How I Survived Term 4

With the new batch of 4th Termers starting Pathology today, I thought I would share how I managed to pass what most consider the most difficult term here (although I am beginning to believe Term 5 is actually worse).

#1. The best piece of advice an upper termer ever gave me was to ignore everyone’s advice (and yes he did see the irony in that statement). Just continue to do what you’ve always done to be successful so far. If you’re a textbook kinda student, read Robbins. If you usually need lecture, then go to lecture. Don’t drastically change your study habits to something that hasn’t work for you in the past simply because you’re terrified of pathology.

#2. DO NOT IGNORE MICRO! It is simply too much to cram before the exam.  Fact: a lot of people do worse in microbiology than pathology. Give micro at least 1 hour of your study time a day, if not 2. Sometimes I would study pathology all week, and weekends (20+ hrs) were purely dedicated to micro.

#3.  Take path lab seriously. Most people think it’s a waste of time. But you might not have time to go back and study the disease your group mate presented in detail.  Pay attention to the differential diagnosis the tutors highlight. They are exam gold.

I’ve also noticed about half the people who decel Term 4 do so purely out of fear even though their grades are fine. That is something I will never understand. Good luck 4th Termers…. you’re going to need it.

 

100 Days Left

A few days ago was the “100 days left of basic sciences” mark. In the past it has always been a tradition for Term 5 students to celebrate the final stretch before they complete MS2 and become clinical students. For some reason this Term 5 class did not celebrate it as wildly as previous terms, but I personally took the time to acknowledge the hallmark.

It’s been quite a journey up to this point. It is now the beginning of my 3rd year on the island and I can’t wait for these 100 day to be over (provided I don’t bomb pharmacology). I think my classmates that are staying for Kaplan Step 1 review over the summer are insane. But then again most of them haven’t been here as long as me.

I’m tired; tired of the school, of the people, of the same damn restaurants and bars. The cycle is so predictable that I can determine, with about 85% accuracy, what term a random student is by their body language, attire, and what time of day it is.  I’m still burned out from Term 4. I just want to go home and start clinicals because I know  that’s where I’ll shine. I’m a HORRIBLE classroom student, but I’m a force to be reckoned with on the ward.

100 more days of suffering…..here we go.