Thread: Semester 1 question

Hi, all. What does a typical week look like for Semester 1? I read that class takes place from 8-12, 1-5, but what amount of reading/material is covered in that time? How much of the course material is derived from texts vs. other sources?

I am asking because I ordered a few of my Sem. 1 books, and I was surprised by how SMALL they are, and how little they seem to actually cover.

Ex. The Principles of Medical Biochemistry is used for 2 semesters, but it has 30 chapters and big font, only around 600 pages. Is it 1 chapter per week? Does the course cover a lot of additional material? I'm wondering mostly because I'm in a Biochemistry of DNA/RNA class right now, and I was actually surprised by the different format of this book vs. the gigantic Lehninger Biochem book that I am studying from.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by girlfromcali

Hi, all. What does a typical week look like for Semester 1? I read that class takes place from 8-12, 1-5, but what amount of reading/material is covered in that time? How much of the course material is derived from texts vs. other sources?

I am asking because I ordered a few of my Sem. 1 books, and I was surprised by how SMALL they are, and how little they seem to actually cover.

Ex. The Principles of Medical Biochemistry is used for 2 semesters, but it has 30 chapters and big font, only around 600 pages. Is it 1 chapter per week? Does the course cover a lot of additional material? I'm wondering mostly because I'm in a Biochemistry of DNA/RNA class right now, and I was actually surprised by the different format of this book vs. the gigantic Lehninger Biochem book that I am studying from.

Thanks!

Tip #1. You need zero books other than BRS. No matter what you hear, you will NEVER have time to read them. The ONLY book that you might need is Clinical anatomy Moore and Daley book (which you honestly don't need either, you just need it to read "blue boxes" which you will find out what those are later).
Honestly, everything you need is in the lecture PP's.

Tip #2. There is more content than time. Time has NEVER in my life passed so quickly. You need to just understand content and move on, (very difficult to look back).

Other than that, just plan on disconnecting yourself from your previous life for about 16 months and get ready!!

Originally Posted by jorowens

Tip #1. You need zero books other than BRS. No matter what you hear, you will NEVER have time to read them. The ONLY book that you might need is Clinical anatomy Moore and Daley book (which you honestly don't need either, you just need it to read "blue boxes" which you will find out what those are later).
Honestly, everything you need is in the lecture PP's.

Tip #2. There is more content than time. Time has NEVER in my life passed so quickly. You need to just understand content and move on, (very difficult to look back).

Other than that, just plan on disconnecting yourself from your previous life for about 16 months and get ready!!

what BRS stand for?

Learn your dna/rna stuff (replication, transcription, translation ect) well in undergrad. The stuff on island over it is alot less detailed. If you know it well ahead of time that part will be easier for you when you get here.

Originally Posted by jorowens

Tip #1. You need zero books other than BRS. No matter what you hear, you will NEVER have time to read them. The ONLY book that you might need is Clinical anatomy Moore and Daley book (which you honestly don't need either, you just need it to read "blue boxes" which you will find out what those are later).
Honestly, everything you need is in the lecture PP's.

Tip #2. There is more content than time. Time has NEVER in my life passed so quickly. You need to just understand content and move on, (very difficult to look back).

Other than that, just plan on disconnecting yourself from your previous life for about 16 months and get ready!!

Well said, I couldn't agree more. For the person who asked what BRS stands for, it's Board Review Series, also I would bring First Aid for the USMLE step 1 just so you have it, you'll likely use it through the semesters and on the step.

I'm sorry to go off topic, but did I leave my glasses at your place?

Originally Posted by girlfromcali

Hi, all. What does a typical week look like for Semester 1? I read that class takes place from 8-12, 1-5, but what amount of reading/material is covered in that time? How much of the course material is derived from texts vs. other sources?

I am asking because I ordered a few of my Sem. 1 books, and I was surprised by how SMALL they are, and how little they seem to actually cover.

Ex. The Principles of Medical Biochemistry is used for 2 semesters, but it has 30 chapters and big font, only around 600 pages. Is it 1 chapter per week? Does the course cover a lot of additional material? I'm wondering mostly because I'm in a Biochemistry of DNA/RNA class right now, and I was actually surprised by the different format of this book vs. the gigantic Lehninger Biochem book that I am studying from.

Thanks!

While you can get away with not having to buy textbooks and any textbook you might want to look over can be found in the library, I would highly advise you to get the Moore and Daley Anatomy. Other books that are extremely helpful are embryology, physio and netters. Neuro for 2nd semester would be advise as well.

Originally Posted by Big_Tex

what BRS stand for?

BRS= Board Review Series
These are high yield review books for individual course, ie biochem, histo, anatomy, physio etc to help you prepare for step 1. They have lots of questions and are great review for high yield facts and concepts. One piece of advise is you can most likely find any book you want on the island for upper semesters looking to sell theirs and then there is Island Thirft but I wouldn't recommend them. I bought some the pre-test series from them before I arrived and some of them had the question answered in PEN already , and it wasn't that much savings after ordering them and having to arrange for them to get them picked up in Roseau, so yea, I'd recommend amazon. Oh and don't even consider the book store here, the mark up there is INSANE, can't stress enough what a rip off that place is, so bring your own supplies and for sure get your scrubs before hand unless you want to pay over $50

Typical week (so far):

- Lecture from 8-12 (sometimes 9-12)
- Lunch 12-1
- Tue/Thurs 1-2 Anatomy Demo, 2-5 Anatomy Lab (labs should not exceed more than 2 hours)
- Tue 2:15-3:15 DPS Patient Interview (on days you don't have Anatomy)
- Tue/Thurs 2:15-3:15 Radiological Anatomy (3:15-4:15 on Tue with DPS Interview)
- Mon/Wed/Fri 1-3 DPS or Histo Lab
- Wed 3-5, Fri 1-3, 3-5 PBL Session (Three Different Groups)

A lot of days I go home at lunch. I usually MediaSite (PaCE) from home for the DPS and Rad Anatomy lectures.

Originally Posted by hiloboy

typical week (so far):

- lecture from 8-12 (sometimes 9-12)
- lunch 12-1
- tue/thurs 1-2 anatomy demo, 2-5 anatomy lab (labs should not exceed more than 2 hours)
- tue 2:15-3:15 dps patient interview (on days you don't have anatomy)
- tue/thurs 2:15-3:15 radiological anatomy (3:15-4:15 on tue with dps interview)
- mon/wed/fri 1-3 dps or histo lab
- wed 3-5, fri 1-3, 3-5 pbl session (three different groups)

a lot of days i go home at lunch. I usually mediasite (pace) from home for the dps and rad anatomy lectures.

thank you.

Thank you SuprsDoc

i didnt read your whole (mildly verbose) post, so i hope this makes sense:

i didnt buy any books for semesters 1 and 2, and i never read anything outside of lecture notes.

the normal day is like 8 to 12, and then lab once a week after class.

if you mediasite, like i did, then the day is how ever long you make it.

i only watched the lectures once on 1 - 2x speed, and studied 5 days prior to the mini.

im in sem 3 currently and doing the same routine and its working out just as nice as sem 1 and 2.

cool story bro