Hi, everyone! So after all those inquiries and PMs, I've decided to make myself useful and share all my thoughts and experiences during my first year of medical school at FEU NRMF.
Disclaimers:
(1) All artworks used in this blog post are featured with permission from no other than the super talented, MAARTIST.MD who is also from FEU-NRMF! Click the link to visit her Facebook profile for more witty hugots and relatable pictures!
(2) All these thoughts are based on my actual and personal experiences last school year (2015-2016) so there may be a few irregularities but I hope that this post will help give you guys a sneak peek into the bigger picture that is, the life of a first year med student. :)
Disclaimers:
(1) All artworks used in this blog post are featured with permission from no other than the super talented, MAARTIST.MD who is also from FEU-NRMF! Click the link to visit her Facebook profile for more witty hugots and relatable pictures!
(2) All these thoughts are based on my actual and personal experiences last school year (2015-2016) so there may be a few irregularities but I hope that this post will help give you guys a sneak peek into the bigger picture that is, the life of a first year med student. :)
On "stalking" your future batch-mates online -
NOTE: It is VITAL that you join the Facebook group for your batch!
So by now you've probably got a ton of friend requests from your future batch-mates, and whether you choose to accept those requests right away or not, you'll get an overview of the people who you'll probably be spending the next years of your life with. Personally, I chose not to accept those friend requests right away, I didn't want to meet new people and already have their whole timeline, tagged photos, and basic info at the back of my head! (pero, syempre ako lang naman yun! arte ko lang yun!) On the other hand, a friend of mine told me that she accepted requests right away because it was her idea of "breaking the ice" and making friends (or "crushies" daw) easily. So this part is totally up to you! :) Wag lang tayo mag-expect kasi masakit umasa. hahaha!
LESSON #1: FOR STARTERS, YOU'LL NEED THE RIGHT TOOLS -
They say that to do the job right, you must have the right tools. And studying med is no exception.
1. Books - Luckily, the student council would give you guys access to the "batch dropbox" which includes all the files that are essential for your first year. Already included in those files are PDF copies of the books that you'll need. But if you have the resources, then by all means you may buy all the recommended books ;)
✓ Bates' Guide to Physical Examination
2. Transcribed notes "Transes" - Alam mo ba kung ano yun? Wala kasi akong clue dati kung ano ba yung "trans" na lagi nilang binabanggit nung first weeks of med school eh. Haha! Where to find them? Don't panic! You can find copies of the transcribed lectures in your batch dropbox! :)
Tip: Read books or print your trans in advance so that you'd have a background of the lecture before you go to class.
Warning: Do not rely solely on transes. Also, some doctors do not want to see your transes so better ask if they allow it before you bring your transes to class! (Mabuti na yung sigurado!)
3. 24/7 Access to a printer + Lots of bond paper - Yup, naging best friend ko and printer ko. Sa sobrang dami lang talaga ng mga trans na kailangan iprint, manghihinayang ka minsan sa mga puno na pinuputol para sa papel na ginagamit mo.
4. Highlighters + Color Pencils - Hindi ko na kailangan iexplain. You'll find out soon enough!
5. Organizers - It's helpful to have a long expanding envelope per subject. That way, all your files don't mix up. Plus madali nalang hanapin mga kailangang aralin pag exams na.
6. Sample exams = "SAMPLEX"
LESSON #2: ON SURVIVING YOUR FIRST "SHIFTING" -
Tip: Always wear a watch during shiftings. 30 Minutes lang yun and usually 30 items yung shifting. Budget your time wisely!!!
Warning: Sa Scantron paper mo isusulat yung final answers mo. Diskarte mo na if ilalagay mo muna sa questionnaire yung letter answers mo or if diretso sa Scantron mo na isshade kasi #badass ka.
LESSON #3: ON SURVIVING YOUR FIRST FAILURE -
Did that escalate quickly? Well, unless you're a super genius, you will experience failure at least once in your med school life. You will fail. But remember that failures don't define whether or not you'll be a good doctor someday; they simply define how much you understood a certain topic.
