Thread: If I knew then what I know now... Info for new students

I wish there was a thread like this when I started so here is a gift for the class starting in 2010.

To start, I have scanned a map of Poznan and marked some locations of importance to First year students. This will be very helpful if you are planning on getting your own apartment when coming here.

As well, I can send a copy of the first year schedule for the 4 year MD program if anybody is interested.

I cannot post images or files so please message me with your email and I will send these to you.

Otherwise, for any general questions please post them below and hopefully we can get you some answers. And this is just my personal opinion - but there is a lot of good, and a lot of bad with this school, and how you perceive it depends on what kind of person you are and what your experiences have been like before coming here. In the forum I will try to keep things objective, and if you want more details we can talk via email.

Good luck with the applications and interviews and enjoy your freedom while it lasts.

Here's a random one, but if you feel like studying ahead for Anatomy a good start would be to watch the Aclands DVD Atlas of Human Anatomy video series.

If you watch these videos using the VLC player you can speed them up which is a real help since he talks very slowly.

Believe me, by the time you are done with Anatomy you will have the video's memorized.

Thanks that's a great bit of advice, I plan on studying the series during the summer. As for questions for you, I certainly have a few.

*Please note that I'm also from Canada (Toronto) ! : )
1. a) Concerning the financial aspect, how were you able to manage the $30k - $40k / year payments for your 4 year program? Apart from getting a bank loan approved, were you entitled to any government grants / additional funding?
b) Providing you got a bank loan to cover most of the expenses, how easy was it to acquire (do you have many assets / good credit / good income etc.) , where did you get it from, and for how much is the loan?

2. On AVERAGE, how many hours per day do you dedicate to studying on a regular basis vs. say exam period?

3. Is it very difficult to manage your time in order to successfully study and understand the information?

4. I heard for a lot of med schools that the 'recommended' books aren't necessarily adequate enough / well written enough to allow for a successful completion of med school; so can you advise people on the 'Must Have' books for at least first year? Books that would make the journey a lot easier , that are simplistic yet wholesome?

5. Where are you going to do your clinicals at this summer? What did you need to do in order to get them / do you get paid / do you pay / how much?

6. Lastly (for now), If you could throw in ANY significant mentions based on your time in med school so far, that would be greatly appreciated.


Cheers, Alain

hi there..
im a 6th course student(final year)..studing in ukraine.knowing tht im not frm an EU country..could u help me with the procedure of entering to any of the poland medical university for PG courses.how could i start?.well i want to specialize in psychiatric.
will u help me

Originally Posted by Lipowicz91

Thanks that's a great bit of advice, I plan on studying the series during the summer. As for questions for you, I certainly have a few.

*Please note that I'm also from Canada (Toronto) ! : )
1. a) Concerning the financial aspect, how were you able to manage the $30k - $40k / year payments for your 4 year program? Apart from getting a bank loan approved, were you entitled to any government grants / additional funding?
b) Providing you got a bank loan to cover most of the expenses, how easy was it to acquire (do you have many assets / good credit / good income etc.) , where did you get it from, and for how much is the loan?

2. On AVERAGE, how many hours per day do you dedicate to studying on a regular basis vs. say exam period?

3. Is it very difficult to manage your time in order to successfully study and understand the information?

4. I heard for a lot of med schools that the 'recommended' books aren't necessarily adequate enough / well written enough to allow for a successful completion of med school; so can you advise people on the 'Must Have' books for at least first year? Books that would make the journey a lot easier , that are simplistic yet wholesome?

5. Where are you going to do your clinicals at this summer? What did you need to do in order to get them / do you get paid / do you pay / how much?

6. Lastly (for now), If you could throw in ANY significant mentions based on your time in med school so far, that would be greatly appreciated.


Cheers, Alain

Nice questions – I will try to answer them as best as I can but of course this is only based on my brief experience so far.

1. The tuition for PUMS is roughly $15000 USD/year. I was able to get a bank loan to cover the cost of the tuition only, and this was ONLY because my father had a lot of pre-existing business with the bank as he's in the real estate business.

The cost-of-living expenses are being paid through personal savings and from parental assistance. Thankfully some things in Poland are relatively cheap like transit and food and that help with budgeting.

