Things are still going well down here in Florida. The strange thing about being south in the fall is that it doesn't get cold. It is the end of September and still in the 90s with a million percent humidity. One of the things I miss the most about the north, is the fall days. The crisp air, the colorful leaves and the autumn smells.
However, I can't really complain too much about Florida--I spent part of my "day off" from studying by the pool. Also, the cars are nice. We saw a Lotus today, which stood out in the sea of BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, Audies, and porsches. Speaking of standing out, there is at least one Bentley that is in the neighborhood. It isn't too often one sees a car that is worth more than my medical school student loans or most people's house.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Name Game Anatomy Answers
Last week, I posted a question:
In the following list of words (lettered A-H because supposedly we get up
to 7-13 answer choices on the USMLE) try and guess which word is NOT a name
for something found in the adult human body (I'll do an embryo quiz later):
A. Olive
B. Lumbricals
C. Pyramid
D. Chordae Tendinae
E. Kasseri
F. Pylorus
G. Supinator
H. Gastrocnemius
I suspect that some of you might have thought the answer was olive or perhaps pyramid, but you'd be wrong. Now, I know that those aren't really fair as there are olives outside the body and there are pyramids outside the body, but they are also found in the body.
A: The olives are found in the brain stem. There are superior and inferior olives. The superior olivary nucleus is involved in hearing and the inferior olivary nucleus is involved in transmitting information to the cerebellum. The cerebellum helps your brain coordinate movements (like walking in a straight line or touching your hand to your nose with your eyes closed).
B: The lumbricales are little muscles in your hand that help the fingers abduct and adduct. To abduct your fingers is to spread them out and to adduct is to push them together.
C: The decussation for the pyramids are the part of the lower medulla (part of the brain stem) where approximately 80-90% of the corticospinal tract fibers cross sides of the body. Basically, this meas that the primary motor cortex in the cerebral cortex sends down a signal for something to move (this is voluntary movement of skeletal muscle). This signal travels down the brain, but when it reaches the brain stem (lower medulla), the signals from the right side of your brain cross over to the left side of your brain stem and continue to travel down the left side of the spinal cord to control muscles on the left side of your body. Obviously, this happens on both sides of the body. This is one of the reasons why people have contralateral (opposite side of the body) problems after having a stroke. Also bear in mind, different spinal tracts that carry different information (like tracts that go up the body with sensations of pain, vibration, pressure, and proprioception) cross at different places and some things even cross twice in the brain. I have the upmost respect for anyone who can be a neurologist because I think it is incredibly, incredibly difficult and I really don't know much since I'm only in medical school.
D: The chordae tendinae are found in the heart. I think they might be my favorite part of cardiac anatomy. They are cord like projections (Farley says they look like floss) that are found on the mitral and tricuspid valves, which attach to papillary muscles. In other words, the chordae tendinae help close the mitral and tricuspid valves and prevent regurgitation of blood (basically, you want blood to flow in one direction and the chordae tendinae help the valves close so that blood can flow backwards).
E: Ah, the answer to the question is E! Kasseri is a Greek cheese of medium consistency made with unpasteurized goat's milk. From what I've read, it has to be unpasteurized because that ensures the correct flavor of the cheese. Kasseri is suppose to be similar in texture to Parmesan, but not as creamy. I've never thought of Parmesan as creamy, but I guess I'm just not an expert on cheese.
F: The pyloris is bottom part of the stomach that leads into the small intestine. It has different cells which secrete acid and enzymes to breakdown food. It is also very famous (at least amongst medical students) for pyloric stenosis, which is when newborn babies have projectile vomit. Pyloric stenosis is when the connect between the stomach and the small intestine is too tight and the little baby cannot keep food down and they are always hungry. Apparently, the term projectile vomit is very serious as babies with this problem have been known to send vomit several feet across the room! Babies are usually diagnosed at about three weeks old (although it can be up to about 5 months old). I can't imagine a three week old causing such a mess!
