is the most realistic time one may find out if they are accepted. Does that also include advanced standing status? Thanks

From my experience, it took about a week to week and a half depending on when the commitee meets.

 

[sunglasses]

so when does the committee meet? like in february roughly or does it just depend?

 

[bdaddyjolley]

so when does the committee meet? like in february roughly or does it just depend?

For me they met like a week after the interview. I think they usually set up a time the next week after interviews to meet but it could vary from interview to interview. How long ago did you interview?

 

[mmmgoose]

Congratulations to all you for making it into the TUSPM Class of 2011!
I'm currently a first yr student here so if you have any questions at all -- like about interviews, work load, dorm life, etc -- I'd be glad to help out. Just email me at [email protected].

 

[sunglasses]

For me they met like a week after the interview. I think they usually set up a time the next week after interviews to meet but it could vary from interview to interview. How long ago did you interview?

I'm one of those advanced standing students so I don't get interviewed. Oh well, I'll just wait until I hear a response then...thanks anyways

 

[SAFOOT]

Congratulations to all you for making it into the TUSPM Class of 2011!
I'm currently a first yr student here so if you have any questions at all -- like about interviews, work load, dorm life, etc -- I'd be glad to help out. Just email me at [email protected].

Hey whats up mmmgoose? Could you just tell us how your first semester was like and how the apartments are like (clean, spaciaous and what not if you personally like it problems with it etc and also does everyone become friends early in the game social life etc.) most likely i'm going to be living in the aparts so that would be good to know ahead of time. I sent the deposit in to get the one bedroom aparts hopefully. Also how was the actual material like when you first started, was it gradual or did they just throw everything at you at once (work load wise and difficulty level) and free time for leisure if any? Is it overwhelming, what do you like and dislike about the program so far? Thanks so much and anything else you think that would be essential to know ahead of time to be prepared for would be great. Thanks

 

[mmmgoose]

Hey whats up mmmgoose? Could you just tell us how your first semester was like and how the apartments are like (clean, spaciaous and what not if you personally like it problems with it etc and also does everyone become friends early in the game social life etc.) most likely i'm going to be living in the aparts so that would be good to know ahead of time. I sent the deposit in to get the one bedroom aparts hopefully. Also how was the actual material like when you first started, was it gradual or did they just throw everything at you at once (work load wise and difficulty level) and free time for leisure if any? Is it overwhelming, what do you like and dislike about the program so far? Thanks so much and anything else you think that would be essential to know ahead of time to be prepared for would be great. Thanks

I dont know what kind of dorms you are used to from undergrad but the dorms here are pretty nice. You get your own bedroom and you share a bathroom and living room/kitchen with a roomie. I thought Juanita exaggerated when she told me it was really really tiny. It's not spacious but its just what you need. It is a heck of a lot better than sharing a bedroom that's for sure! My apartment was kind of crazy looking when I moved in ...feel free to tell them that it needs a paint job, lighting, etc. and they'll be glad to fix it. Now it's in pretty good shape. Regular supermarkets are close by but I like Whole Foods which is like a 15-20 minute walk from TUSPM. I'm from NYC so I like the walk but SuperFresh is much closer and so are various Chinese markets. There's plenty of ways to get food that won't break the bank. Eating out a lot can get really expensive so I cook 90% of the time. I wish that TUSPM had a cafeteria because I am really a "meal plan" kind of girl.

