Anki - virtual flashcards; saves time; saves trees; and great for identifying pictures.
http://ankisrs.net/
Almost all the students use this program and is a big help to them when studying. Instead of spending money on thousands and thousands of notecards for each test, having them scattered around the house, trying to keep track of them all, and spending your precious time making each of them, you can essentially make them on the computer. It is useful for when they can copy and paste a picture or slide on to the flashcard and can identify images. You can keep track of which ones you are still unsure of and it will appear again at the end. You can save all of the flashcards and reuse them to study for the board exam.
Something the students can't live without!
Showing posts with label preparing for med school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preparing for med school. Show all posts
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Computer
Buying a laptop for medical school... The school will probably suggest the recommended laptop that will cost about about $1000 - $1500. Should you buy it or stick with the one you already have?
The reason the school suggests this particular laptop is because it prepares you for the one that you will have in residency, apparently (not sure if that is 100% true, since he isn't to residency yet). Because the school recommends a particular laptop, the IT department will fix it whenever you are having any issues, free of charge. A pretty sweet deal, huh? However, if you bring IT a laptop that is not the recommended they will not be able to fix it for you and you are stuck running around finding a place that will or buying a whole new computer. I can't tell you how many students I see freak out about computer issues (and I don't blame them). It's the week of a test and their computer no longer turns on, they have no access to their notes and can no longer study at home and have to study in front of a desktop at school, on top of that worrying about getting the laptop fixed. Can you say stressful and bad timing? I have seen that 3 times in the past 2 months and I'm sure there are more out there. If you have the recommended laptop, take it to IT and you can have their loaner laptop in the meantime. Pretty stress free.
There are only a handful of students who actually bought the recommended (my husband being one of them). And there are plenty of students who do just fine without it. But when a problem does arise, it's comforting to know that you are taken care of.
With that being said, students who have macs have one slight advantage over others. But not big enough to make a huge difference. Tests are given through a particular software that shuts down your computer when the test is downloaded. It essentially shuts it down and opens only the testing program so you do not have access to internet or any other documents while taking your exam. Mac users shutdown and restart in the blink of an eye. While others, go through the normal shut down process and are waiting. Like I said, not a huge difference because everyone finishes at a different time anyways, but Mac users are finished with a few questions before others even start.
Just some things to think about when weighing your options. $1500 is a lot of money for a med-student, but so is freaking out before a test and having to pay another couple hundred to get yours fixed.
The reason the school suggests this particular laptop is because it prepares you for the one that you will have in residency, apparently (not sure if that is 100% true, since he isn't to residency yet). Because the school recommends a particular laptop, the IT department will fix it whenever you are having any issues, free of charge. A pretty sweet deal, huh? However, if you bring IT a laptop that is not the recommended they will not be able to fix it for you and you are stuck running around finding a place that will or buying a whole new computer. I can't tell you how many students I see freak out about computer issues (and I don't blame them). It's the week of a test and their computer no longer turns on, they have no access to their notes and can no longer study at home and have to study in front of a desktop at school, on top of that worrying about getting the laptop fixed. Can you say stressful and bad timing? I have seen that 3 times in the past 2 months and I'm sure there are more out there. If you have the recommended laptop, take it to IT and you can have their loaner laptop in the meantime. Pretty stress free.
There are only a handful of students who actually bought the recommended (my husband being one of them). And there are plenty of students who do just fine without it. But when a problem does arise, it's comforting to know that you are taken care of.
With that being said, students who have macs have one slight advantage over others. But not big enough to make a huge difference. Tests are given through a particular software that shuts down your computer when the test is downloaded. It essentially shuts it down and opens only the testing program so you do not have access to internet or any other documents while taking your exam. Mac users shutdown and restart in the blink of an eye. While others, go through the normal shut down process and are waiting. Like I said, not a huge difference because everyone finishes at a different time anyways, but Mac users are finished with a few questions before others even start.
