I know we are all very busy. 2nd year started on August 1st for me - so I've been in classes for a week and a half. We've already had a quiz, a practical and an exam. Our next exam is on Monday.

In medical school, the schedule and curriculum is entirely different than in undergrad. For example - our schedules are different every week. In undergrad, you might have MWF classes or TTh classes - and those classes are at the same time every time they are scheduled. Well, in medical school it's not like that. The first semester and a half is "core" classes - this is gross anatomy, micro, immuno, histology, embryology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, etc. - each class takes up a block of weeks based on how much there is to learn. Some of them last 2 weeks (like histology and embryology) others last 4 weeks (like biochemistry, pharm, and physio), and then there are the big classes - like anatomy that takes the first 12 weeks of first semester. Once core is over, we move into "systems". Systems start the last half of second semester - and in each system you will learn from clinicians and PhD's about the anatomy, histology, embryology, biochem, pharm, physio, pathology, etc. that pertain to that system. This doesn't even count the non-core or non-system classes that in some cases last all year long and in others are interspersed throughout each semester.

Each semester is about 20 weeks long and is about 40 credits. Each lecture covers what, if were being taught in undergrad would take 1 or more weeks to get through. Each exam covers 20+ lectures. We have at least one exam every week. We have at least one quiz every week. We have at least one practical every other week.

Oh - and did I forget to mention, I have to do all of this while being a single parent to the two most wonderful boys in the world. I love my boys - but they sure do add a lot of things to my already busy schedule. My youngest son has some medical issues that require twice a week monitoring (that takes a couple of hours out of my day), he is also in Tae Kwon Do (luckily, I can study during his Tae Kwon Do classes). My oldest wants to try out for the basektball team this year - of course that means I'll be picking him up from practices, and going to all of his games if he makes the team (and I want him to - it would be a lot of fun for him).

We started this semester with the cardiovascular system. So far - I love this system. I've only had a few systems (this is my 4th) - but, so far it's my favorite. It's a lot better than musculoskeletal (which focuses on orthopedics for the most part), neuroanatomy or neuroscience (though neuroscience was interesting).

One of the things that makes cardio so much fun - other than it's interesting - is that some of our clinician instructors obviously love what they do. One of them played a video today for us - to help us remember 2* AV Block, Type I. (I'm posting the link to the video below - it's funny whether you know anything about AV blocks or not). I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVxJJ2DBPiQ

I was ready for this year to start after having my last summer break ever. Break was nice - but, after 8 weeks of no schedule, nothing really going on - it was nice to get back to classes. Now that classes have started, I am ready for break again.

Anyway - thanks for listening to me whine about being busy. What have you been doing lately? Do you feel like you're super busy? If so, what sorts of things do you do to help you keep it all straight?