G: The supinator is my favorite muscle in the upper arm because the name tells you the function: it supinates! To supinate the arm is to bring the arm and hand into a supine position. Or you can think of it as twisting, like to open a bottle of wine.
H. The gastrocnemius makes up the majority of the calves. It is the biggest muscle in the calve and is involved in helping us stand and walk. It also contracts and looks shapely when one wears high heals. It sometimes can cause involuntary, painful contractions (charlie horse)--I had one a couple weeks ago when I didn't stretch well after working out.
So that is the end of the first Name Game. I'll post another couple in the next few weeks. I hope you got the answer correct and that I was able to tell you something new and interesting about the anatomy!
In the following list of words (lettered A-H because supposedly we get up
to 7-13 answer choices on the USMLE) try and guess which word is NOT a name
for something found in the adult human body (I'll do an embryo quiz later):
A. Olive
B. Lumbricals
C. Pyramid
D. Chordae Tendinae
E. Kasseri
F. Pylorus
G. Supinator
H. Gastrocnemius
I suspect that some of you might have thought the answer was olive or perhaps pyramid, but you'd be wrong. Now, I know that those aren't really fair as there are olives outside the body and there are pyramids outside the body, but they are also found in the body.
A: The olives are found in the brain stem. There are superior and inferior olives. The superior olivary nucleus is involved in hearing and the inferior olivary nucleus is involved in transmitting information to the cerebellum. The cerebellum helps your brain coordinate movements (like walking in a straight line or touching your hand to your nose with your eyes closed).
B: The lumbricales are little muscles in your hand that help the fingers abduct and adduct. To abduct your fingers is to spread them out and to adduct is to push them together.
C: The decussation for the pyramids are the part of the lower medulla (part of the brain stem) where approximately 80-90% of the corticospinal tract fibers cross sides of the body. Basically, this meas that the primary motor cortex in the cerebral cortex sends down a signal for something to move (this is voluntary movement of skeletal muscle). This signal travels down the brain, but when it reaches the brain stem (lower medulla), the signals from the right side of your brain cross over to the left side of your brain stem and continue to travel down the left side of the spinal cord to control muscles on the left side of your body. Obviously, this happens on both sides of the body. This is one of the reasons why people have contralateral (opposite side of the body) problems after having a stroke. Also bear in mind, different spinal tracts that carry different information (like tracts that go up the body with sensations of pain, vibration, pressure, and proprioception) cross at different places and some things even cross twice in the brain. I have the upmost respect for anyone who can be a neurologist because I think it is incredibly, incredibly difficult and I really don't know much since I'm only in medical school.
D: The chordae tendinae are found in the heart. I think they might be my favorite part of cardiac anatomy. They are cord like projections (Farley says they look like floss) that are found on the mitral and tricuspid valves, which attach to papillary muscles. In other words, the chordae tendinae help close the mitral and tricuspid valves and prevent regurgitation of blood (basically, you want blood to flow in one direction and the chordae tendinae help the valves close so that blood can flow backwards).
E: Ah, the answer to the question is E! Kasseri is a Greek cheese of medium consistency made with unpasteurized goat's milk. From what I've read, it has to be unpasteurized because that ensures the correct flavor of the cheese. Kasseri is suppose to be similar in texture to Parmesan, but not as creamy. I've never thought of Parmesan as creamy, but I guess I'm just not an expert on cheese.
F: The pyloris is bottom part of the stomach that leads into the small intestine. It has different cells which secrete acid and enzymes to breakdown food. It is also very famous (at least amongst medical students) for pyloric stenosis, which is when newborn babies have projectile vomit. Pyloric stenosis is when the connect between the stomach and the small intestine is too tight and the little baby cannot keep food down and they are always hungry. Apparently, the term projectile vomit is very serious as babies with this problem have been known to send vomit several feet across the room! Babies are usually diagnosed at about three weeks old (although it can be up to about 5 months old). I can't imagine a three week old causing such a mess!
