Tips for the "Fresh Meat"

Welcome ASMPH 2017!! <3 ASMPH 2016
Photo credit: Jonnecker Kingsu

It truly is a risk that we might have taken to choose ASMPH since it is only this year that we will be taking the boards. But we believe, strongly believe at that, that our Pioneers will pass 100% and even top the boards. Just like our Orsem's Theme: Taya! Tayo ay naniniwala sa pamantasang ating pinili. To welcome our fresh meat to the ASMPH family I hope this post will help in your adjustment into medical school.

How will be the best way to course through first year medical school? 

We all know that med school is hard. It will suck out all the happiness in you. It will give you eye-luggage and not to mention you will be popping in your uniform due to all the stress food that you will be eating. 

Here are some tips on how most of us debunked the statements above:
1. Attend lectures!
No matter how boring the class or lecturer may be don't miss class. Some lecturers get their exam questions from their lectures. They give out tips for the exams! So make sure that you attend! Also, it would be to your advantage if you take down notes during class :)
2. Read in advance
May it be transes or books, make sure to read before the lecture. Although I am guilty of not doing this, I am sure, 100%, that this will help you cope with the fast and bulky lectures. Knowing concepts in advance would help you fully understand the topic and maybe some terms which sound alien to you.

Reading tools (BOOKS and others)

• Anatomy: Moore - most recommended by professors; Snell - more concise but helpful; (Atlas = Netter)
• Physiology: Berne and Levy
• Biochemistry: (I really didn't make good use of my biochem book since our exam questions for the module "Cell" were mostly taken from the lectures): Lippincott's 
• Histoloy: Wheater
• Neuro: The Human Brain by John Nolte
• OB: William's (although there are only a few chapters that will be tackled for the first year, I recommend that you buy this since this will be used until you take the board exams)
• PE: Bate's and DeMyer
• "Accessories" which are necessities: Book stand (like the ones used by the priests hihi), Clipboards - this will be used for every lab exam (just not sure for the following batches since during the latter part of our first year, we were already provided with clipboards)

3. Be artistic! aka mark your transes, books, and other lecture notes
Make sure to write down your own notes. This will help you in remembering stuff for the exam - photographic memory is what they call it! It will help you in the exams fosho! Remembering how your notes / side-notes looks like will help you with testmanship come exam days since it will always be in multiple choice (except for anatomy exams). Familiar words / phrases will help you eliminate other choices! This is most especially helpful when you are a crammer like me! :D
Some helpful tools for your "art" lessons:

Lots and lots of Highlighters
Retrieved from penciltalk.org

Colored pens for your side notes
Retrieved from edwud.com

Handy ballpens!! 
Retrieved from officesupplies-b2b.com

3. Basic medical stuff that you'll need

• Stethoscope
• Tuning fork
• Neuro hammer
• Pen light
• (You can get the opthalmoscope/otoscope set since this will be used in Head and Neck, and in Neuro) 

4. Sleep on nights before the exam

I am a crammer ever since but I make sure to get a good 4-hour sleep the night before the exam. It may sound impossible but it is possible (except maybe for some modules haha). Sleeping would help you go through the exam better. If ever you were not able to review everything, your refreshed neurons will be more alert in remembering stuff from the lectures and maybe your readings before. Sleep is one of my ultimate savior during the exams -- if you don't know the answer, testmanship is the way haha. 

5. Stay away from temptation

Temptation aka the internet. There are a lot of stuff that you need to get from the internet especially for PH and for SGD cases but you have to set a limit for yourself or else haha. Make sure you're far away from the internet when studying :) 

6. Exercise and Socialize

Although it's true that our social life will be "damaged" haha but it will not be totally lost. There are so many social activities that different organizations offer. Also, so as not to accumulate unwanted fat, join the varsities! They don't require skill or excellence in a sport, it just requires heart. It may sound demanding but it actually is not. The training schedules are very flexible and are designed so that it won't affect your study schedule! (Opiates are released when you exercise so this will keep you more awake when you study!). This will also give you a chance to meet upper class men and interact with athletes from other med schools or even from other MBA schools :) 

JOIN THE BADMINTON TEAM!! 

AGSB TEAM (Left: Basketball, Right: Volleyball)

Inter-MBA Championship Game vs La Salle

Our lovely ladies :)

7. PRAY!

This will be your most important tool! Never ever forget to ask for guidance and strength because it will definitely be a hard year adjusting. Pray that He might help you get through the adjustment period and make you a stronger person for an even harder road ahead.

WITH THIS ENJOY YOUR YL5 EXPERIENCE!!