Hey, im an ms1 and happen to be the curriculum rep for our year (plesae dont yell at me tooo much, thanks!(
) also if some of this stuff is repetative from ocean, please excuse.
1. What classes do you have each block?
first block is anatomy physio biochem and omm. this goes on for a block or two, then we add histology (microanatomy) finish biochem and anat, and start micro and genetics... and so on...it sounds a bit confusing but basically the idea is this : they structure the classes in such a way that you cover overlapping topics in different classes almost simultaneously, from different angles (eg physiology of cascades in signal transduction versus the biochem of it. )
2. Study tips for those classes? ie. should I rely on notes/go to class/review books? What techniques have you guys found most useful? the only texts Ive used so far are the anatomy...coz you NEED the pictures. everything else, the notes do rather nicely for, and most people use review books for practice questions, and just to read the same topic in a slightly different way (maybe it'll stick) specific tip for anatomy : draw everything....then draw it some more until your hand draws it without concious thought...its not that hard to do and really helps
3. The schedule seems to be 9-5. Classes back to back? When do you find time to study? Any breaks during the day? Do you have any lectures after lunch or is it mostly labs? How long do they last?um ok this is kinda long...yea if you go to every class, its pretty bad, you wind up studying 6-12 or something... breaks are those given by the lecturers (sp?) coz even they need a break... there is mix of lectures and labs after lunch. The first three blocks, anatomy lab takes the most time, in a group you should use at least part of that time for study... eg stare at your netter atlas, ask the fellows questions etc...( i happen to think our fellows are VERY good, and being students, full of little pearls )
I went to most classes first and second block, no so much now... it may have to do with the fact that i couldnt watch the videos online of the lectures... anyway, some people get all they need from lectures, others dont... and it also depends on the lecturer...you will find out from second years during orientation the details about that.
4. Does anyone take the LIRR to school? If so how do they get to NYCOM? I know that there are no non-resident parking passes? Can anyone tell me if they plan on taking LIRR? Or if I can hitch a ride from the station?err doubtful?
5. ANyone commute from Brooklyn? What neighborhoods are good? How far of drive? What's the best way to NYCOM now that the LIE is being repaired?
i commute from the far end of brooklyn ( exit one on the belt) about an hour drive for me. dont know much about the lie, tried it during the summer, turned out to be like 2+ hours from my place...no good. If you dont already live in brooklyn, dont move here to save money, you wont. quickest way to nycom from brooklyn (4 years exp, i went to tech): belt to cross island to northern state exit 29, and couple of lil turns after that.
6. Should I review any basics (from college or the MCAT) that would help during the first year?nope you have time enough to study here...just when you get the first few packets, dont assume you know everything just coz it looks easy and youve done it.
7. Books to read up on? Re: survival in med school or just plain old motivation..... (TIPS for the summer before?)
hang out, relax, chill, i tried to study the summer before and it didnt help...the things i learned in 3 minutes flat here because i needed to i couldnt get through in the summer at all...weird but true
8. For your third and fourth year, is anyone allowed to do residency in Hawaii? Has anyone ever done that? Or are you restricted to the tri-state area? How does that work?
you mean rotations not residency right? hmmm not to sure about hawaii...
9. NYCOM curriculum seems really tough the 1st 2 years. Is it doable? What strategies would you recommend for passing? I don't want to fail out!
yea its doable...much the subject of frequent debate, but we all do it (pass). as for failing out : dont: on the other hand here is a simple stat... about 10 percent of every class in most schools fail something first year, and retake it or take a cume and pass... about 10-20 (roughly... dont quote me with specifics and tell me im wrong, ) people fail out ...which makes again about 10 percent of our class, which is again about right for any school. dont think about failing, just study your butt off, and youll do fine, I enjoy how much we are learning, although i do get testy come exam week.
10. Thank you for your input. Sincerely appreciated
as for the anatomy tutoring:
this was an admin problem and your friend seems to have misunderstood some things. official policy is that tutoring is generally for those who are failing a subject, so first block before exams, no one should NEED tutoring and a lot of people went using tutoring as a review...which it isnt. this caused trouble. having talked to the head of anatomy,
i suggested that instead of only doing tutorings, he add review times, run by faculty or the fellows (sometimes those are better than faculty...) so hopefully he will do that