G: The supinator is my favorite muscle in the upper arm because the name tells you the function: it supinates! To supinate the arm is to bring the arm and hand into a supine position. Or you can think of it as twisting, like to open a bottle of wine.
H. The gastrocnemius makes up the majority of the calves. It is the biggest muscle in the calve and is involved in helping us stand and walk. It also contracts and looks shapely when one wears high heals. It sometimes can cause involuntary, painful contractions (charlie horse)--I had one a couple weeks ago when I didn't stretch well after working out.
So that is the end of the first Name Game. I'll post another couple in the next few weeks. I hope you got the answer correct and that I was able to tell you something new and interesting about the anatomy!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Let's Play the Word Game: Anatomy
This week I've been reviewing anatomy for the Step. When I say I'm reviewing anatomy this week I really should elaborate. I'm reviewing microscopic and macroscopic anatomy and development, which really means that I'm covering histology, anatomy, neuroscience and embryology. It has really reminded my why I have no desire to become a neurologist. I feel like neuroscience is a language that others speak fluently and I do not. It is like someone understanding enough Spanish to go on vacation or study abroad, but that person doesn't feel like they know enough about the language to understand all the nuances of Spanish poetry. That is how I feel about neuroscience. I understand, but unlike many of my peers, I'm not all that excited about it. I think part of my distaste for neuroscience is that all of the anatomical names are really big and hard to pronounce or it sounds more like a little girl's name and than anatomical name. In fact, Farley and I have noticed a trend across all medical nomenclature: some of it just doesn't seem to fit in. Thus, I've decided to do a series of blog posts that I'm going to call the word game. I'll give you a set a words and I want you to try and guess which word is NOT part of the medical nomenclature. Basically, which one of these is not like the others.
In the following list of words (lettered A-H because supposedly we get up to 7-13 answer choices on the USMLE) try and guess which word is NOT a name for something found in the adult human body (I'll do an embryo quiz later).
A. Olive
B. Lumbricals
C. Pyramid
D. Chordae Tendinae
E. Kasseri
F. Pylorus
G. Supinator
H. Gastrocnemius
I'll post the answer and explanations to all the answer choices in a few days! Let me know which you think is NOT found in the body.
In the following list of words (lettered A-H because supposedly we get up to 7-13 answer choices on the USMLE) try and guess which word is NOT a name for something found in the adult human body (I'll do an embryo quiz later).
A. Olive
B. Lumbricals
C. Pyramid
D. Chordae Tendinae
E. Kasseri
F. Pylorus
G. Supinator
H. Gastrocnemius
I'll post the answer and explanations to all the answer choices in a few days! Let me know which you think is NOT found in the body.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
I'm getting into a groove...
Studying has been going better. I think I'm starting to get into a groove and getting the habit down. I know I posted a little about my 10-12 hours of study schedule before, but here is a little more detail about what my everyday life is like right now.
I wake up about 7:00am, put on make up, get "dressed" (usually into sweats), and enjoy some coffee and breakfast while reading the newspapers online (either on my laptop or on my I-pod). At about 8:00am, I start 100 questions in whatever subject I am studying. The USMLE is comprised of 7 blocks of 50 questions each so I do two blocks 6 days a week to get into the habit of taking 50 questions at a time. That takes me until approximately 10:00am at which point I get to correct all of those questions and review why I got them wrong or why I got them correct. At noon, I take a lunch break and actually get dressed. We leave for the Kaplan center at about 12:45 or so and the drive is 10-15 minutes. From about 1:00-5:00, I watch video lectures at the center and take copious notes. The videos are pretty good. My school videotaped the first two years of medical school so some people would watch the videos on line, but I never like it (it was helpful if you missed something or got sick though). These Kaplan videos are made for the sole purpose of students studying on their own, so they are better (in my opinion) than just watching a lecture from my medical school on video (since lectures at my medical school were intended for you to actually attend). Anyway, after we leave Kaplan at 5:00, we get to take a few hours off. Usually we head down to the gym for 30-40 minutes, shower, have dinner and maybe watch a t.v. show online (remember our giant t.v. and that we choose not to get cable). We are usually back to the books by 7:30ish. In the evenings, I try to review what I've covered in the videos at the Kaplan center and take the recall quizzes at the end of the chapters. I generally study until 10:00 or 10:30 and then try to be asleep by 11:00 so that I get a full 8 hours of sleep before doing it all again. This is my life six days a week.
