My fav step 1 study books so far

Plus First Aid USMLE Step 1. Almost all of the BRS series. The Kaplan books as well.

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What you need to know before you come to Maine

The biggest worries for me in fourth semester were "am I ready for maine?" "do I know enough?". The answer is yes and yes. I wasn't an A+ student. I studied as much as I could stand (probably less than most of my classmates) I made ok grades (B and C). I took masters classes all the way through. I struggled in some classes and had to retake neuroscience. I had every right to be worried. 

When I got here, I was stressed about money (that will never change), and I had to finish up a paper for a master's class. I wasn't sure that I was even coming to Maine until the day before I left. I bought my plane ticket one night and left only a day later. It was a whirlwind. I had a place to live lined up so that wasn't a problem. I hadn't worked out any details of transportation and I didn't know where anything was, and there wasn't a "Welcome Committee" or even many last semester's students here to show me around. It was a real "you are on your own" type of feeling. It took about a week to get acclimatized to the weather (think cold, then think you can not imagine, but colder), and to my surroundings. Moving anywhere new takes time to adjust and this adjustment was just a bit more difficult than I had prepared for, or imagined. 

Luckily, I can read road signs, even though they are very few, and I have a GPS. I made it to the UMHS Building and got my paperwork taken care of and then Friday came. 

The big test. 

• You get a print out that tells you exactly what your percentages correct are so you can use that as a guide to build up your weakest areas. 
• you can look at the answers to the questions ( not explanations, just letter answers) at the end of the test if you click analysis. 
• If you write your password and Id down then you can go back and look at the numbers that you missed each block and the correct answer choice. You will see if you changed the answer. This is an important note of information that I didn't know at the time. 
• Also, if you finish a block before you run out of time, you don't have to end the block right then, you can use that time to plan or write information that you may have missed from earlier questions. 
• Use all the time allotted. 
• You will have plain white paper and pencil provided for you, you can take this with you when you leave, so make notes on what you are unclear about so you can look at it later and use it to study by. Especially if you see a question that you have no idea what they are talking about. Make sure to bring snacks with you. 
• You only get 45 minutes of break with the Kaplan sims, it isn't an hour.

Here is what I did the first time.

I ate a light breakfast and took two blocks (2 hours) of the test and then took a break for 10 or 15 minutes. I didn't realize right away that I didn't have to end the block so I finished in under two hours for those two blocks. I did block 3 and then I took a 20 minute lunch. block four I finished in 30 mins and I took a 30 min nap. on the clock. I realized that I didn't have to end the block and I used the remainder of the time for a rest. You cannot leave your seat during that time, but you can sit in your seat and wait for the time to tick down. I took a bathroom break after block four and my nap, and then took block 5 and 6 and took another short bathroom break. My score was 43%

I wasn't prepared to sit for 7 hours, to read questions straight for 7 hours, or to manage my stamina for 7 hours. I came out feeling zonked and defeated, but I didn't do poorly. I didn't pass it on the first time, but I was ok with that. 

Last week was our Kaplan optional midterm. This time I tweaked my breaks and snacks and it helped tremendously. I also tried to slow down a bit and use all of the allotted time during the blocks for question answering and reading. (I am a fast reader, but I can miss important information by reading too fast). I am not going to say that our clinical exposure didn't help at all, but my primary focus of study was to read the Kaplan physiology (my weakest subject on the entrance) for each organ system of the week. 

My midterm went as follows:

Breakfast- protein, coffee, my regular breakfast. After block one I took a short three minute bathroom break. block two, I took another break, had some protein and cheese crackers. block three I took another break, and had more snacks. a salad and protein and cheese, coke zero. bathroom, and block four and five I did back to back, took a short break with more snack with protein and bathroom. Block six and took a short bathroom break, and then block seven. Done. My score 48%. 

• I didn't nap, but I wasn't tired. I had the energy, because I was taking frequent short breaks with protein, to power through it. 
• I didn't eat any sugar and I limited my carbs, I only had whole wheat crackers. 
• I used all of my time in each block except for a few where I had five or so minutes left. If I had time left over at the end of the block I used it to plan my break time. 
• I took notes on topics and questions, and I made sure that if I didn't know the answer that I had written down something about the question so that I could make sure to know it later. 

I attribute a large part of my improvement to my test taking strategy. 

I will write more later, we start Kaplan in two weeks, and I will let you know how that goes. I also want to share with you about my preceptorship, and about the information and how it is tested on the Kaplan practice exams. I will do that later. 

Hope this will help you fourth semester students as you prepare to come to Maine, and encourage those of you in the earlier semesters to study hard and do your best. 

Until next time, 

Amy 

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Maine! The post we have all been waiting for...

Maine! The post you have all been waiting for. 

Ok. So this will have to be a series of posts, I just can't fit it all into one. So Ill start at the beginning. When I first got to Maine it was much more stressful than I had imagined.

I thought that being back in the USA would be this great feeling and that I would know and understand the culture and I would be able to get around much more easily. I figured I would know where to go to get things like groceries and clothing.

But the truth is that in every place that you go there are different "best places" to get what you need. So having to figure that out once again, was very stressful, and I have only recently discovered that I have succumbed to the fact that I will not have the time to find all of the best places because my time here is so limited.

