SURVIVING YOUR FIRST YEAR IN MEDICINE: tips and motivation

So. I survived my first year in Medicine.

http://www.wallpapersshop.net/wallpaper/this-is-sparta-300-king-leonidas-warrior-sword-shout-rage/

I was merely a few days away from freedom, and the final week was just pure torture. Everybody was feeling it, everyone was tired, sleepy, cranky, and just ready to get the exams over and done with. I wouldnt be surprised if a lot just kinda gave up on trying to finish reviewing everything, because, honestly, everyone seemed too tired to care.

BUT, we were always reminded, "ONE.LAST.PUSH."

One last push, and then summer vacation.
One last push, and you could burn all your reviewers and dance for joy.
One last push, and then you could sleep and eat as much as you wanted.

I was lucky though, I was exempted from several of the final exams, and it was such a relief that I didnt have to review all that bull-- and just relax at home.

I salute those who are still going to take the final exams and even removals. I seriously dont know how they hve the willpower to study all those topics all over again.

Honestly, I think that those who took the finals and removals have a headstart for the 2nd year, meaning, they have experienced the failures necessary to make them stronger and sturdier for the upcoming years.
I'm happy that I didn't fail any of the major exams in any subject this year, but I'm terrified about the upcoming failures I will be experiencing in the following years.

I don't know how to cope with failure. The one time that I "thought" I failed in an exam (I learned later on that I passed since they lowered the passing rate), I reacted like an immature piece of (expletive). I was depressed for several days, I was always thinking about how I would tell this to my parents, I thought how stupid was I to fail an exam?

I know, it seems a bit extreme for one exam, but Im just describing how terribly ill adapted I was to failure.

Looking back on the past year, I think I could have handled certain situations a lot better, especially in my academic life... so here are a few tips and words of wisdom to remember in surviving your first year:


1. In situations where you fail, remember this...you are not stupid, you are just adjusting.

from soulhunting.tumblr.com

This is Medicine. This isnt like your elementary/highschool/ college years where you could sleep, eat, poop normally, study for an exama night before and pass. There will be classmates who are smarter than you. They will ace every exam, every subject, they will UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD THE DOCTOR/LECTURER WILL SAY DURING LECTURES ( this is an astounding feat...), in all aspects, they are the ones who Darwin described when talking about survival.

BUT, then there is the rest of the class. Try talking to them. You will not be alone in your struggles. Take the time to look around and see that not everyone is doing so good in class. They may be honor students, summa cum laudes at their school, the math whiz, the top notcher in the Nursing/ PT/ RT/ OT/ Pharma boards.

Remember, this is Medicine. What matters is how YOU answer the challenge.
In the end, its just YOU who will be facing the patient.
It will be YOU handling the situation when you come face to face with a dying patient.

http://pinterest.com/pin/247557310737728706/

Do what you have to to survive (except cheat, and other dishonorable means) in Medicine. Challenge yourself. Stop comparing.


2.Study when you have the free time.

Believe me when I say this. If the exam is a week away and you have a free day/ ISP (individual study period)/ weekend---study. One night--even one day--is not enough to cover all the topics you need to study for the upcoming exam.

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3. When faced with setbacks (take note...setbacks, not failures):

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4. Within your first few months, try to find out your most efficient study habits.

http://edufastonline.blogspot.com/2012/09/your-learning-preference.html

Know whether you best retain info by reading, listening to lectures, studying while moving around, etc.

If you dont know, try experimenting in your first few months. After a few exams, you'll finally settle into your natural academic groove for studying.

5. Don't be afraid to FAIL.

I've yet to successfully pick up on this, and one I'm hoping I can conquer this coming 2nd year in Medicine. If you've already covered this one, good for you. Hahahahaha

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. 

Medicine is like Jigsaw in the SAW movie, you never know what you're getting into, or what you have to exchange for freedom/ success/ a passing grade. 

I wanna play a game...its called....STUDYING. 

DLSU-D AND DLSHSI'S STRAIGHT MED PROGRAM

Hey guys, check out DLSHSI'S and DLSU-D's new vid. :) credits to the school for making this vid. :)

youtube link :)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEb1qh1tG5I

UPDATED: Med Books for Sale - ALL SOLD

Hey guys, I'm selling my 1st Year Med Books :)

For the original prices, these are the prices that were sold to me at school, or online. 
Moore, I hardly used it this year because I was more comfortable with Snell. Other classmates  used Moore more since it was more detailed and comprehensive when it came to discussions.

