Hey guys,
So I just finished the 5 semesters of Saba (Hooray!). Just thought I'd give a basic run thru of the island, Island Living, hurdles of the 5 semesters, and some tips.
The Island: 3 towns. The bottom has the school, 3 grocery stores (Christina's, Random one by the Hospital, and Mystore). All stores in the bottom close early, the latest open is Christinas which closes at 8pm. Windwardside is the hub, downside to living here is commuting to campus every morning, upside is having food available anytime. Hells: only live here if you have a car, great views in the morning, great houses as well.
Island Living: You get dorms for the first semester. They are building a newer hillside which should pretty much eliminate the matthews dorms. Hillside was great, shared kitchen (with 3 other ppl), cleaning once a week, share a bathroom (with one other person), satellite cable. AVOID MATTHEWS. The landlord of that place is a jerk. He will use thugonomics on you, no joke! After semester one you have to move out. I chose to live in the bottom, next to campus, best decision ever. If you can study at home, then live in windwardside, there's a lot more happening in that town. If you love scenic views and amazing sunrises/sunsets, go with hells.
Semester 1: In the first week, they go nuts on you in anatomy. Dr. B's Neuro lecture haunts me to this day. Don't lose hope, don't get overwhelmed. Blocks 1 and 2 of this semester are really tough, if you can make it through those 2 blocks even with a high 60s average in anatomy, you will make it through. I don't know if people got used to the amount of material, or if the material was just simpler towards the end, but averages reached into the 80s for the last 3 blocks.
Personally I didn't have much difficulty in this semester, I had a decent background in anatomy and held a B throughout the semester. As for Histology, focus on what the teachers are saying in class, and that is what is usually on the exams.
Semester 2: In my opinion this was the easiest semester on Saba. Dr. G does a great job with biochem. Focus on his end of block reviews, and if you know those inside out, you pretty much guarantee a B. Genetics is the one that gets most people in semester 2. For this course I recommend flash cards. For the most part its memorizing which genes correspond with which disease. Flashcards should help you rip through this course. For physiology build a buffer! For the first two blocks if it easy to average a high B or a low A. Use BRS for the first 2 blocks and you are set. The last three blocks are tough. Dr. K has some intense questions on his material so make sure to have a nice buffer available.
Semester 3: This and semester 5 are the toughest 2 semesters on Saba. I will not sugar coat this. This semester is the reason for my first grey hair. Not only do you have Neuro, Psych, Ethics, Micro and Immuno in the same semester, but they keep you in class from 8-4pm some days. Keep up with the notes everyday. Expect to be studying till midnight and then waking up at 7am to start it all over again. When you have class presentations, use that time to study the notes from that day.
Immuno: I watched the Kaplan vids for immuno during the break between semesters, best thing I ever did.
Micro: USE FIRST AID. They have great mnemonics, and they really highlight the key aspects of all of the bacteria and viruses.
Neuro: For Dr. B, use his notes, his answers are normally word for word from his notes. For Dr. O, focus on clinical vignettes, sometimes he pulls the example Qs from his slides and puts them on the exams word for word.
Psych: Dr. L uses answers that are usually word for word lines out of his notes. His notes for the most part are very simple and are a quick read through. VERY RARELY do people fail psych.
Ethics: Use the 100 questions on ethics for the Step book and you should be golden for this course.
Semester 4: This semester has a lot of material. Pathology is around 60% of your step one exam so make sure you know it inside out. USE PATHOMA. Know that book like the back of your hand and you will guarantee not only a good grade on block exams, but also on your exit and the step 1. Pharmacology is a tough course. Print out the pharm book (made by a saba student). Bring it with you. Know that book, it's all you need to do well in the course.
Semester 5: What makes this semester tough is that you have the exit exam looming, while taking Intro to Clin med, and Path 2. Courses end after 3 blocks, and nobody fails Clinmed or Path 2. At this point, you know what you're doing, you have a routine, and you'll be fine.
EXIT: This exam is long. 200 Questions, 4 blocks, 5 hours including breaks. Begin studying day 1 of semester 5. In my opinion, the best way to study for this is going through your First Aid book multiple times. Over 90% of the questions on the Exit exam could be answered using First Aid. DIT 2013 is a great way to learn First Aid as their videos turn you through the pages and explain all the material. In fact, some of their mnemonics are better than First Aid. DO A QBANK. I'd recommend Kaplan so you can used Uworld later, when studying for step. Make it through the whole Qbank, and mark concepts in your FA book.
Tips: This is not an easy curriculum. People fail. We ran the numbers (from class pictures). Of 104 that originally started first semester (not counting anatomy/histo repeaters), 50 made it through all 5 semesters and Exit without failing anything. It is difficult to do, but doable. Do not waste time and stay focused. I am not giving my opinion on the program, to say that it is tough is a well known fact, med school is tough. Good Luck!
