this is my recommended first semester book list (from what i think will help out the most)

Random
1 - First Aid for the USMLE Step1
2 - The Princeton Review's Medical School Companion
3 - Stedmans Medical Dictionary

Anatomy
1 - Netters Atlas of Anatomy
2 - Netters Anatomy Flashcards (great tool to learn rapidly and for quick review)
3 - Moore Clinical Anatomy (snell is also excellent but the profs like Moore here)
4 - BRS Anatomy (a must...High Yield = total garbage)
5 - Color Atlas of Anatomy by Rohen (GET THIS BOOK!!!)

Embryology
1 - Moore Embryology
2 - BRS Embryology

Histology
1 - Ross Histology
2 - BRS Histology (not really for class but more for studying for boards)

Biostats
1 - appleton and lange's epidemiology and biostatiscs for the USMLE
2 - BRS Biostatistics and Epidemiology

i would highly recommend buying the books at a medical school or medical textbook store in the US or wherever u are and just bringing them along in a suitcase. the extra weight shouldnt cost you more then maybe 50-60 bucks (check with your flight carrier) but shipping them here through the bookstore will run you at least 100 or more. just make sure to tell customs the books are your personal effects and not for resale so they dont charge you the 20%. and look through them once so you can tell customs they have been used and are not new.

as for a computer i would highly recommend anything with 512RAM, a p4 or centrino/celeron (amd/m chip wouldnt be bad either). dont get a Mac, because i believe there are difficulties with running them on our network and the last thing that you want to do is waste time doing random computer crap. make sure to get microsoft office on there (a total must because every prof uses powerpoint slides that are available to you) and i would suggest about 40 gig hard drive or higher and GET A DVD DRIVE! the library has awesome anatomy DVDs that you can watch on your laptop, and they help big time. you can get by with a 256RAM but i have 512 and its smoother. i like toshibas alot, but alot of my fellow students have dells and vaios and havent had any issues. make sure that you get windows XP, its really stable and will save you alot of headache in the long run (dont worry about XP home, pro or media center editions). there are some great wireless cards out there, but the one that i really recommend is the Microsoft wireless G card that you can get off of Amazon.com. not only is it dirt cheap, but its good quality (you can get either the card or USB access). make sure that it is G and not B though, i had a B and had all sorts of issues with connectivity on campus and within the residence hall.

well that should about do it right there, i hope that helps all you incoming 1st semesters out alot, if you have any other questions please feel free to give me a PM.

good luck!!!

incoming first semesters lemme know if this will help you out

looks good... I am hoping I can get all my 1st semester books used from students there so I am not planning on buying anything unless I can't find it

i would defintely make sure that all the books are new editions...also i dont know if you would be able to get all the books that you need (these books will help in prep for MLE step1), but if you can thats awesome.
good luck!!!

all the newbies that are PMing me for a recommended list check this one out, i made it earlier

newbies...please look for this post before you write new ones about book questions

good luck!!!

Thank you so much for your recommendations. Pls if I may ask......Is the BRS anatomy book, a must have or is it total garbage?........i didnt understand which....

Also, I'd like to know if the books are all compulsory.....Surely, most of the books must be in the Uni library eg Janeway, Moore and Guyton......that way, u just buy the rare ones....

If not so, pls are you aware of any SMU students who are selling their (1st, 2nd and 3rd semesters) books or is it compulsory that I have to buy new ones.....I'd hate to buy new books which I only get to use for 3 months. Pls advise....

Thanks

If you re-read the post it says to invest your $$$ on the BRS Gross Anatomy books INSTEAD of the High-Yield Anatomy book,this students doesn't recommend you buying the High-Yield Anatomy for the boards or for class... it's total garbage, I don't agree though, but every students has different selections in the books they use to study for the boards! It's all up to you though, NOW if you're required to buy this book for your Anatomy class then for sure you HAVE to buy it.

Best Regards, and GOOD LUCK

Darlyn

Get the BRS books for all of your classes! Trust me, you'll be gald you did!

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i believe that you can get many of the books in the library, but they only have a few copies...so i would recommend against it. BRS series is excellent, the high yield is not, it not only is poorly written (in my opinion), but it seems to be lacking important facts (the anatomy in particular).

you can get used books, but i dont know why people would sell their text books...unless they finished the USMLE. if you are gonna drop 20thou a semester you might as well get new books too...you dont want to get an old edition by accident or be missing one and then come here and not find it.

good luck!!!