Aside from the dorm stuff, you asked similar questions as Blair -- one of your future classmates (unless you are Blair lol) -- so I'll just reiterate what I told her yesterday.
First semester went well. It goes by quickly because you are constanty working but it was not overwhelming...it was very gradual to pick up. Classes have a scattered arrangement...Anatomy didn't start until around October while Histology began at the very beginning but did not last the entire semester. The second semester is a lot more demanding and the material takes more time to master.
I think that the most difficult classes we have had so far were General Anatomy and Neuroscience though we've only completed Anatomy so far. Anatomy took a lot of time both in and out of the classroom...definitely not a class that you can cram or rush to memorize the night before an exam. I strongly recommend studying a little bit every day...even if its just 15-30 minutes to just freshen up the material and keep it floating around in your head. Make sure to study with others in your class too -- people who really know their stuff. I also love to draw so drawing out structures from memory helped me a lot. See it, hear it, touch it, smell it 🙂 and your sure to remember it. Do whatever makes you excited about learning and keeps you engaged -- make up stupid songs to help you remember the brachial plexus...stuff like that lol. Also try to stay in the lab and learn as much as you can off the cadavers because sitting down and reading from a text does not work well for learning Anatomy. You will need to put in some "overtime" on the weekends. Noteservice was also very helpful for Anatomy so if you can afford it, it is worth it for that class alone. Neuroscience just requires you to keep on top of things (once you get used to crazy Dr. Martin...you'll see in August). Typically, I study class material as soon after the class as possible so my study time is typically 1-3 hours per class ... about 4-8 hours of studying a day which really isn't bad. I typically studying in the mornings before class and between classes just because I am a morning person and I can't function after sunset lol. On the weekends, I study the majority of the day and review but the key is to always make a schedule and stick to it otherwise you will fall behind. It is not that you can't have a "life" because if
you make a plan and stick to it, you can carve out time for fun activities. Anatomy takes up most of my time especially now with Lower Extremity Anatomy -- it is really a lot of material and it just started last Tuesday! But I must admit, it is my favorite class so far... Dr. DiPrimio is awesome.
So far, I like Temple a lot. It's getting better. I've made some great friends here and all of the students I have met are enthusiastic about medicine and learning how to be genuinely good doctors someday. Since being here I have learned how special podiatric medicine is in itself; we really are different from regular medical doctors and that is not a bad thing at all. No one really says this but I think we have all been humbled by our educational experiences...the majority of us were not straight A students in college and I
think for that reason podiatry is a lot more down-to-earth. No pretenses or facades -- the doggedness of MD school doesn't exist here...we're supportive of one another. In contrast to whatever rumors you've probably heard about podiatry student, surely no one here is stupid (actually I have met some of
the most brilliant minds ever since coming to TUSPM) but we know where we've been and where we are going with this profession. Any more questions, just let me know.

Best of luck,

Melissa

 

[SAFOOT]

I dont know what kind of dorms you are used to from undergrad but the dorms here are pretty nice. You get your own bedroom and you share a bathroom and living room/kitchen with a roomie. I thought Juanita exaggerated when she told me it was really really tiny. It's not spacious but its just what you need. It is a heck of a lot better than sharing a bedroom that's for sure! My apartment was kind of crazy looking when I moved in ...feel free to tell them that it needs a paint job, lighting, etc. and they'll be glad to fix it. Now it's in pretty good shape. Regular supermarkets are close by but I like Whole Foods which is like a 15-20 minute walk from TUSPM. I'm from NYC so I like the walk but SuperFresh is much closer and so are various Chinese markets. There's plenty of ways to get food that won't break the bank. Eating out a lot can get really expensive so I cook 90% of the time. I wish that TUSPM had a cafeteria because I am really a "meal plan" kind of girl.

Aside from the dorm stuff, you asked similar questions as Blair -- one of your future classmates (unless you are Blair lol) -- so I'll just reiterate what I told her yesterday.
First semester went well. It goes by quickly because you are constanty working but it was not overwhelming...it was very gradual to pick up. Classes have a scattered arrangement...Anatomy didn't start until around October while Histology began at the very beginning but did not last the entire semester. The second semester is a lot more demanding and the material takes more time to master.
I think that the most difficult classes we have had so far were General Anatomy and Neuroscience though we've only completed Anatomy so far. Anatomy took a lot of time both in and out of the classroom...definitely not a class that you can cram or rush to memorize the night before an exam. I strongly recommend studying a little bit every day...even if its just 15-30 minutes to just freshen up the material and keep it floating around in your head. Make sure to study with others in your class too -- people who really know their stuff. I also love to draw so drawing out structures from memory helped me a lot. See it, hear it, touch it, smell it 🙂 and your sure to remember it. Do whatever makes you excited about learning and keeps you engaged -- make up stupid songs to help you remember the brachial plexus...stuff like that lol. Also try to stay in the lab and learn as much as you can off the cadavers because sitting down and reading from a text does not work well for learning Anatomy. You will need to put in some "overtime" on the weekends. Noteservice was also very helpful for Anatomy so if you can afford it, it is worth it for that class alone. Neuroscience just requires you to keep on top of things (once you get used to crazy Dr. Martin...you'll see in August). Typically, I study class material as soon after the class as possible so my study time is typically 1-3 hours per class ... about 4-8 hours of studying a day which really isn't bad. I typically studying in the mornings before class and between classes just because I am a morning person and I can't function after sunset lol. On the weekends, I study the majority of the day and review but the key is to always make a schedule and stick to it otherwise you will fall behind. It is not that you can't have a "life" because if
you make a plan and stick to it, you can carve out time for fun activities. Anatomy takes up most of my time especially now with Lower Extremity Anatomy -- it is really a lot of material and it just started last Tuesday! But I must admit, it is my favorite class so far... Dr. DiPrimio is awesome.
So far, I like Temple a lot. It's getting better. I've made some great friends here and all of the students I have met are enthusiastic about medicine and learning how to be genuinely good doctors someday. Since being here I have learned how special podiatric medicine is in itself; we really are different from regular medical doctors and that is not a bad thing at all. No one really says this but I think we have all been humbled by our educational experiences...the majority of us were not straight A students in college and I
think for that reason podiatry is a lot more down-to-earth. No pretenses or facades -- the doggedness of MD school doesn't exist here...we're supportive of one another. In contrast to whatever rumors you've probably heard about podiatry student, surely no one here is stupid (actually I have met some of
the most brilliant minds ever since coming to TUSPM) but we know where we've been and where we are going with this profession. Any more questions, just let me know.