Sometimes, "giving it your best shot" isn't enough in med school, sometimes you'll study the wrong thing, sometimes the coffee isn't strong enough to keep you awake, and sometimes you'll study the wrong trans/samplex. Failure is inevitable. Do not punish yourself.
Instead,
LESSON #4: STOP COMPETING.
There will come a point that you'll start to question your own capabilities and start asking yourself why you can't seem to get high score while your "YOLO/Party person bloc mate, who you rarely see studying, gets high scores.
It's frustrating, I know. But med school isn't a competition.
You may be the smartest med student around but it takes more than brains to be a great doctor! So if you must compete, compete with yourself and push yourself to do better for your future patients.
LESSON #5: MAKE FRIENDS.
Don't lock yourself up in your dorm room to study all the time. Make friends who you can study with. Join an org and meet people who have the same interests that you have!
Tip: Sharing is caring. Huwag tayong maging madamot sa mga transes and samplex. We're all in this together! (Pero syempre bawal i-share ang answers! Wag naman aabuso!)
Tip: Maging mabait tayo sa mga kaklase natin. Remember that your classmates are also your future colleagues!
LESSON #6: TIME WILL BE YOUR ENEMY.
NOTE: It is VITAL that you join the Facebook group for your batch!
So by now you've probably got a ton of friend requests from your future batch-mates, and whether you choose to accept those requests right away or not, you'll get an overview of the people who you'll probably be spending the next years of your life with. Personally, I chose not to accept those friend requests right away, I didn't want to meet new people and already have their whole timeline, tagged photos, and basic info at the back of my head! (pero, syempre ako lang naman yun! arte ko lang yun!) On the other hand, a friend of mine told me that she accepted requests right away because it was her idea of "breaking the ice" and making friends (or "crushies" daw) easily. So this part is totally up to you! :) Wag lang tayo mag-expect kasi masakit umasa. hahaha!
They say that to do the job right, you must have the right tools. And studying med is no exception.
1. Books - Luckily, the student council would give you guys access to the "batch dropbox" which includes all the files that are essential for your first year. Already included in those files are PDF copies of the books that you'll need. But if you have the resources, then by all means you may buy all the recommended books ;)
Books that saved my life:
✓ Guyton & Hall's "Textbook of Medical Physiology" or Berne and Levy's "Physiology"
✓ Netter's "Atlas of Human Anatomy" (always bring this with you during Anatomy lab because you'll need this to identify cadaver parts. You could also save the PDF on your tablet or iPad if you don't want to carry the atlas everywhere)✓ Bates' Guide to Physical Examination
2. Transcribed notes "Transes" - Alam mo ba kung ano yun? Wala kasi akong clue dati kung ano ba yung "trans" na lagi nilang binabanggit nung first weeks of med school eh. Haha! Where to find them? Don't panic! You can find copies of the transcribed lectures in your batch dropbox! :)
Trans (trans')
noun MEDICINE
- Transes are wonderful transcribed life-saving notes that are made and gifted to you by kind, hardworking souls from higher batches. Basically, a trans is an outline of the doctors' lectures & powerpoints (sometimes nandoon sa trans yung exact words na ginamit ng professor). Transes are gold; cherish them forever.
Warning: Do not rely solely on transes. Also, some doctors do not want to see your transes so better ask if they allow it before you bring your transes to class! (Mabuti na yung sigurado!)
3. 24/7 Access to a printer + Lots of bond paper - Yup, naging best friend ko and printer ko. Sa sobrang dami lang talaga ng mga trans na kailangan iprint, manghihinayang ka minsan sa mga puno na pinuputol para sa papel na ginagamit mo.
Malulunod ka sa dami ng mga trans na kailangan mo basahin.
5. Organizers - It's helpful to have a long expanding envelope per subject. That way, all your files don't mix up. Plus madali nalang hanapin mga kailangang aralin pag exams na.
