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OFFICERS MEMBERS U.S. ARMY U.S. NAVY U.S. AIR FORCE MILITARY MATCH ALUMNI LINKS Webmaster: 2Lt David Lynch |
Starting medical school soon? Here's some tips to get ready.,. How hard is medical school? Medical school is only as hard as you want it to be...especially at Creighton, where it is pass/fail. If you treat medical school as if it's your full time job, you'll do fine. Put in between 40-50 hours a week (this includes time in lecture and lab) and you will pass. You don't need to give up your nights, and you don't need to give up your weekends (if you don't want to). If you want to put in lots of extra hours and try to honor some classes, go for it. Only the top 10% get honors. That means that if you just barely pass a class, you still have the same grade as 90% percent of the class. You will be happier if you don't come into your classes trying to honor. You don't need to be that competitive. Just do your best to learn what is relevant to being a good doctor. There is a lot of irrelevant information taught to you, and its OK to not worry about it!
What will my schedule be like?
In your first semester
you'll take Anatomy and Molecular/Cellular Biology (MCB)
at the same time. I thought that two classes at the
same time was a reasonable workload. The worst part was
Anatomy lab, which was every MWF from 1pm to about 3
or 4. Not hard, just time consuming. Neither class is
particularly difficult. There's also and Ethics and
Psychiatry course mixed in along the way, but they are
both extremely easy. The administration knows that
students like to focus on MCB and Anatomy.
Second semester first year
you'll finish with MCB II, Immunology, Microbiology, and
Neuroscience. There is little overlap here, so you get
to focus on just one class at a time.
Second year you take all the systems one at a time...Infectious Disease, Hematology/Oncology, Cardio, Respiratory, Endocrine, GI, etc. Cardio is thought to be the hardest (probably because it's the longest course, ~80 lectures) but you get it done early in the year. Things have gotten much easier since the start of March. They are clearly easing up so we will have time for independent study.
Both first and second year, you'll have lecture from 8-12 every day. First year you'll have most of your afternoons booked up - Anatomy lab, small group, clinical skills training, etc. Second year, about two days a week you'll have something in the afternoon - histology lab, small group, clinic, etc.
The most important books you need to own for first year are... 1. Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy 2. Pathologic Basis of Disease by Robbins and Coltran - It is the best reference you'll have for any project, presentation, small group work, etc. It's not good to use when it comes time to study for boards, though. There's a lot of detail in the book! Dr. Hunter will ask a lot of questions straight out of Robbins, especially second year.
Late in the year you'll need a few more for Neuroscience. 3. Board Review Series (BRS) Neurophysiology 4. Nolte's Atlas of the Human Brain - You will be tested on the exact same picutures in this text book. Many of the figures are on the Web Atlas, but it's much better to have the book.
You really won't need any other books to get through your classes first. Avoid the temptation to go out and buy every book on the list. You are tested on the material presented in lecture. You can always buy books later. If you are in a military program, however, you'll get reimbursed for all required books, so you might as well buy them. The following books are very helpful for second year, but you could get some use out of them first year, especially as you move into systems-based courses.
1. BRS Pathology and/or Rapid Review Pathology by Goljan - The BRS book is as concise as a book could possibly get, with few illustrations (black and white). Goljan's book is easier to read with more detail and lots of color pictures. 2. BRS Physiology - Learning physiology is hard without having practice questions. 3. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 - It highlights the most important information, which is great to look at right before taking a final. Many students rely on it heavily when studying for the boards. Being familiar with the book will make it easier when that time comes. 4. Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple - This book is mandatory for Infectious Disease. You are expected to memorize a lot of boring names and information for this class. This book breaks it down with mnemonics and cartoons.
That's it! You'll do just fine with these few books. Don't forget that almost all the information you need for testing purposes is in the lectures.
What are the best ways to waste time when you don't want to study? Websites Best Stores in Omaha Beertopia - Buy the best beer around at this store. If you're cheap just show up at 5 on Friday's - they sometimes give free samples. Located next to the Crescent Moon (a good bar) on 36th and Farnam. Whole Foods - Not just for snobs. Stop in weekends from 11-1 and eat all the samples in the store. Best Bars in Omaha - The Dubliner on 12th and Harney - Great bar with lots of live Irish music. - The Homy Inn - 1510 N Saddle Creek Rd - By far the best dive bar in Omaha - Upstream Brewing - 11th and Jackson - The best local beer is brewed here. $2 happy hour pints every weekday from 4-5. Better yet, take home a growler of beer (1/2 gallon) for $9. Best Coffee in Omaha - Caffeine Dreams roasts their own - 45th and Farnam - Whole Foods roasts their own. - Better yet, roast your own. Best Food in Omaha - Mother India on 36th and Leavenworth - fantastic food from a small family owned restaurant, dinners from $6-12 - King Kong on 43rd and Dodge - burgers, gyros, and phillies - McFosters on 38th and Farnam - cafe with lots of vegetarian options - Victor's on 40th and Farnam - little known, but amazing Greek and Egyptian food - V Mertz in the Old Market - Go here when you graduate medical school. It's the most expensive place in Omaha, but food that belongs in a more expensive restaurant in a big city.
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