To Current PCOM students

[ottffsse]

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I will be starting this fall, class of 2006 and would really appreciate help on the items below. I am married with a one year old girl so time will be of the essence...

For first year DO students...
1) Where can I get a rough schedule of the academic year. For childcare purposes I need to know how long the breaks/vacations will be...

2) Normally what time are classes over. What is a typical weekly schedule like. I hear it is similar to a working schedule...ie...8-5pm.

3) Is there a way I can get hold of the text books early? I anticipate a pretty crazy lifestyle with a toddler during my first year. I have a lot of free time untill school starts so I thought maybe I could at least get a hold of the books.

Thanks!

 

[PhillyGirl]

eh3927,

Glad to hear that you will be joining us at PCOM. Here's the website address with the "tentative" academic calendar for this and next year. Things change sometimes, but the general idea is there:
<a href="http://www.pcom.edu/asp/calendar.asp?d=7" target="_blank">http://www.pcom.edu/asp/calendar.asp?d=7</a>

As far as the daily schedule goes, it varies from day to week to term. Basically, you start at 8 or 9, and the days that you have lab, you'll be there most of the day.

OPP labs are currently Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at either 1 or 3:30 and they alternate so that you're done at 3:30 or 5. They also alternate with Histology/Micro labs.

If I remember correctly, first term MWF we almost always had anatomy lab until some part of the afternoon.

Basically, it varies all the time.
They don't print the "final" schedule until right before classes start.

Textbooks -- hmm, I will give you my personal 2 cents. If you want to get a start on Anatomy, pick up Netter's Atlas and Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy,4th ed. Memorize both books, they don't leave much out of the course. You could buy a histology book if you really wanted to, but I wouldn't waste my money. If you want to get a jump on second term, you could buy Robbin's Pathology book and read the "Science" chapters (ie, not systems). You can buy these books at the PCOM, or any other, medical school bookstore or online and, in my opinion, they are worth owning (many books aren't)...

I could go on and on, but honestly, if I were in your shoes, I would take the time you have now and chill and spend time with your little girl. But, I understand your interest in starting early. Let me know if you need any more info 🙂

Michelle

 

[ottffsse]

Hey Thank you PhillyGirl!

I will definitely get those books. Being a mom has been amazing, I never knew parenthood would be this great.
I live up near Audubon/Collegeville area and was hoping that I could beat the traffic coming home if classes let me out around 4pm.
I'm really excited about school but a bit nervous. I need to find a nanny for my girl...

 

[ottffsse]

One additional question:

I checked out the PCOM online schedule. It doesn't have much info. I just wanted a general idea of when the first year students have off...ie.
How long is winter break?
Summer?
Holidays?
When does each quarter end/start?
I'm trying to plan when I could be home with my baby...

Thanks!

 

[bobo]

Hello,

Personally, I would not crack a book till you get to school this summer. Enjoy your time off. You will be swamped no matter what you do come the start of school, and you will deal with it when the time comes. But if you must get a head start.....

As Tim the Turtle once said, the only absolutely necessary book for medical school is Netter's Atlas. Period. Netter is God. Even then, you don't cover a lot of the plates (though because some of them are redundant). Concentrate on muscles and major arteries to start with. A very useful supplement is Chung's Board Review Series (BRS) on anatomy. It has great tables for learning the muscles. I bought Moore and Dalley but did not use it much. Way too dense.

Not all classes are absolutely mandatory - OPP lab is one. Though gross lab is not "mandatory" only a fool would not go. The rest are "optional". Some of us take the "long-distance learning", ie never go to class. This mostly settles in after first trimester when people get used to things. There have been trimesters when I did not attend a single class, yet I do fine in school. It is up to you. Scribe notes can be hit or miss, but generally are worth their weight in gold. First trimester you will be there a lot.

You get the week of Thanksgiving off. If I am not mistaken, this year you get 2 weeks off for Xmas, at the expense of starting earlier in the summer by a bit. Spring break is a week off, typically 8 weeks after you go back following xmas break. first summer is june, july and most of august off. No summers off after that.

Books are at the PCOM bookstore as well as many sources online. they are expensive. i would hold off on most until you know you need them. Most everything you need to know are in scribe notes. Books are used mainly for reference though some study religiously from them. I prefer BRS and high yield type books. robbin's pathology is also a good bet.

hope this helps

BOBO

 

[abs]

From the 2002-2004 Calendar that we received, here are some highlights:

August 5-9 New Student Orientation and Registration Week

August 12 Classes start

September 2 No classes

September 16 No classes

November 4-8 Final Exams Week

November 11 Winter Term begins

November 23-Dec 1 Thanksgiving break

December 21-January 5 Winter Break

February 17-21 Final Exams (Winter term)

Feb 22-March 2 Spring Break

March 3 Spring Term begins

April 18-21 No Classes

May 19-23 Final Exams (third term)

August 11, 2003 Classes Begin again

Hope this was what you were looking for... Best of luck next year and relax until you get to school... Regardless of how much you try to learn the material before you get to school you will still be swamped with the same amount of work as everyone else when classes start...Try to spend as much time as possible with your baby now and RELAX because once classes start you won't know what the word RELAX means... 🙂

Take care... 🙂

 

[ottffsse]

Hey Bobo and Abs:

you guys are great! I really appreciate your responses.

Sarah

 

[Dr JPH]

To those providing all the great info, I am glad for your time to post as well.

Sarah...look forward to meeting you next year at PCOM!

JPH
PCOM Class of 2006