On the seventh day, we "take the day off." That really means that we only study for 4 hours or so. I don't schedule anything and use this as my catch up day. This last week, I had way to much to do because I had a hard time focusing during my evenings study session (the 7:30pm-10:00pm). I was beginning to get worried that I'd never catch up, but in the last two days I've almost done it. I promised myself that I would put my studies first, especially while preparing for the boards, so since I was feeling so far behind this week, I didn't get to go down to the pool with Farley to relax in the Miami afternoon sun. Rather, I got to sit in front of my computer and books and read more about lipid synthesis and storage. This is one of those times that I reminded myself, that I have an "enviable opportunity to learn".
By the time Farley returned from the pool, he said that I looked as burnt out as I felt. We decided to get out of the house, so we went to Target. I've been wanting to get an apron since we returned to the USA, but I always forget to look. Well, it was my lucky day on Monday because Target was having an apron sale and I got one!! However, I didn't get my apron soon enough. Did you know that watermelon can stain clothes if you get the juices on you? I've cut a lot of watermelon this summer and I have two t-shirts that can attest to this fact. After Target, we headed to the grocery store and I got everything I needed for some almost homemade chicken pot pie (I didn't have time to make the dough so I used crescent rolls, but the rest was from scratch). I even had an excuse to use my apron on the first day!!
I think it is time I get back to my studies...It's 7:35pm!
I couldn't decided which picture to post. I like the top picture more, but in the bottom picture you can see the apron better. I love to cook and bake (and dislike laundry) so I think I'm a little more excited about an apron than most!
I wake up about 7:00am, put on make up, get "dressed" (usually into sweats), and enjoy some coffee and breakfast while reading the newspapers online (either on my laptop or on my I-pod). At about 8:00am, I start 100 questions in whatever subject I am studying. The USMLE is comprised of 7 blocks of 50 questions each so I do two blocks 6 days a week to get into the habit of taking 50 questions at a time. That takes me until approximately 10:00am at which point I get to correct all of those questions and review why I got them wrong or why I got them correct. At noon, I take a lunch break and actually get dressed. We leave for the Kaplan center at about 12:45 or so and the drive is 10-15 minutes. From about 1:00-5:00, I watch video lectures at the center and take copious notes. The videos are pretty good. My school videotaped the first two years of medical school so some people would watch the videos on line, but I never like it (it was helpful if you missed something or got sick though). These Kaplan videos are made for the sole purpose of students studying on their own, so they are better (in my opinion) than just watching a lecture from my medical school on video (since lectures at my medical school were intended for you to actually attend). Anyway, after we leave Kaplan at 5:00, we get to take a few hours off. Usually we head down to the gym for 30-40 minutes, shower, have dinner and maybe watch a t.v. show online (remember our giant t.v. and that we choose not to get cable). We are usually back to the books by 7:30ish. In the evenings, I try to review what I've covered in the videos at the Kaplan center and take the recall quizzes at the end of the chapters. I generally study until 10:00 or 10:30 and then try to be asleep by 11:00 so that I get a full 8 hours of sleep before doing it all again. This is my life six days a week.
On the seventh day, we "take the day off." That really means that we only study for 4 hours or so. I don't schedule anything and use this as my catch up day. This last week, I had way to much to do because I had a hard time focusing during my evenings study session (the 7:30pm-10:00pm). I was beginning to get worried that I'd never catch up, but in the last two days I've almost done it. I promised myself that I would put my studies first, especially while preparing for the boards, so since I was feeling so far behind this week, I didn't get to go down to the pool with Farley to relax in the Miami afternoon sun. Rather, I got to sit in front of my computer and books and read more about lipid synthesis and storage. This is one of those times that I reminded myself, that I have an "enviable opportunity to learn".
