Accepted to Charles First Fac - Need Guidance

[Dr. Jaye]

All, thanks for your help int the previous months; your posts have been the almanac in me navigating foreign education.

Need a little assistance, I have been accepted to Charles 1st Faculty of Medicine. That said, Its mid-july and I need to get things in motion.

My first question is Books. How much did you guys pay for first year books on campus? I found most of the books on amazon for cheap, but shipping to the CR can take 3 weeks.

Secondly, anyone want to suggest a good Bank in Prague?

Thanks.

[euromd]

You can post all your questions at once. Whoever can answer them will.

Re Amazon, don't buy them from Amazon US - you will get dinged at customs. Amazon UK often has reasonably priced items and because VAT is included, you won't be taxed again. Also, shipping is faster.

That said, most buy their books here.

[shrey]

yeah I second euromed's advice because in the beginning I bought so many books from the States and also some from UK only to realize that it was a waste....you'll know what to buy when you get here....that being said, I used Clinical Anatomy by Moore's for Anatomy along with the Netters and Rohan (for dissections) Atlases, Clinical Neuroanatomy by Snell's (but they have a prescribed book here written by Petrovicky).

Histology - Junquiera (Ross is also an option but it's much more detailed and time-consumig).

Embrology - Before We Are Born by Moore or Embryology by Langman (both are really good but the former is a bit thicker and has more clinical details while the latter is more of a review book...but recommended by most of the profs. here).

[Dr. Jaye]

Thanks guys.

So did you buy your books on campus or Amazon UK? About how much was the total for year one books if you buy them on campus? Shrey, I know you just complete your year one so I'm guessing that info should be fairly fresh in your mind.

Thanks

[shrey]

Hey Dr.Jaye,

Actually I'm almost done with first year (1 more subject to go - Anatomy which I'm taking this 23rd)...

I bought most of my important textbooks in England and the States and they were quite expensive that when compared to buying them in Prague. I'll just list down the prices individually for the books that I did buy in Prague:
Grim's Anatomy (4-5 vols.) - 500 CZK
Petrovicky's Neuroanatomy Vols. I and II - 600 CZK
Biophysics manual (text + manual) - 100 CZK
Platzer's Anatomy vols I, II, III - 1,700 CZK for each (so 4,100 for all 3)
Netter's atlas - Bought it in England but it's around 2500 CZK or so
Czech book (text + workbook + CD) - 600 CZK

Generally though, all the books written by foreign authors are expensive but not as expensive as buying them from the States/UK (the quality is the same). I made a huge mistake by buying tons of books (and I only follow very few of them). Also they change the prices for some books every year so the prices that I've mentioned above might vary (but they wouldn't vary by a drastic figure).

[euromd]

Definitely check out the sale shelf at the back. They're usually books >30% discount because a new edition is coming out. You won't need the new edition so may as well save some money and buy a previous one. Also, ask upper years if they're selling books.

[MrBones]

'DONT WORRY' is the best advice i can give you.
Do wht they want, be nice to the administration and they will be nice to you aswell.
Get a proper anatomy book, because at the end it doesnt matter which one you get, because you must like it !
The Junqueira book for histology is enough but lacks some detailed information, having the ross book will help for review or just to understand the topic (in my opinion the ross book is better understandable cause it gives you more details)
Regarding the neuroanatomy part you are best with the petrovicky books, once you understand the sentences :D , I read some other neuro books aswell, but these books are unique in the way that they provide you with very nice pictures/drawings tht make life a bit easier.
You dont need to buy a first aid book even though its in the book list !! (its nice to read in the bathtub)
Embryology is managable with 'before we are born', but compared to the czech embryology book it is a piece of cake ! Wht helps is going to the lectures...you get the necessary drawings there.

Besides that: GO TO THE PRACTICALS, every single one !!!! otherwise you will get in trouble and load your mind with unneccessary problems.

[euromd]

Secondly, anyone want to suggest a good Bank in Prague?

Thanks.

KB (http://www.kb.cz/en/index.shtml) - they have a student account (http://www.kb.cz/en/seg/seg2/products/gaudeamus.shtml) (until your 30th birthday) - basic account is free, the upgraded is 20kc/month and includes internet banking. There are branches all over the city.