First Semester Advice: Time Management

Time management will prove to be very important in med school, as you simply don't have as much time to catch up on material as you did in undergrad.  Any time you fall behind, the amount of work you have to catch up seems to multiply exponentially.  Therefore, you must be careful with how you spend your time.  In the past I sometimes found myself overstating how much time I actually spent studying, so I kept a desktop timer that I paused whenever I browsed something else on facebook (it's easy to waste 15 min. on mindless videos or memes), went to the bathroom, took breaks, etc.  This might be a good thing to implement especially for the first week, just so you have an idea of how long it takes to to create your study products for one lecture, allowing you to schedule more accurately.   I get the best results when I follow a routine of how much time I want to spend making study products for each lecture.  Generally, this is an hour for study notes per lecture.  Sometimes that hour is not enough, but by the end of the day I at least know that I have went through the main concepts for each lecture.  If you don't specify how much time you want to spend on notes for each lecture, then you can easily spend too much time focusing on minuscule details at the expense of learning major concepts from other lectures.  (For our mini exams, there are 2 exam questions from each lecture hour, so study accordingly)  There are usually four classes per day, so four hours devoted for study products.  Then I make a checklist (or in this case use one made by a generous classmate) of what I want to accomplish for that lecture, which may look something like this:

First semester advice: Housing

Most students have likely already picked housing for the upcoming semester, but for those who haven't I'd recommend somewhere close to campus.  I've lived closer to the Annex and right across the street from campus, and living by campus is much more convenient.  Those who live further from campus generally do so because of cheaper housing, especially if you need a bigger apartment for a family, but in my situation the apartment by campus was the same price as my first apartment.  Or they like the idea of not being able to quickly go to campus, forcing them to stay on campus and study.  If you're dissatisfied, you can easily moved next semester, as the leases are just for one semester.  Moving can be a slight hassle, but most taxi services provide services for moving as well, such as Alexis taxi.  I got help from the homie Ryan (I don't have his number on me currently), who's a reliable taxi driver and helped me move late at night.

I currently live at Mac and Judy's.  The landlady is amazing and responds quickly, apartment is big, and it is right across the street from campus.  I pay $650 US monthly.  I would recommend it to anyone.

Before this semester, students weren't having classes in the Annex.  However, this incoming class will have classes in the Annex for this and possibly more semesters.  Therefore, living close to the Annex might prove to be more convenient.  However, you will still have to go to main campus at least a couple times a week or more for anatomy lab, fitness center, subway, clinical activities, etc.

First Semester Advice: Studying for different classes

In my opinion, what's harder than learning the presented material in the first semester is determining the best study strategies to master the material.  A good baseline is to continue to do what worked for you in undergraduate and make adjustments from there.  I like to condense the lecture slides into 1-3 pages on blank sheets of paper.  Sometimes this takes up too much time, and takes away from review, which hurts my score sometimes.  However, after I review the notes I created 3 or 4 times, I feel that I have a thorough understanding of the material.   This ensures that I am connecting the information and it makes it much easier for later review and quickly finding out information when doing practice problems.  Any major diagram I draw out.  It took me a while, but towards the end of first semester, I realized that I'm a much more visual learner than I ever would of imagined.  I had taken the assessment test for learning styles and visual was never top of the list, but through experimentation I realized that diagrams stick in my head the longest.

Whatever you study strategy is, just make sure you are actively studying.  Don't simply read through the slides over and over.  Add notes in the margins, create questions, create diagrams, flowcharts, make connections between other lecture materials, etc.  A good measurement is that when you're studying and your mind is elsewhere, thinking about music, dinner, classmates, etc.  than you're probably not actively studying. 

Also make sure you are group studying at least one time a week.  The group I like to study actually has sections every night from 7-9 where we recap what was presented during lecture.  I don't go every night, but it's nice to have that option.  Many times you will feel like you're "not ready" to go to group study.  Don't worry, you never will be, it is an opportunity to feel in gaps in your learning, not for you to prove how smart you are.  Actually the times I've felt the dumbest in group are the times I've learned the most.

I've been asked to write on the best study methods for each class, so I'll try to describe which methods gave me the best results for first semester.

Anatomy:

Anatomy will undoubtedly be the subject that takes up most of your time during first semester.  Initially, I made the mistake of seeing the 3-5 hours of anatomy lab as time taking away of studying for lecture material.  It took me a while to realize that the best learning from integrating lecture material while actually finding and touching the structures in lab.  Anatomy lab practical are only worth 5% of the grade, while the mini exams are about 12-20% of the semester grade.  Therefore, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more time should be spent in the books rather than at lab, but the students who do the best on the mini exams, which include many anatomy questions, are those who are also do well on the Anatomy lab practicals.

The most effective learning will come in the anatomy lab.  Be prepared for dissection by watching the prosection videos a couple of times.  Making a quick and simple drawing of whatever body part we were dissecting helped me to visualize and remember where the nerves, vasculature, muscles, etc. should be.  Consistently go into the anatomy lab.  I got the best results when me and a friend went in Saturday mornings and reviewed the dissections we did for the week.  Be able to identify the same structures on different bodies, as you never know which body will be used for the practical exam.  

