What do you need for med school?

[Funshine0123]

---

Members do not see this ad.

My family keeps asking me, besides money, what kinds of things they should buy me as "going to med school" presents? I already know that I am getting a stethoscope & someone else recommended an otoscope, but I really have no idea what to tell them. Does anyone else have any ideas?? I know that I will want a palm for 3rd year rotations, but I'm afraid if I get one now, it will be obsolete 🙂

Any advice you have would be wonderful..

 

[Starflyr]

A good medical dictionary. Dorlands or Stedmans woudl be my reccomendation - they are NOT cheap - like $50-100+.

Comfy shoes. During MSI and MSII, it doesnt matter so much, but once you're on the wards....

Um...all the "doctor stuff" really you wont need until later - stethoscopes, oto/ophthalmoscopes (well, you will never really use these unless you do an ophtho rotation), stuff like that, just wait, if you can.

Another good thing would be to get gift certificates for your school's bookstore - books are your major expenditure during MSI and II.

Maybe start beefing up your "professional" wardrobe = I dont know if your school requires professional clothes during MSI and II, but mine didnt. You WILL need them for the wards, though, and it aint cheap after 6 years of jeans and grungy t-shirts.

Star

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

Try to wait to get things such as your instruments that you'll need. You usually find out more about what to get once you talk to everyone about it. Stick with things such as: gift certificates to the school bookstore or to amazon.com for books, and gift certificates to stores where you can gradually buy nice clothes. I think it is handy to get gift certificates for christmas or birthdays so that I can gradually add to a nicer wardrobe that I can wear once 3rd year starts. It is definitely expensive to buy that kind of stuff, especially when you have to have enough clothes for every day of the week.

 

[Jaded Soul]

If you can help it, don't let people buy your expensive medical instruments for you. You'll get a significantly better price with a student discount, plus you'll get to try out everything to see exactly what you need or don't need.

Also, I agree with the above posters. Money/gift certificates for books and clothes are very useful. Money is the best gift of all.

 

[8744]

Man, screw buying an expensive opthalmoscope and otoscope. First of all, most examination rooms at our hospital have them on the walls. Second, you will not need them, at least not on a regular basis, during first and second year, and third, I have yet to see a doctor or resident carting around their own.

About the only thing you absolutely need for rotations is a good stethascope. Don't skimp there.

My wife has an otoscope slighlty bigger then a pen (which clips on a pocket) that she uses to look in our dogs ears. It cost $45. It is not as good as the $300 one that I bought but it is good enough.

Ditto on buying a good medical dictionary. And by all means buy Netter's now because you will use it. But for God's sake hold off on buying any other books until you see whether you need them.

I've got a $95 Neuroscience book that I have never opened or needed, for example.

 

[southerndoc]

Originally posted by Funshine0123
My family keeps asking me, besides money, what kinds of things they should buy me as "going to med school" presents?

In order of importance:

1. Condoms
2. Beer
3. Digital camera (to go along with #1 and 2!)
4. Laptop (to get your SDN on)

I think that's the essentials.

 

[MedicationWorks]

I see a lot of recommendations for medical dictionaries. I was wondering though, how do you feel about:

Online Medical Dictionary 1
Online Medical Dictionary 2

They seem pretty complete... Of course, you need to be around a computer.

 

[mpp]

Don't know if they still do it but you get a free Stedman's dictionary (concise edition) when you join AMA. My school paid our AMA dues so the Stedman's was free. It also came with a CD-ROM verson of the entire concise edition including figures and pronunciations (I still get all giddy when I hear my computer say 'onychoheterotopia').

 

[Rads Resident]

There's only one thing you need. Dozens and dozens of copies of The Wolf Files.

Actually, I'm still laughing at #3 above - Digital camera (to go along with #1 & #2).

 

[Renovar]

Originally posted by Geek Medic
In order of importance:

1. Condoms
2. Beer
3. Digital camera (to go along with #1 and 2!)
4. Laptop (to get your SDN on)

I think that's the essentials.

My list of counter-essentials:

1. Box load of KY jelly (althought that can be usually obtained from your local ED courtesy rectal exams) more versatile than condoms since lot of times you might not have the time to hit on actual chix and need to do it quick by yourself... 🙁
2. Fake undergrad IDs (to go to cool undergrad frat parties to hit on nice drunk chicks.)
3. Webcam should be good enough for the above purpose.
4. Make sure you upload and share these movies with your fellow SDNers... 🙂

 

[HouseHead]

I started a similar thread a few months ago, I think in the pre-allo forum...

Things that were pretty universal:

Good running shoes
Lots of good socks

You can substitute whatever sports gear will help you stay sane. Like, if I didn't already have one, I'd ask for a Manta Ray.

Also:

MP3 player
Pack of uniball pens from Costco
Pack of hiliters from Costco
Gross of my favorite notepads
PDA (who cares if it'll be obsolete, it'll still serve you well for 2 years)
Netter's interactive software

Things I'll be getting after I move closer to school:

Turntables/mixer/etc.
Couch
Another dog 😀

 

[Blade28]

Originally posted by Renovar
3. Webcam should be good enough for the above purpose.
4. Make sure you upload and share these movies with your fellow SDNers... 🙂

 

[gwyn779]

Just as a note about buying Stedmans, my school gave away the full versions for free (I think with our white coats). I wouldn't have anyone shell out the money for it before you start.

 

[fusionid]

2. Fake undergrad IDs (to go to cool undergrad frat parties to hit on nice drunk chicks.)

Interesting, is that a possible?

 

[Iron Horse]

A sturdy bag that can carry whatever you need and that's not too hard on your back.

 

[citygirl]

My school requires we purchase a limited number of instruments before mid-October in MS1 including otoscope/ophthalmoscope, blood pressure cuff, tuning fork, stethoscope and reflex hammer. See if your school has a new students and/or orientation web page. It should tell you what and when. You might also be able to see if you will need "professional attire" right away. My school does also. Just to add to the list: gift certificates for the basics from places like Office Depot, Mervyn's (never can have too much underwear or socks), etc. It's that kind of stuff that can nickel and dime you to death on a student budget.