What classes will help me MOST in medical school?

[TripleDegree]

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M1s and M2s -

I've already gotten into the school of my choice, and I'm grateful for that. I live right by a community college, and I was thinking it might not be a bad idea to take some of the courses that I might encounter in the first year or two of med school.

Any suggestions? Here's what I've gathered so far.

Anatomy and Physiology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Microbiology

Any others?
Also - could you suggest popular text books that go along with these?

 

[omarsaleh66]

Physiology For Sho...

Im an MS2 and wouldnt mind another physiology course right now. haha

 

[Mike59]

As weird as this sounds: I'd advise against taking a formal class.
If you're really keen on learning stuff, locate effective review books and learn to teach yourself the material (doesn't even have to be a big textbook). A huge skill in medical school is learning to turn up the juice and cram high yield stuff into your head...no community college class is going to teach you that.

Secondly, you're going to forget everything (yes, EVERYTHING) anyways 2 months after the test so I wouldn't waste your money. Instead, take a nice vacation that you'll remember on those long nights when you're in school again.

 

[TripleDegree]

As weird as this sounds: I'd advise against taking a formal class.
If you're really keen on learning stuff, locate effective review books and learn to teach yourself the material (doesn't even have to be a big textbook). A huge skill in medical school is learning to turn up the juice and cram high yield stuff into your head...no community college class is going to teach you that.

Secondly, you're going to forget everything (yes, EVERYTHING) anyways 2 months after the test so I wouldn't waste your money. Instead, take a nice vacation that you'll remember on those long nights when you're in school again.

good advice .. any reccos on specific books i should pick up?

 

[johnny_blaze]

If I was you I would take Mike59’s advice. I personally learn better on my own so I probably wouldn’t waist my time with a course. Teaching yourself is a valuable skill, try and develop this if you can.

Instead, take a nice vacation that you'll remember on those long nights when you're in school again.

Definitely worth considering! I got a nice one coming up that will hopefully stay with me during my final years.

 

[lilmo]

dude. you already got in to the school of your choice, so therefore you are a genius and will be able to learn all the material when the time comes. just relax and enjoy yourself until school starts. but if you must must must take some sort of course i would recommend an anatomy dissection lab. get used to the cadavers and all the muscles/nerves/arteries.

 

[twinklz]

I'd recommend immunology. Its the only course so far that isn't based solely on how much minutia you can shove into your brain, so you might remember the basic concepts 2 months later.

 

[phoenixsupra]

Physiology For Sho...

Im an MS2 and wouldnt mind another physiology course right now. haha

I feel the same way. 🙂 For a stronger understanding of medicine later on then physiology is the one.

But to the op, if it's a headstart in MS1 that you're looking for then ANATOMY is what you want. 😉

 

[erin682]

I feel the same way. 🙂 For a stronger understanding of medicine later on then physiology is the one.

But to the op, if it's a headstart in MS1 that you're looking for then ANATOMY is what you want. 😉

See I would say definately don't take anatomy if you take anything at all. The anatomy that they teach in undergrad is really useless in med school. They don't get specific enough for one thing and for another anatomy is just memorization and you will forget all the details by the time you get to school. If you take anything I would recomend biochem, phys, or immunology. Take a class that has more concepts to learn instead of just memorization.

 

[phoenixsupra]

See I would say definately don't take anatomy if you take anything at all. The anatomy that they teach in undergrad is really useless in med school. They don't get specific enough for one thing and for another anatomy is just memorization and you will forget all the details by the time you get to school. If you take anything I would recomend biochem, phys, or immunology. Take a class that has more concepts to learn instead of just memorization.

Ha ha. Interesting perspective. The peeps I know who had taken undergrad anatomy definately had an easier time. Not as much detail. That's true of most undergrad courses but it's easier to learn the extra details When you're already familiar with the basic stuff. I agree that anatomy is memorization but the visual and practical element seemed to be difficult to cope with for many of the science majors in my class. I liked it and found it much easier to "memorize" because of the visual componant. That wasn't typical IIRC. What's more I remember a ton of it whearas I may as well not have even taken immunology or biochem.

I'm curious what's conceptual about biochem? I don't remember anything in it that was.

So we all dissagree about what if anything would be best to take. I'd say then to the op. At least take something from the first semester if you must take something cuz that "knowledge" has a half life of about two weeks in the brain. Good luck. 🙂

 

[lilmo]

See I would say definately don't take anatomy if you take anything at all. The anatomy that they teach in undergrad is really useless in med school. They don't get specific enough for one thing and for another anatomy is just memorization and you will forget all the details by the time you get to school. If you take anything I would recomend biochem, phys, or immunology. Take a class that has more concepts to learn instead of just memorization.

exact opposite in my experience. my undergard biochem and phys proved to be absolutely useless here at med school, where memorization instead of concepts have proven to be key in getting good grades. i still hold to my original suggestion of relaxing and enjoying yourself before the stress of school begins.

 

[phoenixsupra]

i still hold to my original suggestion of relaxing and enjoying yourself before the stress of school begins.

Ha ha. I can't disagree with that. 🙂

 

[erin682]

i still hold to my original suggestion of relaxing and enjoying yourself before the stress of school begins.