So I just finished the 5 semesters of Saba (Hooray!). Just thought I'd give a basic run thru of the island, Island Living, hurdles of the 5 semesters, and some tips.
The Island: 3 towns. The bottom has the school, 3 grocery stores (Christina's, Random one by the Hospital, and Mystore). All stores in the bottom close early, the latest open is Christinas which closes at 8pm. Windwardside is the hub, downside to living here is commuting to campus every morning, upside is having food available anytime. Hells: only live here if you have a car, great views in the morning, great houses as well.
Island Living: You get dorms for the first semester. They are building a newer hillside which should pretty much eliminate the matthews dorms. Hillside was great, shared kitchen (with 3 other ppl), cleaning once a week, share a bathroom (with one other person), satellite cable. AVOID MATTHEWS. The landlord of that place is a jerk. He will use thugonomics on you, no joke! After semester one you have to move out. I chose to live in the bottom, next to campus, best decision ever. If you can study at home, then live in windwardside, there's a lot more happening in that town. If you love scenic views and amazing sunrises/sunsets, go with hells.
Semester 1: In the first week, they go nuts on you in anatomy. Dr. B's Neuro lecture haunts me to this day. Don't lose hope, don't get overwhelmed. Blocks 1 and 2 of this semester are really tough, if you can make it through those 2 blocks even with a high 60s average in anatomy, you will make it through. I don't know if people got used to the amount of material, or if the material was just simpler towards the end, but averages reached into the 80s for the last 3 blocks.
Personally I didn't have much difficulty in this semester, I had a decent background in anatomy and held a B throughout the semester. As for Histology, focus on what the teachers are saying in class, and that is what is usually on the exams.
Semester 2: In my opinion this was the easiest semester on Saba. Dr. G does a great job with biochem. Focus on his end of block reviews, and if you know those inside out, you pretty much guarantee a B. Genetics is the one that gets most people in semester 2. For this course I recommend flash cards. For the most part its memorizing which genes correspond with which disease. Flashcards should help you rip through this course. For physiology build a buffer! For the first two blocks if it easy to average a high B or a low A. Use BRS for the first 2 blocks and you are set. The last three blocks are tough. Dr. K has some intense questions on his material so make sure to have a nice buffer available.
Semester 3: This and semester 5 are the toughest 2 semesters on Saba. I will not sugar coat this. This semester is the reason for my first grey hair. Not only do you have Neuro, Psych, Ethics, Micro and Immuno in the same semester, but they keep you in class from 8-4pm some days. Keep up with the notes everyday. Expect to be studying till midnight and then waking up at 7am to start it all over again. When you have class presentations, use that time to study the notes from that day.
Immuno: I watched the Kaplan vids for immuno during the break between semesters, best thing I ever did.
Micro: USE FIRST AID. They have great mnemonics, and they really highlight the key aspects of all of the bacteria and viruses.
Neuro: For Dr. B, use his notes, his answers are normally word for word from his notes. For Dr. O, focus on clinical vignettes, sometimes he pulls the example Qs from his slides and puts them on the exams word for word.
Psych: Dr. L uses answers that are usually word for word lines out of his notes. His notes for the most part are very simple and are a quick read through. VERY RARELY do people fail psych.
Ethics: Use the 100 questions on ethics for the Step book and you should be golden for this course.
Semester 4: This semester has a lot of material. Pathology is around 60% of your step one exam so make sure you know it inside out. USE PATHOMA. Know that book like the back of your hand and you will guarantee not only a good grade on block exams, but also on your exit and the step 1. Pharmacology is a tough course. Print out the pharm book (made by a saba student). Bring it with you. Know that book, it's all you need to do well in the course.
Semester 5: What makes this semester tough is that you have the exit exam looming, while taking Intro to Clin med, and Path 2. Courses end after 3 blocks, and nobody fails Clinmed or Path 2. At this point, you know what you're doing, you have a routine, and you'll be fine.
EXIT: This exam is long. 200 Questions, 4 blocks, 5 hours including breaks. Begin studying day 1 of semester 5. In my opinion, the best way to study for this is going through your First Aid book multiple times. Over 90% of the questions on the Exit exam could be answered using First Aid. DIT 2013 is a great way to learn First Aid as their videos turn you through the pages and explain all the material. In fact, some of their mnemonics are better than First Aid. DO A QBANK. I'd recommend Kaplan so you can used Uworld later, when studying for step. Make it through the whole Qbank, and mark concepts in your FA book.
Tips: This is not an easy curriculum. People fail. We ran the numbers (from class pictures). Of 104 that originally started first semester (not counting anatomy/histo repeaters), 50 made it through all 5 semesters and Exit without failing anything. It is difficult to do, but doable. Do not waste time and stay focused. I am not giving my opinion on the program, to say that it is tough is a well known fact, med school is tough. Good Luck!