Ross has sent me a check list of books for 1st and 2nd semesters. Each book has a REQ for school required, R for school recommended, and SR for student recommended. Can anybody tell me if the school recommended items are worth purchasing. I'm planning to purchase the REQ and the SR, but if I purchase the R, my total for books alone will be pretty high. If I don't purchase the R, my cost will be cut in half. Any informative inputs are welcome.

If you buy everything used, then u can lower your price dramatically. Also, the library has a lot of the recommended books (like BRS) which you can borrow for a few hours. You get a lot of work as it is with lecture so realistically it will be difficult to read everything. Luckily, the packets/slides the profs make are excellent for the MINIs. Everything that is fair game for the MINIs come from the lectures. As you get here you will figure out what books you will definitely need and which ones you won't ever crack open, depending on your previous academic exposure.

My advice: buy Grants Dissector, Netter's Clinical Anatomy, any Anatomy atlas, Meisenberg's Biochem, and a few BRS review books. That's all you'll need.

Here is the list of textbooks I plan to use for the first semester (May). I am a textbook person rather than a notes person. Some I have, some i can't get from the bookstore, and some i'll buy from BI.

Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy
Netter's Clinical Anatomy
Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy (rohen's Atlas is nice too)
Grant's Dissector
Possible Anatomy review book (BRS or Rapid Review)
Mark's Basic Medical Biochemistry
Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews
Langman's Medical Embryology
Possible Embryology Review Book (HY)
Guyton Physiology
Physiology BRS
First Aid for the USMLE

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Sorry to ask this, what does BRS stand for?

BRS=board review series = GOLD!
I know many are hesitant to do this, but I strongly recommend buying nothing before going to the island. That first week you are going to see so many upperclassmen trying to sell their books - you will save big $$$.
I got this advice before I came and ignored it only to waste a lot of cash.
As far as what ones to get when you are here -- that depends on whether you are a textbook person or a review book person. Im the latter- I don't purchase books that are more than a half pound (except harrison, and even that only begrudingly).
I liked BRS for physio, histo, and anatomy. Biochem was so so. Meisenbergs biochem was good too. For anatomy get a good atlas as was said earlier. Remember the tests are from the slides. You could read a book cover to cover and get a D or study the slides and get an A. Is an easy call. Books are just to clarify - at least on the island, then it is all in the books.
Good luck on your new journey

Thanks man. Looks like history will repeat itself. Even though there might be a good chance that upper classman might offer me there books, I just don't want to leave it all to chance.

I would really recommend buying from Island Thrift and not from the school. They're much cheaper. And they will ship everything to the island. Welcome to Island Thrift

See you in May!

do youself a favour and dont buy any books from bookstore. you will save about 500+ dollars by buying used books

Are there any books that students prefer to be bought new? For example, are there some books that are often written in by students (I don't like previous writing in the books i use- personal preference though)

Thanks