If interested, kindly message me here, first come, first serve. :) I can meet you guys up at school if you'd like or I can have them delivered to you via LBC. :)

Safety and Security in DLSHSI

Ok, for those of you who have heard the news about the shooting, robbery/ burglary in Villa Nicasia, here's my opinion on the matter.

First off, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of this student.

For privacy purposes, I won't mention his name. I didnt get the chance to know him since he was several batches higher than me, and what I heard, I just heard from classmates, and those who lived near the site where the incident happened. Most of the details are in the news.

Secondly, for those of you who are questioning whether DLSHSI is safe, especially the Villa Nicasia area, think about all the other places that you consider safe. Are they, really?

DLSHSI itself is perfectly safe, with security guards at every station, every entrance and exit. Outside of that, it is all dependent on the authorities of Dasmarinas.

I personally think that those in power have not made the necessary steps to secure the area, or make the proper arrangements/ improvements considering that De La Salle is a highly populated area. The lack of streetlights, the large holes in the sidewalks, the open creek to the side of the walkway--these are things that could have easily been fixed, but, no changes have been made in the past year. I personally would like to change that, but in all honesty, I dont even know where to start with this one. Hopefully this year, since elections and all, they can do something about the periphery of DLSHSI.

With regards to Villa Nicasia, everyone has the right to question the security of this place right now, considering that other robberies/ burglaries happened within this year alone. Most of these incidents happened in the dorms farther away from the entrance to Nicasia. Some speculate that most of the criminals enter and exit from behind the village because of the empty lots nearby. Others also speculate that it was more of an inside job or so, rivalries, fights between students, fraternities, etc. Others speculate that the lenient procedures implemented by Nicasia for entry into the village was the reason. I mean, any car can get into Nicasia just as long as you either have a sticker, or Php 20.00. Yup, they don't ask for your ID when outsiders come in. They just ask for Php20.00 and you are free to roam around the place. They just assume that everyone who enters Nicasia are just there to look at dorms, and inquire.

It was an oversight on their part, and one, I hope, they would correct this year.

One more point that I'd like to make. I've been reading on comments from people on facebook and other forums that they're doubting if they made the right choice to apply to DLSHSI because of the safety issues.

Some are even correlating the quality of education to the quality of safety that the school is providing. That is completely irrelevant.

Well, give me a school that is 100% safe. Is there? Everything you do has corresponding risks. The risks can be lessened by the cooperation of the city authorities, the school, AND the students. If its late at night, and you still want to go out to study or go on a random road trip, its fine to do so...just as long as you take the proper precautions when going out.

Always travel in groups.
Don't stay out too late.
Always let someone know where you're going.
Be street smart.

In my undergrad, our area was a hotspot for crimes like that--holdups, salisi gangs, robberies, break ins, shootings, rallies, frat fights, but in my 4 years there, I never once experienced it (thank God). Other schools have experienced similar incidents like the ones you have been hearing about, and they can do only so much to protect their students. Much like DLSHSI, the safety of the students are always a priority, and they're doing their best to respond to these issues. But the blame/bulk of the responsibility doesnt rest solely on the school.

It needs the cooperation of everyone.

UPDATED: Med Books for First Year- What You Really Need to Know

Note: Im also selling my old books, for those interested, here are the prices :) http://hopingtobeapinoymedstudent.blogspot.com/2013/04/med-books-for-sale.html


Ok, this was one problem that i encountered during my first year, which books to buy, the prices, which ones did the professors really use, etc?

FIRST, I would advise you NOT to buy all the books in one go, unless you know you are a bookworm, and you're studying habit involves reading every chapter instead of using reviewers.

Here are some books that I found most useful during my first year:

-  ANATOMY: the doctors use both Snell and Moore. Certain doctors rely solely on Snell, others on both. One book that you should buy is Netter. Cant Live without it, extremely useful during dissections, and if you area visual learner.


