Med School Confidential by Miller, Robert H. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS F OREWORD P ART O NE: S O Y OU W ANNA B E A D OCTOR . . .

I NTRODUCTION H OW TO U SE T HIS B OOK I am a college student thinking about applying to med school/I’m thinking about changing careers and applying to med school I’ve already been admitted to med school, and I’m nervous . . . But I’m already in med school . . . I wish I’d found this book sooner I’m the parent/friend/sibling/significant other of someone going to med school The Med School Confidential Mentors C HAPTER 1: T HINKING A BOUT M ED S CHOOL ? T HINK A GAIN . . . The Four Questions to Ask to Assess Your Readiness for Med School The Top Five Reasons Not to Go for It My parents were physicians The money and prestige I can’t think of anything else to do The adrenaline rush I want to help people The Top Five Reasons to Go for It I want to help people I want to apply my love of science to my love of the humanities I am fascinated by the human body I want to build on my existing experience in patient care I can’t imagine doing anything else A Realistic Self-Evaluation for Med School Am I smart enough? Am I disciplined enough? Do I have the perseverance? Am I too old? Can I afford it? What about my life and my family? C HAPTER 2: A R OAD M AP OF THE M ED -S CHOOL E DUCATION P ROCESS Preparation and Prerequisites Med School: Four Years, 125 Flavors Traditional format Integrated formats M.D. Versus D.O. Programs M.D./Ph.D. Programs “The Match” and Applying to Residency Internship, Residency, and Beyond Medical Licensing Fellowship Training Board Certification C HAPTER 3: S URVIVING P REMED The Premed Requirements Premed as an Undergraduate Surviving and thriving in the premed curriculum Premed as a Postbac Where to complete your premed requirements How to structure your course work as a postbac C HAPTER 4: B EATING THE M CAT What the Test Is All About How the Test Is Structured How the Test Is Scored, and What the Results Mean Preparing for the MCAT Getting started and doing a diagnostic test Study strategies: deciding between self-study and commercial review courses Practice, practice, practice! Registering for and Taking the Test Whatever the Score, Make It Work for You

P ART T WO: A PPLYING TO M EDICAL S CHOOL

C HAPTER 5: C RAFTING THE P ERFECT A PPLICATION A Quick Overview References and resources The AMCAS universal application A Self-Assessment of the Strength of Your Credentials Scholastic fitness Intellectual drive and curiosity Maturity and responsibility Integrity and ethical conduct Desire to serve Sincere interest in health care Create a Timeline and a Master Task List Getting organized How to use your premed advisor Take the MCAT in the spring Soliciting letters of recommendation Crafting the perfect personal statement Putting it all together C HAPTER 6: C HOOSING Y OUR S CHOOL Research Resources Finalizing Your List and Weighing Your Decision Location Curriculum Reputation Cost Making your list and checking it twice C HAPTER 7: F INALIZING Y OUR A MCAS A PPLICATION AND C OMPLETING Y OUR S ECONDARIES Secondary Applications C HAPTER 8: H OW TO A CE Y OUR M ED -S CHOOL I NTERVIEWS How to Choose and Prioritize Your Interviews Preparing for Your Interviews Structure of the interview Practicing your interview Conquering your nerves Top Ten Interview Dos and Don’ts Interview Follow-Ups C HAPTER 9: H ANDLING A CCEPTANCE , R EJECTION , AND E VERYTHING IN B ETWEEN How to Manage Offers of Acceptance Single or top-choice acceptance Offers out of synch Multiple offers What to Do If You Are Wait-Listed Coping with Rejection

P ART T HREE: T HE P RECLINICAL Y EARS

C HAPTER 10: T HE F IVE T HINGS TO D O B EFORE C LASSES B EGIN Step One: Celebrate and Relax Step Two: Familiarize Yourself with the Road Ahead Step Three: Get Mentally, Emotionally, and Physically Fit Step Four: Find Housing and Set Up Shop Where to live The roommate issue Other housing considerations Step Five: Learn to Keep Stress at Bay Keep your perspective Get organized and stay organized Be ready to practice damage control C HAPTER 11: F UNDING Y OUR M ED -S CHOOL E DUCATION Show Me the Money! Scholarships and grants Subsidized and unsubsidized loans Impact of personal or family resources Work-study programs Loan Repayment Programs Budgeting Record Keeping C HAPTER 12: G ETTING O FF TO THE R IGHT S TART IN THE P RECLINICAL Y EARS Goal of the Preclinical Curriculum Establishing a Study Strategy Larry the Lecture Hound Curly the Curious Moe the Meeting Man Decide on a Schedule and Stick to It! A Study Technique Toolbox C HAPTER 13: T HE F IRST Y EAR : N ORMAL S YSTEMS The First-Year Course Work Anatomy Physiology Biochemistry Cellular Biology Neurobiology Embryology Genetics Nutrition Ethics Introduction to Clinical Medicine—your first patients A Welcome Summer Off C HAPTER 14: T HE S ECOND Y EAR : D ISEASE AND M EDICINE The Second-Year Course Work Microbiology Pathophysiology Pathology Pharmacology Human Behavior/Psychiatry C HAPTER 15: B RINGING I T A LL T OGETHER : T HE U SMLE S TEP 1 E XAM An Overview of the Step 1 Exam Preparing for the Step 1 Exam Confronting Failure at Checkpoint 1