So, I usually go to Hannafords for groceries. It is close to the UMHS building so it is convenient. I get coffee at Dunkin Doughnuts for the same reason. I eat at Panera for the same reason. See the pattern? It is too much trouble to loaf around trying to find neat places to eat every day. I want to eat at the places that are "must see" but I don't really want to spend the time finding them.

The bus system seems doable, but with the weather being so unpredictable all the time, I would recommend getting a car or renting.

Classes. 

It is much more like an informal lecture type meeting. On Monday we listen to the lecture on the system of the week. It is a very general overview and geared toward clinical not step one. Not that it won't help with the step one, as I am sure it will. But the focus is on the clinical aspects of that system as opposed to the anatomy, or the physiology. This is a stark change from the lectures we have endured on the island. The professor that gives most of the lectures is Dr. Thompson, and she is very good. She is an oncologist and very knowledgable.

After lecture we break into groups and work with a physician talking about the different tests that can be ordered to dx diseases from that system. We also discuss the physical exam for that system.


Virtual Clinic


On Tuesday we have virtual clinic where we see two patients in the presence of a Physician. We work in teams of two where one person is a note taker/presenter and that is their presentation patient and the other is the student doctor for the patient. The next patient the note taker is the student doctor and the student doctor becomes the note taker/presenter. As a presenter you keep track of the SOAP note as the student doctor performs the Hx and physical exam. At the end of the interview and physical exam by the "student doctor" the note taker/presenter presents the case to the Physician that has been observing. The rotations take about an hour, thirty minutes per person.

 It is a great way to practice history and physical exam skills because you know that someone is taking the notes so you can focus on the interview. As a note taker it is good practice because you don't really have to focus on coming up with the diagnosis, the doctor should do that, but if they don't you can add that in at presentation.

Cases


Wednesdays we have cases. The cases are given at the beginning of the week in powerpoint format. We are to research the cases and come in ready to discuss them on Wednesday morning. The morning begins with a quiz on the cases and then we discuss them. Usually we discuss answers to the quiz questions as well.

We also have grand rounds at 8 am on wednesdays. It is free breakfast at the hospital, and maybe you can scope out a handsome intern. You are guaranteed to feel very much like the low man on the totem pole.

There are few afternoon items that I haven't mentioned, but generally you are finished by noon. I haven't started Kaplan yet, but when I do Ill make a short blog post on that too.

Next time I get the chance Ill write about the Maine life. I have so many observations and places I want to share with you all, but I just can't fit into one post.

Until next time, Mon,
Amy

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Go Fund Me

A friend sent me a message about her new way to fund her medical education and I jumped on board. Go fund me is a website that accepts donations and allows you to post updates and information about your goals and the process all along the way. I joined GoFundMe.com as a way to get funding to pay for my clinical years. This post is copied from my update there. I have plans to post about Maine and my experience so far but honestly it has been a little more difficult to get back into writing since being here. Ill write about that later. (ha, such a vicious cycle).


The next several weeks are going to be a huge learning experience. I am working with a pediatrician in Windham, Maine, through Maine Medical Center on Fridays. I saw 19 patients last Friday. Our patients ranged from well children to children with serious behavior problems to ear infections. The best part was seeing that the parents left with hope. Hope that it would get better, whatever "it" was. I have been that parent that just needs a moment of hope that I wouldn't have to be up another sleepless night or that my child would soon stop throwing up every hour. Being the person who offered that hope was exhilarating. I could have stayed 8 more hours.

To help me continue to offer hope to families donate any amount that you can spare. It could be as simple as cutting out a daily coffee stop, or donating the cost of one meal out for the month. Also, it doesn't have to be a one time donation, you can make a personal pledge to meeting a goal amount for the year, and make small donations to that amount every month. Thank you in advance for your support and belief in my success.

To view the cost of my tuition you can visit http://www.umhs-sk.org/index.php/admissions/tuition-fees.html. I am going into the clinical semesters.

If you would like to donate but want to be certain it goes for my tuition, then you can make a donation on my behalf directly to my school. Please be sure to include my full name- Amy Jones.

University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Magdalena Rosario
University Bursar
460 West 34th Street, 12th Fl.
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-868-4720 x623
Fax:      212-868-0928
Email: MRosario@umhs-sk.net

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Its all relative

Having been a science major in a university, I met many people who were planning to go on to medical school. Of all of the students that were planning to go to medical school, I only know two people who have actually made it. I went away medical school and at the same time one of my friends when to medical school in the states. Then another of our friends went to DO (Osteopathic Medicine) School this past year.

Watching her transition reminded me of mine. Once I began the medical school application process my life became relative. Everything that happened was relative to medical school.

Med school takes over your life. Facebook posts become test related or study related as early as during the application process. All future events are viewed as a time away from studying or in light of what you have learned. Conversations undoubtedly remind you of some diagnosis whether it be a bacterial infection or a psychiatric condition, you can bet that some medical condition will become a part of your conversation every time!

I often wonder if people like hearing all about my medical school experience, or if they wish that I had something else to talk about. :)


Until next time, mon,
Amy Jones

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