By the time Farley returned from the pool, he said that I looked as burnt out as I felt. We decided to get out of the house, so we went to Target. I've been wanting to get an apron since we returned to the USA, but I always forget to look. Well, it was my lucky day on Monday because Target was having an apron sale and I got one!! However, I didn't get my apron soon enough. Did you know that watermelon can stain clothes if you get the juices on you? I've cut a lot of watermelon this summer and I have two t-shirts that can attest to this fact. After Target, we headed to the grocery store and I got everything I needed for some almost homemade chicken pot pie (I didn't have time to make the dough so I used crescent rolls, but the rest was from scratch). I even had an excuse to use my apron on the first day!!
I think it is time I get back to my studies...It's 7:35pm!
I couldn't decided which picture to post. I like the top picture more, but in the bottom picture you can see the apron better. I love to cook and bake (and dislike laundry) so I think I'm a little more excited about an apron than most!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
"I know the price of success: dedication, hardwork and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen." --Frank Lloyd White
It's only a week into my USMLE Step 1 preparations and I'm already starting to feel tired. I think it is easy for people doubt themselves and question, "can I do this" whenever one starts working to achieve a new difficult and challenging project. Last night, I started feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work to do and started wondering if I can do it. There are times that it is really easy to sit down and study for hours and other times when it is not so easy--last night and this morning, it hasn't been so easy. I took a little study break last night and while looking around online I found a few words of encouragement:
"The greatest danger for most is not that our aim is too high and we miss, but that it is too low and we reach it."--Michelangelo
"Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark. Aim for the immortals"--David Ogilvy
When I started doubting myself last night, I thought something on the lines of "don't make your goal so high--then you won't feel overwhelmed." Then I saw the above quotes. It really made me think twice about lowering my goals. I've set my goal so high that realistically, I might not be able to reach it. But, who cares? So what if I don't reach that extremely high goal? Even if I miss my goal, I'll still score higher than what I thought I could initially score when I started making goals last May. I've decided to keep my goal sky high and do everything I can to reach it.
"First say to yourself what you will be and then do what you have to do."--Epictetus.
This really describes my medical school path. I first wanted to be a physician at age six when my maternal grandmother was dying of colon cancer. I didn't get into medical school right after college so I gained priceless experience as a clinical researcher. Then I took a huge risk and moved to a third world Caribbean nation that I'd never heard of before. I didn't just survive the experience, I thrived. I never expected that I would have done so well in Dominica--heck I don't even go camping! I really don't want to move back, but overall, life in Dominica was pretty great--excluding the bugs, brown and cold water and lack of groceries. If you want something enough, you just do what you have to do to reach your goals. Sometimes I think about the future--such as the USMLE, moving to Chicago, Washington D.C. or New York City (most likely New York)--and I get overwhelmed. But, I have to remind myself that I've done it before and saw success in my first two years of medical school. Besides, I decided I'm going to be a physician and now I'll do what it takes to get there--I've already done so much!
"Some give up their designs when they have almost reached a goal, while others, on the contrary, obtain victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than before"--Herodotus
Strangely enough, just admitting that I feel overwhelmed at times has already made me feel more confidant. I know I can do great on these boards and I know that I have the motivation to work hard to achieve my goals. Speaking of hard work, it is time to exert "more vigorous efforts than before!"
"The greatest danger for most is not that our aim is too high and we miss, but that it is too low and we reach it."--Michelangelo
"Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark. Aim for the immortals"--David Ogilvy
When I started doubting myself last night, I thought something on the lines of "don't make your goal so high--then you won't feel overwhelmed." Then I saw the above quotes. It really made me think twice about lowering my goals. I've set my goal so high that realistically, I might not be able to reach it. But, who cares? So what if I don't reach that extremely high goal? Even if I miss my goal, I'll still score higher than what I thought I could initially score when I started making goals last May. I've decided to keep my goal sky high and do everything I can to reach it.