To be honest, if it wasn't for my parents I don't think I would be here right now as there would be no way for me to finance everything. I was able to get an OSAP loan (which is a government loan for you non-Canadians) but only for $5000. I'm not saying it's impossible to get a bank loan for school, but the current economic situation had made it a lot harder for sure.

2. This is an interesting question because everybody has their own style when it comes to study habits. But there is no escaping the fact that med school pretty much becomes your life while you are here. It’s hard to say how much we study on average but we are CONSTANTLY being tested, so we study A LOT (at least a few hours a day minimum if not more). There is no definitive exam period because classes overlap so it’s a continuous battle to keep up. But it’s very much a work hard play hard environment – and partying feels so much better after a big exam which is something you don’t get working a 9-5 haha.

I also consider the fact that I want to return to North America which means competing against every other medical student out there who is thinking the same. That is motivation enough for me to study my *** off for the next four years. Short term pain for long term gain.

3. It’s really no problem to keep up for the most part, but I think that depends on what your educational background is like before coming here. If you have some background in any of histo, biochem, micro, anatomy etc it will allow you to focus on other classes. I truly thought I was going to be in class for 9 hours a day but on average it’s more like 3-4 hours per day. However, when you have a big final coming up there never seems to be enough hours in the day haha. I think it’s important that you always review a little bit from each class every day (easier said than done). For example, as of last week we had the following classes concurrently:

Polish, Anatomy, Embryology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Neuroanatomy

So you can see how it would be easy to let one or two fall off the radar if you’re not diligent *cough* embryology *cough*

4. I hesitate to suggest any specific books because they are really a matter of personal preference. For each class it seems like there are on average 3-4 different books student will be using, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. However, I would recommend waiting until you come to Poland to purchase any of them, unless you are really keen on studying ahead.

The problem is that you have so little time when you come here so most students opt for high yield texts like the BRS or High Yield series. The problem is that these books are really meant for review, and there are some classes where you will have a hard time learning anything from the lectures so you will need to teach yourself from another source for the midterms, and then review the high yield for the big tests.

It is true that the “recommended” books are just that, so ask around and don’t be surprised when half way through a class you decide to buy a new text book because the one you were reading was crap haha

5. We don’t start our clinical until third year and this summer I will be studying Pathology …. Yay

6. The only thing I would say is that if you want to become a doctor then you should definitely come here (or any other med school you can get into). I can appreciate your anxiety as I was in your shoes less than a year ago, but like most things, once you arrive you realize it isn’t nearly as bad or crazy as you were expecting.

Also learning Polish sucks.

thank you this is very helpful! i just came back from visting the school yesterday and i seem to like it. I have my interview monday... any suggestions

Thanks so much for that awesome response! I'm sure you answerED more questions than you had in mind, so I'll let you be for now lol. I wish you the best of luck in school and hopefully you'll be holding that notorious 'M.D.' degree soon. I'll be sure to let you know in the future if any more questions come up :P

There is a class website made by the ASG and a previous student.
You should check it out since it has old class notes on it.
Poznan University Of Medical Science 2008 (Poznan MD 2012 Class - Year 1)
American Student Government Website

Go to the Medical books photocopy shop in order to obtain the books that are necessary for your class. You have to find a book that works for you. The teachers (most of them) are kind. The owner of the photocopy shop will have knowledge of the books that are most commonly used at the University. For example, for biochem they recommend Harpers. However, this book is terrible for Biochem. The book that should be used is Lippincott. It will make things easier.

I had a horrible experience here.

Just talk to people to learn what you need to know.

I'm finally allowed to upload files to this Forum!

I've attached a map of Poznan that I've marked with area's of interest for incoming students.

If you are planning to live off residence or just want to have an idea where classes will be this should be very helpful.

1. Anatomicum Building - in your first year 90% of your time will be spent in this building for classes and labs.

2. This is where the residence buildings are, as well as the main Dentistry building for all you wanna-be dentists out there. As well, in second year it is where you will have Pathology (just south of the circle at the intersection of Grunwaldzka and Przybyszewskiego).

3. This is where you have Parasitology in first year. It is easily accessible by tram.

4. This is where you have Microbiology in first year, also very easily accessible by tram.

A lot of students who have their own apartments live in the areas bordered by Grundwaldzka, Głogowska/FDR and Wyspiańskiego, or in the area between Bukowska and Dąbrowskiego

The map also clearly shows the tram lines in blue, and the bus lines in purple.