6. Sample exams = "SAMPLEX"
Samplex (ˈsampəl ig'zam)
noun MEDICINE
- After every shifting or exam you take, answers will be posted on the bulletin boards and because you get to keep your test questionnaire, you can write down the correct answers and know your score instantly. -- This is the birth of a samplex. Sample exams a.k.a "Samplex" are pieces of paper that may spell the difference between a "pass" or a "fail". They are the holy grail; your last hope; your life-saver. Samplexes, like transes, are also gifts from kind souls from higher batches. Some professors repeat important questions so if you're lucky, a question you read from the samplex might be repeated!
Tip: Use the samplex as a guide to know what type of questions they might ask you for your shiftings/exams.
Warning: Do not rely solely on samplexes. They are not a substitute for actually studying the lectures. LESSON #2: ON SURVIVING YOUR FIRST "SHIFTING" -
Shift·ing (SHiftiNG/)
noun MEDICINE
- a.k.a, Your 30 minute mini-heart attack at 12 in the afternoon. After a certain number of topics, a shifting exam in each subject would be announced and scheduled. Shiftings are like departmental "quizzes" that all of you take at the same time (12:00 PM to 12:30 PM) on weekdays, during your 12:00-1:00 PM lunch break. Yes, you only take the shiftings for 30 minutes.
Warning: Sa Scantron paper mo isusulat yung final answers mo. Diskarte mo na if ilalagay mo muna sa questionnaire yung letter answers mo or if diretso sa Scantron mo na isshade kasi #badass ka.
Warning: "MADALING PUMASOK, MAHIRAP MATIRA."
FEU NRMF is one of the top medical schools in the Philippines and it is also one of the toughest. Slowly, your batch of around 700 students during your 1st year med, will only have around 400(?) students come 4th year med (according to what the graduates say) :). A lot of students will be kicked out and a lot more will become irregulars. So you have to give it your all from the very start.
Did that escalate quickly? Well, unless you're a super genius, you will experience failure at least once in your med school life. You will fail. But remember that failures don't define whether or not you'll be a good doctor someday; they simply define how much you understood a certain topic. Sometimes, "giving it your best shot" isn't enough in med school, sometimes you'll study the wrong thing, sometimes the coffee isn't strong enough to keep you awake, and sometimes you'll study the wrong trans/samplex. Failure is inevitable. Do not punish yourself.
Instead,
Accept your failure.
Learn from your mistakes.
MOVE ON and DO BETTER NEXT TIME.
(Kasi may exam / shifting ka pa na aaralin for the next day)
Tip: Find your own "study style". Remember that your classmate's study technique won't always work for you. Some people use a ton of highlighters, some people listen to recordings, some people read the books, and some people watch video tutorials on YouTube. Whatever you're most comfortable with, go with it. Be prepared to change your style though! Learn to adapt.
Tip: Keep a record of your scores in each shifting per subject. That way, you'll be aware of your standing and you'll know when to work extra harder or when to cut yourself some slack and reward yourself! :)
LESSON #4: STOP COMPETING. There will come a point that you'll start to question your own capabilities and start asking yourself why you can't seem to get high score while your "YOLO/Party person bloc mate, who you rarely see studying, gets high scores.
It's frustrating, I know. But med school isn't a competition.
You may be the smartest med student around but it takes more than brains to be a great doctor! So if you must compete, compete with yourself and push yourself to do better for your future patients.
LESSON #5: MAKE FRIENDS.
Don't lock yourself up in your dorm room to study all the time. Make friends who you can study with. Join an org and meet people who have the same interests that you have!
Tip: Sharing is caring. Huwag tayong maging madamot sa mga transes and samplex. We're all in this together! (Pero syempre bawal i-share ang answers! Wag naman aabuso!)
Tip: Maging mabait tayo sa mga kaklase natin. Remember that your classmates are also your future colleagues!
LESSON #6: TIME WILL BE YOUR ENEMY.
Dadating yung time na sabay sabay yung mga requirements ng bawat subject. Lalo na before Prelim/Midterm/Final exams.
What I've learned about time management is that you have to Prioritize and Sacrifice. It helps if you have a daily/weekly to-do-list. Exams & Shiftings > Landi (always). Also, you'll have a manual per subject that you need to answer after every topic. Do not put off answering the manuals (especially in gross anatomy) you'll have to draw and label! Manuals are sources of extra credit so do not underestimate them!
