Tips for Surviving!

  • Join the Facebook group “MUSC PA Class of 2012” to communicate with other incoming students.
  • You are in the program (Congrats!).  The time for worrying about grades is over.  If you are struggling understanding a concept or even a whole class, don’t worry:  there are tutors, fellow class mates, 2nd years, and awesome faculty to get you where you need to be.  Everyone struggles in something.  But if you are worried about points on a test or GPA…DON’T!  You will drive yourself (not to mention your professors) nuts and you will lose focus of why you are here.
  • Participate in every extra credit opportunity you are offered.  Trust us, they are worth it!
  • Make sure that you study something every night and be sure to review the material on the weekend.  It helps each student to keep up with the work load instead of getting behind.  Once you’re behind its hard and very stressful to get caught up!
  • Find a few of your classmates with similar study habits to work with.  There is no way that you can study alone without going insane, so having a study partner or two will not only help you learn more, but will help make studying more fun!
  • Don’t buy all the books; ask a 2nd year which ones you really need.
  • It’s not a required book, but I would highly recommend buying The Color Atlas of Anatomy by Rohen.  It helps tremendously in studying for lab practicals.
  • Be sure to get involved in lab, keep peaceful relations with your lab group and get to know your TAs and tutors as they will be very helpful throughout the semester.
  • Sign up for tutoring – even if you understand anatomy, it’s still a good way to study.
  • When it rains in downtown Charleston, it floods!  And when it rains when it is high tide, it floods even more!  On days where rain is forecast, we recommend that you plan ahead, leave early, and carry a change of socks and shoes.   No matter where you park, you are likely to have to walk through some deep puddles.  You may also want to check the tide chart before you leave home (if you are driving).  In December 2008, heavy rain and high tide coincided with rush hour traffic, causing one of the worst floods in Charleston history.  Please do not attempt to drive through flooded areas…you never know how deep the water is!  Consider staying home on days like this and getting notes from classmates who are able to attend class.
  • You must stay flexible with this program!  You will hear this a million times, but if you aren’t flexible, you will drive yourself nuts.  There are many occasions where you will be asked to attend extra sessions, such as Interprofessional Day, the AIDS symposium, or rescheduled lectures.  Try to keep the griping to a minimum, as the faculty already realizes that any changes to the schedule are an inconvenience to you.
  • Don’t forget to remember why you are in PA school… don’t lose sight of your goals!
  • Get to know your faculty members; they are truly here to help!
  • Get sleep! Really, it helps so much more than that extra hour of nodding off on your books!
  • Make an appointment at the CAE (Center for Academic Excellence) to work on test taking skills since there are differences between undergrad and grad school tests.
  • During your breaks, try to actually “take a BREAK.” It’s going to be hard not to crack open a few books but you’ll appreciate it once your classes start back.
  • Keep your life balanced by doing things outside of school, whether it is going to the gym, having dinner with friends, or just a little trashy TV.
  • Go to the beach to study!