"First say to yourself what you will be and then do what you have to do."--Epictetus.
This really describes my medical school path. I first wanted to be a physician at age six when my maternal grandmother was dying of colon cancer. I didn't get into medical school right after college so I gained priceless experience as a clinical researcher. Then I took a huge risk and moved to a third world Caribbean nation that I'd never heard of before. I didn't just survive the experience, I thrived. I never expected that I would have done so well in Dominica--heck I don't even go camping! I really don't want to move back, but overall, life in Dominica was pretty great--excluding the bugs, brown and cold water and lack of groceries. If you want something enough, you just do what you have to do to reach your goals. Sometimes I think about the future--such as the USMLE, moving to Chicago, Washington D.C. or New York City (most likely New York)--and I get overwhelmed. But, I have to remind myself that I've done it before and saw success in my first two years of medical school. Besides, I decided I'm going to be a physician and now I'll do what it takes to get there--I've already done so much!
"Some give up their designs when they have almost reached a goal, while others, on the contrary, obtain victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than before"--Herodotus
Strangely enough, just admitting that I feel overwhelmed at times has already made me feel more confidant. I know I can do great on these boards and I know that I have the motivation to work hard to achieve my goals. Speaking of hard work, it is time to exert "more vigorous efforts than before!"
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Biochemistry makes you appreciate the little things in life
The last couple of days I've been reviewing metabolism in biochemistry. There is a disease that I never really thought about before ( in regards to the implications on daily life for a patient), but it is one of the many disease that makes me thankful for my health: Hereditary Fructose Intolerance. Hereditary fructose intolerance probably isn't the worst disease imaginable, however, it sounds pretty horrible. Basically, multiple enzymes break down sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose (in fruits and honey). One of those that further breaks down fructose doesn't work. This means that you cannot eat any sucrose (table sugar) or fructose (fruits and honey) because you have a buildup of fructose-1-phosphate that causes problems. The symptoms of the disease include lethargy, vomiting, liver damage, hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia, hyperuricemia (gout) and renal proximal tubule defects (Fanconi's syndrome). Can you imagine no table sugar or fruits? I have a lot of food allergies and have to avoid things, like shell fish, but how do you avoid sugar?? Like I said earlier, this isn't the worst disease out there; however, it would definitely be horrible. I never thought biochemistry would make me so grateful for the little things in life, like sugar in my tea or a fresh peach.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Since Returning To Miami
After getting back to Miami late Tuesday night, we have been very busy. We took it easy on Wednesday. I slept a lot, presumably because I was so excited in Spokane I didn't sleep much at all. We went to the gym, grocery store and finally received our Kaplan USMLE Step 1 lecture notes. Yes, the 17 pound box of books finally arrived. There are thousands of pages covering Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Anatomy, Physiology, Behavioral Science, Pharmacology, Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology. Yes, this is my fun for the next two and a half months or so.
Here is a picture of the books on the coffee table so that you can see approximately how large they are, excluding the question book:
Here is a close of up of the books again excluding the quesiton book:
We headed to the Kaplan center on Thursday for an all day session of study. We were so enthusiastic that we didn't even take a lunch break--that is right, we studied for about 8 hours straight. We were like USMLE machines! First Kaplan makes you take a diagnostic exam. Remember, we two week vacation from studying medicine (although being a medical student, medicine never really leaves the background of your mind, things always pop up to remind you of something). There is a mindset you have to have when you are studying and testing a lot, I presume like an athlete getting ready for a competition, and after two weeks of vacation, I was not in the correct mindset. So, I wasn't thrilled with how I did on the diagnostic exam. Realistically, I made some errors that I probably wouldn't have made if I was paying closer attention and I had details that I couldn't remember. But that is exactly why we are taking this course. I can make as many mistakes as I want now and they don't mean anything...in fact it is almost a good thing to make mistakes because it gives me an opportunity to learn before taking the USMLE in November. I'd rather feel stupid now and make mistakes than make the mistakes on the USMLE.
