Textbooks and Learning Styles

I guess these topics are related but probably should have been two separate posts... oh well!

As school comes nearer, I have begun my final preparations for this semester. This is the first year I have attempted to do these three things: get a hold of class textbooks before school begins, get them other sources than the school bookstore, and pre-read/learn for my classes.
Figuring out which textbooks are assigned for this semester has been difficult. Most of my classes didn't update on the day UBC told me they would. Apparently there have been some technical issues, but also some courses don't have assigned professors yet.
Getting a hold of the textbooks at a cheaper price has been much easier. So far, I've gotten one textbook through amazon.ca, one through craigslist.com, one through usedvancouver.ca and one through piratebay.org. Through UBC bookstore, the total of these texts would be $514.70 plus tax... My total comes to (drum roll) $311.49... including shipping and tax AND one textbook that's for next semester! Not bad, eh?

This lead me to think about learning styles. I started to procrastinate and look up research regarding different learning styles. What I found was a very controversial topic. What I've mostly heard before hand was information regarding the VAP (visual, audio and physical) style. Most of the studies I looked up seemed to state that there is no evidence proving people are a particular type. So what then?
Know thyself and maximize your possibilities! Whenever I talk to people in regards to healthy eating and/or working out, they always ask me what I think is the best method. I usually respond with "the method you actually do." The truth is doing something that is more efficient will only help you so much if you rarely ever do it. Also, even if one method helps you to learn better, doesn't mean the others can't help you learn even more. Mix it up then!
Read, take notes, do problem sets, ask questions, and discuss things with your professor, TA and peers. Get an overall understanding with enough ability that you could teach someone else. If you do this, no matter what, you will do well!


While writing this I listened to NIN's album Year Zero

Search Keywords and FAQs for A Long Premed Path

If you read my last post, you will understand what details and answers are and will be in this post.
It is quite simple. Blogger allows me to see what people keyed in at search engines, like Google, that lead them to my site. I will try to decipher what information these people were searching for and answer their questions. As well, anyone can comment on this post to ask questions and I will try to add the answers on here as quickly as possible.
I will not create new posts; but instead, I will continuously update this post. And so it begins...

Do I Need Physics
Short answer: Depends
Long answer: Whether in Canada or the States, each school has it's very own set of requirements. Medholic has a great table created for the prerequisites for Canadian medical schools. This information may or may not be up to date, but it gives you a good idea on how every school is different. Keeping yourself as competitive for the maximum amount of schools maximizes your chances of acceptance. Also, in my humble opinion, I believe that introductory physics is very important in science. Physics is the study of the laws of the universe and having some basic understanding in those areas is important. Also, if you've ever read Ian Wong's journey and advice, you will notice he mentions how knowledge is interrelated, specially in sciences. Having knowledge in Physics helps you understand why things happen the way they do in Organic Chemistry. Organic Chemistry helps you understand biochemical pathways in Biochemistry. Biochemistry can help you understand why people may have particular symptoms.

UBC BIOL 234 Fundamentals of Genetics
I've noticed people have been looking for information on this course at UBC (notes, exams, etc). I would like that too except that it's impossible because it's a brand new course. I will have information on this blog when I post my second year courses reviews up. I do know that it is an introduction to genetics (duh). As many have guessed, it is replacing BIOL 334, which the Biology Department of UBC is fazing out. My suggestion is to look for BIOL 334 resources, although most of my own searches have not found much. The content of the two courses must be similar since 234 is replacing 334 and you are only allowed credit for one.
Here is the course description:
Topics include genotype and phenotype, mechanisms of inheritance and genetic analysis.

Am I Too Old for Premed?

Short answer: Never

Long answer: Any way that you are outside of the "traditional premed" is a hurdle in your path. Not because med schools are being discriminatory towards others, but because being traditional makes you the most competitive. But hurdles can be overcome:

UBC has shown at least one person over the age of 39 has been accepted into their program in 2008 - 2010.

