To elaborate on SAK's comment about how subsequent quarters will be busier/harder. Each qtr is tough for different reasons. The first wasn't too bad in HINDSIGHT b/c had the least coursewrk/ exams. However, when you go thru the 1st qtr it's difficult b/c you're adjusting to med. schoool life. How to study, when to study, where to go to study, whether or not to go to class, which class is a must to go and which is a waste of time, how many hours of sleep do you have to have to function, group study or not, how to deal with limited free time, coping with the schedule. These were some of the many issues/ questions that i dealt with during my first qtr.
In the 2nd qtr, the workload escalates but you're use to the grind so it's not too bad. However, you have to deal with the weather. For some it might not be a big thing but for a cali boy like myself it was definitely an issue. Also you have to deal with the fact that there will be days in which you won't see sunlight. There are many winter days in which you spend in gross lab whereby you will leave well pass sundown.
In the 3rd qtr the weather improves and so it's naturally uplifting. Unfortunately, the workload also increases. There will be more exams than you thought imaginable for a qtr. This is when all of us looked back at 1st qtr and wished we had that schedule.
I don't want to scare you but this is what several 2nd years told me last year. What i got from this bit of advice is solace that CCOM won't throw you immediately into the fire but instead gradually ease you into things which i thought was pretty cool. That's the big picture, but like i said before you should attack one exam at a time and you'll be fine. Don't get overwhelmed. Try to pace yourself and squeeze in play time so that you don't burn out. Remember it's a marathon not a sprint. All your class mates will be going thru the same thing and in doing so you'll develop a very special bond.
Once you adjust to med school life you'll be ok.
Sir arthur, I'll try to give you a call later this week so that we can plan something for next week when i'm in town.
-TP
PS. I'll try to post this only once. My cpu didn't cooperative with me for my last post.
[This message has been edited by TP (edited 08-01-2000).]