Semester One Fininshed

So I finished semester One December 16th.   For a while there I was a bit worried, but I was able to focus up and and get through that last stretch.

I have been enjoying my time back in Texas.  Been to a few christmas parties and Chipotle!   Have a birthday party today and a football party tomorrow.   It has been a very busy week. 

I started reading over some physiology to help get me ready for the cardiology block starting next semester but I have not gotten far.    I will be getting back to school about a week before class starts so I may buckle down then.

I have heard that you should just rest and not study and I have heard you should go over the first weeks of material to get ahead.

I don't know whats the best option, but I have definitely done more resting than reading... :)

It was 70 degrees for a few days here in Texas, but that has changed today and the crappy weather is in...   Which means its probably a good time to catch up on movies...


If I had any tips for today they would be.

1. take advantage of outside material. The slides may be dense and seem to cover all you need, but sometimes there is some additional understanding in suggested or researched outside material that can help improve understanding and application.

2. Start using your First Aid book  first semester.   I found that If I review the relevant material in the book you can use it for a good overview of high yield material throughout the following semester.  It is very high level, but it helps me to review some high level topics for long term retention.

3. Develop a detail plan that includes breaks and stick to it.  I found I had good intentions in this area but terrible follow through.   I also did not schedule in rest time so after mini's I would not be able to pick up study material for like 2 days.    Next semester I am going to schedule in Sunday afternoons off.  I want to spend that time doing something non-class related. 

I guess that's about it... 

Random

So as I take a little break for learning thought I would jot down some random thoughts.

I have been in medical school a whole 3 months...  Its amazing how much you can take in such a short amount of time. 

Random comments to those interested in medicine.

- make sure this is really what you want to do. 
  - it takes a lot of your time.
  - if you thought pre-med took a bunch of your time, wait till you go to medical school, then residency, then practice....  Its a life long journey.
 
- make sure you start working on your morals, integrity, and professionalism.  
  - you don't to work hard your first year or two in medschool and then get kicked out for something stupid.
 - you don't want to bust your but through school, clerkship, and residency and then loose your license due to something stupid.
  - during one of our Ethics classes teacher pulled up websites from multiple states of Doctor's who were suspended or loss their license due to stupid choices like 
 - relationships with patients
- grossly prescribing medications
- getting caught in inappropriate behavior even outside of work...
- being impaired on the job
-- its definitely worth checking out..

- Get used to studying...
   - it never stops.
  -  test after test after test...
  -  if you are studying for the MCAT and find that you are having trouble.  Try and figure out what your pitfall is, because you will be taking standardize test FOREVER....
   is it focus, time management, anxiety, fear, procrastination, the medium in which you are learning material.    FIGURE IT OUT NOW....  you don't want to struggle with that while trying to learn all this dang material.
 --  I found that I have to supplement my lectures with short videos that give me a broad overview. Or go into detail on a complex topic.   I found that if there is a hole in a concept in my mind I cant really wrap mind around everything else that I am trying to learn.
   I also kind of don't get as much from reading as I do from watching & listening.  So videos tend to help me lay the foundation in my brain.
   I also prefer to learn the material, rather than memorize, but you don't always have time for that.   I really have to work on my memorizing techniques.


anywhoo.. back to work..

Heading toward the Home Stretch

Well...

apparently I will be starting every entry off with "its been a while" , but it has been a while.

Things are going okay.  We had our 3rd Mini about a week ago, unfortunately my performance on that was not was I had hoped.  I actually thought I studied pretty hard on that.  But my wifi was out at home for about 2 weeks so I had to study at school.  I think I "went over" a lot of material but did not really ingest any.  I didn't do the thing at home where I talk to an imaginary person about the objectives.

  On a more positive note I felt pretty good about the anatomy practical we had on Monday.

We have  six more weeks of school left and it is going to be HELL on Wheels...

we have 5 weeks of dense material

Mini 4 - December 7th
MicroAnatomy/Histolgy Practical - December 10th
Anatomy Practical 3 - December 11th
Semester Final - December 15th

My mind is crazy right now...  Those four exams make up 50% of our grade.
I am trying to stay on top of all the material each week. 
I am trying to review each weekend like I am going to take a test on that material on Monday.
I need to work in more time to look over old stuff for the final & review histology from earlier in the semester.

People do this and make great grades so I know its not impossible. I just need to find what works for me.

Life on the island is still the same.
I am sooooooo looking forward to going home. 
I want to
drive a car
eat some chipotle
go to a movie
watch a SHIT LOAD of TV.....

I have been considering moving to a nicer place closer to campus.  However the prices are basically double or triple what I am paying right now.   Even though it is doable, I will have fewer resources for my kid back home, and they have competition coming up so I have to be able to pay for that.

