Hi everyone,

Congratulations on your admission to SGU. You will find that SGU will give you an amazing preparation for your future as a physician. The education is first class, and I am now very confident that SGU will provide me a strong background in the basic sciences to do extremely well on Step I. As a second termer now, I just want to give you all a heads up on what to expect and offer some suggestions as to what extra books you might want to bring.

Anatomy:

This class was definitely very interesting, although it was my least favorite of the four classes I took first term, due to the fact that I felt that there was not much thinking involved. I found that two great books to bring with you are Gross Anatomy by Chung (last name) and I think its published by BRS (board review series). This book is a great review and it also contains very good questions on each topic covered. For example, the Head and Neck section had something like 150 review questions. I found the questions in this book to be harder than those on the exams, and therefore they were a great way to review material previously learned. Another book that I suggest you get, which is good review for practical exams is Color Atlas of Anatomy by Rohen, Yokochi, and Lutjen-Drecoll. I really liked this book in that it provided photographs of well-done dissections that resembled more of what was seen on the practicals. You will find that Netter is good, however, since it does not contain photographs, and relies on the paintings of Netter, the illustrations are not lifelike in color and appearance. 3-D is also lost and sometimes it is hard to tell what is relative to what (i.e. nerve superior/inferior to artery, etc.). Another book which I sometimes borrowed from the Founders library that I found helpful was Clinical Anatomy Made Ridiculously Simple (I forgot the author's name). It is a good book in helping to simplify harder material. It was key for my understanding of the brachial plexus. So thats all I can suggest for anatomy.

Biochemistry

This was my favorite class of the four. It is a beautiful, elegant subject that pervaded my soul so much that I actually used to dream about it every night. The first half was really cool, carbohydrate metabolism, metabolism, in general was just so freaking interesting. I liked all the British professors, and I enjoyed lectures, even though most of my cohorts feel exactly opposite than I regarding this subject. Really, there was no book that I can suggest to bring. I only brought down a blue book called Biochemistry published by NMR (National Medical review? I think but dont count on it). It is a small blue book though and it had better illustrations of pathways than you will find in the handouts. I found that the blue lippincott book was good at providing a basic description of a topic and the green Marks book was great at providing more details. The Marks book was also more clinically oriented than the lippincott book as it has many sterotypical patients included that can provide further understanding into a particular topic. Also, for genetics and molecular biology topics, READ THE WHOLE THIRD UNIT OF LIPPINCOTT, it is amazing and provides a much better understanding of the material than if you rely solely on the lecture notes. Biochemistry you will find to be a very demanding subject though and therefore it is imperative that you keep up with it and DO NOT FALL BEHIND. You will have about 70 lectures during the term and correspondingly around 70 handouts for each, being on avg about 5-10 pgs in length. This much material requires a really organized and effective approach to studying. What I found best, and what worked best for me was 4 things. 1) Read the material thouroughly before it is discussed in lecture. There is no point in going to lecture if you are unfamiliar with the material to be discussed. 2) GO TO ALL LECTURES!!!!!!! Each professor stresses what to know and what to expect on exams during their lecture. Also, having read the material before lecture, you will find that lecture provides a good review to the material you read, and also helps you understand a topic better as it is voiced in the professors words. Also, paying 30 something grand per year, going to lecture just makes you feel good that you are getting your money's worth out of medical school (at least it does for me). 3) After lecture, preferably the same day, reread the sections that you have least understanding on. 4) After all this is completed and you feel like you understand everything on the handout and the books, take the lecture notes, and rewrite them in your own words, using your own organization style. Cut out all the extraneous ** from the handouts and rewrite what you feel is most important. When it comes time to review the notes before exam, you won't be stressed in thinking that you have to read every single lecture handout, you can just refer to your abbreviated, rewritten notes, and it will make your life a little easier. Also, every weekend, review what you had done the week before. At the end of every month, review everything you had done during the previous month. By the time the midterm and final comes around, you will have already done so much reviewing that you will be boss for the exam. Try to see if you can find old exams to use to guide you during studying for exams. Reviewing old exams will help you focus on what you dont know and you can then go back in your notes and review all these topics. Umm, whatelse...hmmmm, I think thats it. But, dont be afraid of Biochemistry. I never had any biochemistry in college, just organic chemistry (which was my favorite pre-med. subject....I know I'm weird). I used this uber-oranized way of studying to my advantage though and it really helped me do well in the class. Just the most important thing is do not fall behind in this class, you will regret it. Biochemistry should be done every single day, no matter what. There is way too much information to not keep up. Anatomy, as well, however, I let anatomy slip a little bit, as I used the weekends to catch up on it. But I never could have caught up in biochemistry had I fell behind.

Embryology:

This class is easy. I spent the least amt of time in it. KNOW THE COURSE COMPANION INSIDE OUT. All questions come from the course companion. I thought that the high-yield embryology review book was decent as well as the BRS review book, which also had questions.