P ART F OUR: T HE C LINICAL Y EARS

C HAPTER 16: L IFE ON THE W ARDS Rotations What You Need to Learn from Your Rotations A Typical Day on the Wards Prerounds Rounds Lectures Clinics Call Dealing with the Culture Shock Professionalism Reliability Humility How to Survive on the Wards Reading Basic Clinical Skills Interviewing and physical-exam skills Making chart entries Calling consultants and other services Working with nurses and other team members Keeping Perspective and Developing Your Clinical Persona But for Now, It’s Still School: Reports, Grades, and Evaluations C HAPTER 17: P ROBLEMS IN THE W ARDS—AND H OW TO D EAL WITH T HEM Act with Integrity Resolving Conflicts with Attending Physicians or Residents C HAPTER 18: C ORE C LINICAL R OTATIONS Internal Medicine Career considerations—internal medicine Pediatrics Career considerations—pediatrics Surgery Career considerations—surgery Ob/Gyn Career considerations—ob/gyn Emergency Medicine Career considerations—emergency medicine Psychiatry Career considerations—psychiatry Family Medicine Career considerations—family medicine C HAPTER 19: B RINGING I T A LL T OGETHER A GAIN : T HE U SMLE S TEP 2 E XAM The USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Exam The USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills Exam For D.O. Students It’s the COMLEX Level 2 C HAPTER 20: E LECTIVE R OTATIONS

P ART F IVE: A PPLYING f OR R ESIDENCY AND S URVIVING THE M ATCH

C HAPTER 21: T HINKING A BOUT R ESIDENCY Making the Choice: What Do You Want to Do with Your Life? Learning opportunities Long-term camaraderie Lifestyle Likelihood of success Love of the particular field Designing Your Application Schedule to Meet Your Goals Making Contacts and Collecting Information Paving the Way to a Successful Match C HAPTER 22: A PPLYING A LL O VER A GAIN The System Tasks and Timelines Crafting your application and essay The dean’s letter Letters of recommendation C HAPTER 23: S ELECTING Y OUR P ROGRAMS Applying as a Couple Making Your Final List C HAPTER 24: R ESIDENCY I NTERVIEWS How They’re Different from Admissions Interviews Interview Tactics How to Evaluate Programs Scheduling Your Interviews C HAPTER 25: T HE M ATCH Making Your List Match Numbers and “The Scramble” Match Day C HAPTER 26: F INISHING U P Elective Time: Have Fun, Try Something Different Vacation! Certifications Financial Aid Considerations

P ART S IX: T HE T RANSITION TO R ESIDENCY AND L IFE AS A P HYSICIAN

C HAPTER 27: M AKING THE L EAP Setting Up Shop Organizing Your Life Managing Your Loans C HAPTER 28: S TARTING O UT S TRONG IN R ESIDENCY Orientation Your First Day on the Wards Your First Call Night: Understanding Academics in Residency The Balancing Point The USMLE Step 3 Exam The Future

P ART S EVEN: A DVICE FOR THE S POUSES , P ARTNERS , S IGNIFICANT O THERS, AND F AMILIES OF M ED S TUDENTS

C HAPTER 29: T HE R EALITIES OF L IFE WITH A D OC-IN- T RAINING AND S TRATEGIES FOR M AKING I T L IVABLE Why Should I Worry? The Top Five Realities About Marrying a Med Student How Will Your Med Student Be Spending His or Her Time? Applying to school/premed years Preclinical training (or the first few years of med school) Clinical training in med school Internship and residency How to Survive Med School as a Spouse, Partner, or Significant Other Coping Tips Is the End Ever in Sight? A PPENDIX Fundamental References Test Prep Premed Curriculum and Med-School Applications Clinical References Finances Residency and the Match Resources for Family, Friends, and Supporters

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