Best of luck,

Melissa

Wow great response thanks a lot good to know theres friendly people out there. Thanks again.

 

[alk911411]

hey everyone I have officially decided to go to Temple 🙂 See you all in August!

 

[bdaddyjolley]

hey everyone I have officially decided to go to Temple 🙂 See you all in August!

Congrats and welcome!

 

[dpmgrad]

hey everyone I have officially decided to go to Temple 🙂 See you all in August!

Congratulations and welcome to the TUSPM family.

 

[dpmgrad]

I dont know what kind of dorms you are used to from undergrad but the dorms here are pretty nice. You get your own bedroom and you share a bathroom and living room/kitchen with a roomie. I thought Juanita exaggerated when she told me it was really really tiny. It's not spacious but its just what you need. It is a heck of a lot better than sharing a bedroom that's for sure! My apartment was kind of crazy looking when I moved in ...feel free to tell them that it needs a paint job, lighting, etc. and they'll be glad to fix it. Now it's in pretty good shape. Regular supermarkets are close by but I like Whole Foods which is like a 15-20 minute walk from TUSPM. I'm from NYC so I like the walk but SuperFresh is much closer and so are various Chinese markets. There's plenty of ways to get food that won't break the bank. Eating out a lot can get really expensive so I cook 90% of the time. I wish that TUSPM had a cafeteria because I am really a "meal plan" kind of girl.

Aside from the dorm stuff, you asked similar questions as Blair -- one of your future classmates (unless you are Blair lol) -- so I'll just reiterate what I told her yesterday.
First semester went well. It goes by quickly because you are constanty working but it was not overwhelming...it was very gradual to pick up. Classes have a scattered arrangement...Anatomy didn't start until around October while Histology began at the very beginning but did not last the entire semester. The second semester is a lot more demanding and the material takes more time to master.
I think that the most difficult classes we have had so far were General Anatomy and Neuroscience though we've only completed Anatomy so far. Anatomy took a lot of time both in and out of the classroom...definitely not a class that you can cram or rush to memorize the night before an exam. I strongly recommend studying a little bit every day...even if its just 15-30 minutes to just freshen up the material and keep it floating around in your head. Make sure to study with others in your class too -- people who really know their stuff. I also love to draw so drawing out structures from memory helped me a lot. See it, hear it, touch it, smell it 🙂 and your sure to remember it. Do whatever makes you excited about learning and keeps you engaged -- make up stupid songs to help you remember the brachial plexus...stuff like that lol. Also try to stay in the lab and learn as much as you can off the cadavers because sitting down and reading from a text does not work well for learning Anatomy. You will need to put in some "overtime" on the weekends. Noteservice was also very helpful for Anatomy so if you can afford it, it is worth it for that class alone. Neuroscience just requires you to keep on top of things (once you get used to crazy Dr. Martin...you'll see in August). Typically, I study class material as soon after the class as possible so my study time is typically 1-3 hours per class ... about 4-8 hours of studying a day which really isn't bad. I typically studying in the mornings before class and between classes just because I am a morning person and I can't function after sunset lol. On the weekends, I study the majority of the day and review but the key is to always make a schedule and stick to it otherwise you will fall behind. It is not that you can't have a "life" because if
you make a plan and stick to it, you can carve out time for fun activities. Anatomy takes up most of my time especially now with Lower Extremity Anatomy -- it is really a lot of material and it just started last Tuesday! But I must admit, it is my favorite class so far... Dr. DiPrimio is awesome.
So far, I like Temple a lot. It's getting better. I've made some great friends here and all of the students I have met are enthusiastic about medicine and learning how to be genuinely good doctors someday. Since being here I have learned how special podiatric medicine is in itself; we really are different from regular medical doctors and that is not a bad thing at all. No one really says this but I think we have all been humbled by our educational experiences...the majority of us were not straight A students in college and I
think for that reason podiatry is a lot more down-to-earth. No pretenses or facades -- the doggedness of MD school doesn't exist here...we're supportive of one another. In contrast to whatever rumors you've probably heard about podiatry student, surely no one here is stupid (actually I have met some of
the most brilliant minds ever since coming to TUSPM) but we know where we've been and where we are going with this profession. Any more questions, just let me know.