Histology:

My least favorite class. The most boring class. Ugh! It's kind of cool, I guess, but I'll make that decision after I take Pathology, which directly ties into histology, but is more "medicine" per se. No books to suggest. KNOW THE COURSE COMPANION, inside out! All questions are from the course companion. Also, Dr. Paparro is a really nice, friendly, helpful, and good man. But he tends to downplay the difficulty of his exams (i.e. the practical). Just dont take his word if he says something will be easy. It may be easy for him, a Ph.D in histo, but not easy for you, a histo. novice. I kind of slacked in this class, which I'm now regretting. I crammed like anything for the midterm and suffered for it. Which brings me to say...dont cram for anything! Cramming sucks, and you'll do poorly. I learned the hard way for my midterms.

Well, I hope this helps all you incoming first termers. I wish I had known all of this before I started in January. So I just wanted to tell you all, some things to expect. I'm just in my second term so I don't know everything about the school, just the basics, and I know all about first term. I will be happy to give any of you advice if you would like as I'm on this earth to help people. I'm working this summer, but I definitely have much more time on my hands than I do when I'm at med. school. Hope all of you have a wonderful summer!

Peace

Amor

Hey Amor,
Thanks so much for that info.... I was wondering if you studied or prapared for the USMLE at all during first term and if you did what can you suggest.
thanks so much and good luck with 2nd term,
nicola

That was awesome!
I am already so nervous about being able to stay on top of my game- and getting strategic tips makes me feel a lot better!
Thanks for putting in so much time to hook us up!
See you next term in GND!

Hi amor, Thanks for all the information. I was wondering if you could tell me the deal with computers. As a first term student will I be needing a computer for my school work? Thanks! Ben

Hi Nicola,

I didn't study for the USMLE Step 1 during my first term. Frankly, during the term, I didn't have time to study for anything other than what I was doing during the term. Right now, during my break this summer, I'm picking up my Anatomy book and Biochemistry book a few times a week, and looking at some of the stuff in the USMLE Step 1 book that I bought from Borders a few weeks ago. I think it would be foolish to concentrate on the USMLE Step 1 material during your first term. You already have so much on your plate, you can't possibly fit it in your schedule. I'm definitely going to try to review some USMLE stuff periodically during my 2nd term (the stuff that I had already covered in previous coursework). It also will be a good preparation for the BSC (basic science comprehensive) exam that the school gives after each year of the basic sciences covering all the material covered during the year. I think though, that going all out during the term in all of your subjects and getting it in your head through review and more review, you'll be fine two years from now when it comes to taking Step 1. I think a month or two would be fine to review all the basic science stuff and be well-prepared for the Step 1, but that is only provided that you had done a really thorough job of learning all the material during each term.

But, in short, to answer your question. I think it might be better to ask someone who is further on in their med. school education.

Hope that helps?

Where in Canada are you from Nicola?

PEACE!
Amor

Don't be nervous.

Have faith in yourself. You'll be money! I think of it as a big game that I'm playing. All this, in the end, is fun. Just do your best and you will go far.

So you are from Manhattan, huh? What part, west side, east side, villiage, uptown...?

I'm born and raised in NJ, but I'm currently living in Manhatten, on the West Side. I'm working in the city this summer, and hoping to have a very fun summer. Anyway, if you want to call me for questions, you are very welcome to. I can provide my cell upon request.

But, back to your message, its scary but its not hard. There is a lot of material, thats all. Just be organized and keep at it. Time will fly during your first term, you will see. I think half of doing well is mental, and you just have to be confident in yourself and your studying. Going into an exam with no confidence is the worst thing you can do for yourself, it screwed me for two of my classes during midterms. Anyway, just relax and enjoy yourself this summer.

In other news, since you are from NYC, I'm letting you know that an awesome concert will be in Prospect Park Brooklyn in two weeks featuring Blackalicious....they are amazing. I don't know if you are into hip-hop at all, but I definitely suggest checking out the concert.

Hi Benny,

Personally, I used my laptop a lot, but I know a few of my friends didn't. You are given two CD-ROMs 1 for histology and 1 for Anatomy to use, when you get your books. You can use these CD-ROMs on any of the library's computers, but I think it is easier to use them if you have your own laptop.

For me, I used my laptop constantly for anatomy. What I did was rewrite all of my anatomy notes, I would used the course companion, the chung book, and the textbook and combine aspects from all sources into my own typed notes for each topic covered. The use of the laptop to organize material for me was really helpful, but I study in a very different way than most people. I guess, the usefulness of a laptop all depends on your studying style.

I used to take digital photographs of our groups cadaver and paste them onto my typed anatomy notes. I also took digital photos of all the practice quizes that were posted in the anatomy building and included them in my anatomy notes. I think a laptop becomes a lot more important as you progress in medical school, but you might want to ask someone with more medical school experience for a better answer to your question. Sorry if I couldn't be more of a help.

Peace!
Amor

hey thanks so much for the info. i'm going to SGU in the fall and appreciate the fact that you bother to tell us this. do you check your messages here often? i would like to email you later on with some questions.

Thanks,
Yadira

__________________
Yadira

no problem,

I check messages often now in the summer while I have time on my hands. just e-mail me at amormehta@hotmail.com or if you want I could give you my cell phone if you have any questions.

By the way, if you really are a sea goddess, I sure need to meet you

take care,
Amor

Do you still have all of those notes? Is there anyway I could see part of them just to see how you set things up. I want to be extremly organized there and any info or suggestions will help.

Thanks

Kevin