Kaplan tells us the order in which to study things based upon how we did on this diagnostic exam. The funny thing is that some of the subjects that I have historically struggled in, I performed better than some of the subjects that were easier for me in the last two years. I'm not sure if I performed better on the subjects that were traditionally more difficult for me because I since they are harder for me. Nonetheless, I was surprised. It doesn't really matter as I have to study everything in the next two months.
The study plan we chose involves us going to the Kaplan center to watch DVDs and such. We can also work form home on their website. The last professor that taught for our UMBR (the review course offered during our last semester) is also a Kaplan professor. He gave us an outline of how to organize our studies daily, in light of our review course. Basically, we are to do questions in the morning. Eat a nice long lunch. Review the notes and videos for that day's lectures. Have E.S.S. between 6:00 and say 8:30. E.S.S. in his words is "Exercise, Shower and Socialize...in that order." Then we are to study for another two or three hours--six days per week. The seventh day we are to rest, but we probalby will still do a few hours; like today, we did just four hours. Each of our chapters in the Kaplan review books have quizzes at the end of the book and we get to go online and take another quiz. If we don't meet a certain mark, the computer tells us what to review and gives us other lectures and quizzes to take until we can meet a certain mark.
I know this sounds like fun. I'm sure you too can enjoy a 10-12 hour study day if you want. I like to think of the quote at the top of my blog when I'm sick of studying and remember that is is a privilege to have the time and money resources to study all day. In fact as Einstein says, it is an enviable opportunity to learn. Most days, the studying is rather fun. If it wasn't I wouldn't have made it into my third year of medical school (or as I like to tell younger children, my 20th grade--if you include kindergarten, or my 19th grade--if you don't include kindergarten).
Every day Farley tells me, "Carpe diem." Right now, thinking about the daily schedule can be exhausting, so I'm just thinking "Seize the Biochemistry Chapter"!
Here is a picture of the books on the coffee table so that you can see approximately how large they are, excluding the question book:
Here is a close of up of the books again excluding the quesiton book:
We headed to the Kaplan center on Thursday for an all day session of study. We were so enthusiastic that we didn't even take a lunch break--that is right, we studied for about 8 hours straight. We were like USMLE machines! First Kaplan makes you take a diagnostic exam. Remember, we two week vacation from studying medicine (although being a medical student, medicine never really leaves the background of your mind, things always pop up to remind you of something). There is a mindset you have to have when you are studying and testing a lot, I presume like an athlete getting ready for a competition, and after two weeks of vacation, I was not in the correct mindset. So, I wasn't thrilled with how I did on the diagnostic exam. Realistically, I made some errors that I probably wouldn't have made if I was paying closer attention and I had details that I couldn't remember. But that is exactly why we are taking this course. I can make as many mistakes as I want now and they don't mean anything...in fact it is almost a good thing to make mistakes because it gives me an opportunity to learn before taking the USMLE in November. I'd rather feel stupid now and make mistakes than make the mistakes on the USMLE.
Kaplan tells us the order in which to study things based upon how we did on this diagnostic exam. The funny thing is that some of the subjects that I have historically struggled in, I performed better than some of the subjects that were easier for me in the last two years. I'm not sure if I performed better on the subjects that were traditionally more difficult for me because I since they are harder for me. Nonetheless, I was surprised. It doesn't really matter as I have to study everything in the next two months.
The study plan we chose involves us going to the Kaplan center to watch DVDs and such. We can also work form home on their website. The last professor that taught for our UMBR (the review course offered during our last semester) is also a Kaplan professor. He gave us an outline of how to organize our studies daily, in light of our review course. Basically, we are to do questions in the morning. Eat a nice long lunch. Review the notes and videos for that day's lectures. Have E.S.S. between 6:00 and say 8:30. E.S.S. in his words is "Exercise, Shower and Socialize...in that order." Then we are to study for another two or three hours--six days per week. The seventh day we are to rest, but we probalby will still do a few hours; like today, we did just four hours. Each of our chapters in the Kaplan review books have quizzes at the end of the book and we get to go online and take another quiz. If we don't meet a certain mark, the computer tells us what to review and gives us other lectures and quizzes to take until we can meet a certain mark.
