Things to Read before MS1

[babycapybara]

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Just curious if there is anything you wish you had studied/memorized/reviewed the summer before MS1. I know I should take advantage of one last carefree summer, but if there is something I can do with my free time to make the first year easier, let me know.

 

[Syranope2]

nonononononononononoooooo!

somebody always posts this thread every year and the overwhelming consensus is always to take vacation, travel, read real literature, make some extra money, do ANYTHING except study. By the second day of classes, you will have eclipsed anything you read over the summer. It's just not worth it. Enjoy your free time while you have it.

 

[Ashers]

See here and here.

I really enjoyed reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes before I started med school. If you want, read Stedman's that might help with the vocabulary.

 

[babycapybara]

come on...just one thing! Then I will read Harry Potter, drink, lie in the sun, visit old friends...I promise.

 

[babycapybara]

Plus...I am definitely not a super intense 'gunner' type...never heard that word till here. I actually am very lazy, so hoping if I read a little now, I can slack off later...

 

[smq123]

Plus...I am definitely not a super intense 'gunner' type...never heard that word till here. I actually am very lazy, so hoping if I read a little now, I can slack off later...

Absolutely nothing you read now will let you slack off later. Nothing.(Well, unless you study Moore's Human anatomy for 15 hours a day all summer long, 6 days a week.) That's why people are telling you not to read anything now - it's a tremendous waste of time. What you will cover in 1 month on your own, you will cover in 2-3 days in school. Why waste the energy?

 

[samenewme]

Plus...I am definitely not a super intense 'gunner' type...never heard that word till here. I actually am very lazy, so hoping if I read a little now, I can slack off later...

Okay, I'll admit it. My med school sends out a syllabus from the biochem department and recommends you kind of read up. I checked out a relatively short, thin biochem for med students book from an academic library and read through it, trying to get a working familiarity with the concepts. I think this gave me a feeling of greater comfort and familiarity for the first block exam (about 3 weeks worth of classes) and the seven to ten hours I spent reading and studying over the summer (plus the five to seven hours I spent procrastinating and/or agonizing over not finishing the whole thing) saved me possibly three hours of study time in that semester. After that first block, the benefits were lost.

If you're a type A personality, full-class worrywart like me, you probably will feel better over the summer if you do something like this. It's probably worth it just for that. Just be aware that the actual benefits during the semester will be quite limited.

 

[Ashers]

Okay, I'll admit it. My med school sends out a syllabus from the biochem department and recommends you kind of read up. I checked out a relatively short, thin biochem for med students book from an academic library and read through it, trying to get a working familiarity with the concepts. I think this gave me a feeling of greater comfort and familiarity for the first block exam (about 3 weeks worth of classes) and the seven to ten hours I spent reading and studying over the summer (plus the five to seven hours I spent procrastinating and/or agonizing over not finishing the whole thing) saved me possibly three hours of study time in that semester. After that first block, the benefits were lost.

If you're a type A personality, full-class worrywart like me, you probably will feel better over the summer if you do something like this. It's probably worth it just for that. Just be aware that the actual benefits during the semester will be quite limited.

I'm ashamed of you, samenewme! No one's actually supposed to pay attention to that piece of paper from the biochem dept, though for some reason, the department thinks we do. I laughed when I got it; the only thing it made me think of was my biochem book was in England. =(

Oh yeah, I didn't use a biochem book all semester.

 

[Tired]

come on...just one thing! Then I will read Harry Potter, drink, lie in the sun, visit old friends...I promise.

Fine, read this and know it. It is your new bible.

http://www.nrmp.org/matchoutcomes.pdf


But I better not see you back here in three years going, "I got a 210 on my Step 1, and never did research. Am I competitive for Rad Onc?!"

 

[junebuguf]

Nothing you read about Biochem, Anatomy, Histo, Immuno, Endo, Embryo or any other first year class will pay dividends come class time, because all them require significant memorization and you are certain to forget the names of all the pathways, proteins, receptors... by then. However, if you have the time and the motivation, I would recommend getting Costanzo's BRS Physiology Review book (not the stars text). Its a great review book which you will almost surely use during the class or for Step 1 review. And since most of physiology is conceptual, if you get the hard concepts--acid/base, pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal--down now, you'll definitely have an easier time later.

 

[kyneuromania]

I have been out of school for almost 2 years (i have been working full time) so I am wondering whether i should at least read something or not before the school starts this fall. What do you guys think?
The last day I studied was april 21st last year for lovely MCAT

 

[Ashers]

I have been out of school for almost 2 years (i have been working full time) so I am wondering whether i should at least read something or not before the school starts this fall. What do you guys think?
The last day I studied was april 21st last year for lovely MCAT

Still no. I took a year off and spent time working, and I'm doing fine.

My sister took 2 years off, and she "attempted" to study Netter flashcards, got so overwhelmed that she just quit. When I asked her what she thought about quitting the pre-studying, she said she was extremely glad she did.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

I would highly recommend Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine if you're looking for some light weekend reading.

 

[junebuguf]

I would highly recommend Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine if you're looking for some light weekend reading.

Hahahahah <<<cry in fetal position sucking thumb>>

 

[sirus_virus]

I asked a medschool prof what to read before medschool starts, and he told me to go read about the real life challenges in medicine(malpractice, demand and supply of specialties, politics, etc). He also recomended I study the business of medicine. In his opinion, those are the things you will not get a chance to study indepth in the course of your training, and understanding those things will go a long way in helping you survive as a doctor.

 

[turkleton]

Everyone who starts this thread before med school deserves a flux capictor so that after 4 years of school you can go back in time and repeatadly, painfully slap yourself for asking this question.

 

[Tired]

I have been out of school for almost 2 years (i have been working full time) so I am wondering whether i should at least read something or not before the school starts this fall. What do you guys think?
The last day I studied was april 21st last year for lovely MCAT

I did the exact same thing as you, and worried as well. Don't sweat it. Trying to read before med school after having been "out of the game" for a couple years is pointless. You don't know what to read, it's hard to organize you thoughts. Just chill now and let you classes organize your reading for you next year. If you can take the MCAT and get a good score after having been out of college for a couple years, you'll be just fine once school starts.

 

[Critical Mass]

HP7 is coming out!

 

[TexPre-Med]

read The House of God

 

[deleted77919]

read The House of God

Seconded.

I'd also add "Kill as Few Patients as Possible" and if you're really precocious "Iserson's Getting into a Residency" 7th ed.

 

[Ashers]

I started reading "The Making of a Surgeon" on the way plane from home after Christmas break, unfortunately, my life as an M2 has made it so I haven't had time to finish the last 1/4 of the book. I also got Complications, which I heard is good, but still yet, not enough time to read it.

 

[da8s0859q]

I also got Complications, which I heard is good, but still yet, not enough time to read it.

Slightly dry, but still quite a good book.

 

[Northerner]

Fine, read this and know it. It is your new bible.

http://www.nrmp.org/matchoutcomes.pdf


But I better not see you back here in three years going, "I got a 210 on my Step 1, and never did research. Am I competitive for Rad Onc?!"

Well-played.

 

[SeventhSon]

i agree with most posters that you shouldn't attempt to seriously read stuff that you will start in med school.

What I will recommend is that you get acquainted with your school's medical education website intimiately. During the first couple weeks there will be a lot of logisitcal information that you will have to attend to, and it is much easier if you have already oriented yourself. THat way, you dont get further behind in class.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Seconded.

Thirded.