Game plan

So, there is a week before midterms for physiology and neuroscience. Lucky for me, these are my favorite subjects, so this week should be pretty enjoyable, study-wise. The past few days, all I have been studying is physiology, specifically, Gastrointestinal physiology. I have not even touched neuroscience. Why? Well, because we still have a week left of lectures in physiology. That's right, we just started learning GI physiology a few days ago, and we have lectures all this week (including Friday) of new material.

Here is how I view learning: The first time you learn something, it is the hardest... and it takes the longest time. Then after a week or so, you forget it. Then you have to review it, which does not take quite as long as the first time, but it is still a descent chunk of time. Then after a few weeks, you forget it. Review a little again... after a month you forget it... Review just a little.... Remember for a few months... The cycle continues, and the more times you see the material, the longer you remember, and the less time you need to review.

As a side note: In my opinion, only about 1% or less of that material is stored "permanently," that is to say you can remember it 2 or 3 years later without reviewing at all.

The point is, the first time you learn something, as we all know, takes the longes time. So I have been learning the upcoming week's material of physiology this weekend.

I have not been studying much neuroscience even though it is my favorite subject to study. I am looking forward to tomorrow when I will spend 90% of my time on reviewing neuroscience. I am such a nerd, but I really love the material. It is soooooooo interesting.

The rest of the week will consist of random reviewing of both neuro and physio (along with my other subjects) and organizing this material neatly in my mind, for easy access on the exam. :-)

If all goes to plan, I will write another blog post in 5 days, on Friday night, (it is Sunday night now) saying that I am totally ready for my exams on Monday.

Should be an interesting/productive/relatively non-stressful week before exams.

We'll see

Addendum to last post:

Also, I wanted to point out...

There are some REALLY smart people here.

i.e. every one of my friends!

Studying in Grenada is great

You know what. I was thinking about it.... being able to study in Grenada is fantastic. And here is why:

1. We are on a freakin island, so there are not many distractions (aside from the beautiful beaches).
2. The teachers here are PHENOMENAL! Seriously, all of the professors here are (for the most part) fantastic. They are paid to teach, not to do research.
3. I live on campus, so everywhere you go, people are studying. It can be, at times, really motivational.
4. The level of extra help and study resources that this school provides is EXCELLENT. There are SOOOOO many options for extra help or study groups if you want it.
5. Again, we are on an island, so really all we have to concentrate on is studying.

After reading about and talking to some students and professors at other (state side) medical schools, I really feel strongly that the quality of education we are getting here is probably some of the best in the world... and while some medical students have to decide if they are going to go out to a night club, go to a local sporting event, see the latest movie that just opened, or study.... We, here in Grenada, only have one option: Study... always. but we get the beautiful views out our windows.

Back to rocking it out with one week til midterms.

Parasitology: WOOT WOOT!

I am so relieved. I got an A in parasitology! I have no idea how this happened. It was so hard. I ended up with a 94% in the class. If I never ever have to take another parasitology class in my life, I will be a happy person. Having said that, I am pretty sure that I could recognize malaria in a patient had it or treat the parasitic diseases that I am likely to come across. Thank GOD that class is over. I'm so drained from it.

HARDEST... CLASS... EVER.

So, I figured I'd give a quick update since I haven't posted anything in like 2 months. Here's the deal: Term 2 is underway. Classes I'm taking right now: Physiology, Neuroscience, Genetics, and.... PARASITOLOGY (noooooooooo)!

Physiology and neuroscience run all semester long and are 6 and 5 credits, respectively. Biochem, uhh, I mean genetics is a 2 credit class run by the same dept. as biochemistry and is VERY similar. It is pretty much some of my easy undergraduate molecular biology courses crammed into 36 lectures.

...and PARASITOLOGY! Oh my gosh. This class just started two weeks ago and is ending Monday ( in 2 days). It is 1 credit. Ok. Let me tell you something! THIS CLASS SHOULD NOT BE 1 credit!!!!!! This is by far the hardest class I have EVER taken! It is straight up memorizing life cycles and infective stages of about 50 different parasites, and how to treat them (drugs, etc.). My sister would LOVE this class. She's a biologist and likes crawly things. This class is KILLING ME! I have spent sooooooooooooooooooo much time studying for this class! It is, in my opinion, a 3 or 4 credit class crammed into 2 weeks.

We have our parasitology final exam on Monday and our genetics midterm on Tuesday. In terms of studying: I have spent about 20X more time studying for parasitology than genetics. RE-donk-u-less. I am probably only going to spend one day studying genetics and I have been studying almost all parasitology everyday for the last 2 weeks.

Anyways, that's my rant. Physiology is just physics 101 for the body. I like it a lot. It is pretty easy for me. Neuroscience is AWESOME. It is really, really interesting. I love studying for this class. Definately my favorite class I've taken so far in medical school. Really neat and really exciting.

Well, I'm going to get back to studying.
I feel pretty good about genetics even though I have spent like no time at all studying for it. I think I'll be able to get an A on the midterm.

As for parasitology.... well, let's just say, I'd better get back to studying. My life will be so much better after Monday morning.