Happy Holiday!

Its my prayer that everyone had a fun and safe holiday!

Here are more good questions...
"Hey, just thought of more questions. Thanks a bunch for your responses
to my previous post. They helped a lot! Hopefully I won't bother you
for too much longer. :D

So was the studying for the most part more straight up memorizing stuff
or knowing the material and applying it to solve questions on tests?
Haha, kind of a weird question so if you don't get it that's fine.
Another question is would you advise getting to know a lot of your
classmates or to just stay focused on the studies and not worry about getting to
know them? And what'd you do for food? Haha, I ask because I don't
remember there being a cafeteria that serves food there.

The last question for today is about books? Do we buy a lot of books or
is it more powerpoints and note we learn from?

K, I think that's all I have for now. Sorry again for bothering you.
Thanks in advance!!"


These are good questions for your big sib to answer. At TUSPM we have a big sib/ little sib program. We match 1st years with 2nd years and they pass down notes, books, back tests,cds and advice each year. So you have the same big and little sib all four years.
1) Your studying would be determine by the back test. The back test gives you an idea of how to study for that test. The professors even provider you with the exam that we took last year. The only problem is you guys are getting new anatomy professors so we don't know anything about them. Except Dr. Washburn he help teaches lower.
2)That is up to you. It depends on you. But at some point you will be exposed to people in your class because of lab, projects, etc. You just have to get to know them on your own terms and decide if you want to be involve with them like that or not.
3)You are right we don't have a cafeteria. We have plenty of club meetings that always provide lunch. Its usually pizza but its free. But after while I couldn't stand the smell of pizza. There is a cart outside that has food. There are plenty of places around the school that you can eat at. You always have lunch at 12noon til 1p that is how the schedule is. So you have an hour to eat. We have a fridge and a microwave in the lounge if you want to bring your lunch. Sometimes you don't have any classes in the afternoon and can go home and eat. Our schedule changes because we share our professors with the medical students so govern yourself accordingly.
4)Like I said earlier just wait til you talk with your big sib. See what they have to give you. They may give you all of the books that you need. Then you don't have to buy any. Remember this is like a borrowing thing so ask them if you can have the stuff or not. Some will let you keep the stuff. Most of them need it back to study for the boards.
5)We used powerpoint slides to study off of the most. The only books that I used were my anatomy atlases and maybe a review book.You need to take notes in Dr. Burke's class because he testes off his notes that he gives in class/class capture. Your studying and learning habits are not going to change. If you need books to understand better than use books. But you will be able to adjust to this type of material trust me.

I hope that I answered all of your questions. Its not a bother to ask me these questions. I did the same thing to my big sib. So I understand. So keep them coming if you have any more.
God is love!

Question!

Greetings Everyone,
I got some questions from a in coming 1st year to TUSPM. Here's what they wrote...
Hey, I've been keeping up with your blog since I will be a first year
student at TUSPM coming this fall. I was wondering how you did and if it
was harder or easier than you thought it would be. Also if 1st or 2nd
semester was easier and how many hours you studied everyday
(differentiating between weekdays and weekends). Haha, sorry to overwhelm you
with questions, I just thought you would be a really good source to ask.
Thanks!
So my answer...
I'm a second year. And I'm still a B student so I'm average. I had a lot of personal drama in life that made my 2nd semester hard. It was so hard for me that I even considered taking a leave of absence. So by the grace of God I was able to pull through and still maintain my B.So thank you Lord!It was nothing but Jesus Christ on my side. I don't want to get into the drama but just know that medical school is hard enough by it self. But when you add drama to it. Lord have mercy. Only God's grace can help you out at that point. Back to the question...
TUSPM is hard but it can be done. I would have to say 2nd semester is harder than 1st b/c you have seven courses at the same time. Where as 1st semester you have like 3 1/2 courses. My studying schedule stay the same for the most part. But it depended on what exams were coming up and what exams I had just taken. For example if I had an exam on Friday and it was major than I'm not studying till Sunday if my next exam is wed. But bear in mind I have been reviewing for the wed. exam along. So I'm not just starting from the begin on Sunday. I won't allow myself to get burnt out. If I'm too tired to study I take a nap and come back to it. After so much studying and you get burnt out you can't remember anything that you have studied up to that point. Everyone has their different study habits. Find out what your is and stick to it. You will be fine.
For me my exam schedule determine if i have to study heavy on the weekend and light during the week or the other way around.
You really can't tell how many hours you are studying it depends on the subject. Sometimes you are in it so deep you don't realize 4 or 5 hours have passed by.
Oh that bring back memories in the lab. I knew that I would remember something to tell you guys. OK when we had an anatomy exam. Either general or lower. We would have a written and a practical. U would be in the lab for like 4 or 5 hours straight and not realize it. When it would seem like you have only been in there for a hour. What triggers you is either you need more coffee to stay awake or you are starving like Marvin (that is so old) or you just need to get out of there b/c of the fumes. But if you are in lab dissecting which is about 3 hours during class time that time goes by so slow.
I have some advice for the sista out there...
I have locs so you know I don't wash my hair very often. I would wear 2 shower caps on my head. I looked funny but I hair was still fresh. When you are in the lab for too long you will smell like you have been in a lab. And let me tell you its not a good smell.
My favorite 1st year professor is Dr. Burke. He taught biochem. He is such a nice man. And a great professor if you learn by his teaching style. I have classmates that didn't get his teaching style. But I got it. Now all of the rest of those professors teaching style. ??? I also liked Dr. Boyd. He taught general anatomy. He's not there any more. But he was a good one. He used to make a big announcement when its someone birthday b/c our class president would write it on the overhead. But the day before my birthday I didn't come b/c it was a Friday. My birthday was Saturday. I was too busy getting a car for my birthday w/ my boyfriend. Any way he said "Angel why don't you stand up and take a bow." Of course I wasn't there. He never said stand up and take bow to anyone before me or after me. I did see it on class capture. I felt so special.
OK! Now that I have talked your ears off. I'm out for now. Keep sending the questions. The person that sent this question sent it that through my studentdoctor account which is angelica259. So feel free!
Peace and Love.
God is Love.