LESSON #8: LISTEN & LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN FROM YOUR PROFESSORS.
LESSON #9: KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE.
Medical school can be ruthless and unforgiving. Being a medical student is an everyday struggle and it can sometimes be disheartening. There will be times that you just want to quit and give up, but don't you ever think for one second that you are in this alone! Your professors, friends, and family are always there for you! Draw strength from them if you must. I get you, we all do. We've been through that.
LESSON #10: MED MUST COME BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
You will have to sacrifice a lot of night outs with the barkada, date nights with the bae, birthdays, anniversaries, parties, gigs, concerts, even family reunions because you have to study for exams. Be prepared to say goodbye to a lot of the things. Med must always come first.
Pero, hindi naman ibig sabihin na wala ka nang buhay bukod sa med. Wag mo naman bibitawan yung mga bagay na nakakapagpasaya sa'yo. Kung blogger / model / musician / artist / athlete / DOTA player / dancer ka, wag mo naman tatalikuran yun. Ang ibig kong sabihin is dapat mauna lang ang med. Pwede ka naman maging both. Madaming med students na may hidden talents and hobbies pala. Nakakabaliw naman kung pag-aaral lang lagi kailangan mo din ng stress-reliever ;)
I'll end this entry with a famous line that you'll hear a lot of times from one of your soon-to-be-professors.
"AD ASTRA PER ASPERA"
Through the stars, through difficulties.
Welcome to FEU-NRMF.
Your teachers are all doctors. They are your role models and mentors. They are literally living your dream. And sometimes, because they are doctors, they would be absent from lectures without prior notice because they have to attend their patients. Patients will always come first. Be understanding and treat them with utmost respect. Also, Do not be afraid to approach them with questions about their lectures because chances are, they'd be thrilled to know that you're interested in the topic that they were discussing. Listen to their lectures especially when they give examples that they have encountered in the clinics, it will feel like you're getting a sneak peek into your future career!
Tip: TAKE YOUR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS (SGDs) SERIOUSLY. This is where you will apply all that you've learned in your lectures. It will help you in developing your skills for your future clinical cases.
Tip: TAKE YOUR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS (SGDs) SERIOUSLY. This is where you will apply all that you've learned in your lectures. It will help you in developing your skills for your future clinical cases.
LESSON #9: KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE.
Medical school can be ruthless and unforgiving. Being a medical student is an everyday struggle and it can sometimes be disheartening. There will be times that you just want to quit and give up, but don't you ever think for one second that you are in this alone! Your professors, friends, and family are always there for you! Draw strength from them if you must. I get you, we all do. We've been through that.You will have to sacrifice a lot of night outs with the barkada, date nights with the bae, birthdays, anniversaries, parties, gigs, concerts, even family reunions because you have to study for exams. Be prepared to say goodbye to a lot of the things. Med must always come first.
Pero, hindi naman ibig sabihin na wala ka nang buhay bukod sa med. Wag mo naman bibitawan yung mga bagay na nakakapagpasaya sa'yo. Kung blogger / model / musician / artist / athlete / DOTA player / dancer ka, wag mo naman tatalikuran yun. Ang ibig kong sabihin is dapat mauna lang ang med. Pwede ka naman maging both. Madaming med students na may hidden talents and hobbies pala. Nakakabaliw naman kung pag-aaral lang lagi kailangan mo din ng stress-reliever ;)
I'll end this entry with a famous line that you'll hear a lot of times from one of your soon-to-be-professors.
"Ginusto niyo yan, diba? diba? diba?"
(Doc Vila, 2015)
Ang med parang pag-ibig yan eh. You have to choose it every day. You have to choose to go through sleepless nights. You have to get used to constant heartbreaks from low scores. You have to endure mind-blowing exams. You have to study your heart out so that one day you may become His healing hands and touch lives.
"AD ASTRA PER ASPERA"
Through the stars, through difficulties.
Welcome to FEU-NRMF.