Yeah I have to agree with that too. As you can see people who are in med school are all different and there isn't a one class that is gonna help you out the most in med school. If there is something that you are interested in take it but otherwise just relax and enjoy your time off. You'll get plenty of school before long.

 

[TripleDegree]

thanks to all the med students for their input.


I will definitely relax, no doubts about that. But I won't be surprised if I find myself reaching for an Anatomy book over the next few months to lull me into a gentle slumber 😀

 

[TexasRose]

thanks to all the med students for their input.


I will definitely relax, no doubts about that. But I won't be surprised if I find myself reaching for an Anatomy book over the next few months to lull me into a gentle slumber 😀

Relaxing is a great idea.

However, if you really want to take a class, I'd highly recommend Biochem at a university. Physio is also a good choice. I doubt either of these courses at a CC will get you past the first week in med school. University courses will at least get you a foot up on the first few weeks. (depending on whether your school is block or semester based) The students with more science background seemed to be more relaxed and prepared in the early weeks of school. After that, it's memory cram for everyone!

 

[Sage880]

I will definitely relax, no doubts about that. But I won't be surprised if I find myself reaching for an Anatomy book over the next few months to lull me into a gentle slumber 😀

I'd take courses if I was you. Every course I had taken before was 100 times easier in med school then the courses that are brand new.

Even in a course that's just memorization, memorizing it the second time after "forgetting it" was much easier than memorizing it the first time.

 

[DOrk]

Take a course in improv. acting. (I'm serious 🙂 ) This wil be much more fun than any anatomy or bichem course and will be more helpful to you in the long run.

 

[a_student]

Take a course in improv. acting. (I'm serious 🙂 ) This wil be much more fun than any anatomy or bichem course and will be more helpful to you in the long run.

hey it might help u in the clinics when your acting like u know the stuff!

who else smells gunner here?

 

[phoenixsupra]

Take a course in improv. acting. (I'm serious 🙂 ) This wil be much more fun than any anatomy or bichem course and will be more helpful to you in the long run.

Yeah. That's actually a great idea. 😀 Practice looking interested while your attending is droning on with the story of his/her life. That skill is a must.

 

[jrllusom2008]

Developmental bio would probably have made embryology easier...that an histology would help for cell. But, eh they make you learn it all anyway so it really doesn't matter much.

 

[felipe5]

i gotta agree with the above poster.......freakin' embryo SUCKS BIG TIME, so i'd go with that. Physio won't hurt, and anatomy is nice, even though you'll probably forget 99% of the stuff you learned (or get 400% more stuff shoved down your throat in medschool)

final answer: take a course in heavy duty memorization techniques....or meditation class to help you NOT FREAK OUT when it starts to hit the fan

 

[DOrk]

Spend these last few precious months doing things you enjoy; you won't get this time back. I think you'll regret having spent this time in a classroom much more than you'd regret not having taken an intro microbiology course or whatever. Good luck. 🙂

PS the meditation class the last poster mentioned is probably the best idea so far.

 

[DaveB]

PS the meditation class the last poster mentioned is probably the best idea so far.

😱 😱 😱 😱 😱

Take it from a "been there, done that, I don't give a **** anymore" MSIV:

Your biggest concern right now is how to come up with enough beer money to fund your binge-drinking habit while you're saving up for the vacation of a lifetime that you're going to take before you start med school next fall.

There is NO class that will help you in medical school worthwhile enough to give up the freedom and flexibility you'll have until next fall. Have fun while you can... you'll have plenty of time to work later! 🙂

 

[phoenixsupra]

😱 😱 😱 😱 😱

Take it from a "been there, done that, I don't give a **** anymore" MSIV:

Your biggest concern right now is how to come up with enough beer money to fund your binge-drinking habit while you're saving up for the vacation of a lifetime that you're going to take before you start med school next fall.

There is NO class that will help you in medical school worthwhile enough to give up the freedom and flexibility you'll have until next fall. Have fun while you can... you'll have plenty of time to work later! 🙂

I have to agree. Taking a class or two to help you out in medschool is like getting a ten yard headstart in a marathon.

 

[Rendar5]

immuno is great long-term. If you have to learn something,learn this unless you go to a school which has a strong immuno course.

I'm only a first year, so I don't know how useful physio would be. Anatomy doesn't sound like it would be too beneficial. just flip through a Netter's atlas or something in your spare time if you want.

I do know all the 2nd years hear complain about neurology. If you're up to it, go for one of those courses.

psych might be fun.

Oh yeah! EMBRYO. sorry, just a class that I wish I knew better.

 

[roja]

Render!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOw is life up in your hood?????????????????? We miss you down here. 🙁


Immuno and embryo... good choices.

 

[Rendar5]

Life is great up here. Though I wish I had more restaurant selection than just Italian in the Bronx 🙄

We keep knocking courses off left and right (kinda like it better that way than having everything together slowly over the course of the year). Winter Break is coming soon, thank god. but that means I am cramming back, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and biochem right now. Gah, wish school didn't take up so much of my time but it's not that bad.

How's life by you? I need to visit St. Luke's sometime.