Comprehensive Guide for UST Second Year Medical Students

Less than a month until classes resume. Are you excited to finally become a sophomore? One step closer to our dreams. :) First and foremost, if you have not read my previous blog post about my studying habits, read it as I have written down tips that I'm sure will be of help to you, too. As you may expect, second year is a lot harder than your first year, but no need to worry my friend, as I have written down below a guide for you to have a very smooth sailing second year. 

Pathology

Samplex based: Some (Professors like Dr. Arevalo, Dr. Abs, and a few more usually get some questions from samplexes)

Reference: Robbins (MUST!), Subsec notes (if you have no time)

Tip: Bank on high grades during the first semester since third shift is hard. VERY VERY VERY HARD. For the practicals, study the photos found in the powerpoints, Robbins, and smartnotes. Then, memorize the specimen given then eliminate the choices in your questionnaire (yes, there's a questionnaire with choices) example the question is about the cervix and the only given specimen during the lab review was squamous metaplasia so automatically answer squamous metaplasia. Works 98% of the time.

Medicine

Samplex based: Not entirely but same type of questions

Reference: Lectures, Smartnotes, and Mosby's and Harrison's

Tip: Grades are quite subjective with your facilitators- know them well and do what they want. Not all facilitators have the same techniques in doing the physical exam. The short quizzes have a wide range of test types, some will be identification, multiple choice, or true or false. Study the lectures and smart notes. However, for the shifting examinations, read Mosby's especially during the first semester since the questions are lifted from there, and Harrison's since most of the questions are application. 

Pharmacology

Samplex based: Short quizzes, sometimes. Long exams, no. 

Reference: HANDOUTS! (will make you pass), Katzung (will make you excel)

Tip: Know the basic concepts especially pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and prescription writing. Post-lecture quizzes are essays, and more often than not, they want the answers to be word per word. Ask the other sections, who had their quiz before you, the quiz questions since they do not repeat the same question twice. Also, listen carefully with the lecturers since they often emphasize the must-knows. If possible, copy the side notes of the previous sections already in order for you to concentrate with the lecture, and they sometimes give plus points for students who recite in class. 

Microbiology

Samplex based: No

Reference: Smartnotes and Jawetz

Tip: The usual type of question is multiple choice and true or false (like if its associated with the main topic or not). So, group the similar organisms together. Most of the shifting exam questions are lifted from the long exams so make sure to compile all questions with answers from the other sections too.

Surgery

Samplex based: Yes but not all answers in the samplex are right. So its upto you if you'll follow the samplex or you'll follow what you know.

Reference: Samplex hehehe 

Tip: Since the samplexes are sometimes unreliable, I resort to reading the Schwartz book which are helpful in understanding the topics. The practical minor is easy but grades will depend with your facilitators. And oh, be ready for free cuts. 

Clinical Pathology

Samplex based: No

Reference: Lectures (Scrap whatever you know from the past and just base all your answers from the lecture)

Tip: One word: MEMORIZE. For practicals, always remember to answer in the units stated in the question.

Obstetrics I

Samplex based: Some

Reference: Williams (MUST!) and Lalala notes (summary of an old edition of Williams and APMC)

Tip: The facilitators have a copy of the Lalala notes so they tend to not ask what is on the notes or ask what's already different from the new edition of Williams. Use it as your guide to know what the must knows are when reading the new edition of Williams. Also, ask your facilitators all your questions before taking the exam or ask for hints- because if you're lucky, they will.

Parasitology

Samplex based: some

Reference: Smart notes (And ask for your med tech friend's notes)

Tip: Same as Microbiology. Its important to memorize the diagnostic and infective stages of the parasites. For practicals, just focus on the must knows.

Neurology

Samplex based: Yes

Reference: Smart notes, Haines' book

Tip: Watch YouTube and learn the clinical application of the lessons. Its better if you read the book since it will let you understand the topic in depth.

Behavioral Medicine 

Samplex based: Some 

Reference: Lectures (No need to read Kaplan)

Tip: This one is more of memorization, too. What unexpectedly worked for me is that I memorized the ages of the stages which enabled me to properly correlate all topics.

Bioethics

Samplex based: No

Reference: Powerpoints

Tip: Like always, think what is good and what is moral.

Preventive Medicine

Samplex based: Statistics module- yes. The other two modules- no.

Reference: Powerpoints

Tip: They always check attendance so never miss one. Also, do good in your group works. You may opt to use the CPH projects of your fellow medtech classmates.

Clinical Epidemiology 

Samplex based: Yes

Reference: Sub sect notes and powerpoints

Tips: Finish whatever is expected of you to finish for your thesis since its an automatic 5% of your grade. Submit on time your weekly group homeworks, do a screenshot when submitted on E-leap as proof of submission (As you know Clin Ep is very notorious as the most disorganized department). 

Pediatrics I

Samplex based: Some

Reference: Subsec notes and blue book

Tips: No need to read every chapter in the big book, just read the tables there especially for the adolescence topic.

Anesthesiology

Samplex based: Yes

Reference: Handouts

Tips: Just memorize the must knows.

That's it. Always remember to study what you have first- do not use too much references as it may confuse you. No matter how much readings you need to do, think that you can finish it- because you eventually will. Do not worry about the things you cannot control. Get a good amount of sleep before school. And above all else, PRAY.