Best of luck,

Melissa

It is good to see a current TUSPM student answering some of the prospective students may have with TUSPM. By the way, is Dr. Boyd still helping out with the LEA labs? If so, definitely take advantage to learn from Boyd in lab. Do you guys still get that super thick LEA notes that former LEA professor, Dr. Hirsch, put together? Dr. DiPrimio is great because he is able to supplement the LEA materials with some practical stuff in the practicing Podiatry world.

 

[SAFOOT]

I dont know what kind of dorms you are used to from undergrad but the dorms here are pretty nice. You get your own bedroom and you share a bathroom and living room/kitchen with a roomie. I thought Juanita exaggerated when she told me it was really really tiny. It's not spacious but its just what you need. It is a heck of a lot better than sharing a bedroom that's for sure! My apartment was kind of crazy looking when I moved in ...feel free to tell them that it needs a paint job, lighting, etc. and they'll be glad to fix it. Now it's in pretty good shape. Regular supermarkets are close by but I like Whole Foods which is like a 15-20 minute walk from TUSPM. I'm from NYC so I like the walk but SuperFresh is much closer and so are various Chinese markets. There's plenty of ways to get food that won't break the bank. Eating out a lot can get really expensive so I cook 90% of the time. I wish that TUSPM had a cafeteria because I am really a "meal plan" kind of girl.

Aside from the dorm stuff, you asked similar questions as Blair -- one of your future classmates (unless you are Blair lol) -- so I'll just reiterate what I told her yesterday.
First semester went well. It goes by quickly because you are constanty working but it was not overwhelming...it was very gradual to pick up. Classes have a scattered arrangement...Anatomy didn't start until around October while Histology began at the very beginning but did not last the entire semester. The second semester is a lot more demanding and the material takes more time to master.
I think that the most difficult classes we have had so far were General Anatomy and Neuroscience though we've only completed Anatomy so far. Anatomy took a lot of time both in and out of the classroom...definitely not a class that you can cram or rush to memorize the night before an exam. I strongly recommend studying a little bit every day...even if its just 15-30 minutes to just freshen up the material and keep it floating around in your head. Make sure to study with others in your class too -- people who really know their stuff. I also love to draw so drawing out structures from memory helped me a lot. See it, hear it, touch it, smell it 🙂 and your sure to remember it. Do whatever makes you excited about learning and keeps you engaged -- make up stupid songs to help you remember the brachial plexus...stuff like that lol. Also try to stay in the lab and learn as much as you can off the cadavers because sitting down and reading from a text does not work well for learning Anatomy. You will need to put in some "overtime" on the weekends. Noteservice was also very helpful for Anatomy so if you can afford it, it is worth it for that class alone. Neuroscience just requires you to keep on top of things (once you get used to crazy Dr. Martin...you'll see in August). Typically, I study class material as soon after the class as possible so my study time is typically 1-3 hours per class ... about 4-8 hours of studying a day which really isn't bad. I typically studying in the mornings before class and between classes just because I am a morning person and I can't function after sunset lol. On the weekends, I study the majority of the day and review but the key is to always make a schedule and stick to it otherwise you will fall behind. It is not that you can't have a "life" because if
you make a plan and stick to it, you can carve out time for fun activities. Anatomy takes up most of my time especially now with Lower Extremity Anatomy -- it is really a lot of material and it just started last Tuesday! But I must admit, it is my favorite class so far... Dr. DiPrimio is awesome.
So far, I like Temple a lot. It's getting better. I've made some great friends here and all of the students I have met are enthusiastic about medicine and learning how to be genuinely good doctors someday. Since being here I have learned how special podiatric medicine is in itself; we really are different from regular medical doctors and that is not a bad thing at all. No one really says this but I think we have all been humbled by our educational experiences...the majority of us were not straight A students in college and I
think for that reason podiatry is a lot more down-to-earth. No pretenses or facades -- the doggedness of MD school doesn't exist here...we're supportive of one another. In contrast to whatever rumors you've probably heard about podiatry student, surely no one here is stupid (actually I have met some of
the most brilliant minds ever since coming to TUSPM) but we know where we've been and where we are going with this profession. Any more questions, just let me know.