I know this sounds like fun. I'm sure you too can enjoy a 10-12 hour study day if you want. I like to think of the quote at the top of my blog when I'm sick of studying and remember that is is a privilege to have the time and money resources to study all day. In fact as Einstein says, it is an enviable opportunity to learn. Most days, the studying is rather fun. If it wasn't I wouldn't have made it into my third year of medical school (or as I like to tell younger children, my 20th grade--if you include kindergarten, or my 19th grade--if you don't include kindergarten).
Every day Farley tells me, "Carpe diem." Right now, thinking about the daily schedule can be exhausting, so I'm just thinking "Seize the Biochemistry Chapter"!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Flight back to Miami
As usual, I was crying when I left the Spokane International Airport. However, I think since Farley was with me, I didn't cry as much as usual. I'm not sure if Farley realized, but when I ran into bathroom after getting through security I cried for a few minutes before trying to clean up. I think it is incredibly difficult to leave family and unfortunately, it really hasn't gotten any easier in the two years since I've moved away. Too bad I can't just pack up all the people I love and move them around the country as I travel for school!!
Anyway, the flight to Seattle was rather uneventful. Farley and I didn't get to sit next to each other, which was okay. I think I read almost 100 pages of I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis. It is another historical fiction book that is written about the same time period as The Agony and the Ecstasy, which I read last semester, but obviously from a different point of view. I really liked I, Mona Lisa--so much so that I finished it after another hour and a half on the flight to Miami. If I would have slept more on the way to Spokane, I probably would have finished it on the way to Spokane. As it was, I spent most of my time trying to sleep and was too tired to read when I wasn't trying to sleep. Oh well! The flight to Miami was only about 1/3 of the way full, which was surprising to me. Luckily for us, there were probably 6 infants and small children on the plane. They took turns crying for probably all but 30 minutes of the six hour flight. I can imagine that flying with a young child would be difficult, but I would think a parent would bring some toys for the poor children. Some of the parents brought absolutely nothing for the little ones to do. No wonder they were crying. At least I know how to read and can amuse myself with novels. What can a three year old do, especially if Mom and Dad don't bring them anything?
We landed about 10:00pm, hopped in a cab and headed back to the apartment. I was glad to be back in one piece. The flight is so long and tiring that it was hard to believe I had eaten breakfast with my parents that morning.
Anyway, the flight to Seattle was rather uneventful. Farley and I didn't get to sit next to each other, which was okay. I think I read almost 100 pages of I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis. It is another historical fiction book that is written about the same time period as The Agony and the Ecstasy, which I read last semester, but obviously from a different point of view. I really liked I, Mona Lisa--so much so that I finished it after another hour and a half on the flight to Miami. If I would have slept more on the way to Spokane, I probably would have finished it on the way to Spokane. As it was, I spent most of my time trying to sleep and was too tired to read when I wasn't trying to sleep. Oh well! The flight to Miami was only about 1/3 of the way full, which was surprising to me. Luckily for us, there were probably 6 infants and small children on the plane. They took turns crying for probably all but 30 minutes of the six hour flight. I can imagine that flying with a young child would be difficult, but I would think a parent would bring some toys for the poor children. Some of the parents brought absolutely nothing for the little ones to do. No wonder they were crying. At least I know how to read and can amuse myself with novels. What can a three year old do, especially if Mom and Dad don't bring them anything?
We landed about 10:00pm, hopped in a cab and headed back to the apartment. I was glad to be back in one piece. The flight is so long and tiring that it was hard to believe I had eaten breakfast with my parents that morning.
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