I need advice from current students attending SMU. I had hand surgery 1 year ago and it while has not compromised my performance in any of my science or non-science undergrad classes, I think it has slightly affected my note taking speed (it’s close but I don’t have the speed I used to have). So my question is: is it feasible to use a recorder for lectures? I asked a friend from another med school and he said students don’t have time to transcribe and rewrite class notes, study, and/or read the textbooks in a given day, especially after getting back from classes in the afternoon. Any suggestions?
Are note takers available or are detailed notes provided by professors? Also, are all lectures mandatory or can we occasionally miss some to study on our own?

All the lectures are powerpoint lectures. They are all available to the students for download via our online server (like webCT or blackboard)

I personally don't think there is time record lectures and then transcribe them, but some are able to do it.

__________________
"Don't Tase Me BRO!" I will not tase, but I will infract. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--Tim Tebow lives in Florida. www.timtebowfacts.com
B.S. Exercise Physiology
Univeristy of Florida 2003

Cores: IM (X), FP (X), OB/GYN (X), Surgery (X), Psych (X), Peds (in progress)
Electives: Family Practice/Sports Med (), Getting Married (), Neuro(), Ortho ()

hand note taking is not such a big deal here, the majority of classes are taught straight from powerpoints which we have complete access too, also recorders are quite common here, but I would say only useful for select professors that explain things rather well. Lectures are for the most part mandatory, but you are allowed a certain amount of absences, Im not sure but i think it is like 30% which sounds high to me but might be a little less

You have to attend 80% of the lectures. If you miss more than 20%, you fail. Believe it or not, a handful still end up failing each semester because of missing too many classes.

__________________
"Don't Tase Me BRO!" I will not tase, but I will infract. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--Tim Tebow lives in Florida. www.timtebowfacts.com
B.S. Exercise Physiology
Univeristy of Florida 2003

Cores: IM (X), FP (X), OB/GYN (X), Surgery (X), Psych (X), Peds (in progress)
Electives: Family Practice/Sports Med (), Getting Married (), Neuro(), Ortho ()