Hi guys,

As the time gets closer untill I come to IAU the more I worry about how tough it will be. I was just wondering how many hours of studying do you do a day and what you daily schedule is like. Also is the material harder than things you learn in undergrad classes like cellular biology or genetics or biochem ? Also a random question, what type of electric plug tips does St. Lucia use? I went to radio shack today and wasn't quite sure which converter to buy thanks

Classes run from 8 am till at least 5 pm everyday. The school is open until midnight, so you'll have plenty of time to catch up in homework. The material is more IN DEPTH, in my opinion, compared to undergrad. Its is not hard, just a lot of material... then correlation.

Don't worry about the adapters, there are plenty of inexpensive outlet adapters available here for purchase. Bring favorite foods instead!

I agree with what IAUSTUDENT 06...it's not the matter of how many hours one spends each night, it's about being able to harness the means to correlate materials learned in one class and being able to apply them to your other classes. Not only will this cut down on your time studying, it'll leave you with more time to either study or relax. Nevertheless, you'll have plently of time to study, relax, etc and should you need extra help/tutoring, IAU has a tutoring program in addition to our STARC center (computer database filled with more programs/info) and-the best part-teachers that are always willing to sit down with you before AND after class/school hours.

See you soon!

Glad to hear that you'll be coming here next semester. In terms of the work load and how most students fare with it - I think that if you come here with the attitude that you're going to hit the ground running - you should be fine. The material is A LOT, but thats in every medical school that you go to.
Expect to do quite a bit of reading and researching (for case studies especially) but don't get intimidated. If you feel like your in over your head, it doesn't hurt take a step back and just take a break. You're not going to have to study 24/7 - you'll just burn yourself out.
The students here are more than willing to help if the need arises, and asking questions is always welcome. Faculty and staff are also very forthright about what they expect from you - and will help in any way they can.
The material is definitely harder than undergrad - its medicine. But I guess that is to be expected.

As for the adapters, they are British electrical sockets, so any adapters you bring should be along those lines. Below is a link to show you the kind of electrical sockets that are on the island (the school also has US plugs for your laptop and other accessories):

http://www.army.mod.uk/img/ukpep/cli...cal_socket.jpg



iaustudent06 is right though - don't worry so much about the adapters, they can be purchased here if necessary. Bringing food that you enjoy from back home - dried and packaged foods - is always a good idea.

Good luck, have a safe trip, and I look forward to seeing you down here next semester.

Try this link to study...

http://www.valuemd.com/usmle-step-1-forum/140081-website-got-me-through-medical-school.html

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Everyone is different, so what works for one person will not work for another. Something that I heard about just how much time we need to put in for self study was really helpful:

A good rule of thumb is 2:1 minimum. Study two hours for each hour of lecture.
This means, 20 hours of lecture per week = 40 hours of study per week, minimum.
Don't go changing careers just yet.

The 40 hours includes review of the last lecture, pre-reading for the next lecture, and doing some practice questions. Thats plenty of things to keep you occupied. Research for the Case Study for the week is in addition to the 40 hours. Its not as bad as it sounds.

A manageable breakdown is 12 hours each on Saturday and Sunday, and 3 to 4 hours each weeknight. Add in time for Case study, and you shouldnt be much more than four hours per weeknight. Theres enough room to move your schedule around if you need to.

Of course, you'll probably have to modify this to suit yourself. Once in a while you'll cheat, and spend an entire Saturday swinging from a palm tree, and thats fine. When you first start school, you probably wont study for the full 40 hours, for any number of reasons. As you progress, Case study will require less time commitment, and your own study will require more. Self-regulate to maintain the exam scores you want.

Like I said, everyone is different, and has to find their own way. Of course, you could spend your 40 hours staring at your laptop screen, or be so efficient that you get your work done in 20 hours. I managed to stick to the 2:1 Rule in my first two years of med school, and it worked for me.