Biochemistry:

I had success drawing out pathways or making flowcharts.  Know the rate-limiting steps and where a disruption in the pathway would likely cause pathology.  Also, go to Smolanoff's office.  He has many slides, many which aren't important, but pay attention to what he emphasizes or repeats during lecture. Know your amino acids, which ones are basic, acidic, hydrophobic, hydrophilic, etc.  There are mnemonics you can find from a google search.  Don't worry, organic chemistry, will not play much of a role.

Microanatomy/ Histology:

Repetition, repetition, repetition.  Microanatomy can be very detailed, so be sure to pay attention to any bolded or color text in the lecture powerpoints.  You simply have to keep going through the material, start with understanding the overall picture and gradually add more and more detail.

Physiology:

I like Physio, because it is very conceptual.  There is not much memorization involved, as opposed to Anatomy.  I liked supplemental sources such as BRS or Khan Academy for Physio as they presented the same concepts in different ways.  Not as much repetition is necessary, once you understand the concepts.

Behavioral Science:

This is the easiest subject, the "marshmallowy" topics of medicine such as be kind to your patients, treat them with respect, listen, etc.  Also some of the social work, sociological, and cultural aspects of medicine. This subject can be a gift or a curse.  I do best when I tackle these lectures first, and make sure they are reviewed early on when studying for a mini and also right before the mini.  The questions are generally easy, but it is easy to just put off studying for behavior science and lose easy points. 

First Semester Advice: Study Materials

Here are a list of books I would recommend from first semester, you can likely buy these off someone currently on the island, there is a "RUSM Craigslist" on facebook that you should search for and join.  If your prefer electronic books, you can easily find someone with these books on a hard drive.  These books are also available in the library for check out for two weeks at a time.  I haven't used many books, as all the information you need for the exam will be on the professor's powerpoint slides during lectures, however if you can fit in the time, reading the supplemental books will help to cement the concepts presented and improve your understanding.

Review Books:
First Aid for USMLE step 1: Considered a necessity for STEP 1 exam by most students.  It is very broad with limited detail, however it is a good guide to determine what is the most high yield information.  As you progress through semesters you should annotate the book with your own notes.

BRS:  I would recommend this series for any subject.  It is a series with small books for various subjects (Physiology, Behavior Science, Biochem, Anatomy, etc.) with detailed questions and great explanations.  These questions are more difficult than the ones you will have on exams, but it is good for reviews and testing your knowledge.

Anatomy:
Clinically Oriented Anatomy: Buy it. This is where many of the lecture slides will be from, as this book includes the clinical correlates that the professors like to ask questions about.

Grant's Dissector: Buy it.  This will be your guide for anatomy dissections.  There will be copies in the Anatomy lab to look at.  However, it is good to have your own copy so you can read ahead before dissection begins.

Netter's Clinical Anatomy: Buy it.  This is the Gray's Anatomy for our generation.  This book contains great drawings that professors used during exams and during lectures.

Netter's Clinical Anatomy Flashcards:  These are great for quick review and repetition.

Biochem:
Principles of Medical Biochemistry (Meisenberg):  Dr. Meisnberg is a Biochemistry professor, so many questions come from this book.  It is also concise and well written, and will be utilized throughout your time at Ross.

Microscopic Anatomy:
Langman's Medical Embryology: Small and excellent review book for embryology.  It will definitely clear up the lecture material.  I rented it from the library for the embryology lectures, however I would recommend buying it.

Youtube Channels:
I find that youtube videos can serve as a quick broad introduction to different lecture materials
Khan Academy:
Has videos on many medical subjects in collaboration with Stanford University.

Anatomy Zone:
3D videos on various neurovasculature, muscles, bones, etc.

Armando Hasundugan and Handwritten Tutorials:
Easy to replicate, handwritten, short videos covering most subjects.  Good for previewing organ systems and understanding the overall picture.

Ipad Apps:
Essential Anatomy or Human Anatomy Atlas 3D:
I've never used these apps, however I've heard great things about them.  Essential Anatomy has slightly better reviews.  Good for 3d visualization of the structures you will be dissecting

iAnnotate:
Must have for those planning on taking notes with their apps.  I also use it when doing the professors' practice questions, as it saves the annotated files, so you can easily go back during exam or finals time and review the questions you got wrong.

Other than these, I haven't looked at any other books, so I can't speak on them.  I hope this helps some.  Subscribe to receive a notification whenever new blogs are published.

First Semester Advice: Orientation Week

I am writing this post based on the suggestion of a reader, once again feel free to email me at theblackjacksparrow@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions.  I'll attempt to create a series of post geared towards the incoming first semester students.

I will start off with saying that entering medical school is undoubtedly one of the biggest decisions one may make in their life, and it comes with a great deal of pressure, expectation, or anxiety for the future, especially when entering an international medical school.  It is important not to look at medical school as a means to an end of becoming a licensed physician, but look forward to enjoying the journey, as most can look back and realize that the four (more or less) years of undergraduate work was not as long as it sounded when first going into college.

Your first experience on campus will be a week long orientation of things such as tours around campus, introduction to the printing system, school administration, etc.  This week and the week before it (if you choose to come to the island the week before orientation starts) will be accompanied most days by an island excursion that is organized by the school.  I would definitely recommend attending these tours, as it will be the best opportunity to meet your future classmates.  This will be the time where people are most open to meeting new people and are unoccupied with major studying obligations.