- BIOCHEMISTRY: you can use Harpers or Devlin. Harpers is straight to the point, a bit difficult to understand, but the chapters are short. Devlin discussesthe topics well, but the chapters are a bit long, so if you dontmind reading a lot, this is the book for you. One book that got me through biochem was Lippincott. Extremely easy to understand and a lot of pictures too. There's another booktoo, i'll try uploading it when i can, they call it Digging Up the bones for Biochem. Very very VERY helpful, short, concise, pretty much like Biochem for Dummies.

-PHYSIOLOGY: Guyton or Ganong. guyton is easy to understand but there are a lot of chapters to cover pertopic even if they're short. Its also non-science student friendly. Review of Medical Physio by Ganong is just what it says it is, its a REVIEW. Thats why its a bit difficult to understand, but very concise with their discussion. I used Guyton a lot.

- ANATOMY-Histology and Embryology.

 For histology, you must have an atlas for when you're looking at slides in microscopy. You can go for Wheater's, or Di Fiore. Personally, i liked Di Fiore, even though ididnt have one. By the time i knew di fiore was pretty good, i had already bought Wheaters. :)) most BS Human Bio students from La Salle Taft were already using this~nakitingin lang ako.

Aother thing, you guys should buy the Histology book by Dr. Edgardo Gonzales,  they sell it at school or cem bookstore. Doc Ed is a doctor lecturer so its really important to get this book. Everything he teaches is in this. Hahahaha hope you enjoy his class!

 Hahahahaha For Embryology, Langman's was pretty good with the discussions. And if you can get a copy of Kates- kind of like a booklet/reviewer made by the upper classmen and Doc Jah, its pretty good, and covers everything. Lang,an lacks certain info, while the Kates booklet lacks the small discussions of the processes, so i guess its better ifyou buy them both.

Ummm, cant remember what else, lemme know if you guys need more info regarding some other books. :)


Also, here's a link to Pinoy.Md of people selling second hand med books. Much much cheaper. :)

http://pinoy.md/ipb/index.php?showtopic=10098

DLSHSI COLLEGE OF MEDICINE TUITION FEE FOR AY 2013-2014

After overcoming your initial shock at the amount, breathe, and think... Med is no joke. Rawr.

DLSHSI COLLEGE OF MEDICINE COURSE CURRICULUM

Hey guys, just scanned this from the school's publication if you are interested in the Med course curriculum. 

DORMS

UPDATES:  A LOT OF THE DORMS JUST RAISED THEIR PRICES, expect a php 1,000+ increase on the prices you see here. Although you can still find some pretty cheap rooms, they're gonna be pretty hard to come by now.

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hey guys, just reposting this since most weren't able to view it in the tab at the top of my blog. :))


Okie dokie, so 2013 is coming up, and I know a lot of you are starting to narrow down your choice of schools, or have already chosen one. 

And for those who chose DLSHSI College of Medicine.... CONGRATS AND WELCOME!!!! :) 

When I was choosing a med school to get into, one of the factors I considered were the availability of dorms, or at least accessibility to public transpo when I did want to go home.

So for those of you who are already dorm hunting, here's a short list of places you can check out. :)

1) VILLA NICASIA

This place is about a 5 minute walk away from the school. Its just a village of dorms where a lot of students, interns, doctors, and even professors stay. 

Dorm room rates vary from dorm to dorm and whether its going to be a single room or you're gonna share it with 2-4 people. 

For single rooms, average cost is about Php 5,000/month, excluding your electric bill, and sometimes water.

For rooms good for 2 people, its about Php3,500/person, you can look for your own roomie, or you can just let the caretaker know that you're open to having a room mate. 

Within Villa Nicasia, there are eateries (Asuncion, Frying Pan, Ninja Gohan), laundry shops, sari-sari stores, and its just a walk away from 7-11 and the school. :)


2) DEERLAND/ ANTLERS

Deerland is located right across the school, it has two entrances: the one right in front of 7-11, and another beside Starbucks. Its the one that looks like a forest. HAHAHAHAHAHA

It might look creepy, but based on feedback from classmates, its a pretty good place to look for a dorm since they are really cheap. 

One of the reasons they also call this place Deerland is that inside, there's a pen with around 6-8 deer, another pen of pigs (i am not joking. :))  

Antlers Hotel is located at the Starbucks side of this area, this one is a bit pricier than Nicasia since its set up very much like a hotel, but its totally safe, airy, you get to use the pool there. 

