all right.. i have read mose of the posts about how if u study hard u can match into this and that... but still i have to ask this:
do u guys(the ones who are in school at the moment) feel like the classes do prepare u for the boards? i mean i read in one of the forums that the power points are enough or should we artually put a reasonable amount of time reading the books?
for me personally boards come higher than passing with good very good grade in med school so i really wanna know if u guys feel like by just studying for classes u are ready for boards or do u suggest reading the required texts and so?
thanks

should we artually put a reasonable amount of time reading the books?


Yes

READ YOUR BOOKS!

There is a long thread somewhere in here about study habits. The powerpoints may help you pass the professor's exams, but the first two years of medical school are not just about passing class - it's about learning medicine and Step 1. Those who have been here for a while have heard me harp on this a million times - you don't study for step 1 for two months, you study for step 1 for two years. Keep that in mind when you're in class.

I never read a textbook from cover to cover until medical school. I will be the first to tell you it makes such a difference. I recall the cardio section of physiology - I was one of the few who read the book (because the powerpoints were pretty darn thorough). I was also one of the few who make an A on that exam because as it turned out he tested on stuff beyond what was on his slides. Not only that, I understood cardiac physiology better than most of my classmates (who knew cardiac was so complicated? ha!)

So, to step back on my soapbox once again - READ MORE THAN JUST THE POWERPOINTS. They're good for simplifying things and great for review after you've read the chapters in the books.

Some people also opted to use the BRS books for certain classes. For anatomy BRS rocks compared to that big anatomy book they tell you to get. Some used BRS physio, I just used Guyton. Biochem, lippincotts. Path definitely read Big Robbins - path is a huge part of Step 1 so don't skimp. Pharm - ugh. It seems no matter where you go or who teaches pharm is just a bear. I used lippincotts and the "baby" Lange review.

Okay, I'm out like trout.

Best of luck,
~S

well thats exactly what i was looking for, and to let u know im on the same boat: ireally think that we get 2 years to prepare for the board rather than 2 months.
thanks and good luck to u too

Do students have to actually read the textbooks? I hear that classes end at 4 or 5pm. How is it possible to review notes, read the book for that day's lecture, and then read ahead for the next chapter?

its called med school- learning how to organize and manage your time. You wake up early, stay up late, and get over the concept that just going to class will cut it.

sample 1st term schedule for me
8-12 usually a lab
12-1 lunch
1-5 class
5-7 down time (dinner, laundry, groc shopping)
7-1 study(read over what was cover that day, pre-read the next days notes read a few pgs in text)
1-2 decompress and ready for bed
2-7 sleep
7-8 wake up and get ready to do it again
X 6 days a week(though i usually took fri after 5 to sat ~4-5 off to have fun- go to dinner, shop, go to an occasional party)
Sunday day- the lab and class time where used to catch up on anything missed during the week or to review problem areas

__________________
Vacation [x]..........Wards []
Elective [x]...........MICU []
MICU [x]...............Vacation []
CCU [x]................Elective []
MICU [x]...............Renal []
CCU 8 more days....Wards []