Shawn - Gelato?! You’re so lucky. 
Didn’t realize that school started patient interaction so early, that is awesome.
pH - At least they’re easing you in. 
I’m still not sure what’s going on the first week of classes, it almost looks like it’s an Overview of Everything You’ve Ever Learned in Every Upper Level Bio class. 0__o
Switz - YAY!!! I get my laptop Monday. I’m more excited about that than anything else right now, because of my desktop motherboard dying right before we arrived. I’ve spent the majority of this summer using a netbook smaller than an iPad, and “stealing” my husband’s laptop. 
I’m sure this forum will be few and far between on posts in the next month or more… but WE ALL MADE IT IN, and we’re all going to do just fine in first year. Like the cute fish in Finding Nemo says - “just keep swimming”. 
I got my laptop and ID on thursday. My wife took pictures of me getting ready for school like I was in Kindergarten. While the traditionals seem to be dissappointed that their laptops aren’t Mac’s or top of the line. I love mine (but we haven’t bought a new computer in 4 years). Next week is orientation, then the fallowing Monday classes start. Busy first week with 24.5 hours of lecture eventhough it is only 3 classes.
Got called a gunner for the first time by a traditional yesterday because I said I will be studying the first day of class.
Bailey - ignore them and good for you! Never get behind! (you will, but TRY to never get behind!!)
Kate
- BaileyPup Said:
Got called a gunner for the first time by a traditional yesterday because I said I will be studying the first day of class.
Psh. A gunner is a jerk who purposefully tells other students the wrong answers in study groups, so they seem to do better on exams. A gunner asks questions in lecture to make themselves seem smart and "impress" the professor, even though EVERYONE ELSE is desperate to get out of lecture. A gunner refuses to share advice or tips, because all they ever think about is having an "edge" over others.
Gunners don't attend social events, unless they stop by to talk about how they never study. Gunners... call other people gunners, so regular humans will not suspect them.
Pretty sure you're not a gunner.
That was kind of my thought, I know i won’t be as lucky as last semester to be a month ahead in my class, but I would like to be now more than a week behind, expecially since you have a test every week.
Anyone finding that your classmates are spending an inordinate amount of time and money “going out” right now. I wanted to be social, but the idea of even a small bar tab has me wanting to donate plasma.
Baily - yes, everyone seems to be all about “going out” right now. I went out last weekend before classes started and one night this week to get a beer, but it seems like it’s every night for a lot of people. I bet that will wind down once anatomy gets in full swing next week!
I’m trying to decide what to do with my study space. Right now I have my desk in my bedroom, but I’m thinking about moving it downstairs. The house I’m renting has a HUGE living/dining area and we don’t have much furniture, so my one roommate has her desk down there. I can’t decide if that would be better for me (separate sleeping from studying environments) or worse (distraction from roommates).
Ok, done procrastinating by posting on OPM, back to histo studying! Our first quiz is tomorrow.
Yes, there is quite a lot of the ‘going out’ thing going on. I compromised by going to do the more interesting-yet-less expensive events (wine tasting, bonfire at someone’s house) and pass on the “let’s all meet at X pub” occasions.
It’s more of a comfort thing, I think. Get to know people in a relaxed environment before we all become cranky jerks.
One thing I loved about not only being non traditional but also married while in medical school is that I Did Not Care. I did not care what people thought about me. I did not care that people thought I was handsome or not, cool or not, hip or not. I would raise my hand to ask and answer questions and volunteer. But the best thing was that I loved my philosophy of “Not My Problem” or “Not My F’n Problem”
Basically, I heard all of the gossip and rumors but I did not care and did not get involved. People asked me if I wanted to know about so and so. My response was clearly, “No”. I did not care. And that saved me a lot of heart ache.
Remember, you are there to become a doctor. If you make friends along the way great. I did and they are great people. But if not, so be it. You are married and you already established your friendship. Do not hide your past, embrace it. Trust me, you will be more respected for it.
But always involve your spouse. And if you have kids, hey…see if one of your classmates can babysit. Worked for me.
Good luck. Hopefully I will be posting some tidbits every now and again.
We had our two days of orientation on Thursday and Friday. Class starts tomorrow bright and early 
There have been a lot of going out events but I haven’t done any. I don’t drink and I’m frugal. I have done a few of the free things: spouse/significant other BBQ, met students at an OMM booth at a local event on Saturday, met students today at free yoga class this morning (I’m more of a morning person). I think that I’ve met enough people to figure out who I want to sit next to, who I’d like to do review sessions with, figure out who lives in my neighborhood etc.
Anyway, have a great week everyone!
White coat ceremony today!!!
Congrats Shawn!! I’m drowning here in anatomy. Our first 7-hour exam is coming quickly in 2 weeks…
So I start at 8am tomorrow with lective BioChem PBL. Pretty excited and more than a little scared…
Also drowning in anatomy here. I’m doing well with my other courses (embryo, histo, & OPP) but I already feel impossibly far behind in anatomy. We have our first practical next week (actually we’ve got some kind of exam 4 of 5 days next week, including a FINAL for histology!). I can’t believe how was time is flying.
This new curriculum is bizarre, but awesome. In 6 days we had 8 directed study assignments (ie: here’s a powerpoint print out, go teach yourself), most of which went well. The ones that are reviews of genetics and biochem aren’t hard, but the one to learn all the bones & muscles of the back has been a weekend project. The lectures that are previews of pharm are terrifying, and we have our first exam on Friday. It’s called a “mini” and only has 65 questions. TERROR.
Good luck OPM’ers, I think we all need it!
Is anyone NOT surprised to see this thread quickly dwindle into nothingness as August bleeds into September?
Hang in there, guys… come up for air once in awhile, and know that we are rooting for you!
Second those thoughts, Carrie!
Woo-hoo for the class of 2016! The rest of us premeds we’ll be bringing up the rear!
First test and first quiz down today. YAY! Feeling the need to preview tomorrows BioChem lectures so I don’t slip into lazy white coat weekend = sad face
Wow, when they say “regurgitate all the info you’ve learned,” they’re not lying! Our first anatomy exam on the lower extremity and thorax is now behind me Practical started at 1 pm and went for 2.5 hours, then written exam immediately after until 9 pm 
Total brain drain, but boy it feels good to realize I learned something and could actually fill 18 written pages worth of essays! Taking some time to catch up with world events and then starting all over again tomorrow with abdominal cavity. Good luck to all this year’s applicants! I’ve been checking in when I have a few seconds. Congrats on finishing your first exam Bailey!!