Hello to all,

I am starting in May 08 and wanted to ask some of the more senior students what Med1 is really like:

Especially regarding the books we should buy..... I found a link regarding someone's experience at Saba and I wanted to know if its similar to MUA since both schools follow similar pattern and are owned by the same company. (i cant add the link because I am new to VMD... But its under the Saba Forum "My Opinions of 1st Semester"

Also had a question of when we should get there.
I was told I can move into the dorm on May 1, if I come to island earlier I have to find my own accomdations.
Also I read we have to buy a return ticket if we are coming for the 1st time.
So when should we book to fly back to Canada?
Last exam is Aug 15... so do most people fly out the same day?
What if we live in the dorm... since semeter ends Aug 15, do have to move out the same day?

I know these might be silly questions but I am just a little nervous about taking this big step in life after being out of school for many years.
Thanks for your reply.

They are good questions. You can find the list of books on MUA Bookstore.
I don't know about the return ticket, but I actually only bought a one-way the first time here. I don't think they check at all.
In terms of booking flights back to Canada- you should do it ASAP, because, believe it or not, the flights get booked up pretty quickly with everyone rushing to get home.
I always fly out the same day as the exams, but you might have to be very careful in terms of booking your flights--> you never really know when the exams end. So there might be some changing later on, which costs a little more money.
In terms of dorms, they give you some time to move out. So you don't have to vacate the dorm until probably 2 days later. =) Hope this helps.

As far as MED 1 books go, I wouldn't buy the Histology textbook because it's total crap. You don't need the embryology textbook as everything is covered thoroughly in the slides. I didn't use the anatomy textbook, but I would buy it anyway because it's a good textbook and you can refer to it if you have trouble understanding anything from the slides. For anatomy, make sure you buy Netter's (the bible as we refer to it). I never needed the Grant's Dissecter, but if you want it anyways, then go for it. As far as the dorms go, you have to be out I think within a week of the semester ending, but most people move out before then. Also, I would buy your return ticket as students buy theirs fast and the friday,saturday, and sunday ticketsget booked early. You don't have to buy a return ticket, so if you want to stay back for the break, you can, although I highly suggest you go home because you will get sick of this island.

Honestly, I went to buy books two weeks ago and started checking to see where I could get them cheaper. I got caught up with studying and have not checked the book list until earlier today. Glad I didn't buy anything, because the list changed drastically since the last time I looked! These books are by no means cheap, so I am emailing the school for a list. Apparently, we do not have a teacher for Micro next semester, and I', leery in purchasing it, since this is one of the ones that has changed, and the teacher usually chooses the book. So how can they have a book without a lecturer? I have no idea. But as soon as I get a reply back, I'll let you know what they say. Also, you may want to post something in the classifieds about books. You can probably get them off other students here for way less than the bookstore.

Oh, and depending who teaches the course, you may want to buy the book since many teachers speak poor english and can be hard to follow in class. I also found that going by the presentations only did not help as there were times that information conflicted on the slides. Again, it's up to you.

I strongly encourage the purchase of all required texts as you will learn the total amount of material covered in class is not the total amount of material required to have a solid infrastructure in Basic Science. Passing the USMLE the first time requires a lot of hard work and READING of TEXTBOOKS taking notes and relating what you have read to what you learn in class. Use the professors during office hours for individual help and if you need more time we can usually arrange that. Study skills are emphasized as well. The 20 months on the Island has to be viewed for what it is...an accelerated time for learning when you will study study and study some more. I personally love the Island and if I didn't need to go home on occasion I wouldn't but each to their own choices. I am going home for Jazz Fest BUT will stay for the summer break. Any questions feel free to PM me. As far as Micro Murray (?sp) is a fine text.

Dean T

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Medical University of the Americas, Nevis

I agree with Dean T. Eventhough time is limited, but reading from the textbooks is a guaranteed way to ace your exams. After all, this is where the shelf and USMLE test you from, not the PPT. Slides. It may take you some time to get used to them, esp. Ross for Histo, but once you get used to them, they are not that boring.

-Ross for histo
-Moore for anatomy is a must have.
-Netter is not that great as many say. I would personally get Grant's Atlas.
-Embryo: I would not get Moore (useless). Rather, get the Medical Embryology one (do not recall the author-it's the one with CD).
-BRS histo and anatomy are a waste of money. For anatomy, make sure to do the Michigan q's and if you can do them, then the shelf and block exams will not be a problem.

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Has any of you used histotime? It helped a lot for lab exam in histo. Interactive and you can test yourself with it too!