Thread: Best Way To Prepare For Saba Given My Situation?

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I would say read the old posts, cuz definitely what you're doing is on the edge of insanity. You don't need to spend even that much time while ur on the island studying for all your classes let alone one class. Wow.

Originally Posted by Confused 20

I have been admitted to the January 2011 class and am extremely frightened given the fact that I am an individual of average intelligence with a very minimal science background. I was wondering if anyone would be so kind to provide me the best method to approach my preparation for Saba now that I only have 232 days until class starts and have taken the following Biology related courses in the past:
Introductory Biology (for non-majors) - A
Introductory Biology I - A
Introductory Biology II - A
Introductory Botany - A
Heredity and Society - A
Evolution & Human Diversity – A

I plan on taking Anatomy and Physiology I and II this summer and purchasing “Atlas of Human Anatomy” – 5th ediition by Frank H. Netter. I currently have the following textbooks and materials:
“Histology – A Text and Atlas” – 5th edition by Ross and Pawlina
“Color Atlas of Histology” – 5th edition by Gartner and Hiatt
“Clinically Oriented Anatomy” – 6th edition by Moore
“Langman’s Medical Embryology” 11th edition by Sadler
“Board Review Series – Gross Anatomy” – 6th edition
Rao’s Notes On Anatomy and Embryology


I have recently quit my job and am spending 12 hours each day Monday – Friday and 13 hours on Saturday studying the above textbooks and materials using the Anatomy syllabus from January Fall 2009 (which gives the reading assignments in “Clinically Oriented Anatomy” – 6th edition by Moore and“Langman’s Medical Embryology” 11th edition by Sadler). On Sunday I attempt to rest and watch the Ackland Anatomy DVD section of the anatomy material that I have been studying from Monday - Saturday.

Can anyone give me any suggestions on how I may best utilize my time in the next 232 days to best prepare for Saba. Are 12 hours each day enough study time or should I attempt to study a great deal more? Should I just study for the first semester or should I also study for the second semester or is it best to study for the first semester and also study for Biochemistry? I am especially worried about Biochemistry because I did not take it as an undergraduate and also am worried about the fact that I did not take Genetics, Microbiology, and Cell Biology. Should I attempt to take these courses at my university and/or local community college? Should I attempt to research ways of improving memorization and learning since I believe I have an average memory and of average intelligence for a college student? Are there any websites,textbooks and/or materials that I should purchase to prepare for anatomy or the basic sciences?

If anyone would be so kind as to provide me any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if anyone would be willing to send me the lecture materials from the first few semesters, please send me a private message and I would be glad to work out an arraignment where you would be paid for providing this service.

Buddababa is right. Thats crazy. You will completely burn yourself out before you even get on the island. If you have that much time on your hands, study for the MCAT and rock it, then go to a US/Canadian school (depending on your country of residence).

Outside of that... Don't buy Netter's Atlas right now. All it contains is animated pictures of the body. No text, nothing that will help you right now. The syllabus from 09 is outdated. Don't use it. I can send you the syllabus from this semester if you absolutely insist on it, but it is impossible to give you the lecture materials. They are PowerPoint files that are too big for almost every e-mail client.

I can't emphasize this enough, don't stress out right now. 232 days (which you should not be counting down right now) is an ETERNITY. 70+ hours a week studying is crazy. Relax... take a deep breath and enjoy your time off.

If you are seriously freaking out about this... take a class or two at your local university. You don't have to be prepared for Anatomy like you could take the test the day you get to the island. They will teach you what you need to know and chances are, you will study WAY too much material that you do not need.

Do not even think about Biochem. You have to pass Anatomy and Histo before you can even think about biochem.

Yeah, you're definitely overstudying for it.

I made two A's in A&P I and II, and that was with probably an hour of studying a day.

The largest chunk studying is going to be for your lab practicals. While a book helps, nothing is going to be as good as having the actual specimen in front of you and seeing it in person. Because if your lab practicals are anything like mine, it's generally a bunch of toothpicks stuck into different specimens, with a "what is this called and what's its function?" attached to it.

