Hi everyone,
After doing extensive research and self-reflection, I have decided to pursue a career as a podiatrist. I'm very excited about this! 🙂 I'm going to graduate in June 2008. So I'll be apply during my "year-off" for 2009 entrance.
1. What do you wish you should have known before you entered pod school?
2. If you took year(s) off, what do you think you should have done (ie. kind of work/job, etc.) during that time to help you be more successful in pod school and in your practice?
3. Would taking anatomy class before pod school be helpful?
Please be as specific as you can. I appreciate your inputs.
From an old post in the archive:
This is aimed at my experience at SCPM, but it does have some relative info for all schools. Just my opinion.
1. GPA matters... don't let anyone tell you different. Being involved is a great thing, but having a great GPA trumps everything else. being active only can do so much for you. Think about this, if you were an employer, would you rather have a really smart student who was semi-active or a semi-smart student who was really active? if you had to choose one? I'd personally take the one who's smarter, why? because numbers matter and a great GPA looks better on paper than "Intramural Basketball Coordinator".... (this is relative, but it does get your foot in the door)
2. Scrambling sucks.... My advice is to RANK MORE PROGRAMS. I believe my class (2007) will be the last year that close to 100 programs will go unmatched after every student is taken, meaning there will be LESS SPOTS FOR MORE STUDENTS!!! It won't be too dramatic these next few years, but it will be less optimal to scramble. The best way to make sure you don't scramble, interview MORE, rank MORE. It's in your best interest.
3. Visiting Residency Programs.... why didn't anyone tell me that I could do this during my externships?? Now I'm telling you, visit as many programs as you can, so when you do interview, rank, etc, you'll have a better idea of where you might go and a better chance of going there. Most directors are very aware of your situation and encourage visitations, because they get it recipicated back to their program, too. You've already heard from other students/professors, "don't rank a place you don't want to go." If you don't extern there (cause you only get 5 before interviews), I ask, "how the hell do you know?" unless you visit a program? Obviously, making personal connections can help tip the scale in your favor.
4. Live downtown CHICAGO!..... or you'll kill yourself after 3 years. Most ppl stay in North Chicago for 3 whole years, but honestly, that's the worst kind of torture. Yeah the drive sucks, the train is sometimes late, and you can only get a shuttle at certain times, but honestly, why waste another year of your life being depressed, anger, and bitter that you stayed up north. "KH" (SCPM2007) lived in Evanston her entire 4 years, took the train everyday or drove during test days, she's graduating with a 4.0 and she's currently going to North Colorado, so don't give me the BS saying you won't be able to study. "KH" is naturally smart and used her opportunities on the train ride to study and she studied hard during the week/weekends as well, but she's able to enjoy her life and still end up being a SX at a great program in a great location.
5. DON"T DATE A CLASSMATE.... period. Watch the "REAL WORLD" on MTV... it's like that, only with less sex and smarter ppl... sorta.
6. Don't mistake SCPM clinical knowledge with REAL knowledge.... Always, Always, have a reference for claiming you "know" something. For instance, when you're at an externship and are pimped (you will be pimped so expect it) you should to have a credible reference for what you're claiming. Don't say "because DR. Blankl told me this" because they'll laugh at you, and I'll come find you and slap you in the face! What references are good? Seems like everyone uses McGlamry's or Chang's (however, Loyola likes "Rockwood & Green") as a srx reference, and Washington Manual or some internal Medicine text would be suffice. Since there's a lot, I'll tell you what NOT to use... Presby manual, your class notes, wikipedia, or for the most part, anything that doesn't reference another source ...
7. DON'T BUY A PDA! you don't need it you're first 4 years... seriously, it's a waste of money. Sure you can reference it and use it occasionally, but unless you're constantly in the clinic referencing and looking stuff up, u can use a cheaper substitute. SCPM is expensive enough without having to buy a PDA that becomes obsolete in a year or that the company (like Palm) might go outta business next year... When you start externing, you'll see that only residents really need PDA's, students make little note cards or have cheapo pocketbooks because we're CHEAPO students on a budget. If you can afford it, still don't waste your money. Most attendings, residents don't know dosages either and just look it up the same as you, what's more important is the clinical and surgical/anatomical knowledge you've learned so far. PDA's are worthless.
