Things needed for NYCOM...

[MsDO15]

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Well...I have gotten so many conflicting opinions on this subject from some friends at NYCOM that I figured I would throw it out to the forum and maybe that would help.

I'm starting in August and I'm not exactly sure what I will need.
I've gotten a laptop (which a couple people said I really wouldn't need)...but nothing else.

What review books, a microscope, stethoscope, scrubs, ...?????

Some students say i don't need certain things...others say I do.

NYCOM says all this information will be given out at orientation...but that's the week b4 classes start...i don't wanna wait till the last minute to get everything. (& besides...they tell u to get things you will never touch)

Any help would be greatly appreciated from myself and many other in my situation...thanks a bunch!

 

[pedro]

Hi. I recently decided to attend NYCOM. Can anyone provide housing information? I really like to stay close to campus.
Thank you!

Pedro

 

[oceandocDO]

MSDO15...

Dont sweat buying much until orientation. You'll have plenty of time to get stuff then and even after classes start, they dont get too difficult until september. The computer is the largest purchase you'll have to make and it's worth it, IMO. I used mine quite a bit and they're supposedly instituting some new curricular aids which are totally computer and technology oriented, hence having a computer will be more important to you than it was to some 3rd or 4th year who didnt need it as much when they were a first year and hence they're recommending to you to avoid the cost. I also heard that microscopes were no longer going to be required as pathology slides are going computer-based, but this is only a rumor, so dont take my word for it. Even if they make you get one, you wont need it until the fall, so you have plenty of time to get it after school starts. I remember buying mine in september. As for books, dont buy anything till orientation. I remember some clubs offering free books when you join their club and upperclassmen also sell their stuff to first years. Relax a bit and enjoy what's left of your freedom. Sleep late and party early.

pedro... as far as housing, call nycom and get a password to the webboard. There's a bunch of available housing on there right now.

 

[MsDO15]

OceandocDO...thanks for the adivce...I new I could count on you for good feedback. I already got a laptop...any idea when NYCOM will be wireless??? did u hear any rumors? (NYIT just got it)

I really hope that rumor about the microscopes is true...that would be a blessing!

About the clubs offering books...W/O naming names I heard that a certain club last year offered a book students would need but it was really a scam...can u clear that rumor up for me??? I'll have to get some details on taht...I forget the whole story.

Thanks!

 

[oceandocDO]

I dont remember any club offering books that werent really required and trying to scam you. I remember some club offering Netters Anatomy Atlas when you joined their club. I remember the cost to join the club was like $65 or $70 and the Netters off the shelf cost about $60, so it was a fairly good deal. You definitely need a Netters Atlas. It'll be your Bible for the first few months of school.

As far as wireless, I heard that it should be done by early fall, but who knows for sure. All the lecture seats and most of the study areas still have the ethernet jacks though, so the laptop will come in handy to IM your friends and check your email in the middle of lecture 😉

 

[JP2005]

all you need is a scope, netters, and whichever books you will use for boards....dont bother buying textbooks, as most were not needed.....

 

[DD214_DOC]

I shadowed a first-year med student at an allopathic school. The whole campus was setup with WYFI (wireless internet). I was surprise that most students were chatting on AIM or surfing the web during biochem lecture. Then again, they are students.

 

[MsDO15]

Yeah...that's what it was...the "scam" was w/ the Netters...Oh well.

so will i really need my laptop during lectures for anything but talking to my friends???...or does it really have a use? LOL

 

[oceandocDO]

I'm not sure what the "scam" was, but I wasnt really involved in that club, so I cant really comment. I do remember I got my Netters from them 2 years ago, and it was like $65 to join the club and Netters off the shelf was at least $60, so it was a good deal, in essence $5 to join the club.

As far as the laptop, you will definitely use it for school-related stuff. I heard they're giving out alot of notes by cd-rom this year and the streaming video of lectures online is a big plus. Although, it doesnt help you get out of bed in the morning to get to 8am lecture knowing it's taped and put online to watch later, if ever, but it sure does come in handy when you need it.