And bro, I applied for the January 2011 semester, so if I get in..i'll gladly go over biochem and cell biology with you when it comes up. I think you're stressing things way too much. While medical school is tough, it's still school. Honestly if I get accepted in January 2011, i'll work until November, then quit my job and take several weeks to relax and get focused.

The last thing you want to do going into med school is going in already burned out.

Originally Posted by Confused 20

I have recently quit my job and am spending 12 hours each day Monday – Friday and 13 hours on Saturday studying the above textbooks and materials using the Anatomy syllabus from January Fall 2009 (which gives the reading assignments in “Clinically Oriented Anatomy” – 6th edition by Moore and“Langman’s Medical Embryology” 11th edition by Sadler). On Sunday I attempt to rest and watch the Ackland Anatomy DVD section of the anatomy material that I have been studying from Monday - Saturday.

are you going to teach students here, or you are going to be a student?!!!
There are people (like myself) with no anatomy background WHATSOEVER and pass the course! The course is designed to teach you anatomy from scratch, and they do a good job with it. Only 2 people failed Anatomy last semester, and many people gave up midway through it (for various reasons including financial reasons, they did not like med school, didn't like the island, got admitted to US medical schools or DO)...

Once you get here, you will regret how hard you studied for this before getting down here... Try to have fun and enjoy your life because it will not last long... enjoy every second of it... and if you do wanna do anything, just watch the videos.... don't study study !!



BY THE WAY, in first semester people get used to sitting on their butt and study long long hours... if you come here TOO prepared, you will make it through the first semester without getting used to sitting on your butt for long long hours and studying, and you will fail in 2nd semester...


Take it easy guys... seriously...

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hahaha. you're gonna drive yourself nuts man. you do not need ANY background in science in order to do well let alone simply pass. In fact, in my opinion, you don't even need biology or physics. But those are hoops everyone needs to jump through.

The IQ of most physicians falls between 100 and 140 and I'd say the average is around 125. That being said, you should be able to simply learn this stuff and apply it as it comes. You will have to be able to rapidly assimilate material or you won't survive. Taking a class previously will help tremendously, but with 6 hours of studying per day and enough breaks during that time you should be able to do well - even if you didn't already know what the gracilis or brachial plexus is.

There's no point in trying to get ahead. Just attack everything as it comes to you. When you get ahead, you will most likely get lazy, and that's when you become vulnerable. That goes for a lot of things in life, too.

Judging by the way you write and all the A's in your premed courses, you're above average intelligence. But your wishy-washiness and lack of confidence will set you up for failure. If you can't pull A's in your classes here from 12 hours of studying a day, then my hypothesis is wrong and you really are plain and simply stupid or have an undiagnosed learning disability (which doesn't necessarily make you stupid).

You don't need to start studying now. You need Prozac.
(Don't take that too seriously. I'm partially joking.)

Keep this up and you'll fail out of 1st, not academically but mentally and emotionally. Not trying to be mean but there's more to this than academics my friend. Seriously, get your confidence up, forget A & P and listen to what ppl are telling you. Enjoy yourself!

Originally Posted by B_W_

Keep this up and you'll fail out of 1st, not academically but mentally and emotionally. Not trying to be mean but there's more to this than academics my friend. Seriously, get your confidence up, forget A & P and listen to what ppl are telling you. Enjoy yourself!

agreed. u need to relax studying 12 hours a day is ridiculous. LOl but this ahs gotta be a joke, no one is this psychotic

I'll be honest, the only thing that will prepare you for this school is refined study habits. If ANYTHING, make sure you have a plan of attack. Enjoy your time but get your head in the game from day 1. You can enjoy yourself here...sometimes... : ) ...and take advantage of your first few free days on the island. I am working through first semester and a good portion of the class is failing anatomy with ruthless lab exams. Get the study habits down and you'll be ahead