Just some things to think about when weighing your options. $1500 is a lot of money for a med-student, but so is freaking out before a test and having to pay another couple hundred to get yours fixed.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
First Week - Orientation
The first week/orientation consisted of: the White Coat Ceremony on Monday, curriculum, expectations, guidelines, IT support, introductions, information on clubs and organizations, ice breakers, assigning tanks, parking stickers, badges being made, and one day of lecture. Our weekend was pretty relaxed.
Some of these studocs are stressed even before the first day of class. Some were shocked to find out on Sunday how much reading was required for Monday's class and even stayed up all night on day one! When he sat down and measured all of the reading, reviewing, and studying he would have to do everyday for each class, there was literally not enough hours in the day. Some people say it is not uncommon to skip class just to study because your time is more efficient that way. Luckily, the MS2s are providing good feedback as to what professors take questions only from lectures and what professors you should should focus reading.
Some of these studocs are stressed even before the first day of class. Some were shocked to find out on Sunday how much reading was required for Monday's class and even stayed up all night on day one! When he sat down and measured all of the reading, reviewing, and studying he would have to do everyday for each class, there was literally not enough hours in the day. Some people say it is not uncommon to skip class just to study because your time is more efficient that way. Luckily, the MS2s are providing good feedback as to what professors take questions only from lectures and what professors you should should focus reading.
-pick good tank mates
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Preparing for med school
I found a blog from a previous med student who suggested taking apart all of their books and 3 hole punching the pages into 3 inch binders. This is convenient so that you do not have to take all of your books everyday to class. Simply take out the appropriate chapters for each book, place them in a "travel binder" and you are good to go with a lighter backpack. Check out her website for some other tips: Medicine From the Trenches.
Things I had to buy to prepare for med school...
- White Coat ($35)
- 2 lab coats ($35 each)
- $900 in books (only the required booklist for first year)
- a $1500 laptop - highly suggested by all medical schools; on campus IT support available for this computer; students take their exams with this laptop; to prepare students for what current doctors are using
- disection kit ($30)
- stethescope ($150)
- $200 worth of shots (and counting)
Picking them up from the print shop
Placing them in the binders.
All of the textbooks transferred into binders.
Things I had to buy to prepare for med school...
- White Coat ($35)
- 2 lab coats ($35 each)
- $900 in books (only the required booklist for first year)
- a $1500 laptop - highly suggested by all medical schools; on campus IT support available for this computer; students take their exams with this laptop; to prepare students for what current doctors are using
- disection kit ($30)
- stethescope ($150)
- $200 worth of shots (and counting)
*Keep in mind you have to buy all of these BEFORE your student loans arrive.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Expectations
One thing that we learned from our Newlywed group was the importance of setting expectations. Before we got married, our pre-marital mentors asked us to write down expectations for our marriage: finances, love language, in-laws, friends, kids, future, etc. This helped reduce future arguments since we had already resolved them before they occured. We had read another med-school family's blog about this and decided to do this again. To use an example, it was important that I (the StuDoc) tell my wife what my schedule will be like - waking up early to study and going to bed early. I know that her love language is Quality Time and that I need to let her know when I'll be making time for her.
Below are a few things we talked about:
1. Schedule/Study habits
2. Finances and being on a tight budget
3. How often family/friends visit
4. Late night study groups/studying one on one
5. Date night and quality time
Every couple is different, and therefore each expectation is different. Of course, we are now making expectations on what we "think" will be expected. We promised each other we would go over these expectations a month in and see if what needs to change, if any. For example, study habits might need to change to at night instead of morning. But knowing that she could take that negatively and feel like I'm taking away from 'our time' without telling her.
We have been warned that communication is everything and there's no time for avoidable arguments.
Protecting our marriage,
the B's
Below are a few things we talked about:
1. Schedule/Study habits
2. Finances and being on a tight budget
3. How often family/friends visit
4. Late night study groups/studying one on one
5. Date night and quality time
Every couple is different, and therefore each expectation is different. Of course, we are now making expectations on what we "think" will be expected. We promised each other we would go over these expectations a month in and see if what needs to change, if any. For example, study habits might need to change to at night instead of morning. But knowing that she could take that negatively and feel like I'm taking away from 'our time' without telling her.
We have been warned that communication is everything and there's no time for avoidable arguments.
Protecting our marriage,
the B's
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