Luckily she is in way fewer numbers than usual so it will be pretty affordable.  But she still needs things here and there.    I dont know...

I was supposed to submit a letter of intent back in October if I wanted to move by next semester.   So if I do decided to move it will have to be a mid semester move.  

Or I could just do another semester here.  


Anywhooo..
my daughter is doing pretty well.  She is very happy where she is.
There have been a couple of "teenage" bumps, but they were nothing too big.
I miss her like crazy, but I think it is very good that she has had to learn to be more responsible.
I didnt realize how much I took care of everything. I don't think she did either.
I think this is really helping to build a very smart, strong, and capable young lady.

Okay... I guess that's about it.

Also today is Veteran's Day.  So if anyone who happens to be reading this has answered the call to serve.

Thank you for your service!

Mini 2 coming up.

So its been a while since my last post.  I think I was pretty stressed out because I did not perform as well as I would have liked to on the fist test.


Well the next test is in 2 days.   I tried to adjust my study habits in a few different ways.

I started back to using quizlet (online flashcard tool)
- I found I spent a good deal of time setting it up putting in the information, but never really having the time to go back over it.
- also some of the material is a little bit harder to get into the tool concisely. 
- I am not sure if I will continue this option.

- thank goodness we got a few days with some pretty hefty study blocks, So I have been using my whiteboard to go over lectures and hash out the objectives.
 - think i am going to consider just doing the white board option, and then taking a picture of my summary board to go over at the end of the week.

Its a continuous learning process.  I have talked to a few 2nd - 4th semesters and they all have different things to say, but most did change their habits from one semester to the next.

However I still have tonight and tomorrow to review.  I think I am in a decent place. 

On a different note.  We finally had white coat ceremony on Friday.  It was delayed due the hurricane we had right before class started.
The ceremony was really nice and encouraging.  The Keynote was a Ross Grad who is now a County medical examiner. She did her fellowship in Detroit, which had to be a major experience.

I had a mild interest in the medical examiner specialty back in the day, but don't know that I truly considered it as an option.  However her story was pretty interesting, and maybe I will play close attention during pathology and try to find a rotation that can get me some experience with the coroner.  

I guess that's about it.

My note to premeds for today is...

KNOW YOUR BIOCHEM....
I did not take biochem in undergrad, and 1st semester is filled with Biochem.  And you have to call on it often in the following semesters. 

If you did not take it I recommend taking it.
If you did not do well, I recommend retaking it or at least going over it on your own to brush up on areas you found challenging.

Good luck to anyone hoping to hear back this application cycle!

First Mini Done...

Well we had our first Mini today and the grades are out.

Unfortunately my grad was less that stellar.  I was below the class average not by a whole lot, but enough to be scary.

I knew going in that it was going to be the small things that got me.  I just did not get it all in effectively.

So while my classmates are off at the beach or having a drink I am trying to do some soul searching.

I have been looking up different successful study habits.  

Here is an article that basically sums up the major options for medical school.

http://www.medicalschoolsuccess.com/studying-in-medical-school/

When it comes down to it, you have to do what works for you. (what everyone says)  But when you are not sure what that is, its kind of scary.

Class vs. No Class
I have considered not going to class and just watching them online and studying on my own.  Some people swear by this route.   I kind of prefer class though...  I am afraid to try because I am afraid to get behind.

I know for sure I am going to start just going home as soon as I can and studying there.

Being on campus I have to listen to music in my headphones to help with distractions.  At home I can just study in quite.  The only problem is it really runs up the electric bill and I would have to shop often for food.  Which I hate doing here.

Note Taking
I am also going back and forward on paper notes vs. electronics notes. 

It seems like it takes forever to make electronic notes. 
Paper notes are quicker but my drawing is garbage. 
Its easier to access digital notes, vs caring around binders.
I think writing helps it get into my brain.

Group vs. Individual
I have been mostly studying alone.  I tried studying with someone the other day but it was not productive as I hoped. 
They have "peer group" sessions.  But its not like a group session. An upperclassman who made good grades is just there to help you if you have a question.
I would like to find a group to at least go to once a week. Just to make sure I am covering everything.

I think the biggest improvement I can make right now is to put in more time.  Just buckle down and put in more time.

On a different note. 
I have been going to the gym pretty regularly.  Even though I think my main motivation is the hot water, not really the working out.   Taking cold showers at my place is No Bueno.  So I kind of use it as a punishment for not going to the gm.

I will just say that medical school is no joke.  I don't even know if hard is the correct word for it.  Its a lot of things that you have to put in your mind and be able to recall for for years to come.

I will get through it.  I am going to keep pushing and adjusting where I need to.