Best of luck,

Melissa

Any advice for us waiting for August to come by in terms of preparation before hand?

 

[mmmgoose]

It is good to see a current TUSPM student answering some of the prospective students may have with TUSPM. By the way, is Dr. Boyd still helping out with the LEA labs? If so, definitely take advantage to learn from Boyd in lab. Do you guys still get that super thick LEA notes that former LEA professor, Dr. Hirsch, put together? Dr. DiPrimio is great because he is able to supplement the LEA materials with some practical stuff in the practicing Podiatry world.

Dr. Boyd retired this year. We were his last Gross Anatomy class. Too bad for the 2011s...I wish they could have had him. I have heard that they are going to bring in a PhD from the MD school to teach it from now on but it still up in the air. And about LEA materials...Yes, we got the HUGE batch of Hirsch notes. It serves as a great foot prop while studying something else lol. DiPrimio is awesome. And we have our first LEA test tomorrow!

 

[mmmgoose]

Any advice for us waiting for August to come by in terms of preparation before hand?

I attended SARP during the summer and that was pretty neat especially since Philadelphia was brand new to me. But SARP is more about getting used to the city and meeting classmates than about learning material and trying to get ahead. But all in all, I liked it and it got me into the study mode but it's definitely not necessary.

If you choose not to do SARP and if took Anatomy in undergrad, it would be great to just glace over the basic stuff in your old notes (or look them up on Wikipedia)...just to get familiar with the body (bones, spinal cord, major organs, arteries, nerves, etc). But you don't have to overdo it. Try to enjoy your summer and get ready to work when you come in.

Also get a couple of binders. You will need them to contain the lecture documents and they will keep you organized. Lots of paper too for writing notes and drawing structures. And color pencils!

If you were wondering about textbooks, don't worry too much about purchasing any. Textbooks are not required for any of the first year courses but you'll definitely want to have some good atlases for Anatomy. But make sure that you wait until you meet your Big Sibling because they may have some to pass down to you. The only items I recommend buying are the Board Review Series books. They are available for various subjects ...Anatomy, Biochemistry, Histology, Neuro, etc. and they are very good to use as a study tool and to prep for the Board exams as well. Online prices tend to be very reasonable.
I hope that helped! Good luck!

 

[dpmgrad]

Dr. Boyd retired this year. We were his last Gross Anatomy class. Too bad for the 2011s...I wish they could have had him. I have heard that they are going to bring in a PhD from the MD school to teach it from now on but it still up in the air. And about LEA materials...Yes, we got the HUGE batch of Hirsch notes. It serves as a great foot prop while studying something else lol. DiPrimio is awesome. And we have our first LEA test tomorrow!

Wow, with Dr. Boyd retiring this year, it will be a great loss for the school. He is an excellent teacher and always enjoyed learning from him especially in the labs. Hopefully, they will bring Dr. Schneck (whom you will probably meet in your Neuroscience course) to teach Gross Anatomy. Dr. Schneck is an awesome Anatomy professor from Temple University School of Medicine. I will definitely have to stop by school and say goodbye to Dr. Boyd when I get back to Philly.

Hopefully, your first LEA test went well for you. I know that Hirsch notes contains a lot of pages, but, it is probably one of the most comprehensive LEA book that a student can get. The book is extremely detailed oriented. I recommend that you make copies of the LEA coloring book so that you can diagram the muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc.. as you read or attend class.

Since you are a first year student, I recommend you to get a hold of a current fourth year students and try to make a copy of the Traumatology notes. Dr. Walters and Dr. Goss no longer teaches Traumatology course. Hence, the current third year students never got the awesome Traumatology notes. If you can not get a hold of the traumatology notes from the fourth student, then send me a pvt message and see what arrangements that I can make to get you access to them.

If you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance, feel free to contact me. I graduated from TUSPM in 2002.