I'm sure other schools have similar statistics available. So it is possible. The problem is it may be more difficult; with age you may have developed more responsibilities. These responsibilities may distract you from being able to put in all amount of effort and attention necessary to succeed. Medicine is one of the most competitive fields of study and with higher competition means higher hoops are needed. Set goals and be realistic of your chances. You can do it! 
That's all for tonight... Expect to see more as I post.

Another Quick Personal Update

I like watching the stats of my blog. I find it quite interesting that people (around the world!) would read what I write. I don't mean this in a pseudo-humble/I-don't-deserve-this kind of way. I mean it is quite amazing that I can go to my computer, write some things down, and some people will actually read it. The numbers are not what I find so interesting; it is the personal information. I like seeing how people from other countries have viewed my site. What has really intrigued me lately is the traffic source. As expected, a large majority of people are from either Premed101 or Medrunner. What is really interesting is the Google keywords that brought people to my blog. Since I only have one more class to go for my first year reviews, I had been thinking on what to do next...

I've decided I'm going to make a post soon related to all the major searches that bring people here. If I can decipher what information the people were looking for in their search, I will try to answer it. As well, if anyone posts comments on that post I will also answer it there. Instead of constantly adding new posts as people find this blog via Google, I will continuously update that post....
In fact... because I'm getting excited by this idea I think I may start the post tonight! (Doesn't mean it will be finished tonight. Last post took 3 days and it's not even 100% complete)

For those of you that care:
My wife and I have moved all of our stuff to Vancouver and we're quite excited for our fall semesters. Due to financial reasons and how well my job in Victoria pays, we have opted for myself to stay in Victoria for weekdays while I work and then commute to Vancouver for the weekends.
I won't lie: I miss my wife, a lot. But, I get to see her tomorrow! :)

First Year Unicellular and Molecular Biology (and BIOL 200: Cellular Biology)

Although not all universities split their first year of biology the same way, I believe the separation created by my school should be similar to the separation on how you tackle these courses. Unfortunately, the amount of detail I can give regarding this class isn't much; many details from 2004 are very hazy, but I did take Cellular Biology (second year continuation of the course) last year. Due to the similarities of courses I will combine them here.

Physiological Basis of Life
Text: Don't remember... Too long ago.
As you discover quickly in undergrad, higher level in education usually means a more specific study and intense workload of a previous course. This course is really predominately Biology 12 with a university difficulty disguise. This course is mostly the study of tissues and cells. I completely forgotten how the labs were in regards to this course, but I don't recall any difficulty regarding them. It was one of the few classes I did ok in during my first year of taking random courses.
My course description read: The course focuses on the structure and functions of macromolecules, storage of information and replication of DNA as well as the role of DNA in protein synthesis and inheritance are described and related to the functions of whole organisms. Transport mechanisms, basic metabolism and hormonal and nervous regulation of function are explored with examples.

How I Did
B+

BIOL 200: Cellular Biology
Textbook: unsure because I never bought it...
Almost everything holds the same here. The topics are quite similar but go in far greater detail regarding the actual processes that take place within the cell and how it may affect the organism. As I took this course in a college, it came with a lab component. My professor was amazing and was really lab focused. My professor was also well known for all his material coming straight from his slides, which is why I never bought the textbook.

How I Did
A-

How to Do Well
Combination of logic skills and memorization would of been my key to success... If I had only knew then what I know now.
There are two types of memorization:
1) Straight memorization of all the facts
2) Memorization of basic ideas and overall picture
I find organismal biology to be more along the lines of the second type and this is even more apparent in Cell Bio. Too often I see classmates struggle, memorizing every single detail and situation. I find that, as you learn the basic overall concepts, the details come easier. I've been told this is a similar mistake many students make in Organic Chemistry. Once I feel I have a good overall understanding of the material, I like to quiz myself with material by comparing affects that would happen if changes were made and how this would affect the cell. These courses were heave on powerpoint presentations and because of this I never bought a textbook (not 100% sure if I did for first year). This is a good example on not wasting your time with material that isn't needed. BUT, always make sure he's not a professor to pull a fast one and place material on the exam just because "it's testable."

I wish I could say more but I can't think of anything right now. I'll add more as I think of it. Also, I will be posting another personal update soon.

While writing this I listened to Rob Zombie and Skrillex