Single Rooms cost around Php 6,000/month, includes a bed, cabinet, cr--just the basics, you;re not allowed to cook, but I think you can heat your food there (there's a common microwave i think). 

Rooms good for 2 people cost around Php 4,000. 


For Deerland (yes, they're considered separate, but they're owned by the same people), its located at the 7-11 side of the area. As my friend put it, the dorms here look a bit like the GK houses, and it might look a little scary, but the prices make up for it. HAHAHAHAHAHA

The rooms here are pretty big, with Single Rooms averaging about Php 3k (and also depending whether the room is tiled or not) a month, exclusive of electricity. It also contains the basics .

Rooms for 2 average around Php 2,500/person.

There's also the Deerland Extension, located beside the hospital, near a row of eateries. As the name suggests, its an extension of deer land, with the same type of dorms and is pretty secure. For over night stays (just in case your mom, sister, brother, family member wants to stay), there is a Php 500 fee.

NOTE: Its better if you have your name listed for reservations, a lot of people are looking for dorms at Deerland since its cheap, and the waiting list is pretty long.

Security is pretty good here, a bit dark at night though, but overall, its pretty good. :)


3) VILLA ISABEL

From Villa Nicasia, its another 5-10 minute walk, its entrance is near the Korean Grocery Store. The dorms are nearly the same price as Nicasia's, there are eateries and sari-sari stores too. 

The village is huge, and not too many dorms have been set up there, its more of a residential type of village unlike Nicasia. 

4) DORMBUILT

Located behind the Wang Building near the Animo Center.

Its much more expensive than Nicasia, Deerland, and Isabel, and stricter in terms of the accommodations. 

Girls are separated from boys, I just forgot which side they are placed in. There is a lobby where the students can study or just get together, the soccer field/ track is located behind it, has a curfew, and you can't wash your own clothes (do your own laundry inside), or cook. But if you're pretty busy, this wont really matter since you would just have all your clothes laundered or you can buy your own food outside.

Prices for rooms vary, but based on classmates, Single Room costs around Php5-6,000, while rooms for 2 cost around Php3,500-4,000 each exclusive of electricity. It also has the basics, and you can request for cleaning service here. 

Waiting lists for Dormbuilt are also pretty long, since its location is pretty good, being right inside the school.


So these are just some of the options for dorms, feel free to ask about anything else. :)


DORM LIFE MUST HAVES

Making Medschool Fun: Awesome Doctors Professors

With this post, I'll be featuring certain doctors who just made learning a lot more fun in medschool. Will update this from time to time. :))

Although a lot of our doctors slash lecturers are pretty good, some just are outstanding, funny, and awesome. I wont tell you guys specifically why since I want you guys to experience it for yourself. :))

ESPECIALLY the ANATOMY doctors - lecturers ( The Amazing Duo/ Trio). <3

Here's a few of them.

Doc JC, Doc JA, Doc Kent, the Amazing Trio. :)) Anatomy professors/ doctors/ lecturers. LaSalle born and raised. <3

Doctor Esperanza Uy, Biochem Lecturer, as one friend of mine described about Doc Uy, parang Showtime ang class. She is crazy good, strict, and fun. In this particular picture, we were having our lab discussion, and a classmate of ours fell asleep (the following day was our Anatomy Eval, so a lot of us were really sleepy, tired, and grumpy). She walked around the room, and when she got to a certain student who was sleeping, she would stand in front of the kid and stare until the kid woke up. :)) When our classmate woke up, she would just walk away and look for her next victim. Hahahahaha

Extra special Physiology class, our topic was Vision. :) Doc Dexter Santos graduated at the top of his class, and was in the top 10 for the Physician's Licensure exam. In this class, he used several episodes of Dragon Ball Z to illustrate several concepts.

Doc Francis Samonte, doctor lecturer at Physiology. :) We were waiting in line to do a Color Blindness test for Physiolab, my classmate and I were doodling on the board, trying to draw the circle of Willis (we had it in our Neuroanatomy Evals, very traumatic hahahaha). He walked by and said, "Who drew this? it that the Circle of Willis?" We were all kind of scared that maybe we did something wrong, and he just sat beside us and started discussing clinical correlations, and reviewing us on the interrelationships of the brainstem, spinal cord, basal ganglia, etc. Within 10 minutes, we had our minds blown by how simple the topics really were. (and at the same time, extremely complicated).