8. BUY A USMLE BOOK! especially in the beginning of your 2nd year! Any of these books will give you a heads up on what's to come during 2nd year classes - Path, Pharm, Micro, etc. It's all you'll need for the boards come July at the end of your 2nd year.. that review packet they give you is CRAP! Seriously, if you know the USMLE books backward and forward, you'll see how easy the BOARDs are. Recommendations: First Aid for the USMLE, Step Up. Stay away from: Board Review Series (waste of time, only an outline, worthless), end-of-year review packet given by professors (biggest waste of paper!)
9. MS4!!!! - Always write in MS# when rotating at a hospital or residency program. Why? Cause there's no computer term for PS4 and everyone will look at you like a *****. During our training and assignments, we should write down MS# as our designation. If you don't understand this, wait until your in your 3rd year or further. When in the OR you must identify yourself to the circulating nurses, by "Name, MS#". A PS3 is a playstation and usually by 4th year you'll realize not to be stupid anymore. There was an issue with ppl at LGH/NCLP, the hospital will only recognize students as MS#. So don't let this be an issue with you.
10. Keep your short white coat clean... - Even after you graduate, dig that crappy, smelly, probably never been washed coat and bleach it before you start. Most residencies will provide you with coats and scrubs, but sometimes they won't be ready for you until a few weeks after you start.. esp if you go to a larger program where you are not the only residency. So save it and clean it monthly (if not weekly) cause you'll need it and it'll reflect on you.
11. Pay for parking! - Yes, it's expensive to live in Chicago, yes paying for parking is outrageous, especially if you come from a small town or city that you're not used to it. But after 4 years of dents, hits, and bumps from RANDOM ****ERS that drive off without courtesy of saying at least sorry, i wish i paid for a parking spot or covered parking during my time at SCPM. I'm one of those that bought a new car before I started and now as a resident, i have a banged up, dented car that runs fine, but looks like ****. I lived downtown and dealt with the street parking and i'm pretty capable of paralleling, but YOU WILL GET HIT/DENTED/BUMPED/LOVETAPE
D or whatever those ****ers call it. Having a parking spot won't make you immune, but it'll relieve some stress of finding parking. Covered parking is the albatross!
12. Books you SHOULD get- Everyone seems to be asking about this and it makes sense to worry about the expense. From experience, most classes do NOT test from any particular book, but rather from notes (Anatomy, pharm, biomechanics, etc), but still it would be nice to know what books would be useful later on, even AFTER life at SCPM. There are books you SHOULD get because you like a subject or want extra reference to it. YOU SHOULD NEVER GET A TEXT BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE GETS IT!!! Only the ones that will be helpful to YOU AND YOU ALONE!!! Here's my two cents of what may help and why.
WHAT TO BUY AS AN INVESTMENT:
- Netter Atlas or Grant's Atlas (great pictures and you'll always return to reference them. Even if you have a PDF version on your computer, having a book is also a security feeling.)
- USMLE First Aid (This is a great book for all the basics you'll need for the boards and even your classes 1st and 2nd year. It's broken down like you're notes are and has GREAT pneumonics that I still even remember "BLT with Kosher Pickle", etc)
- Robbin's Pathology (considered the "Standard" pathology book for Medical Schools. Great pictures and really, really indepth, and considering the pathology profs the last few years, you'll need this book).
- Coughlin & Mann's Surgery of the Foot & Ankle (2V) or Rockwood & Green (3V) or Campbell's Orthopedics (1V) - (These are great surgical references for your later courses, you won't need them until maybe end of 2nd year, but you'll use them forever. McGlamry's (2V) is a good book, but NOT always recognized at ALL institutions)
- Dermatology Atlas - great little text that Dr. Wise (if he still teaches it) recommends because he takes all his pictures from there (if he still uses pictures on his exams). If not, it's still a good reference that I still use especially for presentations.
- Radiology of the Foot & Ankle - In Radiology, they test from the book and notes so you have to use both. I can't say I've referred to the book since residency, cause most Surgery books do have radiology reviews in them, but you'll need it for your class and Radio is NOT to be taken lightly!!
There could be more, it's just I don't remember anymore. If I have more cents, i'll post later... gator