As far as texts, JP2005 is kinda right. Texts are overrated. Buy/Find a Netters Atlas, a Moore's Clinical Anatomy, a Bates Physical Diagnosis, and a Robbins Pathology. Supplement each class with a Board Review Book (the High Yield Series is decent, as is the BRS series). As I said above, hold off on the microscope until you hear you actually need it, as I heard a rumor that they're no longer required, as many of your path slides will now be on cd-rom and the net, another reason to have a laptop.

 

[MsDO15]

Thanks for your advice and help! I'm definetly gonna take it! 🙂

 

[DrEvil]

MsDo15:

Re: Text Books

The anatomy BRS is great to have. It is good to read a day before the exams. I found that very helpful. As far as other text books, I would say to hold off until you decide for yourself if you do or don't need them. Netter's is equivalent to the bible. Get one. Robbin's for pathology is not really necessary for first year. Dr. Elkowitz is the coolest and his notes are all you need. For Physio, again Dr. Stepp's, Dr. Yu's and Dr. Youman's notes are succint. I hear one of our current Physio prof. is leaving so I've not idea who'll be teaching you that segment (GI, Muscle and Blood Pressure Regulation)

Re: Laptop

Oceandocdo is right. You need one for the times you are not in the classroom. There is internet access in both the study rooms and in the quiet study hall. You will def. benefit from a laptop then when you have a question about a lecture or if you were not in class. It beats having to watch the tapes in the library. Also, laptops make for nice jukeboxes while studying. Don't sit in class and IM your friends. That's for college or high school. Sit in class and pay attention or read or do something productive. If not, just leave. As a serious student I always found it rather rude when people do that.

Enjoy the hell out of the rest of your summer and get ready to work your butt off in August. Remember, second years went through first year also so ask away. Make friends, get Test Questions, try to see what people are like during orientation and try to hook up with productive, smart but funny people for Anatomy lab. It's a b*&tch to be in that lab for 5 hours at a time. You need to have cool people around you.

Good Luck

 

[MsDO15]

Thanks for all of the info. It definetly helps!

Right now I'm just trying to relax b4 I enter hell...lol

So how are the exams? Fair??? From the notes??? Lectures??? How much info. on each?

How would you recommend one would study? I know that question is dependent on the individual...but what worked for u?

 

[DKCDO]

DrEvil,

So we get to pick out OMM and anatomy partners?

 

[DrEvil]

I learned late in the year that what I was doing was not right. You need to keep on top of the stuff because it is a lot of reading. The notes, depending on the professor are good. They teach you from their notes and they'll test you from their notes. Make sure that your reading is up to date and make sure that all packets are read. Certain professors like to ask questions from the last page of the packet, stuff you just wind up ignoring because of the heavy content of the stuff already. Don't be fooled. Read everything. Some teachers ask stuff that is not on the notes. Write important stuff down. You don't need to be told that though, you know that. The tests come straight from the notes. Read your books if you decide to get them, for clarification. For anatomy, the Moore book is good to read after class or after you have read the packets. It integrates everything pretty well.

I guess what is most important is time management. Make schedules and deadlines for yourselves. Time is so important and unless things change for you guys, you'll find that you are doing a lot of self learning. You can approach teachers at any point. They are always available and ready to help. But time is your best friend. Different students will offer different advice. Try everything and anything that will help. Med School is unlike anything you've ever done.

You do not get to choose your OMM partner. You do get to choose your Anatomy partners. Six people per cadaver. So, your mission during orientation, seek 5 other nice people and get your group rolling. If not, it's cool. You just walk in to the lab and go to any table that is lacking one more person. Wear your oldest clothes, oldest jeans, or just get scrubs. You will stink. Designate one person to buy the dissecting book and just pay him/her your share of it. Why have 6 people with the same book? Leave it in your locker and everyone will have access to a gooey, smelly book whenever they need it. The TA's are your best friends. They are cool. They will pimp you and they'll teach you and they have a better idea of what will be pinned in the lab practicals.

Also, watch out for flying instruments.

Now stop reading this and go to the beach.